"Where did you go?" Kamille asks. "What did you do?" She's sitting in front of me, her eyes wide with interest.

"Kamille," I say exasperatedly, "how many times do I have to tell you that nothing happened?"

Well, something did happen. Caleb kissed me on my forehead without my permission. But I don't want to think about it. Kamille will surely assume that there's something going on. Her brain is wired up with stories. She should be a writer for making stories that aren't true.

"We just stayed in my room," I continue.

She gasps. "In your room!" Her eyes are round as saucers.

I scowl at her, and look around to check if there are people who can hear our conversation. I don't care what people think, but I don't want them to get the wrong idea that just because Caleb stayed with me yesterday—

"Lise! Spill," Kamille says, interrupting my thoughts.

"Don't be ridiculous," I mutter. "Nothing happened! I was sick, and he took care of me. He blamed himself because he thought he was the reason I got the flu."

Kamille frowns. "You make it sound like it's not a big deal."

I want to clean her dirty thoughts. This is tiring; telling her what happened, when in the first place, nothing was worth sharing.

"Because it is not a big deal," I say, stressing the words out.

"What's not a big deal?" Caleb asks, taking the seat beside me. I wonder why he's just coming in now. We came to school together.

"Shoot! I need to go," Kamille says. "I don't wanna be late on first period. I'll see you guys later!" She quickly hurries out of the room, leaving me with the curious gaze of Caleb. Traitor.

"What was that about?"

"Nothing," I say, putting a smile on my face.

His mouth twitches upwards. "I can distinguish the fake one from the sincere one," he says playfully.

I'm about to retort when I remember what he did yesterday; the way he took care of me, making sure I ate, and keeping me entertain. He'd be a great. . . Doctor.

I almost laugh at how weird my mind is going.

In the corner of my eyes I see Caleb watching me. "Are you daydreaming?"

"No!" I automatically put my hand over my mouth.

He starts to laugh; he's even clutching his stomach.

Our classmates glance at him, but he pays them no attention. "You thought I was going to kiss you?"

"Shut up, you jerk!" I snap. I can feel the blood rising to my face.

Caleb pinches my cheek and says, "Don't be embarrassed." He leans closer and about to whisper something when the school bell rings.

He pulls away, and I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.

Why do I suddenly feel guilty for cheating on Daniel?

The rest of the period passed by in a blur. I do my best to ignore Caleb and his antics.

I don't even know why there's school today, which is a Saturday. I should have been in my room reading a book, or maybe writing. I need to continue Alyson's story. Daniel will ask about it the next time we meet.

I suddenly miss Daniel. It feels like I haven't talked to him for a very long time. I hope he'll not be sad—

Wait.

What am I thinking? I only made him, so I can control what he'll feel.

When the bell rings at the end of the period, I quickly grab my stuff and go to my next class.

"Was it fun cutting class with Caleb?" Alex asks as soon as I take my chair beside him.

"I was absent because I was sick," I say.

"Caleb told me that the penguin I gave you was on your bed," he says thoughtfully.

I raise my eyebrow. Are the Vandom brothers talking about me behind my back? I'm about to tease Alex about it when Mrs. Dorothea walks in. Without preamble, she starts to discuss about Chopin and his contributions in the music history.

It's hard to maintain my small talk with him because our teacher is on a roll and we're sitting in front. I don't want to go to detention again.

"Annalise, can you help me later after school?" Kamille asks after the class ends. "I just need to buy a pen and a drawing book in the bookstore downtown."

"Sure," I say as I gather my things and put them in my bag.

"Thanks," she says, grinning at me.

I smile at her. I want to go to the bookstore as well and check the newly released books. I'm glad she stopped asking questions; maybe she finally understood that she won't get anything from me.

"I'll meet you at the gate later?"

"Okay!" She gives me a thumb up.

When the school bell rings for the last period, I make my way to my locker to drop my books I won't need. Besides, I'll go out with Kamille, I don't want to bring heavy books.

"Where are you going?" Alex asks, appearing beside my locker. "Aren't you going to ride with us?"

"No," I say. "Kamille asked me to go with her."

"Where?"

I tilt my head to the side and give him a questioning look.

He quickly raises his hands. "I'm not a stalker," he says a bit defensively. "I'm just merely curious."

His expression makes me grin. He's cute. No wonder girls are parading their selves over him.

Alex reaches out and ruffles my hair.

Slapping his hand, I give him a scowl. What's with boys messing my hair?

"Take care," he says amusedly.

"You, too. I'll see you later!"

He nods at me, and I continue my way to the gate.

Kamille is already there. By her stance, it looks like she's been waiting for a couple of minutes.

"Where have you been?" she asks when I stop in front of her. "I thought you already went home! Tried to call you, but your phone is off."

"Sorry, I've been hold up," I reply. Aside from that, I turn off my phone when I'm in the school. I'm allergic of detention. "Let's go?"

Kamille links her arms through mine as we walk. I miss this, when it was just the two of us. But I don't mind being with Caleb and Alex as well.

We talk about the usual things- school, her favorite shows, my favorite books, and anything in between.

When we enter the bookstore, Kamille and I make our separate ways.

I feel free. It's like being surrounded with friends. Even though they are fictional they have a huge space in my heart. I take a deep breath and smell the books around me.

The smell of books is indescribable. If I can live in one place for the rest of my life, hands down, I'd choose a bookstore. I never get bored when I have books with me. Aside from that, I don't like to be disturbed when I'm ogling about books. My concentration is solely focus on them.

I pick up a novel and read the synopsis. It sounds interesting. I get my wallet from my bag and check if I have money. My eyes widen in delight when I realize I can buy two books. I almost jump from excitement. I probably look like a loony from grinning too much. Not spending much money with food has its perks.

I search around some more for a novel that will catch my attention.

I haven't seen Kamille yet since we came in. She's probably in the Arts Section, still contemplating about two color pens. I grin automatically. She's so artsy.

In my peripheral version I see a guy scanning the bookshelf on the aisle I just evacuated. He looks familiar so I turn my full attention on him. I drop the books I'm holding when I see his face.

No, it can't be.

My vision is surely playing tricks on me. The guy walks away while I stare at his retreating back.

I blink my eyes rapidly. Am I dreaming? I snap out of my trance and quickly follow him, forgetting the books on the floor. I run to the exit but I can't see him anymore. What was that? Perhaps I'm having delusions because I was sick yesterday.

I scoff.

Of course, it's not real. How can my imagination become true? Daniel lives in my own little world, so he can't be real. I just made him.

I shake my head.

Maybe I need to minimize the time from my daydreaming. I can't even distinguish the dream from reality.

*****

I hope you liked it! =)

The song is Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson.

Thank you! <3