The week went on just as frustratingly as it had started. James and Flora always sat together on the same table that we used to. They would occasionally look over at me, but I would only return an angered glare.
A bruise had slowly formed around Flora's face, almost making me smile at my handiwork. She had attempted to cover it up with make up, but just knowing it was there made me happier. She deserved a lot more than a punch to the nose.
I didn't actually feel at all bad about it. I just wanted her to feel what I felt but in a physical type of pain rather than emotional. Then again, what I was feeling felt both physically and emotionally draining. It was killing me to see the both of them everyday, but I was also rather good at hiding how I felt.
Caleb had been ignoring me for the whole week, even at home. At school he would be with one girl from each social group everyday and then bring back a different one in the evening. It was like he was dangling them in front of me, making me feel a mixture of anger and jealousy wrapped into one.
Every time another girl walked through the door, an increased anger would build up inside of me, then I would wake up in the morning, go to school and see Flora and James, increasing my anger even more.
When I sat alone at the table in the cafeteria, I had started to tell myself that I really should have made more friends in high school since at this very moment, all I had was an ex-boyfriend, an ex-best friend and a roommate that I couldn't even stand to look at.
Currently, I was lying on my bed at six on a Friday evening, with no plans and only homework and studying to complete.
"Can everyone come downstairs to the main room, please?" I heard Katherine's voice call from the bottom of the stairs, followed by several footsteps walking down. I assumed that Kylie and Clara had walked downstairs, followed by Celeb's heavy footsteps.
For once, Caleb was actually home and without a girl, even though he probably snuck her out of the window earlier this evening. I wouldn't put it past him.
Gulping back, I walked down the stairs into the main room where Caleb, Clara and Kylie were already seated on the couch, opposite Katherine and Mike.
I sat down at the only available place, which happened to be squished right beside Caleb. He smirked at me out of the corner of his mouth and I was fighting every urge to wipe it straight off his face, with my fist.
I'm not sure I could take much more bad news, so I silently prayed that this was the best news that they would ever give me. Hopefully mom was coming home and everything could get back to normal.
As soon as we were all seated, Katherine began speaking. "This weekend, Mike and I are going on a weekend retreat to our beach house." She expressed excitedly. Mike smiled and looked at all of us. I couldn't help the jealously I felt for them, being able to get away from this town and everyone in it.
"We're leaving later tonight and we'll be back around until Sunday afternoon." Mike finished as Caleb relaxed his shoulders next to me. I knew exactly what he was thinking and I was going to be quick to dismiss the growing idea in his mind.
"So, Gabriella and Caleb, you two are in charge and the house will be clean by the time we get back." Katherine exaggerated to all of us as she stood up and straightened out her clothing. Caleb was still smirking as his parents began to walk away.
"Oh, and no parties," Mike said sternly, giving Caleb a long look, as if to know that if one were to happen, it would most likely be due to Caleb.
Of course it would.
• • •
Mike and Katherine spent three hours packing and getting ready until they finally left at around eight, leaving us some dinner to eat. However, I wasn't too hungry and instead, I just wanted to remain in my room and get a good nights sleep.
We all closed the door as their car drove off down the road. We waved them off before Caleb shut the door and smirked at all of us. But, I turned to leave, wanting nothing more than to be tucked up in bed with Netflix.
However, my arm was suddenly pulled back by Caleb whose touch made me shiver slightly. He let go as I positioned myself to listen to what he had to say. "We are throwing a party tonight." He shouted, lighting up Kylie's face and darkening mine and Clara's.
"No." we both said simultaneously, watching as Caleb's and Kylie's faces contorted into a questioning yet pleading look. "You heard what your mom and dad said, no parties." I said as sternly as I could, crossing my arms and staring at Caleb as he sighed sarcastically.
"And who made you the one in charge." I crossed my arms and glared at him angrily, holding his eyes to mine. "Both of us, actually." Caleb retired as I shook my head and began to leave again. However, not before Caleb pulled me back again.
"Mom and dad would kill us Caleb." Clara pleaded, standing by my side to show she agreed with me. I smiled down at her as a thank you before looking back at Kylie and Caleb, both with a mischievous I glint in their eyes.
"What they don't know won't kill them." Kylie finished as she stood next to Caleb to show she agreed with him. I didn't want to argue, I didn't have the energy to and right now, it felt like Clara and I were fighting a losing battle.
Instead of saying anything else, I walked upstairs and laid on my bed, only to be followed by Caleb who barged in and sat next to me. I sat up to listen to him only because I wanted him to get out of my room.
"What?" I asked as I sat back against the wall. He did the same as he moved closer to me, making me tense up. I hadn't been on this bed and close to him since last week, and the thought made my body fall weak
"You know you secretly want this party," he whispered as he rested his hand on my thigh. "No thanks," I pushed his hand off as he sighed at me and smirked instead.
"Please," I turned to look at him and actually noticed a small part of sincerity in his eyes, which wasn't something you'd ever see in Caleb. "Fine," I caved in and and leaned my head on his shoulder out of instinct, before I reminded myself not to and I sat up properly again.
"Good, because I was going to do it anyway, I just wanted to see you in something nice." He whispered again before jumping off and giving me a wink as he strutted off out of the room, giving me a rather good view of him on the way out.
Man, he has a nice butt.
My thoughts took over, staring at his backside as he exited my room. My mind suddenly reminded itself that he was an idiot and not something I ever wanted to be with, making me retract my words.
Laughing at myself, I laid back down and continued to finish homework I was behind on already. I rested my chin in my palm and began writing all the answers I knew before sitting for ages, attempting to work out the ones I didn't.
I finished homework around an hour later, only to hear Caleb shouting his mouth off from the bottom of the stairs.
"The party starts in an hour." Sighing, I got myself up and searched through the wardrobe, containing all the clothes I had brought with me. I hadn't exactly prepared for a party to be happening, but I knew one thing I could wear.
I pulled out a blue denim skirt and a black lace-up top to wear with it before I put on some make up, a little more than I would wear for school. Next, I straightened out my long, frizzy hair, making it more into waves than straightened.
Lastly, I changed into the outfit and paired it with a pair of black boots. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, rather happy with the outcome before I closed up my room and walked down the stairs.
When I got to the kitchen, Kylie and Clara were wearing pretty dresses and were drinking some sodas, which I hoped were only soda and nothing else.
Caleb was casually laying cups out and alcohol out, including vodka. I gulped back remembering the last time I had too much vodka and was throwing up nearly all day and night. I shuddered at the experience before pouring myself some water instead.
"You look nice," Caleb said seductively, eyeing me up and down, and walking towards me. I laughed and thanked him before turning back to Kylie and Clara's. Caleb probably had about twenty girls he's slept with coming to this party tonight and just the thought of it made my stomach twist.
Everyone started arriving as soon as the first door bell went. I smiled at my reflection in the hallway mirror before I stood with some people to make myself seem more sociable than I actually am.
I'd forgotten that I didn't actually have any people at this school I would count as close friends. Sure, everyone was nice, but nobody was as close to me as Flora and James were. I only had this girl I was talking to for a while now but I didn't even know her name.
"So, what's happening with you and James?" The girl asked me, obviously wanting to know about the current status of our relationship. I was surprised nobody had guessed we had broken up, seeing as we no longer sit together.
"We're not together anymore, it wasn't working out." I hated the fact that I was lying, but I also hated the fact that I was cheated on and couldn't expose James for the cheater that he really was. I wasn't the type of person to shout it from the rooftop, as much as I wanted to.
Switching the conversation over what boys were in the room, I let her continue speaking even though one of my ears were secretly listening in on Caleb's conversation with a few boys a few metres away from us.
"She's hot, you've done well," I heard from one boy as he pointed towards me and the girl. If it was about me, it was a nice compliment, but it wasn't as if Caleb had done well. We weren't even together.
I noticed as Caleb scowled at the boy across from him but quickly shrugged it off as he switched the conversation to something irrelevant that boys talk about.
The girl in front of me was still talking when I glanced over again to Caleb again. However, his eyes caught mine as I smirked to myself and turned back to the girl in front of me.
"Is something funny?" The girl asked as I plastered on a fake smile and shook my head. She continued talking as I felt my mind wandering away to something else. "Sorry, I have to go." I said to the girl as she smiled and waved me away before talking nonsense to someone else.
I watched as the house's occupancy grew the music thundered all around me. People were dancing in the main room as I pushed my way through them to get to the front door for some air that I desperately needed.
However, as I was about to grab the door handle, it turned, notifying me that someone was about to walk though the door. I smiled as I let the door open, ready to greet whoever was on the other side.
My heart fell through my chest as I recognised the faces on the other side of the door immediately. James and Flora were smiling at each other until they looked at me and their expressions fell, obviously not expecting to have seen me at a party this big.
It wasn't the fact that they were here that bothered me. What had hurt me was that their hands were clasped together and that they were happy.
They were happy without me.