the girl on the roof

Chapter 5: Slipping

I woke up early that morning rolling over to look at my clock, the neon green numbers gently flashed 6:04am.

But for once I didn't mind being awake that early, the events of last night and meeting Liras friends flashed through my mind. Seeing her so carefree and happy was a sight I'd happily watch over and over again. Rolling over I grabbed my freshly charged phone off of the nightstand.
8 unopened messages

Danny
3:15pm
Dude where the hell are you?

Owen
4:36pm
Yo are you coming to the roof or not?

Owen
5:28pm
???

Ricky
7:18pm
Max man where are you, Esme said she hasn't seen you since this morning and you missed curfew and dinner. I covered for you though man let me know that ur all good yeah?

Danny
9:30pm
You still alive Maxie? Owen thinks you might be dead lol

Owen
9:33pm
I don't think ur dead but where the fuck are you

Ricky
10:46pm
Yo man imma go bed but let me know ur okay yeah? Sweet

Unknown number
2:47am
Sleep tight skater boy;)

I smiled reading the worried messages from my friends but also felt kinda guilty for making them worry, but the guilt disappeared when I read the final message. I grinned reading Liras text, before looking at the time it was sent. She'd skated back here with me at 11:30pm she must of been out for sometime longer.

My mind whirled with what she could've been doing our hours after everyone went home. Shaking the thoughts to the back of my mind I jumped out of bed and got dressed looking at the sun rise from my bedroom window.

It was 8:30am by the time I was dressed and ready so I headed down to Rickys room. Opening the door to find the guys asleep, Ricky on the bed Owen on the floor and Danny sat awake in the window ledge smoking a spliff out of the open glass.

"Morning Danny boy" I said sitting next to him taking the spliff from his hand. Danny offered me a half very sleepy smile.

"Where the hell have you been mate?" He asked quietly not to wake the others, his voice raspy and laced with fatigue.
I sat for a moment pondering what to say.

"I was just out with some friends and lost track of time" I said trying not to convey meeting a seemingly mad yet wonderful girl. Danny looked at me thinking over what I'd just said.

"The girl from the roof right?" He said with a smirk.

"Fuck" I thought.

Running my hand through my messy hair and taking a pull of the spliff.

"Her names Lira she goes to the college" I said smiling at the thought of her. Danny was about to say something when Owen woke up and looked at me.

"WHERE IN THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" He shouted waking up Ricky.

"Dude I beg that you shut up I would like to sleep" he said groggily before looking at me.

"Oh hey Max Is back" as he rolled over. I laughed at the polar opposite reactions of my friends.

"Sorry guys I got caught up with some stuff. I gotta get going I need to catch up on some work" I said standing to leave.

"That's it!?" Owen questioned. Before I could even reply.
"You're not going to tell us where you've been?" He sounded kinda hurt but I didn't see why I had to. I shrugged.

"Owen calm down" Danny said coming to my rescue, I offered him a thankful smile.

"What? You were just as worried as I was. I mean fuck Max with everything going on I didn't know what to think. We went to the roof to meet you but you weren't there!" He half yelled at me. His voice gravely and filled with emotion, although I wasn't sure which emotion.

"Owen chill out I get it I was out last night it's not a big deal." I retorted trying to keep my voice void of any emotion, contrasting his completely. Ricky and Danny stood watching us looking ready to hold one of us back.

Owen ran his hand roughly through his messy blonde hair and let out a sigh.

"Look it's just, I mean with everything I was worried" he said looking at his feet. My anger I get bubbling inside simultaneously grew and shrank with his words.

I wished like Danny and Ricky I was oblivious to what he meant by "with everything" my heart ached knowing that he had rights to be worried about me but just because my home life is falling apart it doesn't mean I am.
I squared my shoulders looking at him his face at war with which emotion to convey.

I opened my mouth to speak but no sound came out I just shook my head and left the room shutting the door roughly behind me. I could hear the muffled voices from the other side of the hardwood door that my head was lent on. I took my phone out of my pocket looking at the time 9:57am. Pushing myself off of the door I caught glimpse of the conversation and stayed to listen.

" There's a lot going on with him right now man" Owen spoke

"Even more of why you shouldn't of flipped your shit like that" Danny replied

"I get it but he's slipping" Owen said.

I couldn't listen anymore. I shoved my hands deep into my pockets walking down to my room shutting the door sinking down on the other side.

Owen wasn't wrong I do have a lot going on. But he doesn't know about Lira, the girl that I hardly know but feel like I have done my whole life. In all of the craziness that surrounds me even though she is seemingly insane herself, she's the calm in the shit storm of life.

I sat there on my floor for sometime, I heard Ricky's door shut followed by a few taps on mine.

"Yo we're gonna head out man you coming?" I heard Danny say from the other side. I didn't reply.

I felt slightly bad because Danny was the one trying to help me out but I just wanted to sit here for a bit longer. When I didn't reply I heard the disappear down the stairs and out of the house.

I finally chose to stand from my spot picking up my camera looking over the photos I took. I came across some from last night Lira sat with Emma, Sara and Lilly as they laughed in the soft light provided by the street lamp.

They all looked lost In their laughter, there were a few more pictures of Kit, Finn, Jamie and I. I smiled looking at the photos that Lira must of taken of us, the smiles and expressions she caught looked as if they could just come to life right out of the small screen. Lost in the photos I nearly missed my phone buzzing

Unknown number
11:40am
Hey there skater:) everyone liked you last night and wanted to know if you're gonna come meet us?

I smiled at the text, "I gotta save her number I thought"

Me
11:41am
I'll be there in 10 roof girl:)

Lira
11:43am
Tick-tock;)

I smiled at her reply before grabbing my board and bag as I headed towards the roof. Towards her.