Collateral Love | Tao

Chapter 23

"Wake up," Tao shook my shoulder, "You have to get home soon."

I blinked, realizing I hadn't taken out my contacts and they'd shifted in my eyes, "Ouch."

"Are you hurt?"

"Yeah, I got beat up yesterday and my contact is in the wrong spot."

"Right. Get up and get dressed."

"You're so bossy in the mornings," I reached for the bathroom door handle but he stopped me.

"I have to shower."

"I'm just using the mirror, my contacts moved."

"Okay, but don't look."

"I can't really see anyways. Just change behind the curtain," I fixed my contacts as Tao got into the shower. Once I could see I stared at his outline behind the curtain for a moment before changing back into my own clothes, "I'm leaving now, Tao."

"Okay, I'll see you at school."

I left the bathroom and woke Kris up, he karate chopped me in the stomach when he woke up, "Sorry! You scared me."

"Ah, it's okay. Can you drive me to the hospital?"

"I didn't think I hurt you that bad."

"No, so I can see Sehun, dumbass."

"But it's six A.M!"

"I have to be home at like seven."

"Ugh, fine," he got up to stretch and yawn before grabbing the keys.

"I really hope I don't run into somebody else I know."

"Then stop coming here, maybe."

"I've tried that but I just love my TaoTao too much."

"You two are seriously the worst. You make me cringe."

We got out of the apartment complex and to the hospital safely. Luhan was asleep by Sehun's side when I got there. I shook Sehun awake, "It's not what it looks like, mom."

"It's CJ, idiot, wake up."

He blinked as if he was also having trouble seeing this morning. (Bad eyesight ran in the family.)

"It's so early," Luhan groaned.

"Don't you have to go to school too? Do you and Victoria just live alone? I can't believe you got to stay here on a school night."

"You stayed with your boyfriend on a school night too. What's the difference? Maybe it's because my boyfriend is my age," Luhan: not a morning person. Or maybe I got my hopes up and he wasn't done being a jerk to me.

"You should probably go to school LuLu," Sehun kissed his grumpy boyfriend's forehead. I liked giving forehead kisses too. Sehun and I were weirdly alike sometimes.

The door opened, it was my mom. Shit, if I would've shown up a minute later I would've been dead, "Oh, Luhan you stayed too?"

"Um, yeah," Luhan got up from the bed and straightened himself out.

"CJ, I just felt so bad making you take the bus after you spent the night here. Luhan, I can give you a ride too, sweetheart."

"Mom, I don't want to be alone all day," Sehun groaned.

"Don't worry, Sehun, they can come back after school."

"But Luhan has soccer practice and CJ has her stupid after school classes."

"I told you I wasn't taking after-school classes anymore."

"You should be, your grade in that class is still horrible," My mom scolded, "Why would you just stop taking classes?"

"Because I don't need them anymore, my Chinese is great, that asshole just never assigns anything."

"Don't call your teacher that."

"My next project is due tomorrow," I still hadn't started it either.

"If it brings up your grade you can stop takings after-school classes, but you're going tonight," I groaned, as my mom continued, "Let's go, we have to get Luhan home."

"Bye-bye, Sehun," I waved goodbye to my annoyed brother.

"CJ, you smell good. Were you hanging out with that Jaebum boy last night?"

"No, it's probably just from hanging out with Sehun and Luhan."

"I don't recognize it though."

"It was probably that male nurse she was flirting with last night," Luhan saved my ass.

"Sehun wasn't kidding, you really do like older men."

"Yeah, whatever."

"I'm gonna have to tell that FBI dude I met to follow you around."

Little did she know, he basically already does, "That sounds expensive."

"This is my stop up here," Luhan pointed out of the window.

After we got home I showered right away to avoid further questions about my smell, before I left my mom gave me a small envelope, "Give this to Mr. Huang."

"What is it?"

"Thanksgiving invitation."

"Oh okay, I'll give it to him."

*****

"CJ! Is Sehun really in the hospital?" Chanyeol and his nosiness.

"Chanyeol-ah, you shouldn't be so rude," Baekhyun frowned.

"Who told you that? He's just homesick," I lied, Sehun only liked being center of attention at dances, not in general, I was sure he wouldn't want everyone freaking out about him.

"Jongin said he saw you guys get in a fist fight with some college kids when he was walking by and then some cool police officer guys showed up and shot the guys, and Sehun had a stab wound so he had to be taken to the hospital."

"Jongin is full of shit," I laughed, the story was only a little far-fetched, "I can't believe you really believed that."

"Then why is your cheek bruised and why is Luhan limping around?"

"I dropped my phone on my face. I bruise easily, as for Luhan, I have no idea, probably soccer practice or something."

"Hey, what's this?" Baekhyun took the envelope out of my hand, "A love letter? Who for?"

"It's not a love letter, it's just something I'm delivering for my mom," I snatched it out of his hand, "If you'll excuse me," I continued walking with my head down, I bumped right into somebody's chest.

"Hey, you, haven't I told you to watch where you're walking?"

"Um, this is for you, it's from my mom," I was grateful that it was early and not everyone had shown up yet. Only a couple of people were whispering and staring. Man, he looked so cute, he finally wore those clothes I picked out for him.

"Thanks," He smiled and continued walking.