Pathway || m.c

Part 4.

It was finally the end of the day and not a single bad thing had happened. Maybe that gut feeling I woke up with was just cramps for my up-coming period.

The bell sounded and soon enough, the school was flooding with people eager to get to the gate.

Sasha seemed upset with the fact Calum had told me without her there, but she soon got over it, realising it wasn't a big deal.

I would usually get a lift with her, but today was a good day so I decided to make the most of it and walk home. Little did I know Michael walked the same way as me. He was about 100 metres ahead of me, so I couldn't be bothered calling out to him or running to meet him, so I just walked far behind him.

It wasn't until he looked behind him in search for cars before crossing the road that he saw me. Instead of crossing the road, he stopped and waited. I felt really self conscious walking toward him as I could feel his eyes on me the whole time. Who was to say that he wasn't judging me?

"Hey. Twice in one day," he chuckled as I reached him. We crossed the road together before diving into conversation. "I didn't know you walked this way."

"Basically every day since Sasha got her P plates she's given me a lift to and from school so I hardly walk," I replied. "Today was just a good day weather wise so I decided to make the most of it."

He seemed to understand with a small nod of the head. "So how far are you from here?"

"Probably about another fifteen minute walk. What about you?" I asked, kicking a small rock I had spotted on the path.

"About another ten. I live up on the beach," he said, making brief eye contact before looking back to where he was walking. "So about this concert."

"Yeah, I should be able to come. I have nothing better to do and I've been dying to go to this concert but had no way to get there," I told him, quite happy that he was willing to take me.

"I've got to turn down here, I don't know if you do as well," he stated, probably more of a question than anything.

"Yeah I go down this way too. There's a short cut right down the end of the street," I replied to him.

It felt completely different being here with Michael, not needing to focus on the tutoring. It was quite calming; like I had been here before.

"Well this is me," he stated after a few minutes of comfortable silence. I looked behind him where we had stopped. The house was 2 stories with rose-red doors. It was anyone's dream house. You could see the sunlight reflecting off the silk curtains as you looked through the windows.

"Wow," I mumbled. It was breath taking.

"Yeah, I know," he awkwardly chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, I've got to go anyway. I'll see you tomorrow I guess?"

"Yeah, for sure." He had started walking away, up the footpath to his house. I wasn't sure if I wanted to offer to walk to school with him tomorrow or not. I was too scared to ask, but decided to man up. "Did you maybe want to walk to school tomorrow morning? I'll stop by on the way?"

He stopped in his tracks, turning to face me. "That sounds like a plan," he smiled. "Be here at 8:20. I'll be out of bed by then if you're lucky."

I told him I'd be there before continuing on towards home. I didn't really like Michael in that way, but since talking to Calum, I realised I needed to expand my friendship group, which was what I was doing with Michael.

The breeze coming from the beach felt nice, cooling me down from the hot walk home. I decided to stop down, kicking my shoes off and placing my bag down.