Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Shaking her hands at her sides, Alba looked over at the main entrance of the school, wondering what today could possibly bring.
She’d stayed over at Ellie’s for a few more hours last night, and as she’d climbed into bed, she’d remained dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.
Even now, standing here, it didn’t feel entirely real.
Had she imagined it? Was she going to wake up and find herself back in that quiet, lonely house with nothing but Colin and her own thoughts for company?
Oh, it’s real.
Did she want something more with Ellie? Of course she did.
That wasn’t the question. The question was whether this, whatever it was, would last. Whether it would hold.
But Alba knew it was her own fears eating away at her.
She was aware of the switch and change that a lot of straight women could be capable of.
She’d seen it, she’d lived it second-hand through friends, and she’d felt the aftermath of it in emotional conversations and broken confessions.
Right now, she was praying Ellie hadn’t changed her mind…
and also that she wouldn’t in the future.
Ellie didn’t strike Alba as the type of person to go back on a decision she’d made, but this wasn’t just any decision.
It wasn’t changing your mind when you felt like something else for dinner, and it wasn’t choosing to change the colour of the living room walls.
This was far heavier than that. This was layered, it was emotional, and yeah…
risky. This was the kind of thing that could either settle into something beautiful… or completely ruin her.
Alba exhaled slowly and flexed her fingers. She wasn’t used to feeling like this anymore.
“Are you going inside or running away?” A soft breath washed over her ear from behind, startling Alba. Even if she hadn’t recognised the voice, she would know Ellie’s scent anywhere. It wrapped around her in an instant, sending an electricity straight through her.
She spun around and splayed a hand across her chest. “Jesus Christ! Where the hell did you come from?”
“I was sitting in my car.” As Alba took in Ellie, she realised just how lucky she was. She always looked great, she had to as the face of the school, but today she simply shone. And Alba felt it. That pull, that…oh. “I was also contemplating running away.”
“You were?” Alba frowned. Here came the indecision and that hint of doubt she couldn’t quite suppress. “Because of me?”
“I’m joking. Although I am open to the idea, if you had a place in mind and you also agreed to come with me.”
Alba settled immediately. Ellie wasn’t going to change her mind.
If anything, she seemed raring to go. “I can think of a few places,” she said as her gaze swept up Ellie’s entire form.
There was no stopping the appreciation or the hunger now.
She didn’t have to bury it any longer. “Will you be wearing that wherever we go?”
“Oh, stop it. Control yourself.” Ellie blushed but gathered herself, and Alba felt a strange kind of pride for being the cause of it. “Come on. We may just about have enough time for coffee in my office before everyone else arrives.”
Alba shrugged as she followed Ellie, falling into step beside her. It wouldn’t seem weird, would it? No, they always sat around in Ellie’s office prior to their kiss. Prior to everything changing. Alba was just feeling…out of sorts. “Hey, um…you’re still on for Friday, right?”
“I’d be offended if you cancelled.” Ellie stopped at the side of the entrance, partially hidden by a wall. “Are you okay? You seem a little nervous.”
“Oh, I’m fine. Just getting my head around everything.”
Ellie nodded. There was something reassuring in the way she looked at Alba.
She seemed grounded and present. “It’s not ideal that we haven’t had much of a chance to explore whatever it is that’s going on here, but I’m looking forward to it.
I hope you know that.” Ellie cleared her throat as she quickly glanced around.
“I’m also aware of the whole ‘straight women leading lesbians on’ thing.
Danielle has mentioned it once or twice. ”
Alba swallowed. Ellie’s comment had just hit somewhere deep, brushing against that fear she hadn’t quite shaken. Still, she didn’t see Ellie that way. “That’s not what I’m thinking when I look at you.”
“Good. Because I would never.”
Hmm. Don’t they all say that? Alba pushed down that thought. She knew Ellie. She knew the kind of person she was. This wasn’t some careless game. “I’m not thinking that, okay?”
“Okay.” Ellie cocked her head towards the door. “Let’s go. If I don’t get that extra cup of caffeine inside me, I won’t be much fun for the rest of the morning.”
“So that’s what makes you as lovely as you are? Plying yourself with caffeine.” Alba grinned as they pushed through the heavy double doors close to the staircase leading to Ellie’s office. “It all makes sense now.”
“Mrs Hamilton!”
Ellie stopped when she heard Susan’s voice bellowing from the other side of the atrium. The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Ellie puffed out her cheeks and eyed Alba. “Head up. I’ll meet you in the staff room.”
“You’re sure?” Alba was only asking because she knew what Susan could be like. She’d heard it first-hand when she’d effectively cornered Ellie in her office. That memory alone made her jaw tighten. “I’m happy to hang around.”
“I’m sure.”
Alba reluctantly took a few steps up the staircase, her body moving on instinct while her mind stayed firmly rooted below.
Not necessarily eavesdropping, but ready.
Ready to step in. Ready to defend. Even though she hoped she wouldn’t need to.
Only she couldn’t hear a thing. Susan had pulled Ellie to one side, basically into a corner again, and spoke low.
Alba did stop and watch this time. Even though it seemed like a civil conversation, she noted how Ellie’s back had straightened.
That subtle shift. The one that said she was bracing.
“Morning, Alba.” Jeanette came out of the corridor, the thud of the coded door making Alba jump. “You’re early.”
“I have a lot to get through.” Alba shrugged as she continued up the stairs, though her focus was split, still partially anchored to Ellie below. Jeanette remained at the top of them, watching her. “Was there something you needed from me?”
“No, not at all.” Jeanette smiled, but Alba noted just how sarcastic it was. “I just… Am I wrong, or did you travel in with Mrs Hamilton today?”
“You’re wrong. We bumped into one another in the car park.”
“Ah. That must have been it.” Jeanette offered another ridiculously fake smile and stepped past Alba. “Though you two should be careful. People will talk.”
Alba spun on her heel, irritation flaring hot and fast in her chest. “Why exactly would people talk? Nobody talks about the fact that you get a lift from Susan. And nobody talks about the fact that Ben Crossen picks Ritchie Gould up on his motorbike. Why would we be any different?”
“Just…you know? You’re a lesbian, and it might seem a little bit odd to a lot of people.”
Fucking hell. Alba couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Then I hope Susan’s car never breaks down and you need help from me. Wouldn’t want anyone to think something was going on.” Her voice came out sharper than she’d intended it to be, but she didn’t regret it. Not for a second.
She turned her back on Jeanette and walked away, her pulse pounding as her jaw clenched. She didn’t have time for these people or the silly comments they chose to make.
But the problem she had now was that the very thing Jeanette had just said was going to happen.
Because Alba and Ellie were going to be dating.
No matter how quiet they hoped to keep it, this lot were like bloodhounds.
Watching, whispering, always waiting to strike.
And for the first time, Alba felt the weight of it settle fully.
Not enough to stop her, but enough to remind her what was at stake.
Just start your day and live your life.
She inhaled slowly, steadying herself as she stopped at the top of the stairs.
Because for Ellie, for this, she was willing to try.
Suspicious of everyone around her today, Ellie lowered herself into a seat and cracked the lid on her lunch.
She hadn’t opted for anything too filling when she was preparing it this morning; she’d been too giddy thinking about seeing Alba again, so hummus and flatbread it was.
The simplicity of it was a stark contrast to the way her stomach still fluttered from everything that had happened the night before.
Alba sat beside her, equally as quiet as Ellie, but now wasn’t the time to check in with her.
Not like this. Not here. Ellie’s concern was that someone had approached Alba and, in turn, said something to offend her.
It would make sense; one or two members of staff didn’t know when to mind their own business.
During Susan’s ‘update’ on her curriculum as Ellie walked through the door this morning, she’d made sure she managed to get in a dig about Alba.
Subtle enough that it wouldn’t warrant an immediate talking-to but pointed enough that Ellie had caught it instantly.
Ellie had once again reminded Susan that she was treading on very thin ice, but she wasn’t sure Susan cared.
She will when you reprimand her and give her a verbal warning.
Ellie pressed her lips together, forcing herself to remain composed as she reached for her flatbread.
Alba stared down at her own lunch, almost hunched in her seat to remain as inconspicuous as she could.
It was so unlike her, the Alba Ellie knew usually filled a space without even trying. Today, she looked smaller somehow.
Something had definitely happened this morning, and Ellie would get to the bottom of it before the end of the day. She wouldn’t have any member of staff feeling pushed out.
Especially not Alba.
“Your soup smells delicious.”