"Chicken," Carys muttered as we watched the bus pull away from the school.
"Am not," I mumbled.
"Your mum is going to be so mad you missed the bus."
"It was an accident."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
"Just, go away and don't say anything," I replied, shoving her shoulder as I pulled my phone out to call my mum.
But, just as I reached her number in my contacts, a text popped in.
Harley: Wow, Gadget... wow. Starting to think there's another reason you're avoiding me.
"Told you," Carys muttered, evidently having read the text over my shoulder.
"I said go away."
"He's only going to assume the very things you don't want him to assume by avoiding him."
"I just... need more time."
"Uh-huh."
Rolling my eyes, I pressed mum's name and called her.
Picking up after five rings, my mother's voice, almost frantic, asked, "Indi, dear, what's up?"
"I missed the bus. Can you pick me up?"
"What? How?"
"I... um... dropped my pencil case on the way out of class and had to pick everything up. So I didn't reach the front of the school in time... Watched the bus drive away without me and everything."
Carys was shaking her head in disbelief next to me while mum let out an exasperated sigh on the other end. "Did your teacher let you out late?"
"No, no. Nothing like that. I would have totally been on time if it weren't for my clumsiness."
"Did I kid bump you?"
"No. It's all me."
"Definitely all you," Carys added her two cents from my hearing distance.
Though, thankfully, mum didn't seem to catch it. "Very well. I'll be there in ten."
•❃°•°❀°•°❃•
The best part about mum driving me home was that she drove me straight up the driveway and accompanied me inside. Meaning, if Harley were near, he'd never approach.
Safe in the comfort of my room, I fell onto the bed, relishing in the relief of another day over.
I had mountains of homework to do—not Geography though, of course. But I couldn't bring myself to peel my body off my bed.
Instead, I just lay there, listening to the call of birds out the window and the cars slowly making their way home to their families as the afternoon dragged on. And I watched as the light of the day slowly dimmed into darkness, giving me reprieve to pop out my contacts and dig out my glasses in case mum came in to turn the light on.
I knew Carys's assessment of me was right. I was being a 'chicken' by avoiding him. But, as far as I knew, there was no way around this. No way to admit that he added colour to my life without also telling him in that same breath that it's because I absolutely adore him.
•❃°•°❀°•°❃•
I never knew how Harley got to school every day, but he never was on my bus. So I took relief in knowing he couldn't find me there. Session 1 and 2 were safe from him, but first break, I was quick to beeline to the library again, immersing myself in assessment work under the guise of being 'very busy'. He popped by to talk to me (because he now knew my hiding spot), asking if we could step outside. Though I stressed the importance of getting my work done.
As the days rolled on and I continued to find ways to avoid him—and yes, I did skip the bus every day to my mother's dismay and to Harley's growing annoyance—slowly he stopped trying.
Once Friday arrived, I didn't even see him.
Mum pulled up by the school, shaking her head as I clambered into the car after 'missing' the bus again.
Then she said, "You know, you're going to be screwed if you miss the bus at all over the next two weeks."
"I know," I mumbled, not wanting to even think about it. Though, given Harley's lack of enthusiasm today, I thought maybe next week I'd be safe from the conversation entirely. "I can always take the late bus though?"
She sighed. "I don't want you hanging around the school so late into the afternoon though. I'd rather you're home. So make an effort to get to the bus and stop being such a klutz."
"I'll try, mum."
But then she casted me a wary glance. "How's your vision? Can you see everything okay?"
Shit. "Yeah, of course. My accidents have nothing to do with my vision."
"Really? Because it's quite the coincidence that every day this week you've had a trip or fall or dropped something... Maybe we should get you checked out."
"My vision is the same as it always was, mum. Black, white, and all shades of grey in between with the exact same sharpness, okay?"
"And your peripherals?"
"Are fine. Achromatopsia isn't a degenerative disease."
"I know, Indi. I was there for all the medical exams too. Just... Maybe there's side effects to the gene therapy."
Colourful ones? "I haven't had any side effects. All I've had since that therapy is the pleasure of being able to sit undercover without my sunglasses on. Gosh, Achromatopsia in tropical Australia is no joke. How do normal sighted people even see in this light?"
"With great difficulty on very sunny days, Indi. Good thing winter is almost here, and the sun is calming down."
"Can't wait." I was glad my sidestep in conversation had distracted her from her worry.
We finally pulled into the driveway and climbed out of the car.
On our way inside, as I pulled my sunglasses off my head, I was quick to scan the living room. "When do you go?" I asked.
"In a few hours. Just want to gather the last of our things then we will be off."
"Why can't I come with you to Cairns?" I whined.
"Because it's the middle of the school term and you're in your senior years now."
With a groan, I slumped onto the couch as mum and dad continued to whizz around me, throwing the remaining things into their bags.
•❃°•°❀°•°❃•
"Now, if you hear anything go bump in the night, feel free to call Tony and Livia around the corner. They said they'd be here in a heartbeat if you need them," mum said. "You've got their number in your phone right?"
I gave her a nod. "You know, you could have rescheduled dad's car service for a time when you're not leaving me home alone. Then it would look like someone is here."
"Yeah, yeah, we planned it poorly," dad said with a wave of the hand. "This is a safe neighbourhood though, Indi. You have nothing to worry about. Tony and Livia being on standby is just a precaution. More for if you have another one of your clumsy moments." Then his eyes narrowed as though he knew I was lying there.
"I'll be fine," I quickly dismissed as the worry began to work its way back onto my mother's face.
"Just what I like to hear," dad said. "Well, we better hit the road. I don't want to be driving too late."
As I saw my parents out of the house, they both gave me extremely long hugs before giving me a peck on the head on their way out. I stood in the doorway, watching as their car reversed out of the driveway as the light began to dull in the sky, turning into a darker shade of grey. And as they disappeared from my sight, I quickly closed the door and locked it, my stomach giving a slight churn.
You've done this before, Indi, I tried to pep myself up. Mum and dad have left you alone for the evening before.
Yeah, I thought back. But a weekend at most... Never two weeks.
Instinctively, I brought my nails to my mouth and began to nibble.
•❃°•°❀°•°❃•
I was hiding up in my room behind another locked door—because my brain decided two was safer than one. I had my small bedlight on to indicate someone was home, even though I could see without it, and I had tucked the bedsheets around myself, squinting at the ceiling.
I never could sleep with the light on, but I was too scared to have it off. Mum and dad had called an hour ago to say they had finally made it—five hours later.
But here I was, eleven at night, wide awake. Until...
Ding!
Relief consumed me as I started to assume Carys was up and desperate for a chat. Slipping my red-lensed glasses on, I sat up in my bed. Though, after unlocking my phone and opening my messages, my heart stopped to see who had texted me.
Harley: Are you home?
My heart thudded in my chest as I tried to ponder the reason for his question. Why did he want to know? Was he hoping I was already out so that we could meet up somewhere? Or was he thinking of showing up?
Me: Why?
Harley: Because there is a light on in your house with no cars there...
Harley: Should I call the police?
At once, I sat up in bed, shuffling down to the window. Peeling the curtain back, I blinked into the night, eyes searching the darkness of the street for him.
And, sure enough, standing by a eucalyptus tree across the road, Harley's face was lit up by his phone screen as he played around on it.
Leaning back on my bed, I grabbed my phone and shot him a reply, watching his face across the road as I waited for him to read it.
Me: Why are you here?
His head slowly tilted up, eyes searching for mine across the way until our gazes met. Then he raised a hand, giving me a brief wave.
I returned it, then pointed to his phone.
Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to the screen, fingers firing over it before he flicked off the light and looked my way again.
Ding!
Glancing down, I read:
Harley: Still waiting for our chat... Thought I'd walk past to see if you'd be avoiding me if I called you. But when I saw there were no cars here but a light on, I got worried.
Me: Do you often walk past my house? I stupidly replied.
Harley: Of course. I have to if I want to get home after leaving Lara's.
My chest felt tight as I read his words. Did he just come from hers? Or did he come just for me? And did he always look at my house when he passed by?
I didn't know what to say back to it. So I didn't say anything at all. I merely lowered my phone and continued to watch him as he stared at me, both of us seeming to wait for something.
Eventually, his shoulders rose and fell, and, next I knew, his phone was lighting up his face again. Though, this time, he didn't type something. He pressed at his screen and then brought the phone to his face.
Suddenly, Sam Fender's Seventeen Going Under began to blare through my room, causing my heart to jump.
Not wanting him to hear my ringtone, I quickly bumped the call button without thinking, slowly raising my phone to my ear.
A soft chuckle greeted me. "Was that your ringtone?" were the first words he gave me.
"Was what my ringtone?" I asked, playing dumb, glad he couldn't see the fire licking my face from where he stood.
"Seventeen Going Under?"
Shit, he heard it. "N-no... must be a neighbour playing some music."
His head turned left and right before he focussed on me again. "Seems like everyone around us has gone to bed, Gadget. So it must have been you."
"Yeah, well... it's a good song, okay?"
"Mhmm," was all he said back.
"What do you want?" I sighed.
"To talk."
"Yeah, well... we're talking." I can do this... from this distance where he can't see my blush... where I can hang up the call if it gets too awkward... Yes. I can do it like this. Rip off the bandaid...
"I want to talk face-to-face. Can you come out?"
"I... uh... It's late."
"Will your parents be mad?"
"Er, probably."
"You don't sound sure."
"They would definitely be mad."
Though his end went quiet for a moment. In the darkness, we continued to stare at each other, not saying a word, an uncomfortable silence brewing. Until he finally asked, "Are they even home?"
"O-of course."
"Where are their cars?"
"My mum is home."
"So your dad took both cars?"
"They will be home soon."
"I like that this story keeps changing."
I clamped my mouth shut, not sure what to say now. Not wanting to dig myself a deeper hole.
"How soon will they be home?"
But I couldn't talk. I didn't know what was a good lie anymore. And a part of me was wondering how much these lies were really worth at this point... Was telling the truth not better done now? What's the worst that happens? He rejects me? Well, good. He has a girlfriend... I need to move on.
"Indi? How soon?"
"In two weeks," I squeakily admitted.
"Two?" he exclaimed so loudly I could hear him from both ears.
"Shhh. My neighbours are sleeping."
But next I knew, he was walking across the street, phone still to his ear as he walked up my driveway.
"No, go away," I hissed.
"Open the door."
"No."
"Just talk to me, Indi. You said we'd talk."
"We are talking. On the phone."
He paused before he got to the porch, glancing up the wall at me on the second story. "Why won't you be near me anymore? Why are you avoiding me? What on earth have I done wrong this time?"
"You haven't done anything."
"Then come down and talk to me."
I snagged my bottom lip between my teeth before saying, "I don't think my parents would appreciate me having a boy in this house without them being here."
"Firstly, your parents don't have to know. Secondly, I vow to stay in your living room. And, finally, nothing is going to happen and you know that. You and I are just friends."
But his blow hit harder than he probably expected.
Moving my head out of the window just in time, I closed my eyes and felt my heart sink.
I didn't want to do this.
He'd rejected me in every single other way... what was the point of the truth?
So I tried my last resort. "I'm in my pyjamas."
"I've seen you in pyjamas before, remember? When you picked up Carys last weekend... when you told me about the colour."
"I never told you about it..."
"Which is why I want to talk."
Heaving a sigh, I whispered, "Give me five minutes." Then I hung up the phone and leapt out of my bed. Racing to my closet, I yanked out a bra and quickly slipped it on. Then I grabbed my nearest jumper and threw it over the top, hiding the cookie monster from his view. Glancing down at my matching pjs pants, I wondered if I should completely get changed. But what would be the point? It wasn't like he was attracted to me anyway.
So I stopped by the mirror on my way, smoothing down my hair before pulling off my glasses and heading down the stairs.
Once I had reached the door, I paused for a moment to take a few deep breaths. Then I unlatched the deadbolt, unlocked the wooden door, and opened it.
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