My alarm sounds in the morning, causing me to shoot up from my bed. I wince and hold my head immediately as a sharp pounding pain shoots through it.
Fuck.
"Mum!" I shout. I sit in bed for five minutes before realizing she isn't coming. I let out a groan and stand from my bed. Slowly, I make my way to the bathroom, where I'm greeted with a bottle of ibuprofen
It's calling my name.
I down two pills and go back to my room, checking my phone.
I had four messages. Unsurprisingly three from Luke.
Luke: Hey, just checking to see if you're okay. 6:45am
Luke: You okay? Hope you slept well. 6:58am
Luke: Hey, you coming to school? You aren't at our corner. 7:20am
Then, I'm surprised to see one message from Ashton.
Ashton: Hope you're okay. Don't let Luke get in your head. 1:45am
He texted me an hour after I fell asleep. I can't help but smile at the thought of him thinking of me. Suddenly, I peek at the time and realize it's eleven in the morning. Three and half hours past first block.
Christ.
"Allie?" I see my mother peek her head through my door. I look over to her and sigh. "You should be at school right now, what are you doing?"
"I know, mum." I roll my eyes and go to my closet, grabbing a simple white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. I slide them on quickly.
"You want a ride hun? I'm only back from work to grab lunch, I'm on break." I wanted no help from my mother. I hated how hard she tried to make bonds with me. I hated how adamant she was on becoming world's best mum. It would never work and she needed to realize that.
"No, I'm good." She frowns at me as I slide on my black converse. I grab my backpack and head out the door. Her voice rings with sadness as I jog down the stairs.
"What do you want from me, Allie? What else can I do?" I stop for a moment, wondering if I should respond to her question. In all honestly, she should know.
"See you later mum." And before I hear her respond I'm out the door.
•••
I play with the pizza on my tray. I was alone this time, Luke hasn't bothered to sit beside me as usual and quite honestly I wasn't complaining. After last night I wasn't comfortable speaking to him. Not after the way I saw him act, not after what he said to me.
I didn't realize one of my closest friends was such a whore.
Words never usually bothered me. And as much as I hated to feel it, I couldn't ignore the lingering ache in my chest.
I should ignore it. That's what I am, that's how I act so why am I so irritated that Luke said that? He only said what everyone was thinking. It was only a matter of time that I'd hear it. I sigh to myself as I pick at my pizza, and suddenly, someone sits in front of me.
I'm surprised yet not delighted to see Michael and his girlfriend Crystal.
The two made me sick. Everything made me sick, but they are just the most lovey couple I've ever met. There isn't a moment where they aren't going at it in the hallway or confessing their love to each other yet again. As much as I hate to admit it, these two were some of the few I had in my friend circle, if I'd even call them that.
My mind groans.
"Hey, Allie," Crystal speaks. "You okay?" I push my tray away from myself.
"I guess, head hurts if I'm honest with you. Last night was fucked."
"We heard," Michael cringes. "Well, we were there. At the party. We heard the shit that went down." I dread the fact that they know what happened.
"Oh god, what do you know?" They both look to each other, then Michael speaks.
"Okay so I'm not saying this is fact but basically you, Luke and Ashton had this like love triangle argument and both guys basically tried fighting for you?" I roll my eyes and he laughs. "I'm sorry correct me if I'm wrong."
"That is far from the truth." But it wasn't.
"I'm sorry, Allie. Rumors spread like wildfire here," Crystal frowns. "Especially about you, but I'm sure you're used to that right?" I look to Crystal and try not to glare.
"Just because I'm used to it doesn't mean I enjoy it Crystal."
"Hey, chill out, she doesn't mean any harm." I sigh deeply as I hear Michael speak.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry I'm a bitch, trust me I know and I'm sorry." We're silent for a moment as they eat their lunch. As I look past the both of them, I see Luke, laughing and smiling with some girl. She had dark hair, and tan skin. From this far I couldn't see the color of her eyes but she was beautiful. Luke catches me looking and quickly breaks eye contact, continuing to speak to the pretty brunette.
Who the hell is that?
The bell rings and the inseparable couple stands up.
"Well I hope you're okay." Crystal speaks quietly and leaves with Michael. She was so sweet, I kind of feel bad for being so harsh. When they leave, I'm left alone yet again and I move my attention back to Luke, who makes his way out of the cafeteria with that girl.
Who is that? Was she new here? I've never seen her before. I continue to watch as they laugh together.
"Alice." I hear a voice beside me and I see it's Ashton. I'm half paying attention to him when I respond.
"Hi." We walk into the hallway and he chuckles.
"You alright there? You seem...out of it." I look over to him and shake my head.
"Yeah, no I'm sorry. Just been a bit in my head lately." He nods.
"It's understandable," He looks me up and down and smirks. "Nice outfit choice today, very flattering." I roll my eyes.
"I just got here a little bit ago. Woke up hungover and slept in an extra three hours." He laughs.
"I can tell, you've still got smudged mascara on, babe." It's not only the fact that he called me babe that causes my cheeks to heat up, but the way he says it. I look away from him.
"Fuck off."
"Feisty. I like that." He grabs my ass and I flinch.
"Whoa."
"What?" He questions, looking confused.
"Listen, Ash," He watches me, amused. "Just cause we had sex last night does not mean you can have your way with me in the halls. We were drunk and it was just a one time thing, okay?" He raises an eyebrow, not seeming too convinced. I notice his eyes flicker to mine and back to my
lips every so often.
"But are you sure? You seemed to enjoy it, you were pretty lou-"
"Quiet," I cut him off and feel the urge to slap the smirk off his face. "We were drunk, it was fun. We can still be friends though." He eyes my lips and it's evident that he knows exactly what he is doing and it's not gonna work on me.
"Mhm," he seems unconvinced. "We'll see about that, baby." Once again I feel the goosebumps trail up my arms.
And without another word, I follow Ashton into the art room.
