4: Rising Tide

"Why do you look so sad"

I broke my gaze, averting my eyes to the other side of the room. Flushed and confused, I ran up the stairs, dropping my uniform jacket down the stairs and slamming the door behind me.

I stayed in my room for a few days after that. Well, sure I felt for food and water, but I don't remember saying a single word to anyone. I was unable to think of anything to say. I was so embarrassed. And not to mention, how Carly looked. She clearly heard what I said to her mom, and from inferring she should've been able to deduce that I basically said I liked her. UGHHHH! I'm so stupid. I can't believe that I thought I was actually gonna make her fall for me, it never would've been that easy. I lay down and put in my earbuds and play my playlist titled "mood", the first song to play in the shuffle being "Another One" by Mac DeMarco. With the second the first line of the song plays, Tears start to run over my face, right over my nose while I lay on my side, I feel the pillow beneath me getting wet.

"Feeling so confused

You don't know what to do

Afraid she might not love you

Anymore"

The words rang in my head. When the song finished my AirPods died and as I lay on the bed, almost in a fetal position, head in a pillow dampened by my tears I thought to myself, "What am I gonna do?"

* * *

On Wednesday, I finally showed up to school after being absent from life for 5 days. When I came into the school, I was greeted by a few people and as I walked to my locker to put my things in my locker, I saw Carly across the courtyard.

Let me explain this, because this may sound a little weird as to how I even saw her. At Our school, there was a large courtyard in the middle of the building, making the building shaped like a box–– 2 floors in a square, with an "empty" inside.

Got that? Great.

Well, when I saw Carly, my heart sunk to the bottom of my chest, and I instantly tensed up. While not my intention, I think I had become deathly afraid of Carly.

At my locker, I put my bag in and as I closed it, there he was–– my main man Marc.

"So, buddy…" He looked at me with a grin, "What's the deal, did you get rejected or something? Why have you been cutting classes?"

"Shut up" I said coldly and gave him a glare, I clearly wasn't in the mood to be teased.

"Jeez, sorry man, didn't think I'd strike a chord in you" He made a prayer and hand smiled, "Well, I heard from your mom that you locked yourself in your room and refused to leave"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Welllll–– Don't you think you should go and say Hi to everyone. We've been worried about you, especially Carly."

I blushed–– Carly was worried about me. I shake my head a bit to wake myself up. No, no, no, no, no, no. She was just worried because I had an unexcused absence for four days.

"Well, that's unfortunate, I'll make sure to say Hi to everyone then,"

"Dude, you really have to speak to her. I don't know what happened between you two, but she felt like she was guilty for why you were gone."

"I will, trust me"

"I believe you, but jeez stop being Mr. Doom and Gloom, it's not a good look for you" Marc said as he gave me a good slap on the back.

"Got it, Mr. Sunshine" I threw him a small fake smile.

* * *

"MANNNN!!! School is sooooo boringggg!" I exclaimed as I left my 7th period class with Marc.

"Well, of course it's gonna feel boring, you've been moping around all day, and you just spent almost a week locked in your room" he snapped back in his usual joking manner. Sarcastically I glared at him and started to poke him, "You know, this is your fault, not mine" I repeatedly poke him in the arm as we turn the corner and I see Carly on her way to our 8th period course.

Her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, glistening in the otherwise poor lighting off the school, it was as if someone turned on studio lights and power washed my eyes. At that moment all I could think was, "Wow she's gorgeous".

"Hey Carly, long time no speak"

"The expression is: long time no see'! How can you mess up the first thing you say to me! Where have you been! It's been 5 days and I haven't even gotten a call, let alone see you."

I blush a little and smile halfheartedly "Ahaha, well... I wasn't feeling well so I had to stay home."

"That still doesn't explain your lack of calls or even telling anyone! Not even our home room teacher knew why you were gone"

"Yeah I know, I know. I got chewed out by almost every teacher today, cut me some slack, will you?"

"Ugh fine, but to make up for it, I want you to hang out with me after school."

"What? Why should I?" I was overflowing with joy at this moment.

"Well, isn't it obvious? We were supposed to hang out on the day that you got 'sick' but you ran away and disappeared for 5 days. The least you can do is spend some time with me" She frowned and made puppy dog eyes. She was like a real life emoji but super cute. I couldn't turn her down.

"Fine," I sighed but was actually incredibly excited, "Wait for me after class and we can walk out together, Okay?"

"Got it, can't wait!" She smiled with the force of a million pounds. My heart almost flew out of my body.

I blushed and we walked into class. Man! I can't wait for after school, who knew 55 minutes could feel so damn long.