Addie’s POV
I jolt upright. Disoriented, I feel like I’ve ran a marathon. There is loud thumping outside, and it takes me a moment to realize it’s the rain. I’m in my room, and glancing at my wristwatch, I see that it’s 4 in the morning. Great. The little memory I had of my dream fades, as I take in my surroundings. I’m hot and cold at the same time, and I open my door. I fold my legs under me and sit almost on the edge of it. The raindrops hitting the ground bounce off and sprinkle my knees. It’s nice.
I lean on the doorframe, and close my eyes. My head is throbbing and I start to shiver. But sweat is covering my forehead and my back. I put my hair in a low pony tail with the hair tie on my wrist.
It smells like wet grass and mud, a very earthy smell that I know and love. I take a couple of deep breaths before I return in my room. Suddenly I’m very cold. I push the door to close it, but not all the way, and then I get under my duvet. My pillow is a bit damp from my sweat, so I turn it over. The cold side of the pillow eases my headache and I drift to sleep.

The next time I wake, my alarm is going crazy, and I realize I’ve overslept. I jump up and run to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and my hair, and put on jeans, a knit sweater and a raincoat. I take out my rain boots from underneath my bed, and I manage to put a notebook or two in my backpack.
When I exit my room, the house is quiet. Mom is off to work, she goes before we even wake up, and I don’t hear Aggie. She didn’t wake me. Bitch.
I half walk half run to school, when I meet Luke on the way. He is walking in the opposite direction. His head is hidden under his hoodie.
“Luke?” I ask. Is it Saturday? Is it some kind of a holiday? Am I missing something?
“Sup” He says, and stops in front of me.
“Why are you not going to school?” I ask him. He looks at me and after a moment says
“I don’t know. I don’t feel like it” I eye him. I got the impression that Luke really cares for his schoolwork and all that jazz. I am a bit confused.
“Oh, okay” I say and then start walking towards school “Well, I’m kinda late. I’ll see you later” I say and then run the rest of the way to school.
It takes me a minute and a half, and then I’m darting through the hallway. The bell just rang and, it takes me another minute to get to my classroom.
My AP Psychology teacher looks at me. My shoes are muddy and I am out of breath. She takes pity on me, and says nothing for my tardiness.
I take my usual seat, next to Michael, and take out the single notebook I managed to grab.
“You look fresh” Mikey jokes.
“How was your date with Calum yesterday?” I ask before I can stop myself. Not like I care. Just being polite.
Yeah, sure, okay.
“Lovely” He blinks like a princess “He bought me pizza and made me feel very…special the rest of the night.” He says.
“Clifford!” Our teacher says from the front of the class. Mikey looked at her and did that whole lips-are-sealed movement. She nodded and continued with her lesson.
Unlit lunch, I managed to ignore Calum. I saw Marissa and her posy a couple of times; they gave me the stink eye. Lol, ok.
At lunch, I found Mikey sitting alone outside.
“Why are you being a loser and sitting all on your own?” I ask, sitting across from him. He looks up from his plate of fries and smiles “Fine, I’ll sit down, but only because you begged me to”
He laughs. I have steamed vegetables on my plate. He eyes them.
“You want some?” I ask. He looks at me and shakes his head.
“I don’t eat rabbit food.” He says.
“Too bad.” I say and poke a broccoli with my fork. When I swallow it I eye the rest of my food “This is horrible” I finally say pushing it away.
“That’s why I only eat the fries” He says, proud of himself.
“So healthy” I say and applaud.
We talk about bad food for a while, until someone puts their plate next to Mikey. I look up and see Calum. He smiles at me, and I look away.
“Where’s Luke?” He asks, seeing the empty space next to me.
“I dunno. I haven’t seen him today…” Mikey says, searching the crowd by the door for the blond boy.
“He skipped school” I say, poking my food.
“Are we talking about the same Luke here?” Calum laughs. He is pretending like we never had that discussion yesterday.
You’re my problem, Addie.
THEN WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE AS ME U GROSS ASSHOLE BYE!
“I saw him on my way to school.” I say. “And he said he didn’t feel like going to school today.”
Mikey takes out his phone, and calls someone. “Where you at?” he says, standing up. He is the type of person to walk around when he talks. It’s probably all the exercise he does…although he looks pretty good. Wait what? No. ok.
Calum and I are left sitting in awkward silence. He is looking at me, but I’m ignoring him. When I can’t anymore I glare at him.
“What?!” I say a bit hostile. He opens his mouth to say something, but Marissa sit’s next to him, where Mikey sat a minute ago.
“Hey Cal” She says, but she is looking at me. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
“Hey Marissa” he says. Whatever he was gonna say, is not going to say it in front of her.
“I tried calling you this morning. You didn’t pick me up” She says. I hide a smile. She knows u been cheatin on him. Pls leave now.
“I thought you were still sick, and I kind of overslept” He says, not really looking at her. He is playing with his carrot, looking bored.
“Well, I’m actually feeling a lot better. I had to walk to school. It’s been so long since I’ve done that…you know, because you’ve been picking me up for the past year” She says and laughs. You’re not funny Marissa. Leave.
He just smiles, as genuinely as he can. He wants her to leave. Ha ha ok.
“What are you looking at?” She says. I didn’t notice I was actually looking at.
“Oh, nothing” I asy. She smirks as if she’s won a battle. Not today “Just…I don’t remember anyone inviting you to our table” I say and smile.
“Um…my boyfriend is here. I don’t need an invitation” She says, emphasizing the word boyfriends, as if marking her territory. All she needs to do now is pee on him.
I laugh. She glares at me. Calum just looks confused.
“Yeah, okay” I say. What I actually mean is: not for long. She rolls her eyes.
“Anyway. I was thinking we can hang out after school?” She says to Calum. He shakes his head.
“I can’t. Mali is back.” He says. And Marissa rolls her eyes again. I search for Michael but I can’t seem to find him, and it’s not really difficult to spot him with his bright green hair.
“Ugh” Marissa grunts. Who is this Mali? Calum’s temper is running out. He looks at me for help, but then quickly looks away. He doesn’t expect me to help him. I’m angry with him, but I’m not a witch.
“Okay” I say, and Marissa shots me another glare “I think you’ve extended your stay. Please leave now. Thank you” I smile. She rolls her eyes again.
“Fine” She says. “You can eat lunch alone, like the loser you are. Come on Calum” She says and stands up. But Calum doesn’t follow her. “Calum?”
“Oh, I don’t think he is coming” I say, and look at Calum. It’s his cue. I got her to get up, his turn to make her leave. But before he says anything Michael sits where Marissa was sitting. She is still waiting for him.
“What does she want?” Michael says, as if Marissa is not here or in hearing distance.
“Calum?” she says annoyed.
“Oh, me and Calum are having a date right now.” Michael says. Calum looks down. He can’t face her. Oh my god.
“Fine. Suit yourself.” she says, and walks with heavy footsteps inside. She glares at us from her table and then turns to her friends.
“You really need to grow a pair” I say to Calum. He shots me a glare, but Michael puts his arm around him.
“Hey, stop picking on him” He says, as if he is scolding him. “Anyway” he changes the subject “Luke is a bit…off.” He finishes.
“What’s wrong?” Calum asks. His face softens.
“I don’t know. I asked him what’s wrong, and he kept changing the subject. I think it’s something with his mom. Not sure though. I’m gonna go after school to his place.” Mikey says and removes his hand from Cal’s shoulder. “what are you doing after school?” Mikey asks both of us.
“I’m hanging out with Mali.” Cal answers first.
“I’m doing homework” I say and smile.
“You’re a loser” Mikey points at me and I stick my tongue out “And when did she came back?” He turns to Cal.
“Who’s Mali?” I can’t help but ask. I feel left out.
“My sister.” He says. No resentment, no annoyance in his voice. Just a simple answer. “She came back yesterday. She’s gonna give me so much shit later. I need to physically and mentally prepare” He says and both him and Michael laugh. I still feel left out.
“She hates Marissa” Mikey elaborates. I nod. Okay, makes sense. Calum laughs. I think even Calum is beginning to hate her. It’s funny.
“Anyway” Cal says “We can hang out tonight? Ash texted me this morning to hang tonight”
I look down.
“You’re invited too” He says to me. It’s more like he is inviting me, not Ashton, but I smile. Wait no, I’m still angry with him.
“Alright, cool.” Michael says, as if it’s settled that I am going as well. The bell rings announcing the end of lunch. “Also, can you give me a ride home? I don’t want to walk.” Cal nods, and we walk inside. Michael turns right at the hallway and Calum and I continue upstairs.
“You want a ride home as well?” He asks, before we part at the top of the stairs. I see Marissa, standing by her locker. She is frowning and she has her hands crossed in front of her chest. I smile.
“That would be nice since it might rain and I don’t want to look like a wet dog” I say. Calum laughs. A sincere laugh. His head tips back a little, and his whole face changes. I smile as well.
“Alright, see you later” He says in a very relaxed laid-back way, as if there is no drama between our friendship or whatever.

The rest of the day flies back. Aggie and I exchange maybe 50 words and then the last class ends and I am exhausted from school, I Just want to lie in bed and sleep. Mikey and Cal are standing by Calum’s car. They are waiting for me.
“I call shotgun” I say. And then I realize what I actually did. I have to sit in the front with Calum. Why do I never think things through?!
Michael looks disappointed, but he respect the rules of shotgun and goes in the back. I open the door to the passenger seat and Calum just stares at me before he is snapped back to reality and jogs to the driver’s seat.
“Calum!” Marissa says. He curses under his breath.
“Here we go” Mikey says, and I almost laugh. Calum brings his window down.
“Yes?” he says, very calmly.
“Can we like, talk?” She says.
“About what?” He asks. He knows she won’t say anything in front of Mikey and me. She knows that if he has us around him, he won’t be that easy to control.
“You’re unbelievable.” She says, resentment in her voice. And then she walks away.
“I wonder what was that all about” I say, and Mikey laughs from the back. Calum gives me a sideway look. I don’t break his eye contact, and then he finally relaxes and laughs.
The atmosphere in the car is very relaxed, and I feel comfortable, which is a change, because I always, in a way, feel uncomfortable around Calum.
We drop of Mikey, and he tells Calum to call him before he picks him up. Then it’s just me and Calum for the next five minutes.
“I didn’t know you had a sister” I say, making conversation.
“Yeah. She’s been traveling for the past few months” He says.
“Is she older?” I ask. He nods, turning on our street. He is clenching the wheel a little bit, and his muscles are tensed under his shirt.
“If only I had a sibling whom I can stand” I say. He looks at me and laughs.
He then parks his car in his driveway and turns off the ignition.
“Thanks for the ride” I say, suddenly remembering that I am angry at him. I don’t even know exactly what for, but I am.
“Wait” he says, as I reach to open the door. I turn to him, and wait for him to continue “Thanks for telling e about Marissa.” He says. Zero sarcasm detected.
I look at him. Should I tell him that she’s been cheating on him? Like, for sure. Not just assumptions based on her lie, although you can’t really go that wrong right now. I nod and say a faint you’re welcome. Before he can say anything, I get out of his car, and walk to the front door. I hear a car door close, and then I turn, and I see him looking at me from his front door. He waves a bit, and I enter my own house.
It’s empty and quiet. Just how I like it.

Notes

Hey guys! Sorry for spelling mistakes and bad sentence structure. Sometimes when I write I only think about the story and no the grammar, so I apologise for that.
Rate, Subscribe and Comment down bellow :))