A Tragic Love Story

Chapter Six

Josie's POV

The math equations on my worksheet began to blur, more because of my exhaustion than my bad eyesight. I laid my head down on the desk, closing my eyes for just a second.

The teacher knew me well and wouldn't mind because I was one of her best students. Besides, class had just started and she was going over what we had learned yesterday. I couldn't get any sleep at home for a number of reasons: Caleb getting into an "accident", me kissing him again, and because of stuff with my brother.

I hated that our parents were gone most of the time. Because of their jobs they were always on business trips, leaving me alone with him.

"Josie," someone called out. In my sleepy haze I forgot I was in school so I waved them off.

"Cinco minutos más Mami," I mumbled.

"Josephine Gonzalez!"

I shot up that time, realizing that was not my mothers voice. Mrs. Mendler was glaring at me as the other students howled with laughter.

"See me after class, Miss. Gonzalez," she ordered sternly, before turning back to the white board.

So much for me being her favorite student.

The bell rang only a few minutes later. Shit, I really slept through the entire class. As everyone else filed out of the room, I walked up to Mrs. Mendler's desk. She looked up at me with a concerned look on her face as she waited for the last of the students to leave.

"Sleeping during class," she said, worry in her tone. "Is everything fine at home?"

"Yeah, home is fine. I just spent a little too much time reading last night," I half lied. I was reading, but that's because I couldn't get myself to fall asleep.

Mrs. Mendler's eyes lingered on me for a few seconds before her expression softened. "Alright, just don't let it happen again."

"It won't," I promised. I was about to leave the room when she stopped me.

"Don't you have fifth period free?" She askef and I nodded. "Do you mind coming here and helping me out with tutoring?"

I usually spent my free period with Caleb. Since he's at home healing, I guess I should occupy my time some other way.

"Sure," I agreed. She smiled, thanking me and I left the room.

"Oh, someone's in trouble," Yessica teased once I got into the hall. "It's about time. Hanging out with a good girl is ruining my reputation."

"I don't get in trouble like you," I teased back, sticking my tongue out at her. "She just asked me to help her with math tutoring during free period."

She nodded, accepting my explanation. "Why were you asleep in class anyway?"

I debated whether or not to tell her about my kiss with Caleb - well, kisses with Caleb. I needed someone to vent to. Grabbing  her by the arm, I lead her to a more secluded part of school.

"Ow! You know my arm is attached to me right?" She growled once I let her go. We were in an abandoned hall, away from everyone else.

"You have to promise not to repeat anything I'm about to tell you," I demanded.

Her eyes lit up at the opportunity to receive some juicy gossip. "I promise, now tell me!"

"Caleb and I kissed. Twice."

Yessica looked like she had frozen in stone, her mouth formed a perfect "O" shape. I started to worry that I had broken her. Then she let out a loud squeal.

"Shhh!" I said, clamping my hand over her mouth.

"Sorry, but I'm just so fucking happy about this," she said excitedly after I removed my hand from her mouth. "Cosie is finally a thing!"

"Cosie?"

"The name needs work," she admitted. "But it's impossible to mash up Josephine and Caleb. That doesn't matter though because you're mashing you're lips."

The way she put it sounded weird, still I felt my cheeks get warm as I remembered the feeling when I kissed Caleb. It was like a fireworks show went off in my chest.

"So, you think Caleb and I should be together?" I asked cautiously.

"Everyone does!"

"Everyone?" Definitely wasn't expecting that.

"Yup," she said, popping the "P". "Me, Britt and Jacob talk about it all the time."

That was a shocking revelation to me. I had no idea our friends were rooting for us to be together. Maybe I was being a little too hasty about taking a break and not trusting Caleb when he said he loved me.

Yessica and Brittnay wouldn't push me to be with someone that'd be bad for me. Maybe I should give Caleb a chance.

Caleb's POV

Tossing the remote aside, I gave up trying to defeat the Zombies. Getting to skip school because of what happened the other day seemed like a fun idea, but I was bored.

Honest, I wanted to text Josie. I also wanted to give her the space she asked for. Glancing at the time on my phone, I see that its a little after one, which meant she'd be at free period now. We usually went to the library, all the way in the back with the autobiographies and watch YouTube videos. I wondered what she was doing now. My phone vibrated in my hand and a text from Alexa popped up.

What the hell did she want?

I opened the text, confused by what I saw. It was a picture of Josie and she was smiling. That would have been nice if she wasn't smiling at that piece of shit Ian. I hopped up from the couch, ignoring the pain in my side as I grabbed my car keys.

I warned him about going near her and now he was going to pay.