since Michelle apologised, sort of. Miles seemed to have gotten over whatever it was that was bothering him, but he still seemed a bit... on edge.

At breakfast, when he'd jumped at a fork scraping against a plate, I decided to say something.

"Is Harry still bothering you?" I asked, looking over to him sat further down the table with his cronies.

"What?" He asked, having been zoned out. "No, no, he hasn't."

"Hmm," I said, not believing him, but deciding not to push it. "I meant to tell you." I lowered my voice and now snuck a look at the Elites on the other side of the hall. "I saw Archer and these guys last night."

"What, like you had an orgy or something?"

"No, no," I choked. "I mean I saw him with a bunch of guys and they were giving something over."

He chewed on his bacon. "Sounds shifty."

We both looked over to them.

Archer was eating, stony faced as always. He was next to Autumn and Noah was opposite her. They were talking amongst each other, but he didn't seem to be listening all that much. There was no sign of Houman but by the protectiveness his guard had shown already, I imagined he didn't eat with everyone. And I supposed the dragon girl joined him.

"That's what I thought. I mean what if it's guns or some shit."

"Oh god yeah, we could be in a real life James Bond. What if they're in MI5 or some shit?"

"I doubt they're spies," I said, stabbing a sausage on my plate. "Maybe drug lords."

Miles nodded and widened his eyes. "It would explain the money."

I decided it probably wasn't healthy to be talking so much about someone who may or may not be a gang leader, so changed the subject. "You doing anything today?"

"Gonna see She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." I raised an eyebrow in question. "Nan," he answered.

"Ah," I said. "I'm going to take the bus and see mum."

"They don't live that far apart," he said. "We'll go together!"

I didn't know how to deflect that, didn't know how to say 'no, I don't want you coming anywhere near my mum' without it sounding like I thought he was some mass murderer. I don't really know if I didn't want him to see my mum so that I wouldn't have to explain everything or whether I just wasn't ready to get that close with someone. Was I embarrassed, even?

"No, no," I said. "I mean, I'll be there ages and she'll probably bore you to death with talking about Grand Designs."

It probably wasn't the best choice of tv show, considering Miles loved everything to do with art and design. This was proven correct as he exclaimed, "I love that show!"

"I better be going. Bus leaves in ten minutes. Bye!"

And I was running away, leaving him to watch my retreating back, confused and probably a little hurt.

***

The entire way there, I felt undeniably guilty for how I had dismissed Miles, which was a heck of a long time— three buses. I'd had to scrape together some change, which ended up being more money than I'd spent the entire time here.

I knocked on the door twice so she'd know I was here, but I didn't expect her to open it so rummaged for my keys. With my key raised, she did the unexpected: she answered the door.

She attacked me with a hug. It can't have been more than a few weeks since I'd last seen her, but she seemed better, even if still on the skinny side. Her oversized cardigan billowed in the wind as she turned and led me into the house.

Surprisingly, the place wasn't overcome in dust or whatever else and was actually rather clean.

"You look well," I told her, honestly.

"Yeah," she said. "Linda was in the other day, got me my shopping. She also made me this lasagna." I assumed this Linda was Ms Harris. For a good few minutes, she was gushing about how good the lasagna was, so I let her. It had been a long time since she'd last been so excited about food.

"Have the nurses been in?"

"Been and gone," she said with a wave. "Now tell me more about school."

I told her everything. Well, not everything. I left out the parts about the other students and whatever it was that I'd stumbled upon last night. She asked all about my studies and all about Miles when I mentioned him, telling me she just had to meet him.

I was there longer than I'd expected.

To be honest, I didn't know whether I'd be aching to leave once I got there or begging to stay with her. Each time I saw her, whether she was in bed with little to no mobility or if she was like she was then, sat in her chair albeit overly pale, I was overcome with a different emotion.

Now, I was happy, ecstatic even. She was getting better, just like last time.

***

I was walking down the path, back to the school. It seemed a lot further than it on the way out, especially when I felt a splash on my head.

"Please no," I muttered to the sky. I must have done something wrong recently because as I said it, the heavens opened.

I pulled my jacket so that it was over my head and clung to my rucksack so it wouldn't get too wet.

I was only just going round the bend and I knew the gates wouldn't be appearing for a long while more.

I silently prayed whoever was looking over me for someone to come and save me before I got soaked through. Preferably, a knight in shining armour, only if he had shelter, though. I wouldn't be opposed to Theo James coming along, either. I'd be happy to get drenched if I was with him.

A low hum peaked my interest. I was only just able to hear it over the sound of rain beating against the ground.

I waited for the car to pass, but it slowed to my pace so that it crawled beside me.

I gripped the card with the gate pin a little tighter.

I stopped. The car stopped.

The window opened.

"Get in."