Haunted

Chapter 4

I wake up to my mom coming into my room. She was trying her best to be quiet, but that's not something she's ever been good at.

"What time is it?" I ask, obviously groggy.

"7:30" Mom replies.

"7:30!?! Mom I'm going to be late!! Why didn't you wake me up? Why didn't my alarm go off? Why are you just standing there?" I scream while jumping out of bed.

"Calm down honey. I turned your alarm off last night while you were sleeping. I figured after the day you had yesterday that you could use a couple extra hours of sleep, or even the day off if you wanted."

I scramble trying to find clothes to throw on, I need to get to school and see Luke. I'm really his only friend and I know he'll be lost without me there. But I also just want to get to know him more. "That was really sweet of you mom, but I need to get to school. I have a lot to get done and someone I need to see."

"Oooooh, who is this someone you're talking about?" She curiously asks.

"Don't read into it mom. It's just a new kid at school and I'm the only one he knows." I reply throwing my hair up in a messy bun and grabbing my backpack.

"Alright honey. Have a good day at school. I love you. Just call me if you want to come home." She says giving me a kiss on the cheek as I quickly exit my room.

"I love you too mom, I will. Thank you."

•

I speed to school trying to get there before class starts so I don't have to go to in school suspension.

As I'm getting out of my car my mom texts me, "We're having dinner tonight at 6:30, invite your new friend. Xx"

I roll my eyes and rush into school. I don't have time to deal with that at the moment.

I just barely make it to class on time. I come in panting because I had to legitimately sprint. Luke gives me a quizzical look, and I just shake my head.

Class ends and I actually wait for Luke this time.

"Hey are you okay? When you came in you looked pretty frazzled." He asked as we walked to our next class.

I laughed that he used frazzled, "Yeah I'm okay. My mom just didn't wake me up in time and I had to speed to school and sprint to class in order to make it on time."

"Alright, I was worried it might've had something to do with that guy from the diner yesterday. Who was that guy by the way? Like if you still don't wanna talk about it, it's fine, I'm just curious."

"No it's okay. He's an ex of mine. His name is Parker. Things ended really badly between us and there is a super messy past with us. He's been away at college, so it was a bit of a surprise to see him again." I say trying to explain things in as little detail as possible.

If I told Luke about what happened between Parker and I, he'd never look at me the same.

"I can beat him up if you want." He says with a completely straight face.

I laugh because I thought he was joking. But he wasn't. He was serious.

"Oh, uh, you're serious. No it's okay. Thanks for offering though I guess." I reply. "Buuuuut, there is one thing you could do for me.."

"What's that?"

"Well I had mentioned to my mom that I was showing a new guy around at school and she really wants you to come to dinner tonight. I know it's weird because you barely know me, and why would you want to come to an awkward din.."

"Yes" Luke says, cutting me off.

"Really??? Cause it's fine if you don't want to."

"Yeah it sounds cool. Mainly because it's a free meal, but also because it would also give us an opportunity to do that jam session we talked about yesterday."

"Alright, well dinner's at 6:30. I can come pick you up if you want?" I ask, pretty astounded he actually said yes.

"Sounds good. I can't wait." He replies with a wink.

I give him a playful punch to the shoulder as we enter our next class.

I don't know what he thinks this is. But I know it's gonna be an awkward dinner with someone I barely know, and my incredibly embarrassing parents.

This is gonna be interesting.