Basic Space

I manage to avoid Chris, either he forgot what I look like, or ignores me the one time he actually sees me. And finally around 1am, Aggie is so tired, she falls asleep on the bench I previously sat on, and right now I am trying to wake her.
“Aggie, come on let’s go home” I say.
“Mmmmhmmm” Is all she replies with. I don’t know the street name or a taxi number, but my priority now is to get Aggie up.
“Agatha Benson, get the fuck up!” I say. She darts up, almost jumping. I grab her hand and drag her outside on the street. Ok now, problem number two - taxi number.
I look around me to see if I can spot Marissa, but i don’t see her. I don’t see Stephen either, and I hope not to see Chris. The music is not from Calum’s band anymore. It’s some trans thing that I don’t want entering my brain.
Then I hear a voice and I am glad that I recognise it as Marissa’s.
“You guys leaving?” She says a little too loudly.
“Yeah. Aggie is tired and so am I” I say. I honestly am not, but I am not in the mood to stay at this party. “Can you call us a cab?”
“I can drive you guys” She says, showing me the dangling keys in her hand.
“I don’t think you should be driving” I say, and smile at her.
“Give me those” Someone from behind her takes her keys. I frown, but when I look at the person, I see Calum, smiling down on Marissa.
“Baby, I can drive, I promise” She says. Wait. Baby. Are they…yes, yes they are. Ok…
“So can I. And it’s my car.” He says, and she laughs and kisses his cheek. He looks at me, and his face changes a bit.
“Hi” I say.
“Hi” he says. But something changes in the atmosphere. Thank god Marissa is either too drunk or to high to notice.
We walk to the his car. Marissa talks to Calum, holding his arm, and I walk behind them with Aggie. We’re a few feet behind them.
“Is that the cute boy from earlier?” She asks. I nod, not wanting them to hear me. “He likes you” She says and smiles.
I don’t want to say anything until we’re home, and I hope Aggie doesn’t blab in the car ride. Calum gets in the drivers seat, and Marissa in the passenger. Me and Aggie sit in the back.
“So where do I drop you off?” Calum says, adjusting the seat.
“You can leave them at home, and leave me in your bedroom.” Marissa says. I, for some reason can’t look at them. Neither of them.
“Where do you guys live?” He asks me, ignoring Marissa’s comment. She laughs to herself for a bit.
“Um…I don’t really know the street name” I say, suddenly aware that I may not know how to get back home “There is a little cafe across the street. Bell’s, or something like that.” I say, remembering that when we first got to our house, Aggie made a comment that she will get take-away coffee every morning because the cafe is right across from us.
“Oh my gooood” Marissa says, all excited “You live right next to Calum!” She says. Oh dear… ”I remember!!! Aggie told me earlier today.” She says, and laughs again. I look at Aggie, she has her head against the window, her eyelids closed.
“Okay then” Calum says, and we drive off. But first we stop in front of a yellow house with flowers in the front yard.
“Why did we stop at my place?” Marissa asks, confusedly.
“My mom will kill me if I bring you over at one in the morning. And plus, you should sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He says, and she leans in to kiss him. And they kiss. And I look away.
Then she exists and we continue driving in silence. It’s awkward.
“I’m sorry” he says. It can only be for me because Aggie is asleep and I’m the only other one conscious in here.
“For what?” I say lightly.
“For…not telling you I have a girlfriend.” He says, not moving his eyes from the road. We stop at a traffic light and I’m afraid he will look at me and see that I’m not as calm as I sound.
“Why would that be important…I mean, we’re friends right?” I say. I hate myself for saying that. He acknowledged that he was flirting with me, and now I’m being all ‘lol i don’t know what you’re talking about kbye’.
“Yeah yeah, no I mean like if I made you like…um…like think that I was flirty and all that…” He trails off. Oh my god this is so awkward I want to get out of this car right now.
“It’s fine. You were friendly. There’s a difference” I say. Yes, yes there is a difference and what he was, was not friendly.
We ride the rest of the way in silence. Thank god it’s a short ride, and we manage to catch all the traffic lights on green, so we’re in front of our house in no time. He parks his car in the driveway of the house next to ours. The lights are off in both houses. I get out and help Aggie get out as well. He turns off the engine, and stand there awkwardly.
“Thanks” I say.
“It would’ve been impractical If you took a taxi when I live next to you guys” He says, and smiles. His smile looks different under the faint streetlight. He looks younger.
“Not just about the ride.” I say. Aggie has already started walking towards our front door. “About earlier…with Chris. That could’ve ended really badly for me.” I say. I don’t know what to do with my arms, where do I put them? This is so awkward.
“Anytime, Elle.” He says.
“Elle?” I say, and can’t hide my smile.
“Yeah you know. Like AdELaide. Like a nickname.” He says smiling. His cheeks turn slightly more red. Did he really blush? Oh god, now it’s really awkward.
“First time hearing it” I say and smile, trying to un-awkward the situation. It’s not working.
“It won’t be the last.” He says, raising his eyebrows with a playful smile on his face.
I laugh, and turn towards my house to check if Aggie is still there. She is. She probably doesn’t have a key. She is sitting on the little steps in front of our door. Well at least she didn’t ring the doorbell.
“I have to go” I say, swaying my head in Aggie’s direction.
“Well, good night then” He says, and we both back away in opposite sides.
“Good Night” I say, and walk to my door. When I am fiddling with my keys, I glance toward Calum’s house. He’s still standing in from of his front door, and when he notices me he just waves and smiles. Then I finally unlock and enter our house, and close it behind me and help Aggie go upstairs to her room, and then finally, I walk downstairs and I lie down on my bed and fall asleep without even changing in my pajamas.
*********************
I sleep through Sunday. When I wake up, it’s 4pm. Stupid Jet Lag! I am awoken by the voices in the kitchen which is next to my room. I look at myself in the mirror on my wall. I haven’t even unpacked properly. I look like a mess. My hair is everywhere. I am in a desperate need of a shower, and my clothes are sticking to me.
Luckily, I have a bathroom in my room. I take out underwear and a bra, shorts and a t-shirt, and etner my bathroom. I shower, and wash my hair, ridding the disgusting smell from yesterday off my body. When I exit, I decide to open a window because this room almost smells like yesterday’s house. It needs air.
When I exit, I hear more than two voices, which means we have guests. My hair is towel dried, and very wavy, like it is every time it’s wet. I decide to say a polite hello, and then disappear in my room with food. I walk in the kitchen, and I see people around the island in the middle of it. Our kitchen is pretty big. My mom and another lady sit next to each other and talk, laughing. My mom introduces me to Mrs Hood, and I say hi.
But they are not the only voices I hear. There are more coming from the living room. I cross the hallway, pass the front door, and enter the living room. I haven’t really seen much of the house, since I’ve been sleeping through the last three days.
I see Aggie, sitting on one couch, her feet pulled up to her chest. Across from her, on the love seat, I see Calum and Marissa. They are laughing, and suddenly I feel stupid standing there, and intruding.
“She lives!” Aggie shouts when she sees me. She has a smile on her face and she is very enthusiastic. I haven’t had an actual hang out with my sister since god knows when, even when we shared a room, we never actually sat and talked. Now I feel like we never grew apart. It’s a weird feeling, and I like it. I like to have my sister back.
“Hiii” I say, and sink in the seat next to Aggie.
“You want coffee?” She asks me. I shake my head. Marissa says and over-enthusiastic hi, and then they are back to their conversation that existed before I came in.
“Wait, Adelaide, are you coming later?” Marissa turns to me.
“You can call me Addie” I say. “And where are you going later?”
“Addie and Aggie. That’s so cute” Marissa says, turning to Calum, and he smiles at her. But his eyes turn back on me, and I feel their presence. “Anyway, we’re going to the beach. A lot of us are going. It’s kinda like a last day of summer thing we do every year.” She says.
“Wait, so who is going?” Aggie jumps in, before I make my decision.
“Well my friends mostly. Um, Stephen, Ashley, Rebecca, Tom, Bill, Chris-”
“I’m not coming” I say at the sound of Chris. I say it too fast, I have to repeat again in order for Marissa to understand me.
“What, why? They’re really nice” Marissa says. I look to Calum for help. He shakes his head a bit. I don’t know if that means that I shouldn’t tell her about Chris, or that he can’t help me?
Marissa is expecting an answer, and I decide to tell her. There’s no point in hiding.
“Chris and his two friend sort of tried to rape me yesterday” I say. Her eyes widen, and Aggie arches up.
“Oh my god, what!?” She says “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing happened. I escaped…well, Calum helped me escape. But still…I don’t feel comfortable in their presence.” I say, and look at Marissa for understanding.
“It’s just Chris. You’ll get used to him” She says. I look at her in disbelief. “So that’s your reason for not coming?”
I look at Calum. I can’t read his expression. I don’t know if he is annoyed with me, or with Marissa, or he is bored, or he isn’t paying attention.
“I think that’s a pretty valid reason” I say, and smile awkwardly, like how do you not comprehend what I am telling you Marissa.
“Okay then. Aggie you coming right?” Aggie smiles and nods. I don’t know what I expected her to say. I mean, it happened to me not to her. But still, I feel a bit betrayed and disappointed.
“Okay then. We can meet at Bell’s you and me, and then we go to Rebecca’s and she can drive us.” She says to Aggie.
“Can’t Calum drive us?” Aggie asks.
“Calum’s not coming” Marissa says, a little annoyed. She says it the way you end a story, when you don’t want questions to be asked. So me and Aggie don’t ask questions.
We sit there for maybe an hour more when Marissa has to leave. She stands up and Calum walks her to the door, and Aggie goes upstairs and when I’m on my way to my room, I see Calum come in from the front door. He looks a bit different.
“Aren’t you taking Marissa home?” I ask politely. I expected him to leave as well, and so did Aggie.
“She is mad at me because I don’t want to go to the beach with her asshole friends” He says and smiles. It’s a forced smile, the one you make when you are being sarcastic or when you’re pretending that you’re not mad at someone.
“I’m sorry” I say.
“It’s fine” He says. This time smiling for real. We stand there awkwardly We can still hear his mom and my mom talk in the kitchen.
“Listen” He says. If he apologises for his flirting yesterday again i swear i am going to bury myself in awkwardness and shame. “Me and my friends are gonna hang out at Ashton’s. You can come if you want. They are a lot better than Chris.” He says.
“It’s fine. I can just sleep at home.” I tell him. I know he is just inviting me because he feels sorry that I have to be alone tonight, last day of the summer.
“Come on, it’ll be fun. We have like beer and pizza and really that’s all we need” He says. His adorable smile is back, the same one from yesterday on the bench.
“It’s fine honestly. You…you have your guy night.” I say and wave him off.
“I’m not taking a no for an answer” He says. “I’ll come by at eight” He says, and then exists. I stand there confused. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel incredibly awkward right now.
**************
It’s 15 minutes to 8. Aggie left forty minutes ago to meet up with Marissa. Mrs Hood left a while ago as well, taking my mom with her to some restaurant for dinner. I am currently sitting alone in the kitchen on my laptop. I don’t know why, but I’ve always liked being home alone even though I don’t actually do anything special. Just having the house empty and quiet is very calming.
I am already dressed. Nothing special - jeans and a sweater.
Soon enough it’s 8, and at exactly 8 someone knocks on the door. I open it and see Calum standing on my front porch with his hands in his pockets. He is wearing black skinny jeans and a sweater and smells like fresh lemonade.
“You ready?” He asks flashing a smile.
I nod and close and lock the door behind me. We walk to his car, which is now in front of my house. He opens the passenger door and I arch my eyebrow.
“What? Am I not allowed to be polite?” He says, a smile tugging his lips.
“Not used to polite people. I have a bad first impressions on Australian guys, you know, with the whole I-was-almost-raped-by-one thing” I say entering the car. I hear him laugh as he closes the door, and then a few seconds later he comes in from the driver’s, still wearing a grin.
“Well, now you will meet somewhat nice and polite Aussie guys.” He says, turning on the radio and driving off.
When we stop at the first traffic light, he turns to me saying “So how come you moved here?”
“Sort of a long and boring story” I say.
“Well, this traffic light is pretty long so…” He says pointing to the red light hovering above us. I let out a small laugh. “But you can give me the short version, yeah?”
“My dad is crazy, mom decides to leave, takes us with her, gets a new job here, and voila, here we are.” I say, with my jazz hands before me, making a ‘big finish’ thing.
“Wow you are an excellent story teller” He says, applauding. Then the traffic light turns green and we move “And oh look, just in time” He says pointing to the now green light.
I let out another laugh and after a minute we stop in front of a white house with a garden in the front yard. I noticed that a lot of the houses have flower gardens up front. But we don’t get out, Calum just honks twice.
“Who are we waiting for?” I ask, when the front door opens and two guys exit. They are holding cartons of 6 bears.
“Mickey and Luke” He says. I recognise Michael, but his hair is not the same. Now it’s a bright green colour. Luke is the blond guy with the floppy hair and the lip piercing locking the door.
“Hello” Mickey says, entering the back seat. “We didn’t officially meet” he says “I’m Michael”
He extends his hand towards me.
“We met unofficially?” I say shaking his hand. He makes a playful bitch-face, which makes him look a few years younger.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name?” He says letting go of my hand.
“I’m Adelaide. But I’d rather you call me Addie.” I say.
“Addie it is” Michael replies, when Luke climbs in and closes the door. He is taken aback a little by my presence.
“Hello?” he says a little confused. I now feel incredibly invasive since they probably didn’t knew I was coming and don’t even know me, and were probably planning on getting drunk and doing their thing.
“Hi” I say.
“This is Addie” Michael introduces me.
“Ohhh” Luke says, like he recognises me. How would he? Michael gives him a small nudge with his elbow and Luke then extends his hand towards me “Oh, yes, hi, I’m Luke” He says. I take his hand.
“Nice to meet you”
And then we’re moving again. The guys talk in the car, and I feel like I’m not even here. Calum constantly glances my way for whatever reason. Sometimes questions are directed my way like how old am I, or what classes I’m going to take, since apparently I’m going to the same school as them, and all that stuff.
Then we finally arrive at yet another house. Calum parks in the driveway, and instead of going inside the house, he knocks on the garage door. Michael has the beers hugged to his chest, and Luke is just holding them like a normal person.
The garage door rumbles and it slowly starts to open. They all duck under the painfully-slow garage door, and I just stand there not knowing what to do. It’s almost completely dark outside, and the wind is piercing through my not-so-thick sweater.
“Come on” Calum says, and takes my hand.

Notes

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