Not So Complicated

Chapter five

Arlo's POV

Hadn't spoken to Mom after that day. I hadn't spoken to anyone properly after that, to be honest.

It was the first week of February and classes were happening in full swing. Everything seemed very monotonous. I was neither feeling the pressure of the tests or the assignments nor the excitement.

I was in that constant state of zoning out and cluelessness. 

Shit.

I suddenly remembered that I had to talk to Dan. I withered out of my bed and rushed to the living room, panting.

No soul was around. I rushed to the other part of the living room to go to Dan's room.

"Dan, its me. Please open the door, I need to talk to you. Open the door, Daniel." I tapped on his door frantically.

I didn't even bother to check the time, I was waiting to see my best friend's face.

He opened the door, squinting his eyes and managing to flash a smile in my direction. Seeing him, I jumped on him to hug him tight like a five year old.

He reciprocated the hug and rubbed my back in a consoling manner. He and Omar always did that to make me feel better. They let me be, every time I wanted to be alone. They knew I'd come around. I always would.

"How are you now?" He asked, making me sit on  his bed.

"I don't know, I don't know, I fucking don't know anything." I ranted.

"Listen, Arlo. Relax, okay? You've got this, mate. Come on, you know it all better, don't you?" He encouraged me.

I shut my eyes tightly and tried to nod, letting it sink in.

"Why haven't you slept? Its nearly three in the morning." Dan mentioned.

"Fuck." I muttered under my breath.

"I'm so sorry, Daniel. I really am. I'll get going." I spoke again, standing up, heading towards my room.

He followed me till my room, made sure I crawled back into my bed and silently left, locking the door behind him.

I couldn't sleep after that, as expected. I didn't know what I was upto or I didn't know if I was in the right state of mind. I did something extremely stupid.

I texted Carmen.

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I heard muffled voices from out of my room when I peeled my eyes open. Looking at the digital clock, I was wide awake. It was half past ten in the morning.

Shit, when did I fall asleep? I wondered and shuffled out of my bed, heading towards the living room.

The living room was lit with the bright sunlight which made it hard for me to keep my eyes open at that instant.

"Ah, there he is." Dan pointed out to me.

I managed to smile at him before checking who had come. My smile faded and transformed into an expression where my eyes widened.

It was Carmen and Esme. 

SHIT.

I was suddenly alert, since I remembered that I had texted some random shit to Carmen and she was looking at me with a clueless expression on her face.

Waving at them, I rushed back into my room to finish my morning routine and got back to the living room to spend some time with them.

"Hello." Carmen greeted me from the kitchen, the moment I noticed that the living room was empty.