Wallflower // s.m

nine.

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. . .

"Caleb? H-hey." I smiled weakly, feeling my heart pounding in my chest and the disappointment weighing down on me.

For a second I thought I saw Shawn.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, "Was the Australian life not good enough for you?"

"It was - but I missed my neighbour. You know, the one I had known since birth, yet she still didn't speak to me until we were six because she's got social issues."

"Who?" I gasped in mock-shock, "Do you mean Mr Kenneth?" I whispered, trying to hold in my laughter. He just rolled his eyes at my attempt of a joke at our elderly neighbours, as I scuffed his chocolate brown hair that was styled messily.

"The mud pies were better without you there to mess them up anyways." I joked

I watched as the crinkles by his eyes formed when he smiled, looking down at me. He really had changed a lot.

He now had a tall figure - toned and built - not lanky like his pre-puberty days, a slightly tanned complexion, and a slim face that was dotted with light freckles that were barely noticeable unless you were up close.

"Well I'm back home." He chuckled whilst straightening out his now crumpled collar, "For real this time - and in the same house too. Guess nobody embraces the beauty of our oh so shabby street." He chuckled, perching his black rimmed glasses higher up his nose whilst awkwardly shifting from foot to foot.

"Come here." I giggled, wrapping my arms around his torso quickly, feeling the tips of my fingers meet.

"How's little Addy been?" He whispered, pulling away from me.

"Same as always." I muttered, forcing a smile, and returning to mopping the floor of the food that people so carelessly let drop.

"School?" He questioned

"Fine, really. Nothing ever happens."

'Except for Shawn.'

"Friends?"

"A grande total of zero." I answered, making an 'o' shape with my fingers. Despite the laugh and smile on my face, it really was pathetic - I didn't really have anyone.

Flicking my eyes towards Caleb, I watched as he watched my actions carefully.

"... How about guys?" He paused, smirking; probably at the thought of me and a guy.

"I- Hmm.." I mumbled, trailing off to myself.

"Oh my god!" He exclaimed, looking at me with wide eyes. "There is, isn't there?" He laughed, propping an arm over my shoulders.

"Caleb, I have to w-" I smiled sheepishly, trying to get off this topic at any cost.

"Don't worry Adelaide, I got it." Nat called out from a few tables down, carrying a stack of dirty dishes.

"No I-"

"I'm you're boss, remember?" She smiled, waving us off. "Now you kids go have fun... Not too much fun, if you know what I mean."

"Wh-" I fumble, nearly dropping my food-covered apron onto the floor whilst folding.

"Yes ma'am." Caleb replied before I could gather a proper response, guiding me out of the cafe, and tossing the apron on the counter.

"What the hell, Caleb?" I questioned, shoving him lightly, right outside of the cafe. "What was that?"

"That," he grinned cheekily, "Was called banter. And fun. Ever heard of it?"

I sighed, brushing past him as I continued to walk down the street, the crisp air pinching across my face.

"You know you don't need to keep that guard up forever Ads. A friend or two wouldn't hurt." He spoke carefully and softly, a constant closed-mouth smile plastered on his face.

"Great, so who's my first?" His face dropping as I giggled.

"Seriously though, who else is your friend. I've been gone for what, six years? - there's gotta be someone out there." He spoke as we reached our secluded street, bringing me back to reality.

"Well- I don't know if you would count us as friends, I mean we practically have only-"

"Who? Me and you?"

With a quick shake of my head I realised that I was thinking out loud. (ED SHEERANNNN)

"Well then who?"

"You tell me." I shrugged, reaching the mailbox of my front yard; the chipped painted cursive of 'Jordan' printed on the front of the box by my father, and our hand prints pressed along the side.

"Shawn."

"What?" I snapped my head up over to Caleb who already had his family's mail gathered in his hand, waving a small post-it note in his hand; the writing to light to read.

"23 Ashbury Lane, 8:00 tomorrow night. See you there - Shawn." He read out obnoxiously, loud enough for the houses by us to hear.

"What are you on about?"

"Here." He attached it to a small pebble, chucking it over into my shaky hands.

"See ya Adelaide." He saluted, smiling as he entered his home and shut the door behind.

Pulling the note's sticky surface from the pebble, I smiled, pressing the note into the palm of my hand. He was back.

'A friend or two wouldn't hurt.'