The Career ✓

06

      ALEC

     Cole laughed.

After a busy night, yesterday we'd topped it off by supposedly going to a 'fancy restaurant'. Meh, we ended up by the road eating biscuits!

      Anyway, long story short, they were flipping awesome.

So, after that, Cole, Allie, and I had headed home and called it a night. I always went into Allie's room while she was sleeping, though, because it was fun, and also because it was super awesome to find out cool stuff.

      This time, I wanted to find her diary. I'd never dared to find it before, but now I'd eased into the routine, and I was perfectly fine with it. At first, I was even more nervous because of Cole, but now I thought I'd make it.

    So far, so good. I crept up to her bed and waved my hand in front of her face. No movement. Perfect. I looked under her bed first.

 I should've known it would be resting perfectly, neatly tucked underneath her bed. It was a classic hiding spot that, trust me, everyone knew about. As I opened it, I wondered if this was considered invading privacy. Well, of course, it was, but how major? Like, if Allie opened her eyes right now, what would she do?

     I know what I would: Hide.

Well, anyway. I touched the fluffy cover and spine and smiled to myself... until I realized there was a key. Was this always this way? I could've sworn I'd looked under her bed. Perhaps it was new, and it was a simple coincidence that I found it this way. That was likely. Right?

       I tucked it back under and began searching for a key. I even checked her hand to see if she was clutching it tightly, but she wasn't. Sadly, I left her room, dragging my feet. 

     I had a mini panic attack when I saw Cole up in his sleeping bag, rubbing his eyes. "You look energized." 

    I would say he looked drunk, but words like "energized" were only in Cole's vocabulary. At times I'd woken up to do my business or get a tissue, or simply just couldn't sleep, but I'd never seen Cole look like that, or speak like it, too. "Have you always been this way in the morning?" 

          Cole chuckled. "Don't tell Allie." 

    I couldn't help it. My mouth dropped open. Then I started laughing uneasily. I wasn't sure that he was joking, but I didn't really want to find out, to be completely honest.

     He smiled. "What's wrong, overprotective of your sister?" Was he right, though? Maybe it wasn't my business to know what was going on in her love life, and I needed to focus a little more on mine. Especially since the Autumn Dance was in a week. I'd have to ask Gwen before someone else did. She was a good friend to me, and would probably be good company, since we were nothing but good friends.

      "Are you asking her?" I blurted. "You know, to the Autumn Dance?" 

 Cole got out of his sleeping bag, rubbed his eyes, and let out a huge sigh. I expected him to reply, but he sat, shaking his head, before getting up and leaving the room.

      "Hey, hey, Cole!" I started calling after him, but the last thing I wanted was to wake anyone currently sleeping up- Mom or the scariest- Allie.

           Then I remembered Mom wasn't home and figured, what was the big deal, anyway? I collapsed back onto my bed, taking out a book. I planned to read, but I couldn't help my droopy eyes from closing. I jerked myself awake minutes later, but I was still sleepy.