The Staircases // 5SOS

Chapter 10

Raya's P.O.V.

"Should I run it by Kat and Marj?" I ask Bristol who's to my right. I've been whispering to her about the idea of setting Cal up all lunch period and she seems to think it's a pretty cool idea.

"Maybe Marj, but I wouldn't ask Kat until later since Michaels here" she glances over at them glued to some game Michael was playing on his phone.

I actually didn't mind Michael sitting here, to be honest it was kind of nice to know other people would sit with us and didn't think we're weird.

"Good idea" I say reaching into my potato chip bag and putting another chip in my mouth.

I turn to my left, looking past Marj's head, to see Calum putting his earphones in. Perfect. He won't hear so I can tell Marj.

"Marj?" I say as I tap her shoulder so she'll turn. She kind of shakes like I frightened her and when she faces me she's got a look of terror on her face along with a slightly reddened complexion. "Are you ok?" I asked concerned, something's wrong.

"Uh n-nothing" she stutters. Uh okay?

"Ok well I have something to ask you" I say and her brown eyes kind of widen again as if she's horrified for my question.

I laugh out loud because her face is just hilarious. Why is she freaking?

I guess I must've laughed really loud because Calum looks over at me even though he has his music in. He just smiles and then goes back to staring off into space. Wow I didn't think I laughed that loud that he'd be able to hear me, even with music in.

"Why are you laughing?" Marj asks seeming a little irritated.

"Because your face! You look terrified and I haven't even asked you anything yet. Is everything okay?" I wonder worried again.

"Yeah everything's fine, I just, I don't know. Was caught off guard?" She mutters like it's a question she wants me to answer which doesn't really reassure me. "But anyway, your question?" She changes the topic and I decide to just let it go.

"Ok well I have to say it quietly" I whisper motioning with my hand for her to come closer so she can hear me better and she slides over right next to me.

"Ok, so I was thinking, and I already ran this by Bristol and she likes the idea" I look over my shoulder at Bristol who's just eating her pb&j sandwich silently. "That we set up Cal" I'm smiling ear to ear because I'm just so excited, especially that Bristol liked the idea too. I'd have thought Marj would like it too, but by the looks of it I'm guessing not.

Her face goes back to the horrified expression she had seconds ago and then it kind of hardens as if she's angry.

"You don't like the idea?" I say hesitantly.

"I just don't understand" her face is still hard and she purses her lips as if she's holding in what she really wants to say. "Why do you want to set him up? Like how did this come about?"

"I don't know, Cal texted me this morning and I was just in class thinking about how sweet he is and I was also upset with Chad and I don't know, the idea just sprung up" I say quietly so Kat and Michael can't hear. Her face is still tense.

"Ok but like why do you think he needs a girlfriend?" She says a little louder than I would've liked. Why is she getting so defensive?

"I don't know, I just think he deserves someone, he's been single for a while" I turn slightly to grab my chip bag and put some more in my mouth.

"Bristol and I have been single a lot longer, our whole lives actually, do you not think we deserve a boyfriend? Why don't you set us up?" Her tone is thickly laced with sarcasm and anger. Why is she getting so angry?

"Of course I think you guys deserve boyfriends! Why wouldn't I? I just wouldn't have thought you'd be into me, or anyone in general, setting you up" I explain.

"I wouldn't" she snaps looking away from me, her words cold like the weather outside.

"Why are you getting so upset? Marj seriously, is something wrong?" I desperately plead for her to just tell me what's up.

"Nothing's fucking wrong!" She yells and stands up grabbing her tray. She dumps it in the nearby trash then leaves.

What just happened?

I look around and everyone at our table is staring off to where Marj is, walking to the door to go back upstairs. We still have like ten minutes, where is she gonna go?

"Should someone go after her?" Bristol suggests looking worried and ready to go if we agree that someone should go get her.

"I don't know" I mumble still completely shocked on what just happened.

"Why did she blow up?" Kat asks looking at me.

"I was running an idea by her and I guess she didn't like it" I say feeling absolutely lost. What's happening between Marj and I lately?

"So should someone go get her?" Bristol asks again.

"Yeah, I will" Calum says, and he's already getting up heading to where she went.

I look at Bristol who looks slightly disappointed that Calum went and not her. I then look at Michael who's just staring at Kat and her reaction to this. Kats face looks concerned and when Michael looks away from her for a second she mouths to me "What idea?"

I mouth back "I'll text you."