Cuckoo (Sequel to Outlaws Of Love)

Eighteen

*Tommy's POV*

If you could get a hangover from too much excitement, I think I had one. For five days.

The whole day after we bowled I didn't want anything to do with any words that began with K. That included people. In my little fiasco with... that brown-haired hottie (remember, no K words? Yeah, that name is still in rule) things got more intense than I had planned.

 We got high before long and it got as hot as the joints we smoked. Then there was kissing and grabbing and blackness. I couldn't remember a thing after the last puff I took as he bit my neck. Unfortunately everything prior to that was vivid in my head still. That was five days ago.

Today was the 29th of January; Adam's birthday.

I had so much guilt that I probably got a total of two hours of sleep a night. Ten hours out of one hundred twenty. That is not enough by far, which would definitely give me an excuse for my lack of attractiveness, snappy attitude, and severe laziness.

 I felt sorry for Leila and Eber (and even Neil) for crying so loudly last night because I knew they heard me. Leila, whose room was at the other end of the hall on the opposite side, even came into my room at nearly three in the morning seeing if I was okay. I was anything but okay, but I had to lie and bite the pillow to quiet myself down for everyone's sake.

Too bad I can't necessarily do that now in school. At least I was a little bit more clear-headed. But when I say little, I mean it. I was in theater currently, just painting another prop. Truth was I just stared at the ground while moving my drying paintbrush back and forth in a small line. There wasn't really anything going on in my head, and I was getting almost comfortable sitting on the wooden stage.

I was nearly drifting off when Rose sat across from me, making me snap back to reality. She gave a wave to get my attention and smiled with an almost unnoticed chuckle.

"You sleeping there, bud?" she asked me, taking the brush out of my hand to dip it in fresh paint to start covering the brown cardboard blue for the sky.

"If I was lucky," I mumbled, running my hand through my hair. I looked up to the ceiling where someone shot a ponytail at the rafters to miraculously get it stuck on the edge of a round stage light's support.

"Well um... I don't mean to bother your peace," she began slowly, sucking in her lip ring for a moment, "but Jacklyn told me there is a guy looking for you at the door." She gestured her hand backwards. The question of who is this boy and why is he here was written on her face with curiosity. I reluctantly looked over my shoulder and my stomach dropped. Today? Really? Today you had to show up?

"Yeah... I'll be right back," I said clumsily, rising to my feet sluggishly. He couldn't see me from here and I wasn't intending on hurrying. With every evenly-paced stride I was thinking of what he could want and what my answers could be.

By the time I was about to open the door my heart was pounding in my chest. And every single beat screamed Adam's name. I took a deep breath and held it in, pushing on the handle to let the faint buzz of the empty hallway pass through.

 I didn't turn to my right where I knew he was since I didn't see him to my left until I had the gap between me and the theater closed so wandering eyes and nosy ears couldn't get past. I bit my lip and faced him, crossing my arms uneasily.

What else could I do?

 I wasn't going to start this unwanted conversation. Especially because of that innocently sincere smile he was giving me added to the apologetic hazel irises.

"Hey, Tommy," Kris started smoothly for just two words. He backed up some to lean against the wall a bit further down so I could do the same.

 I rested my lower back against it and stared at my Converse. I nodded to show I heard him.