Torn

"Callie."

I roll over onto my other pillow in the corner, trying to ignore Calum's voice. I do my best to keep my eyes shut as he pokes my face, and not smile.

"Caaalllllliiiee." He whines, and lies down next to me. I hum. "You have to get up." I used to get up in the mornings very quickly, because with Jonathan I always had to watch my back, but ever since I got here, to this sweet, peaceful home, I sleep a lot.

"I don't wanna." I frown.

"Yeah, but you need to go to school."

"Why?"

"Because one; You'll get expelled if you miss another day. Two; Mum said you two made an agreement you'd go if you live here."

I sigh, and lazily sit up, and open my eyes. "Fine." I say dramatically. I walk over to the closet to change my clothes, when I realize Calum is still sitting on my bed, watching me. I turn around. "Yes?"

"What are you gonna wear?" He grins. I roll my eyes, smiling.

"What do you mean? I never plan my outfits, you know this."

"Yeah, but Emyli's back. I figured you wanted to show her how much better off without her you are, since you're Aries, and Aries project themselves a shit ton."

"Mr. Zodiac over here." I laugh. "No I don't know. The whole Emyli thing's kinda weird. Like, why is she even back?"

"Ask her." Calum shrugs. Sara and I knew Emyli in middle school, but only Sara, Calum, and Michael know what went down with all of us.

"You know I can't do that," I turn to face my closet, and start looking through whatever I have, "We can't just have a normal conversation. Plus all we say to each other are comebacks. I dunno. She's a player, Calum. You know that, I know that, Sara definitely knows that. I don't want to make it seem like I'm interested in her platonically or romantically." I shrug.

"True. What if you made the question a comeback or whatever. Like," He puts his hand on his hand and straightens up sassily. "Ugh, Emyli, why did you even come back?" I laugh.

"God no."

"Guys hurry up, you're going to be late!" Joy yells from downstairs. We go downstairs, say bye to his mum, and walk to school, since Jess is out of town and borrowed his car.

"What even happened between you two?" Calum asks.

"You were there."

"I know, but I forgot."

"It's a long story." I mumble.
-------------------------------------
I'm sitting in math, doing my best to ignore Emyli chewing on the end of her pen, looking at me from across the room. One of the quiet girls in the back notice her, and Emyli looks at her and winks. I roll my eyes.

"See? She can't even commit to looking at me. Much less flirting with another girl." I roll my eyes again, as I whisper to Michael.

"That beautiful bastard." He shakes his head, on the verge of laughing at himself.

"Look at her!" I whisper yell. "She's literally talking to Katie and glancing at me. She's clearly trying to make me jealous."

"I'm pretty sure she's looking at the TV." Michael says, referring to what I'm supposed to be watching right now.

"She's not even a good person. She can't even hold a stare." I grumble.

"You two aren't together though, so isn't she allowed to look at other people?"

I ignore him and his wisdom. "Look at this shit, she's whispering in Katie's ear, while looking at me-"

"C, honestly, it sounds like you're the one who's jealous, and obviously not over her." Michael giggles.

"Are you kidding, no, I'm so over her."

"So what would you do if she were walking over here?" Michael asks.

"I dunno."

"Okay well, she's walking over here." He laughs. I look to my right, where Emyli has appeared, and she smiles.

"Sup."

"What do you want?" I ask.

"Conversation." She replies.

"Why?"

"Because I'm bored."

"Shocking, looked like you were having the time of your life with Katie." I mumble.

"What?" She asks.

"Nothing."

"Heya Mikey." She smiles over at him, and he smiles back. Traitor.

"Mind if I ask, why you came back?" I ask her. She looks at me, not saying a thing. Then she puts a piece of paper in my pocket and leaves, not glancing at Michael, who is clearly confused. I'm not confused at all, in middle school if she wanted to say something specific to me, she'd write it down and put it in my pocket and then leave.It was usually something like 'I'm sorry' or something she'd never want anyone to hear her say.

I take the little white piece of paper out, and it has a phone number on it. Her phone number. My mind starts racing with crazy thoughts as to why she'd give me her number. Then my phone buzzes.

Unknown Number: Don't flatter yourself Callie

I roll my eyes.

Me: Why wouldn't you just answer me tho
Emyli: Do I seem like the kind of person to talk feelings in front of other people?
Me: No.
Emyli: Well there ya go. I came back because my dad died and my mom shipped me over here to live with my aunt cause she can't deal with me.
Me: Oh. Sorry
Emyli: I don't care that much

Notes