best of friends || m.c.

03

The next morning, I wake up feeling sore everywhere. And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere. My head is pounding, and my joints and other parts of me that I won't mention are aching. I pull the covers over my head and let out a low groan.

Rolling onto my side, I expect to roll up next to Calum and wrap my arms around him. I come to realize, though, that his side of the tiny bed is completely vacant. That realization alone is enough to make me sit up, despite my pain.

I remember almost all of last night, and I'm glad that I do. I don't know what I would do if I woke up in Calum's bed, naked, and couldn't remember what happened.

My only fear is that he doesn't remember, and I'll be right back where I started.

I pull his covers around me and look about the room. The clock on is desk glows 12:04 in bright blue, but the rest of the room is still dark. He has the shades pulled down and there's a small desk fan blowing in my face that wasn't on last night.

Next to it is a Styrofoam to-go box from the dining hall that reeks of maple syrup, with a folded up piece of paper sitting on top of it. "Mae-flower" is written on it in his messy, cursive writing.

I reach around the bed to try and find my bra and underwear before I make any move to do anything else. Part of me fears that Luke is going to walk in and I'll still be completely naked, which I'm sure is not something he wants to see.

Once I at least have something covering the necessary parts of me, I grab the note from atop the to-go box and unfold it.

M -

Had to go to a frat thing, sorry. Didn't want to wake you.

They had french toast for breakfast -- I know that's your fave so I got you some. Hope your hangover isn't too bad :)
I'll be back late, so just lock the door on your way out.

- C x

I can't help but smile, even though I wish he were here or at least woke me up before he left. It's not like I couldn't have gone back to sleep. Sighing, I set the note down and pull the to-go box into my lap. The scent of maple syrup is even stronger as I open it, and I can see why. He put a ton of it into each of the smaller compartments.

The french toast sticks are cold, but I savor them anyway. He must have gotten them for me hours ago, but it's the thought that counts.

When I finish them, I finally will myself to get out of the bed and slide my feet across the floor to his fridge to get a bottle of water. Part of me wants to stay in his room longer, but the logical part of me knows that I have no real reason to.

He said himself that he would be back late, whatever that means. I shouldn't sit around waiting for him to get back. I'm sure Luke is still in my room, waiting for me to return so that he can get his day started.

Tiredly, I pull on my jeans and tug my shirt over my head. If Calum were here, I would just steal his more comfortable clothes. But I'd feel weird doing it now.

Taking a sip of the water, I open the door and make sure to press the lock down before I close it behind me. My head still feels heavy and I don't know if this is a walk of shame or not.

The bathroom door creaks open down the hall, though, and when I tense up, I'm positive that it's a walk of shame. Not to mention the amount of guilt I feel when I recognize the mess of turquoise hair that stumbles through the door.

"Mae!" he says, hurrying toward me, "I didn't know you lived on this hall. I didn't see you move in."

"Hey, Michael," I smile awkwardly, averting my gaze to the floor. He's showed no sign of knowing what I did last night, but it feels like everyone just knows and is silently judging. Even Michael.