Ch23

NOVA

"What the hell?" My voice is a whisper even though I know Caleb is on a call and is a little bit far from where we're standing.

"What do you mean... what the hell? The task? The one I gave to you? The offer to be a..."

I wave a hand in front of Bethany's face. "Yes, yes. I know all about that. I don't need a reminder. I just don't... I don't get what you mean by that?"

Bethany folds her hands, glaring at me. "What I mean?" She repeats.

I heave a sigh. "I mean I do get you but... I just..."

"Nova Graham! Are you going to talk to Caleb, make him fall for you and break his heart? The sisters want to see if you are a material for..."

I can't with this girl right now. Caleb is still pacing but I'm sure at any moment from now he'll turn and see us. What if his call ends now and he walks over to us and hears what Bethany is saying?

"Look, this is bad timing." I mutter.

"Why are you murmuring? He can't hear..."

"I don't care. He's my friend." I say, my frown deepening.

Bethany smirks. "Oh. Friend. That's nice and perfect for the task."

My eyes wander to Caleb again and I sigh. Bethany will not walk away if I don't tell her what she wants to fucking hear. So I nod, running a hand through my hair.

"Fine. I'll do it. I'll do the stupid task." I agree.

Bethany looks at Caleb. "He's cute." She says, observing him with her ferocious eyes. "He'll do. And just so you know, you have until the month end to make him fall for you. The girls don't think you have it in you but I do." Bethany pats my shoulders, smiling into my face. "Make sure you do a good job with this one that the last one. Make me proud."

I don't ask her what she means. I just want her gone. Thankfully, she turns and struts away. I'm still staring after her when I feel hands on my shoulders. I turn around, looking at Caleb.

"I'm sorry about that." He smiles softly. "That was my brother." He adds. "He just called to check up on me."

"Did you tell him you got hurt?" I ask.

"Hell no. He'll worry himself out and tell our parents. I'm not about to get then worried."

Caleb does sound like a nice guy. I blink my eyes at him and shrug. "Let's just go. To a nurse or something outside the school."

"Oh no. I'm taking you with me to my place. Except... you don't mind?"

I open my mouth to say something but words fail me. Apart from my home and Ava's... I haven't been to anybody's home at school before. Not even one girl has extended and invite to me and here's this guy.

I should obviously decline. I don't know him well enough to go home with him. But then if I say no, I'm sure Caleb will leave his wounds unattended to and that gives me the ick.

"I don't mind." I tell him.

I'm going to a guy's house. I'm going to a guy's house. My insides will erupt at this instant. I'm not going to do anything sexual but... still. It makes me kind of feel the fluttery butterflies and that makes me giddy.

"Don't worry, I'm not kidnapping you or anything. And I'll drive you back home before your curfew which is..."

I can't help bursting into laughter. Screw this dude. "Stop." I say, covering my mouth as the laughter dies down. My cheeks heat up and I bit my lips nervously.

That was... I don't have a nice girly laugh. Whenever I try laughing, it's usually really terrible. It comes out as a loud snort and then it's really loud. Ava used to say I cackled but... I don't that's the case.

"You have a pretty laugh." Caleb says, staring at me.

"Yeah, stop." I nod, not looking away from him.

"No, I'm serious. You don't think you do?"

"I was trying to control myself just now and look how I sounded."

"I don't want you to control yourself with me. I want you to be free and laugh freely whenever you're with me, okay?"

I stare at his face, my eyes dropping to his lips for a second before nodding and looking away. "I'll try."

Caleb's car rolls through a quiet neighborhood lined with neat hedges and brick houses.

"You okay?" Caleb glances at me as he parks in the driveway.

"Yeah." I quickly unbuckle my seatbelt. "Just... nice neighborhood."

He chuckles. "That's a polite way of saying rich."

"Shut up." I roll my eyes, smiling a little.

His grin widens before he climbs out of the car.

I follow him to the front door, trying not to look as nervous as I felt. My palms are already sweaty. Caleb pushes the front door open without knocking.

"I'm home." He says.

A voice answers from somewhere inside. "Took you long enough."

Footsteps echo and then someone rounds the corner. I have to blink. Then blink again. "What..."

The guy stops in his tracks too, staring between Caleb and me.

"No way," I mutter.

He looks exactly like Caleb. Same height. Same brown hair. Same brown eyes. Same face. The only noticeable difference is that his hair is slightly messier, and unlike Caleb's calm expression, this guy wears a smirk that makes him look like trouble.

I look at Caleb. Then back at him. Then back at Caleb.

"You... you didn't tell me you had a twin."

The other guy dramatically clutches his chest. "Ouch." He shakes his head. "I can't believe that's the first thing you say after seeing my handsome face."

Caleb pulls off his shoes and rolls his eyes. "Ignore him."

"I'd rather not," the guy replies. "I'm Liam." He stretches out a hand toward me. "Liam. The better-looking twin."

I hesitate, but I eventually shake it. "Nova." I say.

"Nice to meet you, Nova."

His eyes drift to Caleb's face. His playful expression immediately disappears. "What happened to your face?"

Caleb sighs like he's been expecting the question. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Liam points at the bruise forming around his cheekbone. "Your definition of nothing is concerning."

"Just get the first-aid kit."

Liam folds his arms. "I ask because I care."

Caleb pinches the bridge of his nose. "Liam."

"Fine." Liam throws his hands into the air.

"Honestly. First day at a new school and you've already managed to come home looking like someone used your face as a punching bag."

"It wasn't..."

"You've been there for one day."

"Liam." Caleb frowns, giving his brother what I'd say is a death glare.

"One." Liam doesn't care.

"Liam. Can you just get the kit and shut up?"

Liam finally decides to listen. He walks away and returns carrying a white plastic first-aid box. "There."

He hands it to Caleb before flopping onto the couch. "So how did you two meet?"

"Don't start." Caleb glares at him.

"I'm trying to make conversation you asshole. Something you'd know about if you weren't a sociopath."

"We go to the same school." I answer, smiling at Liam.

"I figured that much." Liam nods.

"And he got into a fight." I add only because I want to annoy Caleb.

Liam nods. "Sounds like my brother."

I lock eyes with Caleb and ignore the warning look on his face. "It was about..." I continue but he cuts me off.

"One more word and I'll kiss you to shut you up."