Most girls would be jealous of Calliope Draycott. She seemingly has it all. The friends, the money, the boyfriend, and in a few years, if all goes to plan, she'll have the job too. So why doesn't she feel happy? It's after a disastrous family dinner...
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Sneaking Theo in was easier than I thought it would be. But I guess it helps that all the bedrooms are upstairs and away from the front door and the walls are quite thick.
That was something that my first boyfriend had loved about coming over to mine, and something I'm definitely appreciating now as I lead Theo to my bedroom.
It's very different to the bedroom I have in the house with Arden, for one thing, this room is about three times bigger. It's unnecessarily big. There's no reason for it to be as big as it is. I'm not complaining too much though, because the view is to die for and I love the large windows.
Also, for a childhood bedroom I never really use anymore, it's been redecorated recently so it's no longer the pink palace it was when I was a child, or the angsty mess of styles it was when I was a teenager and still trying to figure out who I am.
Now it's the room of an adult. It's painted a creamy beige colour now, and there's a gold accent wall. I hadn't had any say in how it was decorated, it was a surprise for when I came back for Christmas last year, but I love it.
I turn back to look at Theo, and he's just standing there, his mouth slightly open, and his eyes wide.
I guess it is a lot the first time you see it before you get used to it.
So I just smile at him, and pull him over to the bed, before moving so that I'm standing in front of him, and then pushing him down onto the plush mattress.
The second his back hits the bed, he looks so relaxed, and I honestly think that he's going to go straight to sleep, which I don't have a problem with, because I know he isn't sleeping much at all, but also, I want to stay up and talk all night, and really get to know him properly.
I crawl onto the bed and settle down next to him, and almost as if it's instinctual, or a habit, he reaches for me and pulls me close, burying his nose in my hair and wrapping his arms around me.
'This is the most relaxed I've been all week,' he whispers and then sighs.
'You need to look after yourself better,' I tell him, but he just shakes his head.
'I've got to work. Ma needs the money.'
I think about offering him the money, but I know he'll just turn me down. But I hope that he won't have to keep slowly killing himself for too much longer, because as of yesterday, I'd helped his Mum apply for the job my Dad told me about.
She asked me to not say anything to Theo until she knew if she had the job or not, and I asked her to not tell him that I'd helped her. He doesn't need to know, and I'm worried that he'll think that I'm overstepping and getting involved in things that are none of my business.
Which is exactly what it feels like I'm doing.
But it's for him, and so I can't help myself. Because if it makes his life easier, and means he'll be able to sleep so he doesn't look like a zombie anymore, then I'll do whatever it takes.
