‘Great.’ Noah smiles and stands up, digging through the pile of bags to find his. In doing so, they all slide off the table and onto the floor.

  ‘Dammit, Chapman!’ Deklan growls and moves around to retrieve his bag.

  There’s a whole lot of passing back and forth and we finally get sorted. I’m feeling more and more sceptical by the second that we’re going to be able to work as a team.

  I look over to see if Ethan and Angus are still there, but they both look like they’re back in serious study mode, so I decide to leave with everyone else. I’m hungry, and by the time I catch the next bus and get home, I’m going to be even hungrier.

  We all walk towards the exit, Olivia well behind and Deklan way in front. As I leave the building and a blast of cool air hits my face, I’m about to turn around and say goodbye when a body totally barrels into me and literally knocks me off my feet.

  Paper goes flying, my copy of The Outsiders shoots through the sky, missing Tyler by about a centimetre, and my bum hits the cold concrete with a stinging smack.

  CHAPTER 7

  ‘Oh man, Eleanor!’ A voice sounds out behind me and I can’t quite place it. ‘I am so sorry.’

  I crane my neck and look up. It’s Jarrod Griggs and he’s totally trying not to laugh. Noah, on the other hand, isn’t even pretending to be polite. He’s giggling hysterically. Seriously, mate, it’s not that funny.

  Noah wheezes and bends over, his hands on his thighs. ‘I wish I’d had my phone out for that one, Jonesy. Would have gone viral for sure.’

  I start to gather the contents of my bag, looking up briefly to see who else was witness to the fall. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot an older guy rushing over. He’s wearing running gear and puffing loudly, pulling an earpod from one ear as he grabs my elbows and helps me to my feet.

  ‘Eleanor!’

  How is it that everyone seems to know me all of a sudden? I look up at the helper and vaguely recognise his face. He smiles and the dimples in each round cheek remind me. It’s Holly’s firefighter mate. I can’t quite remember his name though.

  ‘Oh, hey . . .’ I scan my memory. ‘Smitty, right? From the CFA?’

  ‘That’s me,’ he says. ‘Are you okay? That was quite the tumble.’

  Seemingly happy that I’m standing, Smitty lets go of me and bends down to pick up a rogue folder off to one side. I take it from him, embarrassed, and shove it in my bag with everything else.

  ‘I’m fine, really, thanks.’ I can tell my face is bright red and I hate that I have a crowd for this. Although, other than Noah still chuckling, no one else is paying much attention. Deklan has left, and I have no idea where Olivia is. Tyler, who usually would be eating up my humiliation, is too busy staring at Jarrod.

  ‘When did you get back to town?’ Her voice is softer than usual, and a little breathless. Ew.

  ‘I, ah . . .’ Jarrod looks at her, reluctant to answer.

  ‘You probably don’t remember me,’ Tyler says. ‘I’ve grown up a lot since you left.’

  ‘Nah, sure. I remember.’ Jarrod smiles at her, snapping his fingers like he’s trying to get her name, which makes me think he absolutely does not remember her.

  ‘Tyler,’ she says. ‘Tyler Linney. I’m friends with your brother.’

  I can’t help it. I just sort of clear my throat, but a choking sound comes out.

  Tyler sends a death stare my way and then completely changes her expression when she stares back up at Jarrod.

  ‘Seems my little brother has made lots of friends while I’ve been away. That’s new.’ Jarrod looks around at each of us and I find myself twitching. There’s something about him that I don’t like at all, and I can’t seem to put my finger on it. ‘Where is he, anyway? I thought I’d take him home. Isn’t he done by now?’

  ‘This is his final semester,’ I say, still collecting random items from the ground and sticking them in my bag. When I stop and look up, I can see that means nothing to Jarrod. Of course. Legend has it he was the world’s worst student. I’m pretty sure he dropped out of school early. Ethan, on the other hand, is counting on a university scholarship, so every second of study time counts. ‘He’ll be in there ’til they close, for sure.’

  Jarrod furrows his brow, and for a moment he reminds me of Ethan again.

  ‘I’ll leave you to it if you’re right then, Eleanor,’ Smitty’s voice interrupts my thoughts. I forgot he was still there. ‘Stay safe.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, no worries. Thank you.’ I wave him away and he jogs off, reinserting his earpod in the process.

  ‘You can drive me home, if you like,’ Tyler says to Jarrod. She’s standing right up close to him now.

  If he’s unimpressed at the thought of being a taxi driver, Jarrod doesn’t let on.

  ‘Sure.’ He shrugs, then glances at Noah. ‘What about you?’

  Noah’s eyes widen in shock. His grin disappears as he acknowledges the invitation, and then returns as he enthusiastically nods his head up and down.

  ‘Eleanor?’ Jarrod asks me and Tyler gives me the death stare again.

  ‘Nah, I’m sorted,’ I say. Not that I’d get in a car with Jarrod Griggs, but I’m picking up the not-so-subtle vibe that Tyler would have my head if one more person ruins her chances to be alone with him. ‘Thanks anyway.’

  I throw my backpack over my shoulder and try to pretend I don’t have a limp as I leave. I’m glad the bus stop is only two blocks away. The sudden awareness of my tailbone existing is causing me to make an ‘ouch’ sound with every step.

  I’m not far from the stop when I see the bus pull up. If I miss this one, I have to wait an hour for the next. I start to jog a little but it hurts too much. Power walking is not an option either.

  Chanting ‘please don’t leave, please don’t leave’ under my breath, I walk and stare at the indicator flicking on and off at the side of the bus. I can’t seem to make eye contact with the bus driver, but just as the flashing side light stops and starts on the other side, he spots me.

  Holding my hand up to keep his attention, I do a last minute, pathetic run to the door.

  He rolls his eyes at me as I tap on, so I wince and amp up the limp to try to justify my lack of urgency. I don’t think he notices because I’m not quite at my seat when he lurches the bus out into the street and I nearly go flying.

  Turns out, my bum hurts just as much when I’m sitting. It’s a good half hour ride to my stop, so I spread out over two seats and empty my bag. There are sheets from at least three different subjects crumpled and loose, so I make piles and start putting everything back into the folders they belong to.

  With about two stops left before mine, I think I’m nearly done. Lifting my lunchbox off the seat so as to slide it back on top of everything, I’m almost about to zip my backpack closed when I notice a small square of paper.

  I pick it up and realise it’s actually a larger piece of paper that has been folded over and over until it’s reached this minuscule size.

  Huh. That’s definitely not mine. Maybe it was on the seat before I got here?

  Trying not to tear it, I start to unfold it, one section at a time until I see the writing. I smooth it out and inspect it.

  The handwriting is messy and not easy to make out, but I know immediately that it couldn’t possibly have been left by whoever was sitting here before me. At the top of the page there are two words:

  Eleanor Jones.

  My heart skips a beat. What is this?

  I keep reading.

  I know you saw me yesterday. Don’t pretend you didn’t. If you tell anyone about me or what you saw, you’ll be next. Stay out of it, or else.

  I swallow, but the lump in my throat doesn’t shift.

  There’s a black mark on part of the page and I lift the piece of paper close to my face, like somehow looking at it more carefully will help me figure out what it’s supposed to be. A picture of something? I catch a waft though, and wiping the mark with my thumb, I watch it smudge. That’s not a drawing. It’s charcoal. This is from whoever lit that fire yesterday. It has to be. This note, without a doubt, is a threat.

  CHAPTER 8

  I hustle us over to the table that’s farthest away from the school buildings. There’s no one around, but I really want to be sure that there isn’t anyone listening in.

  ‘What is going on, Eleanor?’ Namita asks as she slides over on the bench seat to let Angus in next to her. Ethan, on her other side, bumps her back as her arm touches his and he gives her a little grin.

  ‘You are being very secretive,’ Alfie says.

  Troy, on my other side, is quiet.

  ‘Sorry,’ I apologise. ‘I know I’m acting weird. I just wanted you all together so I didn’t have to go over this a million times.’

  I take the note I found in my bag last night out of my pocket and open it, before smoothing it down on the table in front of me.

  Alfie and Troy lean in to read it and then Namita flips it around so she can see it upright.

  Angus, who must have read it upside down, speaks first. ‘What did you see?’

  ‘That’s the thing.’ I shake my head. ‘Nothing. At least, I don’t think I saw anything. But maybe I did? What am I supposed to do with this?’

  ‘It definitely sounds like a warning.’ Troy is frowning down at the piece of paper. ‘I don’t like this at all. Should we take it to Holly?’

  ‘I will give it to her,’ I say. ‘I wanted to talk to you guys first though. I’m trying to figure out who might have put it in my bag, and I’m not sure I like the list I’m coming up with.’

  Ethan stares at me across the table. ‘What do you mean? Where did you find it?’

  ‘It was in my schoolbag after I saw you guys at the library last night,’ I tell him. ‘I didn’t see it until I was going through my stuff on the bus, when I was on my way home.’

  ‘Someone dropped it in your schoolbag?’ Namita pokes at the note with one finger. ‘That means it could have been anyone.’

  ‘That’s just it,’ I explain. ‘After second break yesterday, I went back to my locker and there was a funky smell. It was only an old apple in the bottom of my bag, but I emptied everything out of it, in case there was something else. My bag was locked in my locker for final classes, and I left early – and on my own – to go to the library in town after school.’

  ‘Okay . . .’ Troy says. ‘So, who did you see between the end of the day and the bus home? Who was close enough to slip the note in?’

  ‘Well,’ I start. ‘I saw Ethan and Angus talking to Vi when I got into the library, but none of you were close enough to me or my bag.’

  ‘Thanks a lot,’ Ethan grumbles and Namita laughs and gives him a nudge.

  ‘She’s eliminating suspects,’ she says to him. ‘I like it. Carry on.’

  ‘Then Olivia arrived. She stood right next to me,’ I continue.

  ‘Olivia Fisher?’ Alfie furrows his brow.

  ‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘Do you know much about her?’

  He moves his head slowly from side to side. ‘She started here a few years back. She’s pretty quiet.’

  I snort. ‘That’s an understatement.’

  He shrugs. ‘I tried to get to know her when she first got here, but she really clammed up when I asked about her family. I think she lives with an aunt, or grandparent, or something? Anyway, I must have said too much because she never spoke to me again after that.’

  I tilt my head and wonder if now is the time to remind Alfie that he doesn’t have much of a filter when it comes to conversation, and not everyone is an open book like he is. He’s also big on the chatting, which is sometimes a lot for non-chatters. If people go quiet or don’t know how to react around someone like Alfie, it’s a them-thing. It’s not personal.

  ‘Then what?’ Troy prompts me.

  Shuffling in my seat, I continue. ‘Then, we went over to the counter while Vi went to get copies of the book we needed.’ I raise my eyes to the sky trying to remember exact details.

  ‘We each put our bags on one table, and then Noah knocked them all on the floor, so they got mixed up.’

  ‘Noah Chapman?’ Alfie confirms, even though I’m fairly sure there is no other Noah in our year level. I nod all the same.

  ‘I can’t imagine Noah starting a fire.’ Troy laughs. ‘Or wanting you to keep it a secret if he had. Everything he does is a performance. He’d probably video it and upload it online somewhere.’

  Namita frowns. ‘Let’s not discount anyone yet. Go on, Eleanor. Who else?’

  ‘Well, the rest of the group consists of Tyler Linney and Deklan Webb.’

  Namita slaps her hand on the table. ‘Tyler, one hundred per cent.’

  I try to stifle a grin but fail miserably.

  ‘Do you really think that one of them started the fire?’ Alfie says. ‘That one of them maybe killed a person?’

  ‘Anything’s possible,’ I admit. ‘The thing is, there were two other people who could have put something in my bag.’

  Everyone is silent, so I keep talking.

  ‘When I left the library, I literally ran into your brother, Ethan.’

  ‘Jarrod?’ Ethan’s tone is sharp, and I nod in response.

  ‘My stuff went everywhere and he helped me pick some of it up.’

  Ethan looks confused, as though helping would be the last thing Jarrod would do.

  ‘He didn’t help for long. Tyler started flirting with him.’

  ‘Of course,’ Namita seethes.

  ‘He drove her home,’ I say to her, forgetting for a moment that it’s not only Namita and me in the conversation.

  ‘Why doesn’t that surprise me at all?’ Ethan rolls his eyes.

  ‘To be fair, he offered everyone a lift,’ I explain. ‘I said no. I’m sort of done riding in cars with strange blokes. But he drove Tyler and Noah home.’

  ‘Really?’ Ethan screws up his nose and leans back a little.

  ‘There was one other person too. He kind of appeared from nowhere. I thought he was just jogging past but . . .’

  Everyone waits for me to continue.

  I look at Troy. ‘Remember that firefighter Holly introduced us to? Her friend, Smitty? That guy. He was running by the library when I fell. He helped me out and collected some of the scattered papers.’

  ‘A firefighter starting a fire and then putting it out?’ Troy doesn’t seem impressed with the theory.

  ‘I know,’ I agree. ‘It doesn’t make any sense, but what I’m saying is, that’s all the people who could have done it. There’s no one else.’

  Alfie lists the names, counting with his fingers as he does. ‘Olivia, Noah, Tyler, Deklan, Jarrod, and this firey you’re talking about, Smitty. That’s six people.’

  ‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘And Ethan is living with one of them, and I have to spend a whole heap of time with four . . . The fact is, it’s someone we know. Someone we know is an arsonist and maybe even a murderer.’

  CHAPTER 9

  By the time the afternoon rolls around, I feel like the note is burning a hole in my pocket. I know it’s zipped tight in my school dress, but I keep feeling for the lump of paper and the motion of reaching for it is starting to turn into a nervous tick.

  Ms Kahn asks the class to gather in our groups as soon as we walk in the door of the English room. Again, Tyler refuses to move, so we all go to her and put together chairs and tables until we are in a makeshift circle.

  ‘What is your problem?’ Tyler, who is sitting across from me, asks.

  I realise I’m kind of zoning out because I’ve been looking at everyone around me, wondering if it was one of these four who have put that note in my bag.

  ‘What?’ I fold my arms across my chest and I can feel my eyes darting around the group. The fact she’s noticed makes me feel instantly uncomfortable and a little defensive, which in turn is making me look extra sketchy.

  ‘Why are you looking at everyone like that?’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Like you’re better than all of us.’

  Is this girl for real? If anyone thinks they’re better than anyone around here . . . I open my mouth to speak just as Ms Kahn appears next to me.

  ‘Wonderful!’ She claps her hands together as she notices we’re each holding a copy of our selected book. ‘Great to see you’ve got the text already. An excellent start. Have you thought about a plan of action for the assignment?’

  I refuse to say anything. Wouldn’t want to get accused of thinking I was better than everyone. Tyler stares at me, her eyes are flashing with fury and I’m wondering exactly what I’ve done to make her especially annoyed with me today.

  Noah laughs. His easy chuckle seems to magically disrupt the tension between Tyler and me.

  ‘Well, of course, Ms Kahn,’ he says, waving his arm with a flourish and bowing as best as you can when you’re sitting behind a desk. ‘We’ve allocated roles and discussed themes and you may as well call it now. We will be the superior group and you’ll have to provide A pluses all round.’

  Ms Kahn shakes her head at him, but she smiles at the same time. ‘I love your confidence, Noah.’

  ‘Is it confidence when it’s the truth though?’ He winks at her and this time she can’t help herself. She lets out a short laugh.

  ‘All right,’ she says. ‘Given that you’re all so organised, how about you find a quiet corner and start actually reading the book. Unless, of course, you’re such brilliant students that you’ve already read it.’

  Noah looks at me, then at Olivia.

  I finally speak. ‘That’s a great idea, Ms Kahn. We’ll get started.’ I wave my copy of The Outsiders at her and then stand. The sooner I can get away from Tyler, the better.

  Deklan and Tyler both stay seated, but I notice that Deklan instantly opens his book and starts to read. Tyler seems disappointed he’s not up for talking about all of us, and by the time I’ve picked up my stuff, she’s got her head down too.

 

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