“In a territorial kind of way?” Tara taps her lower lip, seeming deep in thought. “It’s weird, you know. I don’t think she’s even attracted to him, but she’s been working to score him, anyway. The rumour is that she has a secret boyfriend, but is using King as a cover-up. Maybe she’s dating a thug.”
Or maybe she’s dating Aiden or sleeping with him and the whole secret boyfriend deal is a deflation method.
Nope. Not going there. I promised to try trusting Aiden not two hours ago.
Tara keeps talking about the multiple rumours that circled around the school since Royal Elite Junior until now. I never had so much contact with Tara because we both keep to ourselves. I never thought she’s so much into gossip.
Apparently, I’ve been missing out on half of what’s happening at RES. Like the fact that Mr James, the previous rugby coach was fired for a complaint of harassment against one of his players. I thought he was transferred willingly. Tara doesn’t know the player because the school’s board made sure to keep everything under wraps.
There’s also the fact that King, the father not the son, will be personally overlooking the football team’s schedule. Tara says that he has friends in big teams of the Premier League and will be sending scouts over. I wonder if Aiden will pursue Football professionally like his cousin.
We’re in the shower with only a thin, blurry glass wall separating us when Tara blurts, “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” I apply the shampoo over my head and massage my skull.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Elsa. I hear a lot of rumours and I just want to know which is true and which is false.”
I laugh. “No. I’m not really ‘Frozen’ if that’s what you’re asking.”
“You kind of are, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t even know ninety per cent of the stuff that happens at RES. You don’t care about anyone other than Kim. Everyone thinks you’re…”
“Stuck up?”
“I was going to say a recluse?” There’s an awkward smile in her voice.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind what everyone thinks. I’m only here because it’s the perfect way to get to Cambridge.” I want to tell her that being selected as a target on the first day at school didn’t really warm me up to the students here, but I keep that to myself.
“That makes sense.” She sounds thoughtful again. “Then the rumour about you and King can’t be true, I guess.”
“What rumour?” Once I’m done rinsing my hair, I towel it and wrap another towel around my torso.
Tara and I get out of our stalls at the same time. Her wet chestnut hair falls to a sleek bob around her round face as she ties the towel around her body.
The other girls are at the back, talking about their plans for the rest of the afternoon.
Tara approaches me and whispers, “Some say that you and King are old acquaintances and you hurt him. That’s why he hated you the moment he first saw you at RES.”
My heart jolts and picks up speed. The rumour makes perfect sense. If I weren’t one thousand per cent sure that I met him that day for the first time, I would’ve believed it, too.
“I didn’t know anyone in RES the day I came here,” I tell her.
“I thought so, too. That means the second rumour is more correct.”
“And that is?”
She lifts a shoulder. “He only targeted you because you were the new girl.”
“I’m sure that’s the right version.”
After more gossip from Tara while we change our clothes, we part ways near the teachers’ office. She has to talk to the swim team’s coach about her younger brother’s application who’s a sophomore.
I visibly shudder when I pass by the pool area. Deep water stiffens my shoulder blades with fear, especially if it’s dark and I can’t make out my own limbs.
After a few panic attacks when I was younger, Uncle and Aunt quit taking me to the beach altogether. They always eliminated anything of discomfort from my immediate vicinity. I’m beyond thankful for the lengths they’ve been going through to make sure I live a comfortable life.