"I walked into the door." I managed to keep my voice steady.

"How?"

"I got out of the shower and slipped on the wet floor."

"Your hair's dry."

"It was this morning."

"You didn't have it when you were getting dressed." Camila was having non of it. Though I can lie to anyone about anything, she always sees straight through my shit.

"Sorry, Sherlock Holmes, I just walked into a doorframe, that's all."

"Theo. I know when you're lying." She stared at me, waiting for me to reply. "You've been crying as well. But not from the pain, you wouldn't cry that easily."

I went back to the room and lay on my bed. "Did your Dad-" Now her voice is cracking too. "Theo.."

"No, look it's fine, it's a scratch."

"Fuck, Theodore!" She ran a hand through her hair.

"Shut up, it's okay."

"No it's not."

"I'll be home tomorrow night-"

"Why can't just just leave in the morning? Do you have to sign anything or is it just appearances?"

"I presume it's appearances, it's going to be my company too in a few months so."

"Get some sleep and come home. Your Dad can make a shitty excuse to them about why you couldn't be there, and you were already part of the main thing today."

"You're turning into me." I chuckled as she planned everything out.

"Seriously, though."

"Ok, I'll leave in the morning."

"Good."

"Okay, you go finish your girls' night."

"Not right now, she can wait five more minutes."

"Thanks."

"Have you talked to your Mom since she moved?"

"No, I should, shouldn't I?"

"Yeah. Maybe call her tomorrow. You haven't even seen her new house yet."

"Yeah, okay. I will do."

"Good." I noticed her yawning, making me yawn too.

"Go finish your movie, I'll call you tomorrow when I'm on my way home."

"Ugh fine, see you soon, Goodnight, Dory."

"Goodnight, Mila."

I plugged my phone into charge and turned off the lights, rolling over and dozing off to sleep.

"Is everything alright? Is he okay?"

"Yeah, his Dad's just an asshole."

"No change there. Is he still at the conference thing?"

"He's going to leave early and come home tomorrow."

"Good."

The movie was soon over and Zoe had fallen asleep on the sofa. I picked up the empty containers and glasses and brought them to the kitchen, cleaning up a bit before going back to my room.

I found myself almost crying for Theo, wishing there was something, anything I could do to help him. I pulled out my phone, scrolling through my contacts and sending a text to an old number.

*

I woke up early, slipping downstairs to see if Zoe's still asleep. I wasn't really surprised when I saw her sleeping body sprawled across our sofa.

I texted Theo as I made myself some cereal.

*Good Morning, you up?*

*Morning, just checking out.*

*Good, call me.*

*Will do.*

"Ugh." Zo groaned, "what time is it?"

"It's morning time."

"Ew."

"Big night, tonight."

"Oh my god, yeah! We still going shopping?"

"Of course."

My phone began ringing, so I went back upstairs to answer it. "Hey."

"Hey- just got in my car."

"Did you tell your Dad you're leaving?"

"Nope. He left a note on my windscreen but I can't read his writing." He chuckled. "He'll be fine on his own."

"Okay, just be careful."

"I'm always careful."

He must have put me on speaker because I could hear as he drove out of the car park.

"Have you called your Mom?"

"Nah, I might call over to her place today or tomorrow."

"You should text in advance."

"Okay, I'll do that when I'm home."

"Ok. Zoe and I are going shopping later, she's got a date tonight."

"Seriously? With who?"

"Some guy from work. He spilled a drink on her so he's buying her one to make up for it."

"Smooth."

"I know, right? I just hope he's not an ass."

"Time will tell."

I kept him entertained as he sped down the highway, distracting him from what's going on in his life.

He paused mid sentence, "Sorry, someone's texting me."

"Who?"

"This girl I met yesterday."

"Oh." I said, forgetting to hide my jealousy. "What's her name?"

"Elle, well it's Rochelle." They're on nickname terms already? "Her Dad's an investor."

"Cool."

"Yeah. Apparently Dad told them I'm sick, and she doesn't believe him."

"You shouldn't be texting and driving."

"I just read the notification, don't worry."

"Good."

"Hey, my phone's on ten percent, I should probably save some battery. I'm like, half an hour away."

"Okay, text me when you're home."

"Seen you then."

"Bye."

I shut off the phone. Who the hell is Rochelle?

I shouldn't be worried, she lives 2 hours away and they only met once...

But they exchanged numbers.

*

I got into the shower, scrubbing my fingers through my scalp and across my body. My mind was too busy spinning and wondering who this girl is.

I noticed the marks on my body were fading as I dried myself off. I kind of miss them.

My hair was wrapped in a towel as I slipped on some jeans, struggling to pull them over my sticky thighs, but eventually getting them up to my waist, barely covering my belt with a dark purple sweatshirt.

I quickly blow dried my hair, rushing and checking the time so I could be ready when Theo gets home. My hair was fluffy from the hairdryer but I slipped on my converse and a bit of mascara to make up for it.

Zoe was on her phone when I came downstairs, texting someone. "You ready to go?"

"Can we hold on for five so I can say 'hi' to Theo first?"

"Sure. So have we scrapped Matt altogether now?"

Oh my god, I forgot about that.

"Matt's- a really nice guy. He hasn't done anything it's just... he's more like a friend than anything else."

"Mhm, okay."

"I don't know if I actually like him romantically or if I just like the attention." I admitted.

"I get you, I do. Those kinds of relationships never last though - you remember Simon from the coffee shop?" I nodded, recalling one of her exes, "He showered me in compliments, treated me right, he was great. But I didn't like him, just the attention he gave me."

"Wasn't he gay?"

"That's not the point. Point is - the relationship didn't work."

"I get you."

My phone beeped with a notification from Theodore, letting me know he was next door. "I'll be back in five."

"Take you time."

I rushed outside and next door to see him climbing out of his car. "Theo!"

"Hey." He spun around, revealing his sore looking face.

I grabbed his smiling face, taking a better look at the cut, "I swear to god if I see him I'm gonna-"

"Slow down, little lady. It's not as bad as it looks, and I kinda deserved it."

"No, you didn't."

His big smile turned into a softer grin. "I'm okay." He lowered my hands from my face but I wrapped them around his neck, pulling him into a hug. I rested my head on his shoulder, indulging in his scent. His heavy hand rested on the back of my head as his other wrapped around my waist. He's always tense when you hug him, like it's an alien thing for him to do.

"Thank you."

I eventually pulled away, letting his hands fall to cup my face. His eyes flashed from mine to my lips. He quickly glanced around before pulling me in, latching his lips to mine and sucking gently for a few seconds, before separating us again.

"Sorry, I know it's not Sunday night yet, I just needed to do that."

I smiled as an answer, "Wanna come shopping with me and Zo?"

"Nah, you go have fun, I'm going to call Mom."

"Okay, I'll text you when I'm home."

"Bye."

"Bye."