CHAPTER 6

PHOEBE'S POV

I felt terrible. Why did this have to happen to Caroline. She is kind and loving and beautiful and healthy. WHY HER. It is the second day of school and Caroline didn't come to school. She said she needed some space.

"You think she's gonna push us away like last time?" Elly asked worried, as we entered our class.

Caroline has a bad habit. When she's sad and heartbroken, she pushes everyone away. We end up fighting and getting back together. But the last time this happened, it was bad.

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Flashback

It was an ordinary day as usual. Caroline, Elly and I walked back to our respective homes. After a few hours, Mom got a call and her face immediately tensed.

"Mom? What is it?" I asked impatiently.

"Grandpa Joseph passed away" she said sighing.

My eyes widened. Grandpa Joseph is Caroline's grandpa. She was extremely close to him. Even Elly and I were close to him. Both of us didn't get the chance to know our grandpa and he was even like a father figure to the three of us. My eyes were tearing. I was heartbroken. Why do bad things always happen to good people. I wonder how Caroline's doing. She must be devastated.

Mom and I rushed to the hospital and dad was on his way. When we reached Elly was there already looking pale and tired. I hugged her tight.

"Where's Caroline?" I asked.

"She went back home, I didn't even get a chance to see her." my chest felt tight like something was bad about to happen.

So, Elly and I decided to go check on her. We reached her house in minutes.

"Caroline?" it was silence.

We hurried to her room and opened it. She was curled into a ball crying her sorrows out. When she heard us, she looked up. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy.

"What are you guys doing here?" she asked.

"We wanted to check on you." Elly replied.

"I don't need anyone to check on me!" she said angrily

I was taken aback by that statement. She never talked like that. She had a way of using her words. It was always kind and warm but now, it feels like I saw a new side of her. But I understood that she was grieving.

"Care, we get that you're sad, but-"

"No buts" she cut me of.

"I lost my grandpa and I'm grieving. AND I NEED TIME ALONE. I DONT WANT ANYONE HERE" she shouted, shoving us out of her room and locking her door.

"CAROLINE? CAROLINE" Elly knocked, shouting her name.

"Caroline, we need you to let us in. This is not the right way to handle your grief . Please." I pleaded.

I could hear her sobs from inside. I hated to see her this way. Caroline's mom and dad came back home at the time.

"Phoebe, Elly what's going on? Where's Caroline?" she asked, concerned.

"She locked herself and wouldn't let us in" Elly answered

"Caroline, honey. Open the door, please." her mom pleaded.

"I don't want to! Nobody understands me. What I'm going through." She screamed back.

"Caroline we do" I said

"No you don't. You just pity me. You feel sorry for me. But you don't get it. YOU NEVER WILL! So just LEAVE will you?".

....the room filled with silence after her burst out. Now, I just felt angry. How could she say that? Elly and I are here, trying to help her.

"Girls, I'm sorry on her behalf. She's mixing up her emotions. She's just sad. She'll realise her mistake after she had claimed down. Let me get you home for now. Let's go." Aunt Eliza said.

We listened to her and left.

1 WEEK LATER

It's been a week since Granpa Joseph passed away. And Caroline still hasn't come back to school. Over the week there was no phone calls, no texts, not even voicemails. It was like she disappeared. Both of us were angry at her. But now, it just changed into concern. We were worried. Luckily her mom said she will be coming to school today. The first period started and she still wasn't here and she walked in the class. She looked like a different person. Her eyes were puffy, she lost weight and she definitely didn't get much sleep.

"Come in Caroline" Mr.Salvatore said.

She walked in. Her eyes caught Elly and I and she looked away immediately, like she was avoiding. Elly and I glanced at each other and decided to confront her at recess. When the bell rang she took her things and practically ran out of the classroom. Elly and I took our thing and ran as well. But she was too fast, she just vanished. When did she start running so fast. I mean, no offense but she couldn't run. We checked the bathroom and as we guessed she was there washing her face. Her eyes widened when she saw us.

"Caroline," Elly started

"I'm sorry" she said barely above her whisper.

She burst into tears.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have. Said all those things to you. I was dumb and stupid and rude and I'm sorry." she said crying.

I walked up to her.

"Hey, look at me." I said sternly.

I honestly sound like a mom. And this is actually how Caroline sounds when we talk about boys. Like a big sista. But now, I've decided that I'M gonna be the big sista for the day. She looked at me in a while.

"You will never lock yourself in a room after this okay. I don't care what you do. You can cry and shout but you are NOT gonna shut us out. You got me? 'Ya got me young lady?" I asked sarcastically, making her laugh.

She hugged me tight.

"Ahem" Elly cleared her throat.

"Which part of this conversation am I in?" she asked sarcastically.

Caroline walked over to her and hugged her,

"Sorry".

"You don't need to be sorry, just shut up and hug me. Ouh how much I've missed you."

After a while I joined the hug and we all ended up laughing.

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"Phoebe. PHOEBE?" Elly's voice brought me out of my trance.

"What are you, day dreaming? I asked you something.

" And that's when I realized what she asked. I had gone deep in my thoughts and entered my own world. I sighed,

"She won't. At least I hope not.".

She gave me a sad smile as we entered the classroom.

When we entered our eyes caught someone and our eyes widened.

"CAROLINE?" bot Elly and I said in unison.

What was she doing here?