Torn

JESS'S POINT OF VIEW

All week, since we got back from the beach that day, Callie and Calum have been acting weird. I know something happened between the two of them, and I'm going to figure out what it is. On another note, Ashton and I decided to date. It's a little weird. I mean I thought dating would be weird and awkward, but I guess with us it isn't, since we've been super close since day one.

"Babe, maybe you should just let it go." Ashton says, his arm around me as we walk into science.

"Have you ever known me to let something go." I roll my eyes.

"True."

CALLIE'S POINT OF VIEW

Okay, I've never been one to be nervous. Like, ever. Normally in this sort of situation, I'd be careless and kiss him, but he's SARA'S boyfriend. That's a different story, because she might actually be starting to be my friend. If he were Jess's boyfriend, I'd never do something like that. I'm such an idiot!

What makes it even worse, is Calum and I haven't been the same since. We keep having these moments, that we both do our best to ignore, but everyone else notices. Now Jess is all over my ass trying to figure it out. She isn't really the type to give up, either, which stinks.

I take my seat in science, which is sadly, at the same table as Sara, Calum, and Jess. Just. My. Luck.

"Hi, Callie." Jess glares from across the table.

"Hey Jess." I mumble. Sara is talking to the teacher. I look at Calum briefly, whose been looking at me the whole time. I clear my throat, "Calum." I toss my backpack under the table, and start messing with my fingers. I can feel Jess staring me down, while Calum does everything in his power not to. This sucks.

"We have a test on Wednesday." Sara informs us, as she sits down next to Calum. "So are we ditching that day?" She asks us.

"Uh, actually I think I'm going to take this one." Calum says, looking over at her.

"Really?" She raises her eyebrows. God, just let him take the test! Sorry, sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me lately.

"Yeah, I think I am too." I shrug. No, not because of Calum. They said if I don't show up for my classes on Wednesday, then I'll be suspended, and considering how many suspensions I have, that'll lead to being expelled, which is something I don't want to do. All of my friends are at this school. Jess glares at me more, but I just roll my eyes.

"How interesting." She mutters. Sara looks at the floor, obviously trying to ignore it. I bite my lip. "Well, I'm ditching. You, Sara?" She asks.

Sara looks at Calum, then me. I give her an assuring smile, but probably failed brutally. "Uhm. Sure." She says hesitantly. The teacher starts talking, and Calum puts his hand on her leg. I bite my lip harder. By the way, I always say 'the teacher' because I don't know their names. Like, it's not really a priority.

At lunch, I almost sit next to Calum, before I realize how much Jess would tease me for that, so I sit next to Michael, across the table from Calum. My phone beeps. I already know it's Jess.

Jess: Why not sit next to Calum? Hm?
Me: I'm fine.
Jess: Oh come on, he's right there.
Me: I like sitting next to Mikey -_-
Jess: Sure you do.
Me: I do. He's my best friend, fuck off.
Jess: I'm getting to the bottom of this.
Me: You do that.
Jess: Oh I will.
Me: I think we already established that.

I shut off my phone and sigh.

"What's wrong?" Mike whispers to me.

"Jess." I huff.

"What's she doing?" He asks.

"She's trying to figure out what's going on between me and Calum. Even though nothing is going on between us."

"Callie," Michael breathes, then looks at me, "you and I both know something is going on between you and Calum. Honestly, it's okay to be feeling those feelings again, as long as you don't act on them, ya know?"

"Nothing is going on between us." I repeat, ignoring what he said. I can't be feeling those feelings again, or I'll break. AGAIN. And breaking isn't really something I like to do.

After school, I don't bother going to my locker, and instead decide to just walk out of school. No talking to my friends on the way out, no bringing my school books home with me. This entire day has just been awkward. With Jess interrogating me, Calum and me acting like we've never met and we're socially awkward, Sara knowing what's going on but ignoring it anyway, Michael thinking he knows what he's talking about. Ugh.

On top of my day, the hundreds of preppy students outside, and the hot sun, I'm about to scream.

"Hey." Sara smiles, as she and Calum come running up to me.

"Hey." I mutter, looking at the floor. I don't bother slowing down.

"Is it cool if Calum comes over for a few hours?" Sara asks. I hesitate.

"I guess." I mumble.

"Okay cool. We'll meet you there, okay?" She says sweetly.

"Kay." I say quietly, kicking the gravel. Calum glances at me, before Sara takes his hand and they walk in some other direction. Great, now the awkwardness is following me home. When I get there, as usual my foster parents aren't home, so I run up the stairs, and into my room, where Sara and Calum are sadly. I throw my bag onto the ground next to my bed, and fall face first into the blank covers.

"How was your day?" Sara asks, lying in Calum's lap, playing with his fingers.

"Not great." I muffle into my bed. I sigh and sit up normally, grabbing my laptop.

The entire night consists of Calum and Sara laughing and talking about random shit on the other side of the room. How badly I wanted to be Sara disturbed me. At one point, she leaves the room to go to the bathroom, leaving Calum and I alone. I try to ignore that, though, and keep typing.

"Soo..." He says awkwardly. Awkward, awkward, awkward.

"Please don't." I say, not daring to look at him. If I do, I'll probably melt.

"Don't what?" He asks innocently. But he knows.

"Don't try to make small talk." I scroll down the screen, "We both know what almost happened that night." I say simply. He hesitates on his next words.

"It.. It doesn't have to mean.. Anything." He says slowly. I laugh, and shut my computer, standing up with it in my hand.

"Doesn't it though?" I ask him, then walk out into the living room.

Notes