HEART OF THE CHOSEN (CASTE BOOK 1)

Chapter 5

Despite the short night I had spent, I got up without difficulty. I was so eager to see Thomas again that I was seething. Anxiety knotted my stomach because, although this kiss was of rare intensity, at least for me, it was perhaps only a simple experience for him, helping me to understand what had been wrong with Cedric. Or had he just satisfied his curiosity? And if so, he wasn’t planning on doing it again. This last suggestion displeased me so much that I immediately swept it from my mind. For the moment, I was on cloud nine and intended to stay there. I even took the time to put on light make-up. You shouldn’t notice the change too much, too. I put on light blue jeans, tight on the buttocks but wide below the knee, brown shoes with not too high-heels, a matching fitted jacket and a close-fitting black backless top. I left my hair down and embellished everything with a very trendy patchwork handbag Olivia had lent me. She was no stranger to my preparation. She helped me with my clothes choice and make-up because, after a kiss, the second impression was paramount. I had to make him want to start over.

Thus dressed, I went to school. Olivia was not left out. All the men sitting on the bus were staring at her. Her choice of a close-fitting pinafore dress with a perfecto mini-jacket embellished with black leather boots had an effect. Naturally, her look was to break down Eric Panchak’s barriers. She wanted him and was determined to go to great lengths. By her expression of concentration, anyone would think she was mentally reviewing an applied physics test. I knew full well that she was establishing a strategy to conquer the handsome Eric.

What was our disappointment when we carefully scrutinised the school courtyard: they were absent. On the other hand, it was impossible for us not to notice all the hateful looks in my direction. My eyes slanted towards the ground. How could they believe for a moment that I could have done the slightest harm to Cedric? I had feelings for him! His death saddened me far more than the majority of them. I sometimes thought about his last moments and how he might have felt knowing that death awaited him. I would have liked to have had the opportunity to talk to him again, to tell him that, despite my resentment, I didn’t hate him. I would also have liked to ask him, one last time, why he had pushed me away so abruptly. We could have made peace, and I would have finished with this nightmare. Only Cedric could no longer confide, and I would be the target of my high school friends for a long time. So I walked across the yard, the whispers becoming more distinct. I wasn’t immune to the insults, yet I didn’t react. Olivia, meanwhile, was furious.

“He fooled me! I heard him say he would see me tomorrow when he left last night, didn’t I? I swear this Panchak won’t be laughing for long!” she said as she stared at a first-year girl who was glaring at us with an evil look. “What’s the matter with you?!”

The girl immediately lowered her eyes. Considering Olivia’s mood, she had shown great wisdom because my friend could be scary when she got angry. She left while mumbling about Eric, looking angry.

I was the first to settle in the French class. The teacher hadn’t noticed my presence, and as the seconds ticked away, the students sat down in their places. Still no Thomas as Mohamed Belhak closed the door behind him. He turned to me, pausing for a moment to observe me.

“Say, Burberry, you’re good today!”

Hum. What tact, this Mohamed, even if, coming from him, I had to consider that it was a compliment and that he was at the maximum of his possibilities in terms of elegance. But at least he didn’t care about the rumours, all that interested Mohamed Belhak was football and friends. He had never made the slightest unpleasant remark about me. He ignored me, that’s all.

Throughout the class, I languished in deep sadness. The most futile of my thoughts was the absence of Thomas by my side, and the most painful was that of the sudden death of Cedric. Once again, I sank into melancholy and my questions. What could have happened to him? Tortured, forty fractures, the more I thought about it, the more incredible this story seemed to me. What fateful encounter could lead to such a sad end?

I was even more dejected at the eleven o’clock break. My classes didn’t start again for three hours, so I had to keep busy all that time. So I decided to go to The Roundhouse to give Arlette a hand. It was time for her to make the sandwiches, so I wasn’t surprised to see her with her large apron tied loosely around her chubby stomach. Selling crisps, candy bars, and candy all day didn’t help keep weight off. She still had her chestnut hair tied in a somewhat loose bun and had a slightly curved nose that gave her a stern look. As I went behind the bar to cut the bread, she stared at me and examined my outfit.

“What happened to your creepy clothes?”

“I decided to change my style,” I replied falsely.

“Oh! I know you, my girl, you’re hiding something from me.”

“Let’s just say I need to tell you about more stuff later, okay?”

“Okay, but if you want to know, I was expecting to see you more upset after what happened to Cedric.”

“Frankly, it’s only my appearance that says otherwise. In reality, I’m devastated. Not only did Cedric die in horrific circumstances, but the whole school hated me. I know it’s selfish to think of myself at a time like this, but I want people to respect my sadness and not think I’m a psychopathic killer. Have you heard their gossip?”

“Yes,” she replied in her strong voice, straightening up. “Since this morning, it hasn’t stopped. I won’t tell you the nonsense I’ve heard. I thought nothing could shock me after ten years in this school, but all the same! Some people are tough on you, Eve. I kicked three out of The Roundhouse this morning.”

“At least they didn’t insult me in the yard in front of everyone.”

“They think you’re involved in Cedric’s death, those assholes!” she commented, angry.

“Yes, I know. Sophia started the rumour in the middle of the gymnasium. I’m sick of this high school!”

“Yeah, but you don’t have to give up, Eve, and I admit, this outfit is perfectly appropriate for getting back on track.”

“This outfit is to attract the attention of a new acquaintance, but I’ll tell you all about it the day I’m sure I’m not making a fool of myself.”

I was, if possible, even gloomier at this moment. Hearing from Arlette’s mouth what everyone was quietly thinking confirmed that Sophia had worked well to undermine me for life.

“Listen, my beauty! You’ll leave this school in less than ten months, and all of this will be history.”

“Yeah…”

Olivia arrived, determined. Her furious look had still not left her. She wasn’t used to being resisted!

“Hello, Arlette. Are we going to the canteen, Eve?”

“Okay, let me finish, one second.”

“See you later, girls!” cried Arlette as her first customers crowded into the cafe.

I followed Olivia towards the cafeteria. We had taken our place in line, and I hesitated between burger/fries or pan-fried vegetables with chicken breast. Burger/fries, of course. Then I sat down at a table next to Olivia. She remained silent. I nevertheless ventured to try an approach.

“So, your Spanish class?” I asked.

“Rotten.”

Okay.

“Olivia, are you going to be sulky for the entire meal?”

She stared at me for a moment, then finally softened.

“Excuse me, Eve. Between Eric, who doesn’t care about me, and the other morons who keep talking bullshit about you, I can’t relax anymore!”

“And what can I say!” I replied, looking weary, “I’m even more of a laughingstock than before, and I threw myself on a guy only forty-eight hours after meeting him.”

“One, you’ve been a laughingstock for so long that won’t change your ways, anyway. Two, it was Thomas who threw himself on you first.”

“Yes, that’s not wrong.”

“Hi, girls!”

We were interrupted by Johnny Forbe. Johnny was a black athlete with a shaved head, a smooth face adorned with a nice intricately sculpted goatee, and a handsome guy from the top of his eighty centimetres. Any girl could have tried to seduce him if he hadn’t been irrevocably gay.

“Aren’t you with your gang of shrews today?” Olivia said.

Johnny hung around Sophia Chang’s circle but didn’t let her have his exclusive attention. He was friendly with everyone and particularly fond of gossip, and he didn’t fail to inform Olivia and me of this with scrupulous, detailed reports. Johnny had known Olivia since kindergarten. I had known she was there for him when he discovered his s****l orientation, which wasn’t a trivial period in his life, particularly in a London district like Brixton. They had since developed a strong friendship, even if one could doubt it to hear them talk.

“Are you on your period, Kaprisky, or what?”

“Oh! It’s okay! Come on, sit down.”

Johnny put down his tray and looked around the dining hall. I knew that sitting at my table would earn him some disparaging remarks. But Johnny loved to be the centre of attention, so it was with a broad grin at the corner of his lips that he settled into his chair.

“But it’s the table of the stars! Everyone is looking at me! It’s the place to be, ladies!”

“They especially wonder what you’re doing here!” Olivia said.

“Yes, well, I have the answer. They have gone completely crazy. Sophia can’t stop ranting about Eve, and that’s all everyone talks about. In any case, those who knew Cedric and the other morons listened like idiots. I’m not being mean, Eve, but I’m sick of hearing about you.”

“How I understand you! I’m tired of hearing about me.”

“Say, you!” Olivia exclaimed, still staring at Johnny. “So you decide to talk to me when I haven’t heard from you for two months.”

“Oh, my poor darling! But if you knew the summer I spent, you would have died of jealousy!”

Olivia cracked a big smile. Johnny watched her with his most flirtatious eyes. They burst out laughing. Although I adored Johnny, I wasn’t up for a discussion about his s****l prowess over the summer.

Johnny had ironclad assurance. I knew he hadn’t been spared questionable hints about his sexuality since childhood, but people preferred to avoid the subject now. And for a good reason. He was the younger brother of the boss of London’s largest Crime Syndicate, Elvis Forbe. Papa Forbe had found it fun to call his sons by the first names of his favourite singers (Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash), and no one was messing with Elvis. He was as large as a wardrobe, at least two metres tall, with an impressive gash in the middle of the right cheek.

“What’s up in your little lives, girls?” asked Johnny.

“Well, I’m currently chasing a hot guy while Eve is off with his brother.”

“Seriously!”

Silent, I glared at my friend. Telling Johnny this was like shouting it into a loudspeaker in the middle of the yard.

“Olivia, you’re kidding me!”

“Oh, come on, Eve, it’s not every day that something this exciting happens to you, and Johnny won’t say anything, will you, Johnny?”

“Sure!” he replied, falsely serious in front of the look Olivia gave him. “Tell all!”

“She snuggled into the arms of the new, handsome, dark-haired, husky-eyed Thomas Panchak.”

“b***h!” he exclaimed, “Have you seen his brother? He’s a living god. I swear if I held him…”

“Eric is mine!” Olivia said, her eyes in AK-47 mode.

“Okay! Anyway, it’s clear that they’re straight, these two, but, Eve, I’m shocked, you chased down a guy, you little slut, come on!”

“Well, it’s nothing serious. We just kissed.”

“Yeah, but if I remember correctly, the last time you kissed a guy you went all Carrie at the devil’s ball. So if he didn’t run away, it’s worth celebrating, right? And it can skyrocket your popularity rating. If I were you, I’d do him in the middle of the yard, just to shut the mouths of all those assholes.”

I imagined the scene. Thomas came towards me before pressing his mouth against mine in front of the dumbfounded gaze of all the students in the school. I burst out laughing.

I took my place in Mr Keller’s German class, who consented to send me a timid hello with his hand. This lunch with Johnny had the gift of cheering me up, but it was nothing compared to the surprise of seeing Thomas sitting at our desk. For a second, I wondered if he’d be happy to see me, but the way he bit his lip at the sight of me dispelled all my worries.

“You’re beautiful,” he said in his soft and warm voice.

Mmm… it felt good to hear that! I was already feeling exhilarated.

“Where were you this morning?”

“Why, did you miss me?”

“A little,” I retorted, a hint of stress in my voice.

“We had papers to put in order at the district council. We’ve only recently arrived in the region, so we still have a few formalities to deal with.”

“Where are you from, exactly?”

“It’s a long story I’ll tell you at another time if you don’t mind.”

“Alright,” I replied.

“How about going out with me tonight after school?”

Wow! I quivered. Was this a dream or what! So, I hadn’t disgusted him, and he even asked me out! I tried not to show my excitement, but it was difficult as I wanted to scream my happiness.

“If you want,” I replied, falsely jaded, “what do you suggest?”

“We could go to the city centre, what do you say?”

“Yes, why not? I’ll meet you at the tube station, okay?”

“Tube station?” he raised his eyes, startled. “But that’s not okay, Eve! I’m picking you up by car at 8 p.m.”

“Oh! You have a driving licence?”

“Yes.”

“How old are you?”

“Nineteen years old.”

“Okay, so 8 p.m.”

Thomas dominated my mind during the next four hours of German and English. I could still feel his waves of desire reaching me like voluptuous emissions and taking over my whole body. Again, I thought this feeling was strange but so pleasant. From time to time, Thomas slipped his hand on my leg, which had the gift of systematically making me jump from my chair. When he blew on the back of my neck, I shook. I only thought about when we were going to be alone together. I wanted to kiss him, touch him. He slowly stroked my back, but no one caught his fingers roaming my skin. I was so looking forward to tonight. The bell finally rang.

“See you later,” he said half-heartedly.

I watched him walk away, not failing to linger on his buttocks moulded into his perfectly cut jeans. Olivia came up behind me.

“So? Did your lessons go well?”

“Mmm… Wonderful.”

On the way home, Olivia began her daily report. Eric had also returned and sat next to her for the last two hours. She was over the moon. Like me, she had also had her dose of emotions for the day. I told her about my hot side-by-side with Thomas before announcing his invitation to go out for the evening. She was so enthusiastic that she ordered me to put on my super sexy little turquoise dress for the occasion. I promised to call her the next day to tell her everything and went home quietly. I felt light and keenly tasted the air filling my lungs. A few minutes later, my stomach began to twist in anguish thinking of the evening that awaited me.

Sam arrived an hour later while I was taking my shower. Of course, I had taken care to wax all over (you never know, even if it was out of the question…, of course!) and undertook an adventurous brushing before putting on my make-up. The result wasn’t so bad after all. I walked down the stairs in a bathrobe to greet Sam.

“Hello, Eve! Oh! But you’re gorgeous. Are you going out?”

“Yes, I was invited.”

“Hmm. Who’s the lucky winner?” he asked, clearing his throat.

“Thomas. And please don’t ask questions.”

“But you don’t know him, do you?”

“No questions. And for the moment, I just want to go out with a guy I like, it’s been a long time, all the same!”

“You’re right,” he replied as I rushed back to finish getting ready.