"Shouldn't you be getting to school?" Mom asked from the entry way of the dining room. 

She was getting ready to leave for work, her purse and car keys in hand.

"You're going to be late."

"Mom, it's a ten minute walk." I said as I tried to quickly finish my math homework. I hate math and I especially hate that it's first class of the day.

"Well, aren't you walking with Calvin?"

"Nope." I was stilled pissed at him or at least trying to be.

"Then why is he sitting on the porch?"

My head jerked up. "What?"

Grabbing my school bag, I followed Mom out of the house. The sky was a dark grey color and smelled like rain, but that's not what I focused on. Calvin was , in fact, on the porch. He stood, greeting my mom as she walked past him to her car. When she finally left, I turned to Calvin.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, folding my arms over my chest.

"Apologizing," he stated. "I know you don't need my unsolicited advice."

"No, I don't." I agreed. "Especially not on matters you know nothing about."

"I get that and I'm sorry," he admitted. "It's just that you and I are friends and I don't like it when people mistreat my friends."

He was genuinely concerned about me and I couldn't be mad at him for that. Honestly, my giving in was inevitable. I had to stop myself from texting him last night while watching Nightmare On Elm Street. He had an endless supply of behind the scenes movie trivia. I always enjoyed listening to him rambling off facts, but something told me that I wouldn't be as fascinated if it were anyone else.

"So, do you accept my apology?" He asked, looking hopeful.

"I don't know," I drawled. "Maybe a piggy-back ride would sway my decision."

His eyebrows arched in question. "Are you serious?"

"Very."

"Fine," he laughed, turning his back towards me.

I hopped onto his back and he latched his arms behind my knees for support. He started walking in the direction of the school as I enjoyed the ride. This was definitely the closest I've been to Calvin and I noticed that he smelled fresh, like lemons.

"You're going to the homecoming dance right?" He asked, pulling me away from thoughts about his citrus-y scent.

"Of course," I exclaimed. "I never miss a school event. I bleed blue and black."

I felt him vibrate under me as he laughed at my school spirit.

"Are you going?"

"Yeah," he replied. "Vince wouldn't take no for answer."

"You and Vince are an odd couple, but I ship it," I teased.

"Watch it," he warned. "I will drop you."

I tightened my hold on him. "Do it and I'm taking you down with me."

A few moments later we rounded the corner, the school coming into view and I asked to be let down. Crossing the street to get to the school wasn't too safe while distracted. There was nothing more dangerous than school traffic. It was like the pedestrians come first law didn't apply.

Calvin and I were going to be stuck on this side of the street for a bit and I took this time to be a little noisy.

"Are you going to the dance with anyone?" I questioned. "I mean, besides Vincent, of course."

He bumped me with his shoulder, chucking. "No, I'm going solo. What about you?"

I really hoped that my face wasn't some sort of billboard showing off how happy I was to hear that.

"Same," I replied. "Sort of. It's kind of a group thing."

Maybe I'm just seeing things, but I'm pretty sure he smiled a little at my answer.

The traffic finally stalled long enough for us to get across. Once safely on the other side and finally on school grounds, I spotted the girls walking across the front lawn of the school. It was weird, but I didn't want them to see me. If they did I'd be obligated to join them and I was perfectly fine by Calvin's side.

+ + +

"This is utter b.s." Jasmine groaned.

Since I was currently soaked to bone despite my raincoat and umbrella, I had to agree. The first football game of the year and it just had to rain. Our team wasn't the worse, but the rain definitely wouldn't be an advantage.

The four of us made our way up the wet, metal bleacher, sitting up in the middle row.

"Walter is lucky I love him," Jasmine grumbled as she pulled out her phone to take a few selfies. "I wouldn't be out in this weather, risking pneumonia before Homecoming, for anyone else."

The rain began to let up as more and more people arrived, filling out the bleachers. Both the Berwick Panthers and Oak Crest Knights warmed up on the field. Even though I've been to most of the games throughout the years, I still didn't fully understand the game. I took all of my cheering cues from Jasmine and Faye, who knew the game inside and out. Guess that's one of the perks of dating a football player.

"Is that..." Ellen's voice trailed off as she gave Faye a sympathetic look.

Looking down at the field I noticed Derek sitting on the bench talking to some of his team mates. His back was to us, but his number, twenty-four, let us know it was him. Glancing over at Faye I watched as her gaze lingered on him a little too long, like she in a whole other world.

She snapped out of it and smiled, waving it off with her hand. "It's fine you guys."

Jasmine, Ellen and I exchanged knowing glances. It wasn't fine and the three of us knew it. That fact was made even clearer when Derek spotted us, causing Faye to visibly flinch. It was obvious that she still held feelings for him, regardless of what she said.

I just wished that Derek would talk to her himself instead of trying to us me a mediator.

+ + +

The cheers of the crowd traveled their way to the dark, damp parking lot. I had no idea which side was cheering or which side was winning, but I did know that Faye's nonchalant attitude towards her break up was just a facade.

Halfway through the game Faye just started to sob. It was jarring seeing her that way, she usually kept herself together. We quickly escorted her away from the prying eyes of the fans who watched and whispered.

"I need to get far, far away from here." Faye sniffled, wiping tears from her face as we walked across the parking lot to Jasmine's car.

Jasmine unlocked her car and the four of us piled in. "Just tell me where we're going."

"The cure to any break up is boys,booze and dancing," Ellen determined. "Let's go to Virgo."

"Yes, I second that," Faye agreed. She reached back, giving Ellen a high five. "Just get me out of this damn parking lot."

As Jasmine pulled out of the parking lot Ellen suggested that we stop by her place to get ready, since it was the closest. We did this sort of thing so often that we all had going out outfits at each others houses.

An hour later we were all dressed up in our little black dresses and looking a tad older than we actually were. Of course Jasmine had to commemorate the moment with a group picture.

The excitement and thrill of sneaking in to a twenty-one and older club clouded any rational thoughts I would have had about this situation. This happened every time, but who could think rationally were you're all hyped up to go dancing?

We all piled back into Jasmines car, arriving at Virgo fifteen minutes later. We breezed past the bouncer with our fake i.d.'s and found an empty booth to claim for the night.

It had been so long since I've been to a club that it was a little jarring. The loud dance music, the sweating crowd of dancers and dim lightning was a shock to my system. That faded as soon as the drinks came.

"Bottoms up ladies." Faye sang as she passed around the first round of shots.

I took a shot glass, but hesitated. Sneaking past Mom after night at the club was much easier when she was too preoccupied with the divorce. How was I going to pull it off now?

"Mia, you drink with your mouth not your eyes." Ellen teased, guiding the glass to my lips. I tilted my head back, taking the shot and wincing at the burning sensation at the back of my throat.

A few more drinks later and I was feeling loose. The four of us made our way to the dance floor to dance with strangers whose faces we'd forget tomorrow. For the first time in months I just let go, not a care in the world as I let myself get lost in the music.

+ + +

I still wasn't full coherent when the Uber driver dropped me off on the corner as instructed. There was no way I was going to let him drop me off in front of my house. If I was going to get in undetected I had to be as discreet as possible. Hopefully my window was still unlocked.

As I walked lazily down my street, heels in my hand, I noticed a figure. Calvin, I concluded as I got closer. According to the fuzzy numbers on the clock in the cab, it was almost two in the morning. What on earth was he doing out this late?

"Hey," I hiccuped once I got up to his driveway.

He turned to face me, tucking his basketball under his arm. His eyes washed over me and I tugged at the ends of my tight fitting dress, suddenly feeling self conscience.

"Wild night?" He asked, descending his driveway and I met him halfway.

"Very," I giggled.

"And you're drunk."

"You're very observant," I slurred. "I like that about you. I also really like your eyes."

I went to poke one of his brown orbs, but he grabbed my hand to stop me. Our fingers ended up tangled together and my stomach did a back flip.

"I think you need some sleep." His arm snaked around my waist as he guided me to his front door. "My mom's visiting my aunt, so you can crash here tonight."

The giant butterflies in my stomach, plus the various alcoholic drinks, urged me to spill my guts and get this crush out in the open. I liked Calvin, more than I would have liked to admit. He was sweet and funny and he smelled really, really good.

"Wait, I need to say something else." We stop on the porch, his hand still in mines and I opened my mouth to speak. 

Words aren't what came out though.

//

This chapter was kind of fun to write, not going to lie.

So, what'd you think about Calvin's apology?

& The fact that Mia would rather hang with Calvin than the friends she tried so hard to win back?

How Mia getting drunk and *almost* confessing her love to Calvin?

Let me know what you though of this chapter!

Thanks SO much for reading!

Don't forget to vote <3