A Darker Love

Chapter Twenty Eight- Back To School

When I woke up the next morning Caleb was already gone, like a distant memory or part of my imagination that wasn't actually there. The only thing of him that remained was the smell of his aftershave on my pillow, I sniffed it softly and grinned before getting up and limping into the normal looking kitchen. It was like yesterday had never even happened, the blood and the broken coffee table had disappeared along with Caleb and left a pristine looking living room and kitchen with a oddly wake Dad sitting at the table.

"Morning Dad." I gave him a weird look and grabbed the cornflakes out of the cupboard.

He smiled back and pushed me some coffee. "Morning Sam, sleep well?"

"Mhmmm."  I sniffed the coffee, eyeing the muddy liquid carefully.

"What are you doing?" He chuckled and drank his, tipping his head back to drain the mug.

"Looking for any signs of chemicals or something, aliens have obviously invaded and took away my Dad."

He laughed again, it was cheery and almost like the way he use to laugh before mom died. "I'm just awake, I had a really good sleep for the first time of ages."

"That's good." I smiled at him and cupped the mug between my hands, feeling the warm coffee heating them up.

"Now go and get ready Sam, I think your ready to go back to school in a couple of days once your arm casts been taken off."

I coughed weakly and leaned back in my chair. "But owww, my leg still really hurts." I groaned while Dad cheered at my performance.

"Nice try Sam but your going, I'm not having you missing anymore of school."

"But I'll be a hassle, I can't walk upstairs and I'll need to take my medication and stuff with me." I sighed. "There's no point, I can just stay here and rest."

"No, your going. If you just stay home all the time how are you going to work and study for your exams? I'm not having you muck up your education because of this broken arm and leg."

That day we went to the hospital and got my arm cast taken off, it was a slowly and weird process but finally the plaster fell off to reveal a pale and sweat arm. My leg was still healing and would take a couple more weeks because it was a bad break but now I had one arm back. It was a good feeling but Dad's face told me I'd be going back pretty soon which left me with an uneasy feeling.

A couple of days later I was right, it was time to go back to school. I groaned and got up, getting changed and pulling my hair into a messy bun. I had ignored all Kayla's texts and calls to ask if I was okay or not deliberately and I really didn't want to see her with her boyfriend again. At least I had Caleb now to keep me company but it would still be really awkward and annoying because of me and Marks history. I did my makeup and laced up my converse, pulling on my jacket and limping back into the kitchen again. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and then saw Caleb's car outside.

"Dad! I'm away now!" I looked around and went to his room. "Dad?" I peered out the curtain and saw his car was gone, he'd actually gone to school early like a normal teacher.... Yeah, definitely aliens.

I hopped into the cool leather of Caleb's car and relaxed instantly, breathing in the new car smell mixing in the air with his aftershave. I smiled at him and leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, pulling my crutches in beside me awkwardly.

"Hey."

He smiled back effortlessly, blue eyes cool and cheekbones tight. "Hey, sleep okay?" He started the engine and drove away from my house and closer to the dreaded place.

"Shit. When did you leave?"

"At six o'clock just before you woke up I think. I'm sorry but I had to do a couple of things."

"Things? Care to share?" I grinned.

"Reading and other boring stuff." He stiffed a fake yawn, trying to play cool and joke around but I saw through it.

"About what?" I bit my lip.

He didn't look at me. "Not important right now, I'll tell you later."

"Okay..." I sighed and sat back, thinking.

Caleb drove into the school gates and parked the car with one quick motion of the wheel. We stayed there for a while until the shrill noise of the bell filled our ear and made us shudder.

"I don't want to go back..."

"Neither do I."

We both sighed simultaneously and  got out of the car, he helped me with the crutches and then helped me hop towards the school gates.

"Thanks..." I blushed and limped beside him as he put his arm around my shoulders to help me steady me.

He grinned and opened the door so I could limp in then he grabbed a elevator pass from the teachers and took me to class, well we took a little detour first...

We played about in the elevator for five minutes to avoid registration and had a great time until the bell rang again and shattered our happiness. This time he actually took me to class this time and kissed me goodbye, it was nice but made me blush again because I'd always hated those kinds of couples and now I was in one. I was so glad that I had some classes where I didn't know anyone where now I could be on my own and sleep or something, I couldn't have been more wrong...

I limped into class while everyone stared at me, I'd forgot how late I was because of the elevator antics and now I was struggling to breathe. I looked at the ground and tried to walk over to my seat but then tripped over someones bag, landing heavily on the floor and banging my chin off the ground. Everyone laughed at me as I struggled to get up in my cast, struggling to breathe and ready to limp out the classroom.

"For godsake leave her alone!" Someone shouted at the class and helped me up, they walked me over to my seat and picked up my crutches. "You okay?" A pale, heart shaped face surrounded black curls smiled at me, it was Clara, one of the prettiest girls in school who had never spoken to me before...