His Secrets c.h.

chapter 2

     The next day, the welcoming committee supervisor, Mr. Brown, has called for a meeting before school for any kid that has a new kid to show around. That means I have to be there exactly half an hour earlier than I usually get to school. Lemme tell you, no one's happy about it.

    "Alright kiddo's, I've got a little project for you," Our teacher says, rubbing his hands together. We all groan. "Don't knock it yet! You could have some fun with this, I promise. Plus, if you do this right AND it's good, I'll talk any one of your teachers into giving you extra credit points in a class."

    This makes all of us perk up immediately. Most of us will basically do anything for extra credit, even on the second day of school.

     "So, here's how it's gonna go down. You're gonna get to know your new kid. They all need a friend, and right now you're just their tour guide. So Anna is gonna pass out your packet..." He trails off for a moment as Anna Kirkland starts passing out packets, then continues when we all have them, "And you're gonna make a get to know you paper."

   I flip through mine. There's some questions like 'what's your favorite color?' but then as I flip, the questions get deeper. 'What's one thing you regret?'

    I scrunch my eyebrows together. Calum is never going to answer these. I'm never going to get extra credit.

* * * * *

    During first period, I drop the bomb on Calum. As soon as I sit down, I hand him the packet. "Look. I know you don't want to talk to me, but I have to do a project and I have to ask you questions and I really really need to meet you somewhere and get these answered because-" I ramble, but Calum cuts me off.

   "Chill. Let's meet at that little ice cream place after school. You know what I'm talking about? What's it called?" He says, but then remembers on his own before I answer. "Scoops. Let's meet there."

   "Uh.. okay," I reply, taken aback that he agreed so quickly. I was getting ready to start begging on my knees for him to agree.

      He nods, then lays his head down on the desk, throwing his hoodie up over his head, and stays like that throughout class. I sit, stunned, until the bell rings, and we make our way to next period. He does the same thing during this class.

    After what feels like many, many agonizing hours, it's finally time for lunch. Today I was smarter and brought my own lunch, but it's still in my locker so I have to walk to my locker first to get it while everyone else heads to the lunchroom. When I arrive at the lunchroom, Calum is sitting by himself again, but then sees me and waves me over. What's up with him being nice to me today?

    I sit down across the table from him and pull out the food I packed. "Why didn't you get lunch?" I ask Calum.

    "I'm broke," he replies, "Plus that food looks disgusting."

    "That's really true," I answer, "Which is why I packed my lunch. Want my banana?"

    He nods reluctantly, almost shyly, and accepts the banana from my outstretched hand. I grin at him. Maybe he's not as bad as I thought.

* * * * *

     After school, Calum and I walk to Scoops together. He tells me he's still broke and sits down at a table to wait for me to get my ice cream. As I step up to the counter, I make a split second decision. "Two vanilla ice cream cones, please."

     When I sit down, there's some grumbling from Calum about how I didn't have to buy him anything, but I wave him off. "Shuddup. I'll buy you an ice cream if I want to."

      He grins, and we get to work on the packet. The first couple of questions are easy, the get-to-know-you questions. But then the questions get more uncomfortable, and Calum becomes reluctant to answer them. I set the packet of questions down and tap my pen against the metal of the table. "How about... I'll answer the question about MYSELF first, and then you answer. So it's equal," I suggest. This seems to make both of us more comfortable, and we carry on.

  "What's something you're insecure about?" I read, then blush. "Um, I have no friends," I tell him, laughing.

    "That's okay. At my old school I didn't have any friends either," He reassures me.

  "But now you do?"

  He nods, looking down at the table. "You."

a/n
hey guys! i just want to give credit to ghostofashirwin  for being my co author in this story !!! and follow our instagrams @5_seconds.of_o2l
@ghost.of_ashton
thank you for reading !!!! <3