• Another chapter for getting me to 100 reads! I honestly didn't think I'd get any reads on this book so this is truly great. Thank you! Up above is Cool Girl by Tove Lo •

Chapter Six|Time To Look Cool:

"Guess who's aloud to go to the fair!" Nick burst through his form room with a surprised Leo inside.

"You?" He asked teasingly.

"Duh!" Nick rolled his eyes.

Leo laughed, his eyes lightening with amusement. "Guess me, you and Josh can go together then."

Nick nods sitting next to Leo. "Yeah, and I could ask if Ella could come."

Leo stiffens. "Ella?"

Nick nods, blushing slightly. "I, erm, sort of have a crush on her—not that I think it's ever going to happen, or that she likes me back, but she is pretty amazing." He rambled, "Yeah, I heard she knows the first fifty number of Pi."

Leo nodded stiffly and pulled out a book from his bag. It was a copy of Great Expectations.

Maybe Nick would have talked to him. Asked him why he had a frown on his face. But he didn't. Instead leaving Leo in peace. After all, as a dedicated book fan, Nick knew how annoying it was when someone interrupted his reading time.

If only he knew that Leo wanted him to ask him what was wrong. Maybe he would have told him. Maybe not. Guess now he'll never know.

***

It was a surprisingly sunny day for England, so Josh, Nick and Leo decided to make the most out of it by basking up the sun on the field.

They were discussing the fair and Nick brought up Ella. "I'm going to ask her if she's coming."

Josh scoffs. "Sure you are."

"I am though!" He defended, "The next time I see her, I'll—"

"The next time you see who?"

Nick prayed that when he turned around he wouldn't come face to face with the girl he thought it was. He turned around. It was Ella. That was just Nick's luck.

"N-no one." He stuttered.

Josh smirked—the evil smirk which met he had something up his sleeve. Normally something to torment Nick with or before he'd start tickling him. Josh pulled off the innocent look well, but oh did he have a black soul.

"Nick wanted to ask you something."

His eyes went wide.

Ella smiled. "You did? What is it?"

"Erm, it's, er..." Nick looked to Leo for help but he was reading his book, a scowl on his face. "W-well, I, I'm going t-to the fair, and I was wondering i-if you wanted to come. W-with me. But it won't be just me! So it won't be like a d-date or a-anything—"

Ella giggles. "Awww, you really are cute Nick." Again with the word cute. "And yes, I'm going to the fair, but I promised my friends I'd go with them. But we could meet up their if you'd like?"

Nick nodded happily. He did better than he thought he would.

Ella grinned showing her sparkling teeth. "Great! I'll see you around then." And with that Ella walked over to the other side of the field where she sat with her friends.

Nick turned to face Leo. He still had a scowl on his face and Nick wanted to know what was wrong. "What's wrong?"

Leo didn't look up from his book. "Nothing."

"You don't have another bad tooth, do you?" Josh joked.

Bit Leo didn't smile instead carried on reading his book.

Nick and Josh shared a look. Josh shook his head and he knew that he was telling Nick to just leave it. So he did.

***

Despite the fact that it was supposed to be spring, Bluefield was as cold as ever. The sun was no where in sight as the grey clouds hid it. Puddles were everywhere in sight with the dirty rain water. Despite the fact that before it had been a perfect sunny day, it had taken a turn for the worst when it started pouring down. But what did Nick expect? They were in England for christ's sake, where the weather was constantly changing.

Nick cringed as he thought about the scolding he would get if his parents ever caught him using that language. But it was hardly his fault. In fact, Nick could hardly tell when he was doing it—using words like, damn, hell, Christ and God all in the wrong term. It was just what Nick was used to hearing around school. At least he didn't say the f word and things like that.

When Nick entered his house, all he could hear was silence. Usually he could hear something—anything that meant his mum was there. But this time, there was nothing. Not the sound of the tv playing on the background, or the crackling radio station, or the clanging of pots in the kitchen. Nothing.

Instead of doing his usual routine of putting his bag upstairs then coming back down to greet his mum. Nick went straight to the kitchen.

On the kitchen side was his mums notepad, open with her neat handwriting on it. Straight away Nick knew there was a message on their for him—his mother would never leave it open unless there was a note on their for Nick.

He lifted the notepad up, and looked at the right page which had a cross in the left bottom corner.

Dear Nicklaus,
Me and your father have been invited to attend an opera piece being held in central London and we will be sleeping at a friends house as it finishes late.

We contacted the school but just incase they didn't tell you I thought I'd make sure.

I left some pork ribs, chips and carrots in the fridge for you incase you come back earlier than expected, and feel free to invite Josh over so your not alone tonight. I know how afraid you are of the dark.

Have fun at the fair, love, mum xx

P.S i alerted the neighbour that you would be home alone tonight, so if anything happens or you need help don't be afraid to go to her.

Nick blushed. He was not afraid of the dark! Okay, maybe he was...

He put the note pad back on the side and ran up the stairs to get ready for the fair.

He didn't have a huge walk in closet that everyone seemed to have in the American books, but it was big enough to fit all his clothes in it.

Now, what would he wear? On his feet he'd wear his new Nike shoes with a green neon tick on it for sure.

Sure, Nick had plenty of clothes, but he wanted to look... cool. He didn't want tow wear his shirts or his normal dark blue jeans.

But Nick didn't have any 'cool' clothes. He'd watched a you tube video once where this girl was decorating old clothes to make it look new and fresh again and he clenched his right fist tightly.

He'd read that clenching your right fist made you remember things because it triggered the left side of your bra— no, Nick, don't get off track, he told himself.

Bingo! They'd used bleach to make white wild lines on them and used a fork to make rips in them.

Nick put his invisible arts and crafts hat on like the teacher would tell the children to do in Primary school.

He was going to look cool tonight.

•••

Leo's in a mood again...

But why?

Comment what you thought!