Between the Lines

Twelve - Oliver

Dad whispers through the phone, "Hey, Ollie..."

This doesn't sound good, at all. I knew as soon as my phone rang that it was Dad. No one else calls me.

I stay silent.

"...I think you should come home now." He sounds nervous.

I look over at Calvin. He searches me with his eyes, trying to read my expression and figure the situation out. I pull my phone away from my ear for just a second to read the time. It's only 12AM.

Dad tries again, "She's out cold right now. You could come home. You might get away with it." From the sounds of it, I won't get out of this easily. I don't even think Dad can convince himself that.

"I guess I'll have to," I say, sounding more disappointed than I intended.

He lets out a sigh, "I'm sorry Ollie... I'll see you soon."

"Love you." I hang up.

I don't know how I feel, I'm frustrated, sad and scared all at the same time. My underwear are awkwardly pulled up, halfway off my ass, I probably look like a mess, and I can't help but be self-conscious about it. I look at Calvin, how he's sitting there quietly, the blanket loosely around his waist, his tan chest glowing in the soft candle light. No, no this can't be happening. There's no way this is happening right now. I want die.

He deserves an explanation.

I pull my knees up and drop my head, "I have to go home."

My mood went from the best it's been in a while to the worst. I'm so conflicted, and I'm too angry at myself to find a solution for anything. Calvin moves closer to me. If he's disappointed, he's doing a good job at hiding it. He looks more concerned, but I don't blame him. He knows a lot more about my mum now.

"It's alright." He holds my face with his hands and kisses my forehead, "I understand."

I lean into his touch, "I feel horrible, I keep doing this to you."

"To be fair, it's not your fault. I would gladly blame the phone though," he says light-heartedly. "It seems to be what stops us half the time."

"Or the impending doom of our parents," I add.

He lets out a gentle laugh.

Calvin lets go of my face and goes to get up. I grab his arm with one hand and slip the other behind his neck and pull him into a deep kiss. I push into him and he pushes back. It doesn't last long. We come apart carefully, waiting for the other to fill the silence with some form of solution to this unwanted situation. But nothing arises.

I should've ignored it.

I didn't need to ruin that, I could've let it all play out like I wanted to. I would've faced the consequences just for that. But I can't go back. The mood is completely ruined.

Calvin is watching me carefully. I look at him, i try to say something but all i do is open my mouth before i close it again. The emotions are strangling me. The words I could've said building in the back of my throat.

I try to say something, anything. "Just three more minutes..."

I'm tearing up.

I shuffle my pants back on and do them up. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could tell you how much I wanted that to play out. I want to lay back down, I want to feel Calvin all over me again, but I know leaving now is my best chance. My face still burns from the mix of intense feelings and caffeine. I know what he wanted, and I wouldn't have stopped him from taking it.

I'm so frustrated with myself. I lay back, grabbing handfuls of my hair. What if I stayed here? Mum has work tomorrow, we can sleep in Calvin's car, and I'll get home tomorrow. All I have to do is call Dad and say so, I know he won't stop me. But I shouldn't.