Unapologetically In Love

(6)

I slam the door shut as I enter my house after school. When I arrived home, my lovely older brother decided he needed to drive down to Jacksonville to look at a few apartments. Skylar and Andrea don't want to stay in dorms anymore. So, them and a few of their close friends are looking into an apartment off campus. They want it to be cheap but large enough to fit six people and still have money to keep two cars on campus.

My brother first didn't even want an apartment. He liked the dorm life and liked living at home whenever he wanted. He is especially having doubts now that dad's gone and mom is working extra shifts. Sky's just worried I won't be able to handle myself alone on some nights. He's going into his sophmore year of college and should spend it well with Andrea and his friends.

Mom's at work so I just run upstairs and sit on my bed. Diego offered to come over after school, but his cousin was in a rush to get him home. Claimed there was some "family meeting" but I didn't think much of that excuse. Even though Finn and Lela are getting close yet haven't started writing their project, she assured me that the meeting was true in science. It made me feel better knowing Diego wanted to come home with me and make sure I was okay.

Lela, on the other hand, went with Cassie. I don't know why she chose to go with the newly inducted cheerleader that hurt me today. Maybe it was because I was the new girl to their friendship when I moved here years ago. Or that I had Diego supporting me and she felt bad that Marco was too busy flirting with the head cheerleader to notice his on and off girlfriend attacking her best friend.

My mind still can't wrap around the idea of Cassie being mad at me for not supporting her new hobby. Of course I am always happy and supportive of her dreams and what she would like to do. Being a cheerleader is not it. She wants to be an actress and doesn't care how she gets there. Cass has explained multiple times she would never be a cheerleader and be stuck up like a barbie doll. Sure, Cassie loves shopping and parties and is insanely popular, but she would never give into that social class.

I hate that she joined just to get her stupid boyfriend's attention and isn't doing this for her benefit. All I was trying to do was try and open her eyes. The way she is betraying what she always stood for just to get Marco's attention back on her was absurd. What really hurt was the fact she brought my dad up in this. I never get to see him. Yes, hers ran away when she was thirteen and ditched her family. But now he calls and gives them monthly checks as promised in her parents divorce plan.

Running my hands through my hair, I decide to release some energy and go for a run. I get off my bed and change out of my school clothes and into a pair of nike running shorts and one of the three lulu lemon tank tops I own. I stand in front of my mirror and through my hair into a tight ponytail and jog in place to make sure it stays. Grabbing my running band and attaching my phone to it, I put in the airpods Andrea got me recently and slide my running shoes on.

I write a quick note to Sky and my mom to let them know I'm out for a run. Grabbing a light fleece just in case it gets cold, I run downstairs, place the note on the counter under the plant, and go outside to stretch. I take a few min to do some stretches on my legs and arms before walking down to the end of the driveway. Starting off with a jog has always helped me keep my breath in check and make me not wheeze after a run.

My dad was the one who would come home from depolyment and teach me how to keep myself in shape. Tears sting my eyes just thinking about him and I run faster. I guess the tears start slipping down my cheeks, bluring my vision and I bump into a figure.

"Sorry," I apologize looking up.

"Clover, are you okay?" Flinn Martinez asks.

I shake my head. "I'm fine."