never again | calum hood

seventeen

Adelaide didn't show up outside the gym that day. At first I thought it was part of her revenge, or that she hand't actually written the note, that it'd been a joke. I didn't ask her though, I wanted to wait till I saw her.

I went home after waiting for an hour. I wasn't mad, I was just confused and I hoped she would tell me what she thought about what I said eventually. When Mr. Langdon sent us our grades later that day I got a C and couldn't have cared less, I didn't even try to get a good grade, Adelaide was the whole point of the thing.

Luke came to my house later that day to play FIFA for a few hours and then we had dinner with my mom.

"So how did your thing go?" My mom asked as soon as we sat down.

"Huh?" I answered.

"Your paper, Calum", Luke said.

"Oh, right", I answered. "Um, it was okay, I guess", I said, not really wanting to talk about it.

"Did she say anything to you?" My mom continued.

"Who? Adelaide?" I asked nonchalantly.

"No. Natalie", she said and I looked at her in confusion. "Yes, Adelaide, gosh, who else", she shook her head.

"She sent him a note", Luke answered for me.

"Oh! And what did it say?" My mom just wouldn't leave it alone.

"We're not even sure it was her..." I murmured.

"What did it say?" My mom insisted in a serious tone.

"To meet her at the gym after class... She didn't show up though", I said shrugging and I heard my mom saying a silent 'oh'.

"She did write it, though", Luke added after a few seconds.

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"Because I saw her writing it", Luke shrugged.

"And you didn't tell me?" Luke grinned at me and I just shook my head. "Why didn't she show up then?"

"That I don't know", Luke said. "Maybe she had something to do after school".

"Then why send me the stupid note", I said angrily.

"I don't know, man, okay? I thought you'd be happy to know it was actually her, jeez", Luke said picking up his fork again. It was true, he was just trying to help, and I was being such an asshole. To everyone.

"You're right, I'm sorry" I said quietly.

"Yeah, whatever", he murmured.

I heard my phone ring after that and pretty much ran to get it from my room, earning a laugh from my mom. It wasn't her though, it was Michael, but I didn't even bother to answer, I didn't exactly want to talk to anybody who wasn't Adelaide.

She didn't text, she didn't call, she did nothing. Nothing happened, and it was making it hard for me to sleep. I know it was my decision to read that thing in front of everyone and she could think whatever she wanted anyway, but I pretty much humiliated myself by putting myself out there, why in the world would she send me that note and then just not show up? Was this her way of punishment? That sounded so ridiculous and so not like her, but I couldn't think of any other logical explanation. I fell asleep eventually anyway, telling myself that I'd see her the next day and everything would make sense.

And I did. Before first period I saw her at her locker, but she didn't see me, she just started walking really fast looking down at the floor. I caught up to her and tried to say hello but she just kept walking, not even looking up to see me. We both got into the classroom and there was still no signal of anything from Adelaide.

"Did you see her already?" Luke said as he sat down at the desk next to mine.

"I mean, I saw her but she pretty much ran away from me", I whispered.

"I saw her", he said. "She was wearing sunglasses, Calum".

"Okay?" I said confused. "So what's up with that?"

"Dude, it's fucking pouring outside. And she got to school wearing sunglasses", he said with a worried expression.

What was that even supposed to mean? I didn't want to think the worse. She barely looked up during class, I don't think she was even paying attention to whatever a sub was trying to teach us. I wasn't paying attention either, I was way too worried because of what Luke had said. As soon as the bell rang she stood up almost knocking the chair to the floor. I made my way through the desks and was finally able to catch her.

"Adelaide", I said but she just kept walking so I grabbed her as gently as I could by the arm. "Adelaide", I repeated louder this time.

"Calum, please let me go", she said quietly, still not looking at my face.

"No, what's wrong? Did something happen?" I asked, trying to meet eyes with her, but she kept her stare on the floor. "Please, look at me", I said softly.

"I can't", she said. "Not here".

"Then let's go somewhere else", I took her hand and led her through the crowded hallway until we got to one of the exits. We got out and stood right under a small roof, then I stood in front of her and started to ask: "What's going on, Adel-".

"Before you assume anything", she interrupted me. "Josh has nothing to do with this. Not directly, at least".

I put my hand under her chin, making her look up at me and saw the dark bruise under her right eye. "Shit, Adelaide. What happened?"

She just sighed.

-

A/N

haaa yes i updated this, i'm just as impressed as you lol

and shit is getting worse for adelaide dude

chapter eighteen is on its way btw

i love you guys, thanks to all of you who haven't left me even tho i'm a terrible human being

so yeah, ily, please vote! xx