The weekend felt a lot longer than forty-eight hours. It was different being forced to stay home rather than choosing to stay. I was never this antsy during my summer of isolation, but then again I did have access to the internet. I was excited to get out of the house, even if it was just to go to school.

Due to the fact that I basically slept through the weekend, I was dressed and ready for school an hours earlier than usual. All of my school work was finished, including what I had to get done for The Paw Print. Boredom engulfed me as I watched the digital clock on the cable box, waiting for a reasonable time to go over to Calvin's.

"Don't forget to come to the restaurant right after school," Mom reminded me as she picked up her purse from the couch.

Don't get me wrong, I loved this new bonding experience with her, but I missed being invisible. The Mom who ignored me never would have grounded me. Or added on to the punishment like she did last night after catching me trying to steal back my phone.

Now, along with no phone, tv, laptop or non-school related activities, I also got to scrub dishes at Bloom. Which she waited until after I painted my nails to tell me.

"Okay," I said, still staring at clock. Could time move a little faster, please?

As Mom was leaving I could hear her talking to Cassie before she shut the door behind her. If Cassie was up then Calvin might be too. Going over to the window, I watched as they pulled out and headed to work. As soon as they were out of sight I grabbed my school bag, leaving my house to go to Calvin's.

"You're up early," he denounced when he opened the door, stepping aside to let me in.

As he closed the door, I realized he was wearing some old basketball shorts and a long sleeved shirt. Obviously, he was still in his sleep clothes. Maybe it was because I was stir-crazy from being in the house so long, but I felt a sense of accomplishment.

"I think this is the first time I've ever been ready before you," I beamed.

"I'm sure it won't last long," he chuckled. "You'll be back to your old ways soon enough."

"I don't know," I shrugged. "I think being on the inside changed me."

"That bad, huh?"

"It's so boring," I groaned. "How did people survive before the Internet was invented?"

He laughed again, rubbing the back of his neck. "So," he started, glancing down at the floor. "Yesterday when I was at the park with Vincent and Derek, some guy was asking about you." He looked up at me then. " Kenton, I think?"

"He was?"

I blamed Faye for putting me on his radar.

"Yeah," he replied. "He seemed kind of stalker-ish, asking if you were out of town and what time you left for school in the morning."

"Well, what'd you tell him?"

He looked away, shrugging his shoulders. "I told him that I didn't know."

He knew the answers to both of those questions, so I found it weird that he didn't tell Kenton the truth. Then it dawned on me, maybe Calvin didn't want him to know. It might have been the crazy-happy state my limited freedom has given me, but I got the feeling that he was jealous.

I wasn't one hundred percent sure about that though, so I bit the inside of my cheek to hold back any premature emotions. This was something I couldn't analyze alone, I needed to go over this with Alyssa.

"I'm going to get ready," he coughed, pointing to the stairs before taking them up to his room.

+ + +

I had these burning questions in my head about Calvin and Alyssa was nowhere to be found. According to Vincent she was here today and I spent a good chunk of the lunch period trying to locate her.

As if someone heard my cries, Alyssa stepped out of the classroom I was walking pass. She nearly knocked me down, but I didn't care because I needed to go over this Calvin situation.

"I've been looking everywhere..." my trailed of as I watched her walk away from me as if she hadn't seen or heard me. "Lyssa?"

Jogging to get ahead, I stopped in front her which caused her to stop as well. She wouldn't even make eye contact as she tried to get around me, but I blocked her each time.

"Move," she growled.

"What's wrong?"

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I asked you to do one thing!"

My mind was coming up blank as I tried to figure out what I did to piss her off. "What are you talking about?" I questioned.

"You told her!" She barked. "And you made everything worse."

It finally clicked, she was talking about Ellen.

"I didn't tell her," I assured her. "She just figured out that I knew."

She exhaled, leaning back against the wall. "This is my fault," she announced. "After Savannah Morrison I promised to never get involved with some who didn't embrace their sexuality."

"I don't know if this will make you feel better," I started, leaning next to her against to wall. "But I think Ellen still has feelings for you."

"Really?" She asked, clearly fighting back a smile.

"Yes and I think she's just as broken up over this as you are," I tell her.

Her face lit up at my words, but she suppressed it just as quick. "It doesn't even matter because she's not coming out anytime soon."

I felt bad for her, Ellen too. It was heart breaking when two who wanted to be together let things stand in their way.

"Anyways, why were you looking for me?" She asked.

This didn't feel like the right moment to bring up the latest developments in my relationship with Calvin.

"Oh, nothing," I said with a wave of my hand. "We haven't talked since Friday and I just wanted to -"

"You're a terrible lair," she interrupted. "No wonder Ellen found out that you knew. Now, tell me what you really wanted."

"I think Calvin might like me," I confessed.

There was a long pause as she stared at me as if I had just told her that the sky was blue.

"How does it feel to finally get out from under that rock?"

"You caught him staring at my ass once," I pointed out. "That doesn't constitute feelings."

"Then what does?"

"He told me Kenton was asking about and he seemed kind of jealous," I explained. "But I'm not completely sure. I could be imagining things."

"Oh, honey, you're not," she said matter-of-factually. "But I'll ask Vincent, just to be sure."

Before I could tell her how middle school that would be, the bell rang. Students flooded the hallways and Alyssa disappeared among them.

+ + +

After school ended, instead of immediately taking the bus to Bloom, I walked home with Calvin. I was still trying to get a read on him, but he wasn't giving up anything. He was, however, constantly scratching at his arm. The same arm with the cuts.

"And I thought keeping them covered would stop people from staring," he joked.

"If didn't hide them people would've forgotten about them by now," I pointed out.

"I tried that," he admitted. "They drew too much attention, which lead to rumors about me self-harming, which to lead many hours with school therapists."

I was happy to know that he didn't cut himself, but my heart shattered knowing someone did it to him. There was a lot about his past that I was dying to know, but out of respect I didn't pry. He was opening up more about his life before Berwick, though. It was only bits and pieces, but it showed that he trusted me.

"Looks like you have a visitor," he said as we got closer to our houses.

Derek's silver car sat in the drive way and he was leaning against the driver's side door looking at his phone.

"Why is he here?" I groaned. "He's everywhere. All the time."

"He wants his girl back," he responded. "There's nothing wrong with that."

"I think he'd have better luck if he actually talked to Faye," I suggested.

"He wants to, he just doesn't know how she'll respond," he explained. "That's why he needs you to test the waters."

That did make a lot of sense, I'd know because it's how I felt with Calvin. Not being a hundred percent sure about the outcome of any situation is enough to paralyze anyone with fear. I guess I never thought Derek would share the same fear.

"Mia," Derek greeted, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"Good luck," Calvin whispered before entering his house, leaving me alone with him.

"I know you're sick of seeing my face, but -"

"I'll talk to Faye," I sighed.

His eyes doubled in size. "Are you just saying that to get rid of me?"

Partially.

"Derek, I will talk to her, but only if you -"

He pulled me into a tight hug, lifting me off the ground. "Thank you!"

"Derek, you're killing me," I strained, prompting him to set me back down and release me.

He face was practically split into from the huge grin in his face, which I found amusing. After he got into his car and left I started to doubt my decision to help.

This whole thing could backfire.

//

Is Calvin jelly or is Mia overthinking things again?

How do you think things will go when Mia talks to Faye about Derek?

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