Learning To Fall

ten

The rest of the day goes by slowly, but I don't pay attention all that much. The next day, I wake up actually sick so I stay home. I guess my immune system was as weak as I felt. Lillian doesn't bother me as she leaves for work, and my dad just taps Morse Code onto my door. I love you, he taps, before walking down the stairs.

So, when I wake up with a hand pressed to my forehead, I notice immediately. Just my luck that they forgot to lock the door, and now I was probably kidnapped and my life was gonna play out like a Criminal Minds episode (hopefully I lived.) As I open my eyes, a sigh of relief comes from my chapped lips as I look up to see Calum and Michael.

"Hey," Calum smiles, pushing my hair back from my face. I tried not to laugh as I thought about how motherly he was being.

"Hi.." I answer, my statement coming out as a question.

"What's up buttercup?" Calum teases, grinning like a kid on Christmas. I cough in reply, and he moves away.

"Ew, Andy," Michael laughs, and I can't even manage a smile.

"Right," Cal agrees, pretending to wipe my germs off of his face. Both boys sit down on the queen size bed.

"How are you feeling?" Michael asks, and I shrug. I knew he wasn't asking about me being sick, because it was pretty obvious that I was going to spend the weekend in bed. So he must've been asking about the scene in the cafeteria yesterday.

"I'm fine," My hoarse voice lies for me.

"Ands," Calum begins, coming up under the covers next to me.

"I am." I insist, even though it's not true. Cecily's words kept replaying in my mind. Over and over, non stop.

Suddenly a ringing comes from Michael's skinny jeans and he takes his phone out. He mouths a 'be right back,' and disappears from my room. I turn to face Calum, and put my head on his shoulder. He immediately starts running soothing circles on my back.

"Don't shut me out, okay? You have to tell me when you're not okay," He whispers, and I find myself crying. And I hate it. I hate all of it.

>>

Michael and Calum finally coax me out of my room and into the living room to take advantage of the flatscreen TV on the wall.

"You're a big baby," Michael teases when he sees the heavy blanket I'm sporting as we all sit on the couch.

"Shut up, I'm sick. What's your excuse?" I defend, not sounding very threatening with a stuffed nose. They both laugh in reply while I huff and roll my eyes. Then, a thought hits me.

"Did you guys skip today?" I wonder aloud.

"Yep," Calum answers, not even looking away from The 100.

"Hey, how do you know my Netflix password?" I ask, grabbing the controller.

"You act like it's hard to guess," Cal snorts, taking the controller back.

"I changed it since last time!" I exclaim. He simply laughs.

"Oh please, like he'd have a hard time guessing that it was MrsCliffo145," Michael laughs as he returns from the kitchen and gets comfortable in between Calum and I.

"Oh please, you wish," I laugh, rolling my eyes.

"No, I know," Mikey chuckles, elbowing me lightly.

"Shut up," I groan, throwing my head back for emphasis. This day was gonna be hard.

>>

Calum ends up being called by his mom at around one. After about ten minutes, he comes back into the room. His cheeks were rosy, in contrast to his brown maori skin. I had to admit it made him look boyishly cute.

"I have to go home," He admits, rubbing the back of his neck. Michael stands and gives him one of their "bro hugs," and I walk Calum out. That's when I notice the truck on the driveway in front of Calum's Jeep.

"I didn't realize Michael had a car," I state as we stand on the porch. Cal nods in reply.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" He asks, taking my hand and intertwining our fingers. It was something Calum did when he was concerned. After I started crying, I told him why I was being distant.

"Cal, I'll be okay. Once Monday comes along, it'll be forgotten and I'll be like before. I'm a big girl, I can handle myself," I smile softly at the end. Calum nods, deep in thought.

"Yeah, but will you be okay alone with him?" Suddenly comes from Calum's mouth, and I look up to see him point his chin at the house. Referring to Michael. This causes me to laugh a real laugh.

"Calum, Michael wouldn't hurt a bug. Literally. He refuses to kill bugs," I laugh, wondering what the hell has gotten into Calum. Eventually, he laughs a short laugh and nods.

"Okay. I'll see you during the weekend if I don't get grounded," He says, kissing my cheek before going down the walkway and into his Jeep.

I wonder what Calum was implying as I walk back into the house.

>>

"I just realized something," I say after watching The Maze Runner.

"What, that the director completely disregarded the book and did whatever he wanted with the movie?" Michael wonders, quirking up an eyebrow.

"No," I laugh, and he shrugs.

"What is it?"

"You know so much about me, but I know nothing about you. I don't even feel close to you." Sighing, I lean my head against my hand. I watch as Michael's expression falls.

"True," He nods, his green eyes falling to his hands. Then, he looks back up. "Did you know I have three tattoos?" Michael inquires, and I shake my head. He shows an X on his right hand middle finger, an anchor on his left hand thumb, and 'to the moon' on his right upper forearm.

"Impressive," I joke, and he smiles over at me. "Michael, I mean the deep stuff. Come on," Nudging him, he shrugs.

"You want deep?" He questions, and I nod. "Okay, fine.. My favorite color is green." Mikey sighs as if he just spilled a big secret. I roll my eyes and hit his leg.

"That's not what I meant, you-" I'm interrupted by the jingling of keys in the door. Panic surges through me as I look for a hiding spot. Finally, the coat closet comes into sight, and I push Michael and myself into it. The door is opened soon enough, and in steps my dad, I see through the little slots. Fuck, if he caught me with a boy, especially in this position, he'd be fuming.

I watch as he goes over to the stairs.

"Andy, I'm home for lunch! Do you need anything before I leave again?" He yells up the stairs. I wanted to say 'yeah, it'd be nice to not have Michael's entire front pressed against my back,' but there was no way in hell I would even think about breathing until he left the room. He finally mumbles something about me being asleep, and I sigh of relief when he leaves the room and I hear the bathroom door shut.

"You know, we could get out now and go upstairs," Michael whispers, and I feel his breath hit my neck. Putting my head against the door, I shake my head.

"He's a detective, he'd know something was out of place as soon as he came into the room." I whisper back. Michael sighs quietly, and once again his breath hits my neck. I close my eyes and try to refrain from sighing. "Stop doing that," I say, my voice lower than a whisper. He laughs quietly from behind me.

"What, am I giving you bad thoughts?" He jokes. I roll my eyes.

"No, but clearly you're having your own. Tell your little buddy down there to back off," I tease, and I feel Michael try and move back. But, there was no way he could. This closet was stuffed to the brim with Lillian's many fur coats and useless rugs.

After a while, my dad finally leaves. And as soon as I hear him lock the door, I open the closet and throw myself out. I didn't need to experience that, and was pretty sure the increase of temperature in that closet broke my fever. Michael sits next to me on the couch, and we make eye contact briefly.

"How's that for close?"

"I hate you."