34

Bailey's pov

The point snaps for the fifth time on the paper. Mira lifts her gaze off the

book and look over at me with furrowed brows, her eyes dropping on

the pencil I held in my hand. The now point-less pencil.

Her brows furrowed and she stood up, taking the pencil out of my hold.

" Girl this is like the sixth time you've broken the point,” she pointed out

as she sharpened it once more again.

"Fifth actually,” I whispered, my mind drifting to Kaleb. He had occupied

my thoughts for hours, especially since he have not returned.

"What time is it?" I asked Mira, biting the inside of my cheek.

Mira leaned over the desk, taps on her phone screen until it lights up. *

It's seven fifteen.”

I looked out the window. From here I could see the neighbours house,

all lights were on, but I had yet to see him get out of the house. My

mind of course raced with many thoughts, causing me to feel unsettled

and squirmy.

I chewed on my lips, not wanting to raise suspicion but of course I blurt

out before I can bite it off.” Kaleb is taking quite a while huh?"

Mira looks over at me and then at the neighbours, which she can also

see from where she stood. She shrugged. " I guess he's catching up

with Juliet." her voice was monotone, not giving out much.

Her words made me feel bitter inside and I bit my tongue knowing she

was right. Kaleb was catching up with Juliet.

Juliet Burner. The girl who had Kaleb's heart since they were in middle

school. She had been his first girlfriend and when she suddenly left

without a word to him, it broke him and made him the guy he is now. A

player who cares little for girls.

Everyone swooned at their relationship back then and wished to have a

guy who looked at them the Kaleb looked at Juliet.

Knowing this made my heart sink knowing that now she was back, I

stood no chance against her. Not that I was thinking about risking my

friendship with Mira.

I mean, I wasn't thinking about being with Kaleb right? I'd not take the

risk right?

Mira walks back with the now sharpened pencil. “ Here, try to not break

it again, this time." She snorted and went back to sit.

She kicks up her legs on the table looking at the book and then looked

back at me. She surprised me when she suddenly just slams the book

on the desk, startling me who was lost in my thoughts.

She turned her chair to face me, her eyebrows drawn and her lips

pressed into a frown. " I don't get it," she all of a sudden utter. " Why is

she back after just up and leaving like that with her family?"

She was talking about Juliet.

" Like she just left without telling him a word." Mira frowned, her lips in a

line before she sighed and shrugged. “ Maybe it's a good thing she

came back. Maybe Kaleb will finally stop his player ways and I can

finally get some good sleep without hearing the sounds they make."

Her words cut deep. I didn't want to hear that there was a huge

possibility that the two would get back together and I despise knowing

that she may be the one to finally tame Kaleb's player ways.

I burn with jealousy and saddness. I hated these feelings. I hated that

he was doing this to me.

I looked down at my phone, making up an excuse so I can go home

and cry my eyes out for being stupid in thinking that perhaps, for me,

he'd change. It was already seven nineteen, Kaleb had yet to walk out

that door.

He was with her and God alone knew what they were doing in there.

"Um it's getting pretty late. I think I'll text my dad to come pick me up." I

whispered, putting on my phone and scrolling through my contacts.

Mira voice flirted over to me sounding confused. " You've left here later

than this before Bailey and why don't you wait until Kaleb comes back?

He can drop you off?"

Her dad wasn't home and would come home late tonight, so he wasn't

an option.

I shook my head. The last thing I want is for Kaleb and I to be in a car

all alone. I have noticed that now alone with him, tension brew and I

can't think straight.

"I promised Lillian I'd watch a movie with her tonight.” I lied, texting dad

to come pick me up. He texted back quickly, saying he will be there

soon. " My dad's coming and besides, Kaleb will take a while. He's

catching up."

I didn't mean for my voice to crack at the end of my words but they do. I

hoped Mira would not have noticed but of course, she knew everything.

Her brows drew together and her eyes shifted in concern. " Are you

okay?"

I nod." Yeah I am.”

Mira doesn't look convinced and pushes. " You don't look okay Bails.

What's going on with you lately?"

I looked up at her, hoping my eyes didn't reveal my true emotions. *

What do you mean?"

Her brows pinch and she seem to be calculating something in her

head. " You've been acting distant since the party. Like something

happened. Did something happen?"

Her eyes swirled with worry. " You know you can trust me Bailey. With

anything, you can trust me."

I rip my gaze from hers. " Nothing happened Mira, you know I'd tell you

if something did. I've just been worrying hard for next week exam."

Mira is quiet for a few before she whispered. " The exam won't be going

on the final report, you shouldn't even worry about it this hard."

She was right, and I actually wasn't worried about it. I had other things,

more specifically a boy occupying my mind lately. But I can't exactly tell

her that.

"1 know but I want to beat your brother this time around,” Well

technically this was true, Kaleb and I were always competitive.

Mira sighed loudly, buying my lie since she knew how I always wanted

to top my classes and beat Kaleb.

We talked for a few until dad got here. His horn let me know he was

outside waiting. I bid Mira and her mom goodbye and rushed over to

dad's vehicle. He smiled and ruffled my hair, making me pout. We

drove off into the night with me ogling Juliet's house, hoping to see a

glimpse of Kaleb but was saddened when I didn't.

When I got home, I went straight to bed, lying that I was tired. Ten

minutes later my phone pinged on the nightstand. It was a text from

Kaleb.

Why did you leave? - Kaleb

Angry, I typed furiously.

Bailey- Why did you stay?