Hearts and Rockets | Hutchpoppe

Chapter 7

Caleb's POV

I feel awkward going into the school the following Monday. I feel like maybe I have ruined my friendship with Maddie. She probably doesn't even want to talk to me anymore. Way to go, Caleb. You really messed up. I don't see Maddie when I'm at my locker. I sigh to myself, regretting what I did. But the thing is, I can't fully regret it. I can never fully regret kissing Maddie.

When I kissed her, I felt a feeling that I had never felt before. My only hope is that it didn't ruin us, for good. I care about her too much to lose her. I know I only met her a week ago, but I am already so attached, and I feel so protective over her. I'm falling for her.

"Hey, cowboy," I hear.

I look over, shocked, seeing Maddie opening her locker. I continue to look at her, "Hi."

"Sorry I ran off last Friday.." She looks down.

"I'm sorry I did that. I never wanted to make you uncomfortable. I hope it didn't ruin our friendship," I tell her.

She shakes her head slightly, and smirks, "We're good."

I let out a breath of relief, "Good. Thank you."

"But you really shouldn't have done that," she says.

"I.. I know," I look down at my feet.

"But I'm not gonna let a kiss ruin our friendship," she smiles when I look back up to her, "but it was so unexpected. I just.." She shakes her head.

"I know. I'm really sorry. But, thank you, for not letting it come between us. I really care about you and our friendship."

"Me too, cowboy," she smirks, taking her English book out, "maybe I'll come over again later? And maybe we can actually start on our project."

"Yeah," I laugh, "or we could go to your place?"

"I..." She hesitates, "you know what? Fine. We can go to my house."

"We don't have to," I say.

"It's fine," she smiles.

"Do you mind me asking why you didn't want us to go to your place Friday?"

"I don't... I don't want to say," she says, softly.

"Hey, I respect that," I hold a hand out, nodding my head, "I'm never going to make you tell me things that you don't want to say."

She smiles, "Thanks."

"No problem," I say, "and if you don't want us to go to your place, that's fine, too."

"We can," is all she says.

Catie comes over and puts her arms over Maddie's shoulder from behind her, putting her hands together, "Friday night was amazing!"

"Oh yeah! How was the date?" Maddie asks.

"AMAZING!" Catie yells.

"Ow," Maddie brings a hand to her right ear.

"Oops, sorry. But guess who has a boyfriend?"

"Really?"

"Yup! Michael is mine," Catie giggles.

"I'm happy for you," Maddie says.

"Hi Caleb!" Catie tells me.

"Hey," I laugh at her quirkiness. It's one of her best qualities.

"I have class, so bye!" Catie walks off.

"Caleb?" Maddie says once Catie is gone.

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind if we keep that kiss between us?" She asks, after a moment.

"Okay," I say softly.

At the end of the day, I go to my locker, and put everything in my backpack, just like I usually do. When I have everything, I stand there and wait for Maddie. The hallways are almost empty now. I check the time on my phone, and see that school has been out for almost fifteen minutes, and Maddie still hasn't come. I start to worry, but then I see her walking fast down the hallway, coming my direction. She already has her backpack over one of her shoulders.

When she gets closer, I can see her mascara is running a little. I give her a concerned look, and she is eventually only a couple of feet away from me. My heart breaks seeing her like this.

"Maddie?"

"Caleb, I'm sorry. We'll have to work on our project another day," she doesn't even stop walking.

I follow her down the hallway, calling her name, but she keeps walking. She goes out the school doors, and I open the door just a moment later, watching out the door as she continues walking in a fast pace down the sidewalk. But I decide not to follow her.

"Caleb," I hear.

I turn around and see Catie, "Yeah?"

She has tears in her eyes, her hand over her mouth as she shakes her head, "give her space."

"Catie..." I look at her.

"She needs space."