Unplanned.

Sally’s POV

I woke up earlier than usual and planned to slip out of the house unnoticed.

I rushed through my usual morning routine and slipped my bag over my shoulder.

I paused when I reached the end of the stairs because I heard hushed voices coming from the kitchen.

My parents.

I couldn’t make out everything they were saying, but their voices were low and tense.

“I’m just saying we can’t keep doing this.”

My father.

There was a brief silence before my mother answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“And what exactly do you expect me to do?”

I stood there, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag.

“Sally…”

Immediately I heard Mother call my name, I backed away.

If they hadn’t noticed me yet, I didn’t want to give them a reason to.

I looked at the time on my phone… I was early. Too early.

But I couldn’t face Mum after what happened yesterday. At least not now.

I quietly turned towards the front door.

I slipped outside and pulled the door shut as gently as I could.

Only when I reached the sidewalk did I finally breathe.

****

Psychology and literature was one of my favourite courses. But today felt off.

Mr Ben talked about Romeo and Juliet, and everyone had something to say about it.

I have always thought it absurd that Juliet, who pretended to die, couldn’t wake up before Romeo killed himself.

But if my prince char…

“Misses Bennette…”

I glanced up from the doodles I had been forming in my note.

“You have been awfully quiet today... don’t you have any input?”

I shook my head.

“No, sir.”

A few people chuckled.

From somewhere at the back of the class, a guy’s voice rang out.

“Maybe Romeo didn’t text her good morning.”

The class erupted in laughter.

I felt my cheeks burn.

Before I could even think of a response, Nora’s voice came from the corner of the room.

“Maybe he did. You can only dream of a good morning text. What’s your excuse?”

The laughter got louder.

The guy went silent.

I turned towards Nora, trying not to smile.

She gave me a tiny shrug before returning her attention to her notebook like she hadn’t just ended a man’s entire academic career.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

Mr Ben cleared his throat.

“Alright. Since apparently we’re all comedians today, that would be all for today.”

Instantly, chairs scraped against the floor as people made their way out of class.

I packed my books and hurried out of the class before Mr Ben would call me to tell me a fragment of his life problems like I wasn’t already battling with mine.

“Heyyy.”

“Hey Nora.” Nora has been my friend since my first year. She’s smart, funny and a lot more outgoing than me. Her parents don’t lock her up, and she’s been in numerous relationships.

“Sooo, you didn’t tell me about the new development… at first, I thought it was Justin, but now Cole.” She sidetracked me with a grin on her face. “You are way badder than I thought.”

“Huh? Cole? No ewww. We are just..."

I paused. My mind drifted to Cole saying I didn’t need to tell anyone about his grades.

“…working on something together.”

“Mmhmmm, but that’s not what rumours say.”

I froze. “There are rumours?"

“Nothing serious; you have been around both brothers more often than not, a lot of hot men everywhere.”

I said nothing and continued working.

“Speaking of hot men, how is Micheal?"

“Micheal? My brother? Hot? Pleaseee, Nora. You are way older than my brother.”

“Come on! You don’t actually think I am serious, do you?”

I narrowed my eyes on her.

“Hey!”

Cole.

I turned around.

Cole stood a few feet away, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket.

“Excuse me.” Nora raised both hands with a grin.

She looked at me.

“Don’t be late for tomorrow’s study session.”

“I won’t.”

She gave Cole one last suspicious look before walking away.

Cole rolled his eyes.

“Boring.”

I frowned.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

That accent again.

“You have an appointment with me, remember?”

I frowned.

“We do?”

Cole stared at me.

“Yes, Sally. We do.”

I quickly pulled my phone out.

“I don’t have anything written down.”

“Of course you don’t.”

I ignored him and pulled out my notebook instead, flipping through the pages.

I had written down everything.

Classes. Assignments. Study sessions. Meetings.

Nothing.

I looked up at him.

“I would have written it here.”

“Do I have to get rid of one of those again?”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You’re not touching my journal.”

He smiled.

“We don’t have tutoring today.”

I blinked.

“Then why did you say we had an appointment?”

“Because I’m keeping my end of the deal.”

“What deal?”

He looked at me like I’d just asked him the most ridiculous question in the world.

“The deal where I help you.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

He had a point.

“I have somewhere we’re going today.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see.”

I immediately shook my head.

“No.”

His eyebrows rose.

“No?”

“I have things planned.”

“Of course you do.”

He gestured towards the notebook in my hand.

“You probably have your next three days planned too.”

I ignored that.

“I can’t just go somewhere without knowing where I’m going.”

He waved his hands in the air. “You can, Sally... it’s called ‘just living'."

I sighed.

“This is too unplanned.”

He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head.

“Remember the agreement?”

I hesitated.

He smiled.

“Thought so.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You’re incredibly annoying.”

“And yet you’re still standing here.”

I looked towards the hallway.

Then back at him.

I didn’t like spontaneous things.

I liked knowing where I was going, what I was doing, and when I would be home.

But this was part of the deal.

“Fine.”

His smile widened.

“Good girl.”

I immediately frowned.

“Don’t call me that.”

“I will call you whatever I want, Sally.”

He turned and started walking.

"No, you will not!” I said, following behind him.

I kept a careful distance between us.

There were already enough rumours flying around campus.

The last thing I needed was someone seeing me walking too closely besides Cole Ravenscott and deciding there was something going on between us.

I wasn’t going to give them anything else to talk about.