The Reason Why

Chapter 3

"Is she alive?" Calum asked loudly from what seemed like the kitchen.

Well, now I am.

My eyes fluttered open, moving left and right to discover Michael and Ashton staring at me.

"Yep, she is. Definitely is. Unless that's not her," Ashton laughed. 

"Thanks for being my alarm, Calum," I rolled my eyes. 

"You're welcome," Calum said in a completely serious tone, resulting me to roll my eyes once again. "It's only 6:15, by the way," he said as I pawed through a pile of random clothing on the floor."

"I know, but I should at least get an idea of what I'm going to wear today," I reasoned, picking up a sweater that seemed as if it belonged to Calum.

"Alina, school starts at 8:15," Michael raised his eyebrows, still in what seemed like his sleeping wear.

"Still," I said persistently. 

I waited for a few seconds to change into the shirt, but none of the boys looked away.

"What?" Ashton laughed, shrugging his shoulders.

"Aren't you guys going to turn away?" I asked. In this case, it would be my first instinct.

"Seriously? Do you think they're going to miss this opportunity to stare at your body?" Ashton smirked.

I rolled my eyes for what seemed like the thousandth time this morning, but I slipped on the shirt. It's not as if I didn't trust them looking at me, I just wasn't as comfortable with it as most of the girls at my school are with theirs.

"I'm sure Michael is freaking out in his head right now," Ashton joked, earning a laugh from me and a punch in the shoulder from MIchael. "Feisty," he commented to Michael.

I took a seat on a stool in front of the kitchen counter, my elbows resting on the table. I watched Calum frantically search through the cabinets for God knows what. My eyes began to droop, and before I knew it I was practically passed out with my head resting behind my arms.

"Alina. Alina." 

I was awoken once again by Calum prodding me with what was I assumed was my plate. 

"Thank you," I said, wiping my eyes of sleep before picking up my fork to dig into my eggs. I turned to see Michael in the seat next to me.

"G'mornin,'" he smiled at me. But the only thing that I could think of when I tried to reply was the 'Sorry' that Luke gave me yesterday.

"You know, it's nice when you reply back, Alina," Calum said, taking a bite of his food.

"Oh, I mean.. sorry. 'Morning," I replied quietly.

"I'm sorry."

****

I took the bus earlier, while the boys took the car. I didn't really want to bother them more than I already had done.

I took a seat in the very back of the bus as usual. And just to my luck, the sweetest boy ever just decided to sit next to me.

Luke.

I looked around and more than half of the seats were empty. So?

"You didn't believe me, did you?" he asked, breaking the silence. In a way, he looked distressed, his eyes heavy with dark circles.

"Why?" I asked, turning away to look outside the window.

"You went to his house."

"Were you listening into my conversation with him?" I asked, getting more appalled by the second.