Chapter 14 3 January 2017
Hannah frowned. Oliver was undoubtedly referencing Theo’s mystery Parisian hookup, which had eclipsed discussion of Madison’s British fling on The Upper Edge this morning, their first day back to school following winter break.
Theo was a way down the hall, sitting on the herringbone oak floor, which had received a fresh polish over break and gleamed like mirror glass.
His long legs were bent at the knees, and his back rested against the wall.
Seated beside him, thick arm draped around his friend’s shoulder, was Bash.
‘Maybe.’ Hannah tore her eyes away from Bash and Theo and shrugged, hoping Oliver would believe she didn’t care.
And truly, why should she care what Theodore Fitzgerald did?
Yes, he’d opened up to her over Thanksgiving, but weeks had passed, and it was as if the conversation had never happened.
The facts remained unchanged: he was Elle’s ex, and therefore strictly off-limits, always and forever.
Besides, they’d all be leaving for college in a matter of months, and she’d probably never see him again.
Oliver eyed Theo and Bash, then leaned in conspiratorially. ‘Come on. You’re getting close with dear Teddie. What’s the real deal?’
Ten minutes remained before the second bell, when they’d all shuffle into Mr Harris’s classroom for senior seminar.
Spring paper topics were due at the end of the week, and Hannah had spent decidedly less time over winter break coming up with a list of ideas than she’d planned.
She’d been far too busy with college applications.
More and more, she’d been considering staying in the city.
A major in journalism was still the goal – but along with her application to UPenn, she’d applied to NYU’s College of Arts and Science.
When she’d broken the news to Grace, she’d presented NYU as a backup plan, to be pursued only if she didn’t get into the Ivy they’d both dreamed of attending since middle school.
But with her applications in and the spring semester beginning, Hannah wasn’t sure UPenn was her dream anymore.
Not when she’d just barely begun to find her footing in New York.
‘Hannah, hello?’
Her gaze snapped to Oliver. She’d never answered his question.
‘I really don’t know, swear. Theo doesn’t talk to me about that sort of thing. But…’ She gestured subtly to Madison, who had just pushed through the heavy oak doors wrapped in a vintage, floor-length fur coat, surely a family heirloom. ‘I think we’re about to find out.’
Madison made a beeline for Theo, her heels clicking on the oak floor. ‘Really, Teddie?’ she spat. She made no effort to keep her voice down, and an immediate hush fell over the hallway. Two dozen or so Prescott students trained their full attention on the unfolding drama.
‘Nice to see you too, Miss DuPont.’ From his seat on the floor, Theo tilted his chin up to give her a thin smile.
Madison loomed gleefully over him. ‘Haven’t you caused Elle enough pain this year? You really needed to drive the knife deeper?’
Hannah swallowed a snort. After the pain Madison had caused Elle over winter break by intentionally excluding her best friend from her cousin’s wedding on Montauk, she was hardly one to talk. But that was Madison: she could do whatever she pleased, but she expected those around her to fall in line.
‘Stay out of it, Mads.’ Theo’s voice was sharper than Hannah had ever heard it. Involuntarily, she shuddered. Beneath the happy-go-lucky veneer, did Theo have more anger inside him than she’d realised?
‘I most certainly will not.’ Madison shrugged off her coat and draped it over her arm. Fox, by the look of it.
Bash removed his arm from around Theo’s shoulders and shoved himself to his feet.
‘Back off, Madison. What happens in Paris stays in Paris. Or it would have, if someone hadn’t sent in a tip to The Upper Edge.
And besides, do you see Elle out in the hall, making a scene?
She’s already with Harris, discussing her paper.
She’s focused on the future. You’re the only one still stuck on the events of last term. ’
Hannah winced. She’d seen Elle earlier this morning, when she’d first arrived at school.
Elle had been standing in the hall where she was now, chatting with Beatrice and Bash.
As soon as Hannah had walked through the doors, Elle had turned sharply on her heel and walked into their seminar room.
Hannah had tried to reach out after the Montauk wedding, but her texts had gone unread.
Clearly, Elle still hadn’t forgiven her for accepting Madison’s invitation.
Theo stood then too. ‘Please, Mads. Let’s call a truce and move on. It’s the last term of senior year.’
Madison glared. ‘Truces are for real friends. Not liars.’
Then she brushed past the boys and strode down the hall to meet Elle, who had just emerged from Mr Harris’s classroom.
Oliver sucked in a sharp breath. ‘Guess we have our answer.’
Hannah’s stomach clenched. Of course, she’d known already that Theo had most likely hooked up with someone over winter break. Which was entirely his business. So why did it still sting?
Ami and Alex burst through the front doors then, giggling and red-cheeked. They’d been hanging by the fountain, despite the cold. Hannah gave her sister a big wave, which Ami ignored, too absorbed in whatever she was fervently discussing with Alex.
‘Stone cold,’ Oliver quipped.
‘It’s fine. She still hasn’t forgiven me for going to the wedding without her.’ Maybe Ami and Elle should form a club.
‘She’ll get over it,’ Oliver said. ‘Probably.’
Just then, Mr Harris appeared in the doorway to his classroom.
‘See you in a few.’ Hannah touched Oliver’s arm, then made her way down the hall, towards the seminar room. Soon, the second bell would ring, and the room would be overtaken by Madison and Theo and the rest of them. But for now, it was empty.
‘Hannah Miller,’ Mr Harris said with a broad smile. ‘Welcome back.’
‘Can I hide out in here?’ she asked. ‘I just… need a minute.’
‘You’ve come to the right place.’ He stepped into the room, leaving the door wide, and gestured to the round seminar table. ‘Until the bell rings, this is a drama-free zone.’
Hannah grinned. ‘How refreshing.’
Mr Harris rewarded her with a small laugh, and Hannah sank gratefully into a chair. The spring term had officially begun.