Chapter 17 - Chapter Seventeen

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐫

I woke up really early to cook breakfast for the entire house. We had a lot of people in the house right now and it's all because of me. I've become a burden. Again. While I was frying the eggs, my phone rang all of a sudden. Who would call at six in the morning? I quickly answered it before it was too late.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey." he greeted in a low voice. What the hell?

My eyes widened in shock, turning off the stove. "Rhys? Why are you calling me so early?" I asked, my brows slightly furrowed. "How did you even get my number?" 

I heard him trying to stifle a yawn. "I don't have your number." He said, making me confused. "This is Robin's phone. He wanted to ask if you wanted to have coffee before we head to school." 

"Coffee? Why?" I asked, making my brows furrowed in confusion and Rhys hummed in response. "Why does Robin want to have coffee with me?" I questioned, curiously. 

"I don't know everything, Walker. Ask him." he sounded annoyed. I guess he isn't much of a morning person. Then, why would he even call me this early if he'll be pissy about it? Rhys Montecillio's mood absolutely confuses me.

"Something smells good in here." Maven cooed, smiling from ear to ear which made him look like an idiot. "I'll brew the coffee, Ali. Harry, set the table." he ordered the sleepy Harry who protested about why he has to be the one who sets the table.

I gave them a thumbs up before turning around. "Can we have coffee tomorrow? I sort of have guests today." I said, making my friends look at me, oddly and curious to whom I was talking to. "I'll treat the both of you. For, you know, as a thank you."

"Sure. See you in school." Rhys said before ending the phone call. Both Harry and Maven looked at me, now confused. 

"Who was that?" Harry asked while placing the plates on the table. "Who are you having coffee with tomorrow?" he furrowed his brows slightly. 

"Robin and Rhys." I answered, casually before turning on the stove to cook the eggs again and they just nodded. "Where's Sky?" I asked. Mornings like this, Sky would always be the one awake and eating. I find it a bit odd not to see her eating everything in sight.

"She slept in. I'll wake her up once you're finished cooking." Maven yawned, sitting down. He eyed me, curiously before he spoke, "Did you say Rhys? Is that the guy you were talking to yesterday? At the big house." 

I nodded, smiling a little. "Yup. That's him." 

"He seems like a decent guy, even though he kept glaring at me like I'm going to steal every possession he had in their house. As if I'd steal from him." Maven said, rolling his eyes, incredulously. Harry and I gave each other a pointed look before snickering.

Breakfast was chaotic for some reason. Harry and Maven were fighting over who gets the last piece of bacon, Charlie and Sky were glaring at each other like they were communicating through their mind. Well, I guess I expected it due to the stories I've heard from Maven that Charlie and Sky were now always at each other's throats. While all of this was happening, Carter, Cole, and Connor just sat there with a stoic expression plastered on their faces, sometimes snorting whenever Sky remarks something sarcastic towards Charlie.

I wore my uniform as usual but I didn't wear my blazer, I wore the vest that was included in my uniform set instead. Things at school will be very busy today since the festival is coming soon, which means we need to make decorations for our booth.  

A smile came onto my face when I saw Rhys sitting at his usual spot. The armchair in front of mine. I may not say it to his face, but I enjoy his company even though he's an arrogant ass. 

"Good morning, Rhys." I smiled before sitting down at my chair. He furrowed his brows, turning around to face me. He seemed surprised. Have I not greeted him before? "What?" 

"Did you just call me Rhys? Did you just call me by my first name?" he questioned, his forehead creasing. "Why are you calling me Rhys all of a sudden?" 

"Because we're friends now." I chuckled before frowning when I noticed that he did not look happy with me calling him by his name. "Why? Don't you want me to call you that? Do you prefer it if I call you by your surname?" 

He shrugged, looking impassive. "Call me whatever you want. I'm just surprised that you called me by my name." he implied, nonchalantly. 

I rolled my eyes at him, playfully. "You can call me Callie or Ali now too. Since we're friends and all." I imparted before grabbing my notebook and textbook from my backpack. I started reading my notes when I heard him click his tongue, making me glance up from my notebook. "What?"

"I don't want to call you Callie or Ali." Rhys claimed, making me frown slightly. "I prefer calling you Calistine. It's more... unique." 

I titled my head in confusion. "Why? Saying it sounds so long. That's why I have a nickname." I pointed out, giving him a look. He still looked impassive as he leaned against the wall, his eyes boring into mine.

"I happen to like your name, Calistine." 

"I wish the feeling was mutual, Rhys. I know that 'Rhys' is a nickname, what is it short for?" I asked, curiously. 

Before he could even answer, our teacher entered the room, causing everyone to keep their mouth shut and return to their proper seats. I have yet to ask Rhys about his name or better yet, I might just ask Robin.

The class was boring as usual but I tried my best to listen. I took down notes as the teacher wrote down important words for the exam. Our teacher also informed us that there won't be any classnext since the Festival of Arcturus Academy is going to start next week. No classes next week but we still need to attend school for the program. 

We needed to stay after class to make our props for the Love Booth. I texted Harry and my brothers that I'll be home late. They weren't replying, probably because they're busy with their clients and such.

I was cutting out different colors of hearts when Rhys sat across from me. My forehead creased upon seeing him trying to cut the hardboard hearts. The others were planning for next week, the others were designing other elements for the booth, and others weren't doing anything at all. 

"Calistine." 

I hummed, glancing at his direction. "What do you want, Rhys?" I asked, placing the newly cut hearts in the box. 

"Is Harry driving you home or is that other guy taking you?" he asked without looking at me since he was busy cutting the cardboard. 

I nodded. "Harry's driving me home. He's in basketball practice right now. He'll be out as soon as we're done here." I informed him, nonchalantly. "Why do you ask?" 

"Just curious, Calistine." he said, looking at me for a moment before turning his attention back to the props. "Do you always let boys sleep in your home?" 

"Only my best friends. I've known them for quite a while now and they earned my trust and they are very well trusted." I beamed at him. Rhys looked impassive and cold. For someone as cold as him, I never would've thought that he would be curious.  

He uttered something I couldn't make out. I was about to ask him what he was saying when he winced and dropped everything he was holding. Before I knew it, thick, crimson color dripped down his finger, making my eyes widen in shock.

"Oh, God." He looked unbothered as he stood up. "What are you doing? Put pressure on your finger!" I exclaimed, pushing myself off the floor as I grabbed my handkerchief and placed it against his bleeding finger. 

"Relax, Calistine. It's just a cut." he imparted, rolling his eyes at me like I was the silly one. Am I allowed to hit an injured person?

I glared at him. "You cut your finger with scissors! Scissors that may be dirty! You can get an infection or worse, tetanus!" I strongly declared whilst he looked rather amused with the situation. "Don't smirk at me, you clumsy idiot! Did you hit your head when you were young or are you really stupid?"

Our teacher gave us permission to leave and take care of the stupid Rhys. I basically had to drag Rhys to the clinic. He was being stubborn, saying that he was fine and he'll just clean it in the men's room. God, can he just stop being so macho?

"Fine, my ass. You're bleeding. Stop being stubborn and get inside the clinic." I snapped, pushing him inside. "Stop trying to be so macho all the time, Rhys." 

He sighed in defeat before entering the clinic. I just stayed at the waiting area outside the clinic. I grabbed my phone from the pocket of my skirt when it vibrated. It was a message from Maven.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝗽? 𝗛𝗲'𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗸𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲

𝗧𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻:

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴

When I glanced up from my phone, my eyes immediately met his grey coloured eyes. "You're all patched up?" I asked, glancing at  his finger which was wrapped in gauze and medical tape. 

"I need to go to a hospital to get a tetanus shot. You drive since you're so concerned." he said, coldly and I scoffed at him, nonetheless, I still followed him. We grabbed our bags from the classroom and asked for permission to go home and our classmates allowed us too. 

Silence engulfed the car. He was being mean and I really don't want to deal with it while I'm driving. "Do you think you'll need stitches? The wound seems to go deep." I said because I hated the silence that engulfed us, it was suffocating in a way I couldn't explain.

"I don't think so." he answered, boredly and tiredly. The rest of the drive to the hospital was silent again. I parked the car before we went inside the emergency room. Rhys did need stitches and two shots of anti-tetanus because of his stupidity. 

"Do you want something to eat? Or drink?" I asked, a bit concerned. He looked exhausted and I couldn't blame him. Actually, I can. He wasn't being safe about cutting the hardboard. "I can go out and buy something for you." I offered, nicely. He shook his head.

"It's already dark outside." he pointed out the obvious. "I won't be able to stay by your side. I can't protect you if I'm not with you."