Chapter 33: Here (Clara's POV)

It's Friday night. Everyone goes out on Friday nights. I guess that's why the school is so empty right now. 

Daisy and I were just walking around campus when we saw Atticus with two of his friends. But he was wearing a hoodie rather than just a t-shirt. He spotted me and walked over while I resisted a groan. 

"Hey," he grinned. 

Does he have memory loss or major mood swings? He always acts like he hasn't done anything and we're pals that go way back. 

"Um, hey. Are you going somewhere?" I frowned in confusion looking at the hoodie he was wearing. It's not hoodie season. 

"Yeah. There's an ice skating rink like five minutes from campus. A bunch of people are going. Do you both want to come?" he offered, looking between Daisy and me. 

"Sure," I shrugged. 

"Actually, she's busy. But Daisy's free." I spun around and saw Callum and Wyatt walking over. 

"Do you want to go? I'll join you," Wyatt said to Daisy. 

"Yeah sure," she agreed. 

"And why am I busy?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest. 

He doesn't get to make decisions and plans for me. "I need to talk to you," he said, lowering his voice. 

"You can talk to me tomorrow morning," I retorted. 

"No, I can't. This can't wait. She's busy. You can go." He turned to Atticus. "Now shoo!" 

"Callum!" I exclaimed, smacking his arm while Wyatt and Daisy left. 

"Now you, Ms. Desmond, come with me." He grabbed my hand, locking his fingers with mine, and began taking me away. 

I huffed, letting him drag me away. I always let him do that because his hand feels nice in mine. But he can't walk in and take me away like that because he doesn't own me. "Callum." I stopped, pulling my hand out of his. 

He sighed, turning to me. "What?" 

"What are you doing? Why can't I go ice skating?" 

"Because you'd be going with Atticus." 

"So? It's not just him, a bunch of people from our class went. Why don't you come too?" 

"Sorry, ice skating isn't my thing," he shrugged. Someone is feeling arrogant. 

"You know," I stepped forward. "You've been getting on my nerves all week, you might want to stop now. I am going ice skating with the students. Join me if you will," I shrugged, turning to leave. 

He grabbed my arm, yanking me back and spinning me around to face him. "You are not going anywhere," he said quietly. 

This is pathetic. It's nearly nine pm. We've already had lights out and on Fridays to Sundays, we're allowed to go at night without a curfew. So, why won't he let me? 

"I feel sick," he said. 

I scoffed, "You didn't all week but you do now? That's one hell of a coincidence." 

He rolled his eyes, "Whatever. I feel sick, are you going to help me or not?" 

I looked at him with uncertainty. 

"I'll drop you home tomorrow on my way back. You can just stay with me tonight." 

"I don't need to stay with you." 

"You don't need to. But you will." 

I opened my mouth to argue but it closed back up and I retreated my steps when he walked even closer, backing me into the wall. 

"You will." 

I stared at him. His eyes. Something is different about him, I just can't put my finger on it. 

Whatever. It's just one night and then tomorrow I'll be at home. Away from the drama, away from Atticus, and away from Callum. 

"Now, are you done or do you want to be a little more dramatic?" 

I am not being dramatic, you asshole. 

"Fine, lead the way," I sighed in defeat. 

☆*･ﾟ✫ ✫*･ﾟ☆ ✫*･ﾟ☆ ✫*･ﾟ☆

"I'm going to hit the bed, call it a night," my dad sighed, getting off the couch where we were watching Money Heist. 

Then the doorbell rang. 

I frowned in confusion, turning to my dad. "Are you expecting someone?" he asked. 

I shook my head, standing up and following him to the door. He opened the door and I froze. 

What the hell is he doing here at almost midnight? 

"Hi," he smiled at my dad then at me. 

"Uh, what are you doing here?" I asked. 

"Come on in," my dad said, stepping aside. 

"Actually, I came here to ask you something." 

"Me?" My dad blinked in confusion. "Oh, what's wrong?" 

"Nothing, I just wanted to ask for your permission to take Clara out tonight." 

"What?" I blurted out. 

"It's a date," he smirked at me. 

What? I'm sorry... what? 

My dad looked between us. "You do realize that it's midnight, right?" 

Callum nodded, "I do." 

"And... you still want me to allow it?" 

"I do," he repeated. 

"Callum, what are you doing?" I huffed. 

"Making it up to you," he turned to me. "I got the car. If you want to come." 

"It's midnight. I'm not changing right now, we can do this tomorrow." 

"You don't have to change," he said. 

"You... want to take me somewhere at midnight in my... pajamas?" 

He nodded. "Can I?" He looked at my dad again. 

"Yeah," my dad shrugged. "Okay. Just don't be out too long." 

I blinked in surprise. 

What is going on? 

"Goodnight then," my dad said, turning to go into his room. 

"Wait, I can go?" 

My dad stopped, turning and nodding at me before waving and then going into his room. 

What? 

I snapped out of it, turning my attention back to Callum. "What is wrong with you?" I looked at him in utter confusion. "I mean, like seriously, what is... forget it," I sighed, pulling my flip flops on. "Lead the way then." 

He grinned, taking my hand. 

"I can walk on my own," I huffed, letting him hold it anyway. 

"Hmm, take your keys," he smirked. 

I grabbed them on my way out and then walked with him to his car. He opened the passenger side door for me and I slipped in, dropping my keys in the cupholder. He got in the car and opened the sunroof, showing off the convertible. I tilted my head, staring at the sky while he started driving. 

"Do you like the stars?" he asked. 

"Mm-hmm," I nodded. "Where are we going?" I looked at him. 

He didn't answer me and kept driving. 

"What? Don't tell me it's meant to be a surprise," I said teasingly. 

"Of course it is. This is our first date. It should be a surprise, no?" 

"What are you talking about? Why would we go on a date?" I played dumb. 

He glanced at me, chuckling. "Okay. You can keep doing that. But I already know," he said, leaning in a little closer to me. After no longer than five minutes, he stopped the car on the left. 

I looked ahead, a smile fighting its way onto my face. "You brought me to the bridge?" 

"You said you wanted to come, so here we are. Come on." He got out and opened the door for me. 

I climbed out, both of us walking to the railing, looking down at the lake that was flowing steadily under us. He looked around and then hopped the railing. "What are you doing?" My eyes widened. 

"Going under the bridge. You want to come?" 

"I know for a fact that we will get in loads of trouble if we get caught." 

He pulled himself forward, holding the railing, and brought his face mere inches away from mine. "Nobody gets the prince in trouble," he smiled. 

"I'm not coming. I like it up here," I said, lifting my gaze to the sky. 

"Fine," he sighed, hopping back over. "We can go later." We just stood there in silence for a while. Then he walked to the car but I stayed rooted to my spot. He got in the car and started it, driving it onto the bridge, stopping right before me. He turned it back off and then climbed out, sitting on the hood of the car. He patted when he caught me staring. 

I walked over, climbing on and crossing my legs, sitting beside him. "Why did you bring me here?" I asked, turning to face him. 

"You've been avoiding me the whole week. You're mad at me," he stated. 

"I'm not mad at you." That's not a lie but it's not really the truth either. I am not mad at him for not kissing me, I'm just a little mad at the fact that he didn't. It's humiliating when you want someone to kiss you, you make it obvious, then they don't kiss you. But then days go back and they realize that's what you wanted. And then they do stupid things like he is right now and they try talking to you about it. 

"You are mad at me," he argued. "And I think I know why. But can you tell me?" 

I shook my head. 

"Why not?"

"I'm not drunk." 

He blinked in confusion. 

"I'm not drunk enough to have this conversation. And anyway, we're here. Let's just enjoy the stars... or something." 

"I've only got water in the car. Sorry." 

I chuckled, staring at the bridge. "Why don't we forget about it? It's not that important. I'm not mad anymore. I swear," I shrugged. 

"It's not about you still being mad at me. I want to know why you got mad in the first place. Did I do something?" 

More like you didn't do something. 

"Oh, I get it. It's because I didn't kiss you, isn't it?" he smirked. 

Oh no.

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Chapter 33

anyone has any tips for healing a helix piercing? I'm meant to get it tomorrow I'm scareddd

next chapter: chance