Everybody Knows by Kyra Lennon Page A

questions.”
    “Lucy-” Ellie began.
    “Wait.” I held my hands up. “Why are you two out here whispering about me and Jason? If there is something you want to ask me, then just ask. Not that I have anything to tell you, which is why I’m so confused right now.”
    Ellie flicked her eyes towards Drew, in much the same way my mum looks at my dad when there’s something uncomfortable she wants to discuss. She closed her eyes and leaning back against the ornate wooden bannister behind her. “You weren’t supposed to hear any of that.”
    “Obviously. But I did.”
    I kept my stare firm on her. I knew she would cave if I glared hard enough, but more than that, she knew she owed me an explanation which was why she kept tugging at the sleeves of her top and avoided meeting my eye.
    “What do you think is going on, Ellie? And what does Jason need to understand?”
    Again, Ellie looked to Drew for help, and he took a step towards me. “We’ve noticed you and Jason spending a lot of time together.”
    “You mean you’ve noticed,” I said. “Ellie’s only just got here.”
    He at least had the grace to give an embarrassed nod. “Okay. I noticed.”
    “I noticed too,” Ellie added. “It’s hard not to.”
    “Have you seen where we live right now? I can’t avoid him, can I?”
    She raised an eyebrow. “How much time have you spent with Mack or Joey? Or me, for that matter?”
    “Oh, that’s what this is about? You think I haven’t spent enough time with you? I thought you might want to be with Drew on the first day you got here!”
    “It’s not about me, it’s about you!”
    “I still don’t know what I’ve done!”
    “You haven’t done anything.” Drew gave Ellie’s shoulder a gentle squeeze, silently telling her to calm down. “But we’re worried that you getting closer to Jason is going to cause… problems.”
    “For who?”
    “Both of you.”
    I shook my head. “This is total crap. Nothing’s happened between us. I don’t know why you’d think it would.”
    “The late night talks, the hugging, the hand holding. You don’t think that’s a sign?”
    “Ellie holds hands with Jason, and hugs him, and has stayed up all night talking to him. Do you think she’s trying to screw him too?”
    Ellie’s head snapped up, her eyes narrow as Drew stiffened.
    That was a low blow and I knew it, but she and Drew had suddenly turned into my parents, and I still didn’t know why. I shouldn’t have taken a swing at Drew’s insecurities about Jason though. They were much better than they used to be, but he needed no reminder of how bad things used to be.
    “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair.” I took in a long breath. “But if you have a question, you should have spoken to me, not talked about me behind my back.”
    They both knew I had them there. Ellie and Drew had had enough people talking about them without checking the facts to know how shitty it felt, and as the realisation seeped into them, Ellie sighed. “You’re right. And I’m sorry too. It’s just… when you left home, I thought this would be okay. I knew there was a chance it wouldn’t be, but I trusted you and Jason to do the right thing.”
    I held my hands up again. “Ellie, please. Can you please start making sense?”
    “I know you, and I know Jason. Every now and again he gets a look in his eye that usually spells trouble. He sees you differently now, Luce. I’m scared he’ll cross the line with you, and if he does that, I’m certain it won’t end well for you.”
    I didn’t need to ask why. Jason had never been in a long term relationship. Honestly, I couldn’t recall him being in a short term one. His main focus was his music, followed by having a good time, followed by his relationships with the people closest to him. Maybe his family and friends ranked higher than they used to and were more on par with having a good time, but the point was, aside from those things, he didn’t care. If he now counted me amongst