Beep, beep beep....

"Shit." I rolled over, switching off my alarm and picking up my phone.

*Finished the movie, you still up?*

*I'll take that as a no, Goodnight Cam*

Fuck. I rubbed my eyes, readjusting to reality as I texted him back.

*Sorry, I fell asleep, see you at school.*

*

My feet pat down the stairs, sneaking past Zoe's room so I don't wake her. I still look as dead as I did yesterday, but I woke up in time to do my makeup today.

My hair was tied back in an bun, my cheeks splashed with pink blush. I left my tie a bit looser than normal, with my shirt's top buttons undone.

I make my way downstairs, realising I don't have a ride today, leaving me two options - drive or walk.

If there's anything I hate more than walking in the cold, it's driving. So I flung my bag over my shoulder, stealing and apple from the fruit bowl. I feel a bit better today, so it's time I started acting better.

I stepped outside and the air's cool breeze instantly hit my bare legs under my skirt. Maybe I should drive...

I turned around to go inside and grab the car keys when I heard a car 'Beep'.

I sighed in relief when Theo pulled up in front of the house. "What are you doing here?"

I locked the door and rushed into his warm car.

"Were you really going to walk to school?"

"I was, and then I was going to drive..."

"Good job I came then."

"My knight in shining armour." I joked. "Thank you."

We headed out of the estate, down the road to school.

"Special occasion?" He asked as he quite obviously looked me up and down.

"No..?"

"You did your makeup. It's a Wednesday morning."

"I felt like it."

"Got someone to impress?"

You.

"I dress for myself, not boys."

That line must have sparked something in his memory, because he gave me a small chuckled and turned his eyes back to the road.

"You debated with the principle a lot for girls to be allowed to wear trousers to school, yet on a freezing cold day like this, you're wearing a skirt."

"Great observation, Theodore."

"Mhm." He didn't buy it, still giving me a weird look.

"You still feel like shit and you're dressing up so you don't look like shit?"

"Yeah." I chuckled, giving in.

"What's going on with you? You never get sick and it's not your... you know."

"I don't know, just have this migraine."

"Still?"

"I kinda comes and goes."

"You should go to the nurse if it gets any worse."

"I'll survive."

We pulled up. "Thank you."

"No problem."

*

The best part about Wednesdays are the amount of free periods and easy classes. It's kind of like a pass day. Theo didn't avoid me at all, in fact, he barely left my side unless we didn't have a class together.

"How was your night by the way?"

"Good, it's actually not bad at Mom's, the beds comfy, and big."

"That's good, I'm glad."

"Mom wanted to know if you and Zoe are free on Friday? She was going to cook dinner and stuff if you wanna come over."

"I'd love to, but I'll have to see if Zoe's off work."

"Okay, good. I'll let her know."

There's been so many opportunities for a dirty joke, or a secret wink, but neither of us bothered. Even seeing him casually talk to other girls made me jealous. I'm not the jealous type, I'm not the type to look for male validation or crave attention, but that's all I seem to want at the moment.

"Hey." Matt snook up behind me on my way to the art room, placing his heavy hands on my shoulders.

"Oh- hi."

"How are you?"

"Good, you?"

"I'm good. What are you doing later?"

"I'm not sure yet, I might be-"

"Wanna go see a movie?"

"Um, I'm not sure if I'm free... what time?"

"Six?"

"I'll have to check with Zoe, can I get back to you on that?"

"Sure, text me. See you."

"Bye."

I lied, I don't need Zoe's permission. I'm just hoping Theo asks me to do something later.

I guess it wouldn't hurt if I did go with Matthew, but a movie seems more like a date than hanging out as friends.

I took my seat in the back of the classroom, pulling out my sketchbook and pencils. I got here early, only three other quiet kids were sat up the front of the room, painting, drawing and moulding a clay piece. There was no sign of our teacher, so I opened my book and started sketching lines in hope that they'd create a picture.

I strangely woke up in a good mood. I've realised that there isn't enough effort being put into the friendship, so I'm going to change that.

After a shower, breakfast and a couple of kisses, I slipped out the house and headed to hers.

I pulled up outside of her house, hoping she hasn't left yet. The door opened and she slipped out.

She must have felt the cool breeze, because her hands went to her short skirt, pressing her hands to it so it didn't rise. Her hair was tied up, showing her full face and bare neck, that once was covered in my marks. She looked different, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

As she turned around to go back inside, I lightly pressed the horn, making her glance my way.

"What are you doing here?"

She locked the door and slipped her key in the bag before she opened the passenger door.

"Were you really going to walk to school?"

"I was, and then I was going to drive..."

"Good job I came then."

"My knight in shining armour. Thank you."

I want to mention it, but I feel like it's not my place. Do I compliment her? She's probably dressed up for Matthew, so it's best I ignore the situation, but I can't stop my eyes from travelling down her smooth tan legs.

"Special occasion?"

"No..?"

"You did your makeup. It's a Wednesday morning."

"I felt like it."

"Got someone to impress?"

"I dress for myself, not boys."

The memories of that night came flooding back. We're supposed to forget about that, to ignore it and pretend we never did those things yet I'm constantly being reminded of the way we felt together.

"Do you always wear matching red lace underwear?"

"I dress for myself, not boys." She reached over to grab it but I held it even higher so she couldn't. She sighed when she realised what I was doing and straddled me, reaching out for it again.

"Mhm." I teased, reaching for her breast with my free hand, "these have gotten bigger too."

"Will you stop." She whined jokingly, grabbing the bra off me and climbing off my lap to put it back on.

"I'm just saying-"

"And I'm just saying, I dress for myself, not boys."

"Mhm I heard you. I don't believe you though, you liked the attention five minutes ago."

"Well you called me 'baby' two minutes ago, I think we're even."

"At least I don't like being choked." I giggled at her red face. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at me.

"Say my name..." she moaned, mimicking me.

"Hey, you obeyed me though."

"Doll? Perfect? Sexy? Slut??"

"Not my fault you have a degrading and praise kink. Who knew?"

"I hate you." She scoffed, hitting me with another pillow. "I'm going home."

"No you don't."

I chuckled at the memory, turning away from her face to stop myself for saying the wrong thing and changed the subject to stop myself from getting turned on.

"You debated with the principle a lot for girls to be allowed to wear trousers to school, yet on a freezing cold day like this, you're wearing a skirt."

"Great observation, Theodore."

"Mhm." I tried to read her tough expression. "You still feel like shit and you're dressing up so you don't look like shit?"

"Yeah." She gave in.

"What's going on with you? You never get sick and it's not your... you know."

"I don't know, just have this migraine."

"Still?"

"I kinda comes and goes."

"You should go to the nurse if it gets any worse."

"I'll survive, thank you."

*

I lost Camila after our free period. I'm not sure if she did it purposefully or not, but she's heading to the art room, so I won't try to stop her.

I invited her to dinner, but that's a family thing next Friday, I want to hang out with her sooner. She won't sleep over, I'm not sure she ever will again, but if I go back home and invite her there, then she can leave whenever.

I barely sat down in my next class before I was joined by Matt and Katie.

"Hey DeMarco." Matt sat in front of me.

"What's up?"

"What kind of movies is Camila into?"

Great. Now he's asking me for advice with her.

I could be a bitch and tell him she loves horror films, or I could help the guy out. For her sakes, I'm choosing to be the nice guy.

"Are you taking her out or staying in?"

"Out, tonight, hopefully."

Well there goes my plan. "I said six, and the only genres are romance, sci-fi, or action."

"Action or romance."

"Thanks man."

"Is it a date or...?"

"I wish I could say yes but that's up to her."

I nodded in response. Things are starting to fall into place now. Calling off the benefits, being distant with me, feeling guilty after hurting his feelings and dressing up for school.

All for him.