The Hills (boyxboy)

Chapter 4

My predictions were right. I just told Pepper about the running thing. She squealed and is currently attached to my waist too firmly. I push her away and start walking to school. "Oh right, you like your personal space, sorry." She falls into step besides me and the day drags on as usual. There's a faint smile on her face that doesn't leave until we make it to homeroom though.

Terrence and Colton actually made it on time today. Colton is on his phone. Terrence is copying Colton's math homework, which is such a bad idea. They both suck at math. This is the answer to the argument they had last night though. They both suck equally bad.

Colton lets out one of his usual giggle-snorts and Terrence looks up. "Dog is short for Douglas." the former says, causing the latter to drop his pen and silently lose his shit. Oh God. They're on tumblr. I should be disappointed in my crush. But for some reason I'm not. It just makes him more endearing while the fiery pits of tumblr are everything but that.

Then the teacher appears. "Everyone present?" he asks. Some students mutter approving replies. The teacher nods. It's still week one and the good resolutions are already being thrown out of the window. Because why should attendance be taken seriously.

After school Pepper and I get started on our usual walk home. I look at my feet while putting my 'help I'm bored' playlist on shuffle. Then Pepper nudges me in the side. "Is that Colton? Alone?"

I look up. And she's right. It's so strange to see him alone. Terrence and him are always glued together. I'm pulled out of my thoughts when Pepper suddenly yells "Hey Colton!"

He spins around quickly upon hearing his name and waves after spotting us. We continue walking and catch up to him. "Where's Terry?" Pepper inquires. She is so tactful. "He got detention because I lit his pencil on fire in chemistry and shoved the blame on him." Colton explains. I almost choke when a bubble of laughter tries to make its way out of my body. But I play it off as a cough and manage to maintain my poker face. This brought his attention to me though. His usual grin appears as he pulls out one of my earbuds and and puts it in his own.

"James Bay? I never pegged you as a guy with good music taste." My eyes find their way back to the ground. It's very hard not to blush right now. "I just like this one song." I mutter. My eyes flicker back to his face for a moment. But it was long enough to see his smile. "Hold Back The River is really good though." he says. Then we all go silent. It's weird to not see him be his usual hyper self.

We arrive in front of my house and Colton hands me back my earbud. Pepper raises a hand as usual and continues walking, without looking back. Colton pulls his phone out of his pocket and starts tapping on it. "Can I have your number? For the running schedule?" he asks and holds the device out in front of me. I blink. "I can just give you a copy of the paper though." I say. My eyes still trained on his phone screen.

His smile melts away. "Oh, sure." he mutters. Before he can pull his hand back however I grab his phone and put my number and name in the new contact he had opened. When I give his phone back he's grinning again. His thumb taps the screen a few times and I watch him turn 'Laurence' into 'Rence'. He saves the contact. Then the phone vanishes into his pocket and he starts walking away, still facing me. "I'll text you later for the details!" he yells while waving. He turns around and continues walking. I go inside.

Once inside the kitchen I take the literature list we were given during english class today and stick it to the fridge, hoping my parents will get the hint that I hope they'll buy the books for me. Then I go to my bedroom. After switching into my pyjamas ridiculously early I take out my phone and lay it on my desk. I sit down on my bed at stare at the black rectangle, praying for a text from Colton to arrive. This is ridiculous. I'm ridiculous.

A sudden ruckus wakes me up from my unintentional nap. I guess Terrence got home from detention. With quiet footsteps I make my way over to my bedroom door and open it just a smidge. Can't blame me for wanting to hear our parents their reaction to this early in the year detention. The waft of dinner distracts me momentarily, but I can focus my hearing soon enough.

"Why are you so late?" mum asks. Terrence groans and I can hear a thud. He probably threw his backpack to the floor. "Colton fucked up and threw me in front of the bus, so I got detention."

You see this is usually where the parents get angry. But our parents are special. "Dude you gotta get revenge on him. What did he do?" dad enters the conversation. "He lit my pencil on fire in chemistry." "Then you frame him for lighting the restrooms on fire." Our parents our very special. I close my door again and plop back down on my bed. They'll probably yell for me when dinner is ready.

My eyes make their way over to my desk, where my phone is still laying. I reach out and turn on the screen. A smile finds its way onto my face. There are three texts from an unknown number. 'Hello'. 'It's me'. 'Nice earphones btw I love penguins'. Me too Colton, me too.