Complications

Chapter 5: Suspicions

"I have a severe problem." Caleb whispers into the phone at three thirty two in the morning my time, but three thirty three in the afternoon his time.

"And what is that?" I mumble groggily.

"I like this girl." He says.

My heart pounds painfully. I know I like him now, and now I'm going to get my heart broken again. It's Tuesday and Halloween is in a week and three days.

"And?" I ask.

"And she's beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes and she just amazing and has a perfect voice and I don't know how to tell her. We live apart and it's hard and she's scared of getting her heart broken but I don't know how to tell her that I'll never do that."

I'm quiet for a long time.

"I'm having the same problem." I say. "And I'm afraid of distance."

He sighs loudly and I hear a long bout of silence. "I have to tell you someth-."

"-And my brother is still scared that you lied about your location but I know you wouldn't do that. I trust you."

Silence.

"So what did you want to tell me?"

"Urn...nothing. It doesn't matter."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." He mutters.

"Okay." I frown. "It's three in the morning. Can I go back to bed now?"

"Yes. Sorry."

"It's fine."

"Bye."

"Bye."

________________

Caleb: good morning

Me: isn't it ten at night there? Why aren't you in bed?

Caleb: I wanted to talk to you

Me: oh lol...hi?

Caleb: hi!!!

Me: you're cheery

Caleb: I'm a night owl, not a morning person

Me: same here

Caleb: aren't you in class?

Me: yes but I'm risking my phone to talk to you :)

Caleb: I'll let you pay attention. Text me later? I'll be away in five hours anyways

Me: okay

I put my phone back in its bag.

"Thank you for joining me in North Carolina." Collin says.

"I like him." I state simply.

"I know. That worries me." He sighs.

"Why?" I ask quietly.

"Because he says he lives in Australia but I don't think he does for the same reason that Russell, Maddy, and Rose think."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because he talks to you all day." He shrugs.

"So?" I snap.

"It's like he never sleeps."

"He's only twelve hours ahead." I point out.

"No he isn't." Collin says. "Australia is fifteen hours ahead. If it is 10:07 right now, that means it is 1:07 in the morning there, not ten at night."

I stare at him for a long time. "You're wrong."

"Google it." He says simply.

I stare at him for a long time and then I sigh. "Where do you think he lives?"

He shrugs. "He probably lives somewhere in America in our time zone. It makes sense." He hesitates. "You didn't Google it."

"I trust you." I reply with a shrug.

The bell rings and I grab my stuff and whip out my phone to start to type a message as I talk towards the cafeteria.

I bump into someone and look up into blue eyes. His head hair is flopping into his face and he brushes it away.

"I'm sorry. That was my fault. I wasn't paying attention." I smile.

"You're nice." he notices. "It's okay, Madeline."

I frown. I'm not popular, but I'm not a nerd, I'm just an outcast. People don't normally know my name. "How do you know my name?"

I see his eyes widen slightly before he smiles. "You're in my fifth period, remember?" he asks.

"Oh yeah." I laugh. "Well...bye."

"Bye."

I walk away and Collin hurries to catch up with me. "He's suspicious." He says.

I laugh. "Why?"

"Because his eyes got wide when you asked how he knows your name, his eyes got wide before he said you were in his fifth period." He shrugs.

"How is that suspicious?" I ask.

"I just think he has a secret." He shrugs, sitting down at our table.

I sit across him and watch as Max sits at his table and his brown haired friend sits down across from him.