Drive//L.H.

~9~

Calum's POV

I spent all of last night beating myself up over what happened the night before with Camari, resulting in no sleep. I really didn't want to come to school, but it's the only way to see her. I've gone over my apology speech a million times but it doesn't sound good enough. I glance to my left and see her at her locker. She has her white headphones in, which means that she doesn't want to talk to anyone. Trying to talk to her when she has headphones in will just make everything worse. I sigh. So much for making things right. I was grabbing my morning books when I felt someone grab my shoulders.

"Hey mate! Woah since when do you get into fights?!"

"What do you want Michael?" I say with a sigh.

"Damn I can't come say hi to my best friend? What is up everyone's ass? I swear everyone at this school has an attitude problem, but seriously what happened to your face?" I roll my eyes knowing if I don't answer him he'll never leave me alone.

"I fell. Clumsy me." I mumble.

"Whatever. When you find a better excuse let me know." He snaps and stomps off. Great. Not even 8 a.m. and I've already pissed off two people.

Camari's POV

I was sitting in third hour aimlessly scribbling in my notebook while the teacher drags on about god only knows what. I rested my head in my hand as I drew random shapes. I glance down and my eyes widen. In the mess of scribbles my mind decided it would be a great idea to Luke freaking Hemmings. Even in aimless thinking he clouds my mind. His face is clear as day on paper,as if he hasn't messed me up enough. These doodles fill my notebook on every page, but none of them have ever been Luke. I tear out the page and crumple it before putting it in my purse so I don't have to get up and throw it away. A part me knows I'm keeping it because just like him, I can't let go.

"Ms. Castillo." I hear my name being called. I look up and see everyone looking at me, including Luke. "You're needed in the main office. Here's your pass and you can take your books." She says. I have no idea what I've done but I really don't want to get in trouble.

I find my way to the main office and I'm told to wait in Mrs. Torres's office. She's been the principal for the last three years and she was always very nice. I take my seat in her office waiting for her to arrive. I hear her heals clicking on the tile before I see her. She comes in wearing some black dress pants and red top underneath a black vest. She offers a soft smile and takes a seat behind her desk. She pulls out a file from one of her desk drawers and I'm almost certain it's mine. "How are you Camari?"

"I'm fine. Am I in trouble?" I ask getting straight to the point.

"I don't know, are you? I see you haven't picked a college so I went through and looked through your options and saw that you haven't been accepted in any of the big schools you've applied for yet. What's that about? The smartest girl in this year's graduating class can't get in? That doesn't sound right. You've had a 4.0 all four years and even Michael Clifford got accepted into a few colleges and he skips every week." She says.

"First of all I'm not in trouble. Second of all I appreciate your concern but I'll figure it out. There's nothing going on and as far as Michael goes, he's here everyday so leave my friends out of this." I say getting defensive. I honestly appreciate her concern, but not at the expense of my friends.

"Can you though? How much support do you have at home? I understand your mom-"

"Don't you ever bring my mom into this. I understand she isn't necessarily mother of the year material but she's still my mom. And as far as support goes, she's always there. If she's not then my friends are. I don't know why I'm really here, but I'm not gonna sit here while you bad mouth my friends and my mother. Have a nice year Mrs. Torres." I say grabbing my books and leaving her office. How dare she. I can't believe she brought up my mom. Her and Mrs. Torres met sophomore year after a small altercation between me and Kaelyn. My mom acted like she could've cared less and ever since then Mrs. Torres has been looking out for me ever since. She's the only one that supports my decision of being an art major. That still doesn't excuse her accusations. I open my locker knowing lunch starts and going back to class would be a waste of time. I hear a classroom door open and Luke walk out. I roll my eyes. Of course he comes out here when the hallway is empty.

"What are you doing out here?" I snap already annoyed. He puts his hands up in mock surrender.

"Easy there. I got a pass to go the bathroom, although I'm not going to lie, I was hoping I'd see you."

"Why?"

"We need to talk. You need to stay away from Calum." He says. I take a pause. Did he seriously just tell me to stay away from Calum? Did he really just try to tell me what I needed to do? I don't think so.

"Excuse me. Do you really think I'm going to listen to you? Out of all people. The only one who needs to stay away from Calum is you. You don't just get to go around hurting people because you have issues." I snap. I'm sick of him thinking he's always in control. The bell rings, signaling time for lunch and the end of this conversation. I lose sight of him as the hallway begins to fill up with kids changing classes. I close my locker and head to the lunchroom.