MONDAY - OCTOBER 22ND / DRAG RACING

"You should go to school today," Calum says, shaking my body and shoving a plate of pancakes into my face, "I'm going to meet my parents anyway."

"Can't I come?" I ask groggily.

He shakes his head slightly and carries on shoving the pancakes into my face. I take them and bite at them, they don't taste bad, pretty good honestly. 

I eyed Calum suspiciously as he manically cleared up his room and shut all draws. The clock beside his bed read 06:34, meaning he had planned to wake me up this early and make me go to school. I had no idea what he was doing or why, but I wasn't going to fight him.

"You have clothes hanging on the banister, you can wear them today." He smiles, kissing my forehead and leaving.

I follow him out of the door, dropping the pancake plate on the side and picking up the clothes from the banister. It's the clothes I wore one of the first times I had stayed at Calum's house, I hadn't even realised I had left them here. They seem small on me when I put them on.

Calum is extremely quick to get into the car and drive me to school. He basically dodges all traffic by taking scenic routes and the music in the car is nothing but fast heavy metal and screaming. I'm sipping at a coffee when I see school and basically recoil into myself, I had decided to not come back since the last time but here I was again - against my own will and being brought by my boyfriend after running away from home for multiple days and weeks. Calum's hand hasn't left my thigh since we left.

"If anyone does anything, you know, like Luke or his stupid girlfriend, then text me straight away. I've asked Michael to watch out for you today, just in case." Calum taps at the wheel, "And I didn't wanna drop you off today but something has come up with my parents and-"

"Do you not want me to meet them or something?" I pull out a cigarette when he starts talking.

Calum eyes me slightly, "Of course I want you to meet my parents and for them to meet you but not right now, okay? Besides, these are my problems and I don't need you getting involved. I have something planned for us tonight anyway. October 22nd and all; so don't stress and go and learn some stuff. I'd hate to be the one to make you fail your classes."

"I've probably already failed, Calum."

He kisses me then, his hands on my cheeks and our lips together like they aren't going to separate. I want to pull away, because I'm pissed off at him for multiple reasons, but I can't get myself to and he's the one who ends the kiss. He opens the car door for me and walks me to the school gates, his hood up above his head as if it'll hide him. I hug him as if he's going away forever because it feels like he will be. He's acting strange.

"See you later, okay?" He whispers as he walks away, one hand waving and other in his jean pocket. I send him a little wave too and drop my cigarette on the floor.

I act like I'm nothing as I make my way through my classes and the day. I act like I'm not there, and thanks to the stupid teachers we were blessed with at this school, they act like I'm not there too. I basically swam through Physics, even when I answered my name my teacher acted as if I hadn't and crossed me off. Everyone in the class either stared or didn't care. I was happy enough like this, hidden away behind a cap and hoodie and loose jeans. I could pass for Michael, honestly. 

I slouch through the halls, keeping a distance from students and not making any eye-contact at all. I dismiss my lonely locker, most likely crammed with horrible school letters and old sweet packets. I had seen Michael in some of my classes and he sent me a nice wink, I would send one back but I couldn't be bothered. He was acting like nothing had happened yesterday when in fact a lot had happened. But if he was acting normal than I suppose I should too.

Luke and Sarah were sitting at lunch together, her legs hung happily over his. She was feeding him a chocolate strawberry when I saw them and I basically diverted my vision just so I wouldn't throw up. I hate them too and their little love story. I sit alone at lunch anyway, watching everyone from afar and pretending like I don't exist. 

"Francesca?" A familiar voice mumbles from behind me. I jump a little, grabbing my heart in surprise. It's only Ashton, he's smiling and his hair is cut and fluffy, "I'm surprised to see you here."

"I'm surprised I'm here myself, Ashton." I shrug.

"Well, you have been pretty quiet since the last time we talked. Are you and Calum alright? How's Luke?"

I smile because he's one of the first people to not to say I'm being stupid for not going home or actually living my life. I like that about Ashton. He's a nice person, he's the kind of person you'd wanna surround yourself with. Everyone wants multiple Ashton's - including me.

"I'm okay, glad I'm not at home. Calum is great and I'm great and things are great. A lot has changed in a couple of weeks, huh?" I sigh.

"You're not wrong. Luke and Sarah have been nothing but annoying these past few weeks. I'm going out of my mind - Sarah has them speaking of weddings. Luke just laughs but I'm pretty sure she's dead serious." Ashton and I laugh together and he stretches his legs out, "You're looking a little skinny though, Frankie. Have you been doing okay? Calum is treating you well right?"

And there it is.

I smile happily, "Of course. I don't think I've lost any pounds or anything - I'm eating the exact same."

He shrugs and smiles, "Forget I said anything then, just making sure you're okay and all. Luke misses you, I can tell, he's being a dick about it though. Sarah doesn't help."

"She never has done since they got involved. I don't care much anymore." It's a lie, because I think I'll always care about Luke because he was my best friend, but I've begun to care less. Smoking weed and living your life recklessly does that to a person, "I'm too busy living my life."

"I hope you're not living it too badly, you gotta get those grades for a good job, right?" He elbows me lightly and I laugh awkwardly, "Well, the bells about to go, what class have you got?"

I rack at my brain for an answer and decide that I must have Maths because it's a Monday and I always hated my afternoon classes on the day. Ashton gives me a hand up and we walk in silence to our classes. Michael is in this class and he pats the seat next to him so I take it, he squeezes my hand when I sit down.

"How's today been for you?" He asks as our teacher passes out the books we'll be using.

"Not bad. I don't want to be here exactly - but not bad." I shrug.

Michael gives me a sympathetic look, "Sorry about that, Calum had the whole parents thing. They wanted to meet with him to check he's okay and abiding with he law. Which, of course, he hasn't been - but that's our little secret."

I swallow down some guilt and get on with the questions. It's been so long since I cared about the work that I had to ask Michael 10 times how to figure out 3 questions. He was happy to help but I felt stupid. The class was slow and boring and when it was over, and Michael had walked me to my next class (and as far away from Luke as I could be on a school day), I was happily sat at the back and fell asleep as the teacher read sections from Of Mice and Men. I didn't care enough to listen.

Calum's car was exactly where I thought it would be when I got out of school and he was dressed in baggy clothes and smiling like an idiot. I couldn't help but smile when I sat down beside him.

"You've had a good day obviously - glad one of us has." I roll my eyes and drop my school bag in the back of the car.

"Come on, Michael texted me and told me your day was okay."Calum kisses my forehead, "And I'm happy because my parents think everything is okay - they're paying my rent for the next 6 months."

I nod, "Nice going. Michael told me you had to pretend you were abiding by the law, I always thought your parents trusted you anyway - from what you've told me in the past."

"Well, I had to make them see that I was okay," Calum reverses and heads away from the school gates, I catch Luke and Sarah kissing outside of school, "But enough about that - I'm taking you to the dried up river."

"Um, why?"

He smirks in the mirror and rests a hand on my thigh, it sends shivers up my body, "Because, my lovely darling Fran, I'm taking part in a drag race."

helllloooo, another update because why not...

this is where things are about to turn around so be ready for that and make sure you have tissues for upcoming chapters! i hope you enjoy this...9 days left and a few more chapters! :)

i hope you're all okay and i'm gonna be uploading the q&a (SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE CHARACTERS AND ME, I WANT LOADS!!!! I MAY EVEN ANSWER WITH SOME SPOILERS...) REAL soon!

love,

millie x

song for this chapter: ain't nobody (loves me better) - felix jaehn, jasmine thompson