You don't even want me

42.

[Camille]

My alarm clock woke me up and it took me a couple of seconds to realise that I actually had to get up, and couldn't stay there, in my warm bed.

It was much earlier than yesterday, as I'd slept a lot longer than I usually did and now it was too early.

I stumbled in the dark to the light switch next to the door and turned it on, squeezing my eyes shut as soon as the bright light blinded me. I sighed, rubbing my eyes sleepily and silently cursing the fact that school had to start so early in the morning.

About 20 minutes later, I was standing in the cold air next to my bike in front of my house, impatiently and nervously waiting for James to show up.

I was going to ask him if I could stay with him for a while next week, I'd already decided that I wouldn't ask him to stay for a whole week because I just didn't want to do that; I just couldn't do that, then I'd be asking way too much of him and his family.

In the time I was waiting, I tried to come up with a good way of asking him, but I never thought it was good enough.

I frowned when I realised I'd been standing there for quite a long time already, and James still wasn't there. I got my backpack off my back and got my phone out of it, making the screen light up to look at the time; he was very late.

I sighed, realising that I wouldn't be able to ask him in private before we'd continue to the rest of the group.

When he finally showed up, being out of breath from biking as fast as he could, he sent me a slightly embarassed glance. "I'm late, I know" he mumbled and I could tell he didn't like it.

We immediately left and while biking, I noticed his cheeks had turned red from the cold and his breath created little clouds in the air.

His hair looked a bit messy and was blown back by the cold wind; that's why I was wearing my white beanie, because otherwhise, my ears would be completely frozen by the time we'd get to school.

I opened my mouth a bit hesitantly, staring at my steering wheel while mentally preparing myself for asking him but before I could say anything, he started talking.

"How did you sleep?" he asked me and I turned my head to the side to look at him, noticing the concern in his eyes.

I looked back in front of me. "I slept well tonight" I mumbled, seeing from the corner of my eye that he nodded; I thought it was very sweet of him to think so much about my sleep. 

When I wanted to ask him about staying with him for a while, we suddenly were already with the others and, not exactly to my surprise, the last ones to arrive.

I decided not to worry about it or be annoyed because I hadn't been able to ask him yet; I could ask him while biking to school, and if I couldn't for some reason, I'd still sit next to him a whole day.

I still just wanted to get it over with and ask him as soon as possible, but when I tried to bike next to him, Jasmine appeared next to me with a cheerful face.

"How was your weekend? Did you enjoy the pie?" she asked me and I chuckled, nodding as I definitely had.

"Yes, I did Jasmine, thank you for that" I chuckled, making her laugh as well.

She started telling me about little things that Max had said to her or sent her in a message, and it turned out that they actuallly chatted and video called quite a lot. I didn't know that so it surprised me, and for the whole ride, I couldn't get her to shut up about Max and how amazingly sweet he was.

When we finally arrived at school, I was tired of hearing stories about Max, not even wanting to know how many times she'd said his name in the 20 minute ride.