g w e n:

I ate my breakfast in utter tranquility-- something I often did not do. Normally, Luke and I had breakfast like complete idiots. Laughing, arguing, or flinging pieces of sugary cereal at one another became a daily routine for us that when he didn't show up at the table this morning, life suddenly felt off-kilter. So I sat there by myself stirring my spoon around in soggy cereal, listening to music and wondering where my favorite blonde ran off too. I thought maybe he never came home after sneaking out last night, but I could've sworn I heard him talking on the phone when I woke up this morning.

Buzz. Buzz.

From Lucas Hemmings - 8:05
Sorry for ditching you.
Couldn't face my mum this morning.
I'll explain at school.

To Lucas Hemmings- 8:07
It's cool. I'll see you later... Lucas ;P

From Lukas Hemmings - 8:08
Later... Gweneth o.O

I rolled my eyes with a smirk, looking down at the glowing screen in my hand before it faded into darkness leaving me to stare at my own reflection. I chugged the rest of my morning tea before grabbing the empty dishes and placing them into the sink with a soft clank.

"Good morning Gwen,"

I spun around and smiled at Mrs. Hemmings, "morning. I guess it's just you and I in the car today?"

"Yup, since my son was so eager to get to school for some project," she shook her head with a scoff and chuckle. Clearly she didn't believe Luke's lame excuse.

As Mrs. Hemmings prepped her tea into a black thermos, I slung my messenger bag around my body and slipped on my shoes-- opting for a pair of black flats with a small satin ribbon.

"What's your plan for today? Going to the outreach center after school?" Mrs. Hemmings asked, taking the car keys out of her purse. I followed her to the garage where her car was parked, slipping into the passenger side. I was finally getting use to the opposite side thing.

"Yes I am. I'll take the bus there directly after school, and I'll take the bus back home around dinnertime," I answered her.

"Please let us know if you'd like one of us to pick you up from the outreach center," she started the car and proceeded to back out of the garage, "sometimes public transportation can be a little sketchy. Promise me that you'll ask for help if you need it, Gwen?"

I smiled at Mrs. Hemmings. She was so kind and over accommodating, "I promise."

"Good," she smiled.

The drive to school was... well, it was nice. Normally Luke and I continued our daily conversations and debates about random subjects, often arguing about music choices and American TV. Luke's mom rarely joined in on the conversation, but this time around she and I were very much engaged, that when she dropped me of at the front of the school, I almost didn't want to leave the car.

"Thank you for the ride Mrs. Hemmings," I leaned down to meet her at the window, giving her a wave.

"Of course Gwen. We'll continue our conversation about Joseph Gordon Levitt later," she laughed.

"And then we can watch 500 Days of Summer before bed," I suggested.

"Sounds good to me," she agreed, "have a great day at school sweetie."

"You have a good day too," I gave Mrs. Hemmings one last wave goodbye, watching her follow the line of cars out of the drop off area.

This was the first time I had to walk through the morning campus by myself. I grasped onto the black strap of my bag in nervousness, my eyes to the ground as I headed for the large staircase. I guess keeping my gaze on the wonderful gum-infested concrete ground wasn't the best idea because before I had any time to think, I face planted right into the firm chest of none other than the tattoo-laden, punk with the dead girlfriend.

"Calum," I gasped, looking up at the dark haired boy with wide eyes.

He glared at me with a raised brow, the metal that pierced through it gleaming from the morning rays. Calum licked his lips with a smirk, "Gwen, we meet again."

My stomach did a backflip. To say that Calum Hood intimidated me was an understatement. His presence straight up gave me the heebie jeebies that made my knees rattle, and the urine in my bladder threatening to spill.

"I gotta go," I stammered, turning away from him.

"Not so fast Gwen," he grabbed my arm and I looked down at his grasp, noticing bruising on his knuckles. He pulled me back into his bubble, catching a whiff of him. He smelled like alcohol, "I want to talk to you."

"I can't, I need to get to homeroom," I told him, pushing him away. Calum seized both my wrists, ceasing my movements. He pulled me even closer towards him, and I noticed the students around us staring.

"Calm down Gwen," his voice almost sounded like he was trying to soothe me; as if hushed tones would change my mind and make me stay, "you have ten minutes till homeroom. Just talk to me... What are you? Afraid?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't. I had no freaking clue what to say to him. I didn't even want to look him in the eye. Calum scared me, but intrigued me at the same time. There was an odd force working at that moment and I didn't know how to explain it.

"Calum, please let me go," I pleaded with him, "I don't want to talk to you right now."

"You are afraid aren't you," he chuckled, letting my wrists go, "it's not me you should be afraid of Gwen Guzman. You might want to be careful around your blonde-boy best friend instead of fussing around me."

"Luke?"

"I might not have the best rep around here and I may have done things I'm not proud of but Hemmings is not a nice person... Don't trust him," were Calum's last words before he turned away, leaving me seriously confused.

Hurriedly, I walked away, running up the concrete steps and into the main corridor of the school. Calum was lying through his teeth. How could he tell me to not trust Luke? Luke and his family has been there for me since day one, and he has been nothing but nice to me. Calum on the other hand was hard headed, rude, and a criminal. He was was the one who couldn't be trusted.

And I was right.

"Gwen!"

Unexpectedly, I was pulled roughly by the arm and into an empty classroom. My face dripping with confusion and fear, I scanned my eyes looking for my napper. Standing there with hallowed eyes, a swollen lip, and a bruised cheek was Luke.

"Oh my gosh!" I gasped, lurching forward to meet the battered boy before me. "What the heck happened? Who did this to you?"

"I saw you talking to Calum Hood," Luke observed, ignoring my questions, "please do me a favor Gwen and don't."

"Did Calum do this to you," I looked up at him with worried eyes.

"Well I certainly didn't punch myself, did I?" Luke pointed out, sarcasm oozing from his words.

"How did this happen? Did you get into a fight?" Then I remembered Calum's bruised knuckles.

"It happened last night when I was with my friends. We were at a restaurant that Calum and his crew were at too. He just came out of no where and attacked me," he explained.

"That's all? Your friends didn't provoke him? You didn't say anything that made him angry?"

"I promise," Luke looked me straight in the eye, "I just mentioned something about the outreach center and he flipped-- I know it was him who messed up that wall. I saw him and his cronies running away from the building when I came to pick you up. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"No Luke, please don't apologize. And I won't talk to Calum anymore," I said, "it was actually him who spoke to me first. He told me not to trust you."

Luke scoffed, "of course he would tell you that. Look Gwen, Calum and I aren't on good terms. We just don't mesh and instead of letting me be, he's always looking to make my life hell. He'll do whatever he can to turn you against me. Just don't listen to him, okay? You've become a best friend to me and I don't want to see you get hurt."

I nodded my head, moved by Luke's sweet words, "I won't be fazed by him Luke. I promise I'll stay on your side."

"Thanks Gwen," he smiled, "now, when my mum asks, please just go along with the story that I was playing football-- that's soccer for your American head-- and things got rough. Sound good?"

I giggled, "I hate to lie to your mom Luke, but okay. I'll only go along with it if she asks about your face... which actually looks better now."

"Ouch, burn," Luke threw his hand to his heart melodramatically, letting my sarcastic comment strike him.

The bell rang through our ears and with smiles on our faces, we left the classroom and into the crowded halls. We walked to our homeroom together, and as I sat in the cold chair, I grew nervous about seeing Calum and Luke in the same room together. But the anxious feeling in my stomach quickly disappeared when homeroom ended and the tattooed boy didn't show up.

Luke and I separated, walking down the hall in opposite directions. I had English class my first period which I liked because English was always one of my favorite subjects. I entered the room, a few students already there, and I sat in the same desk I was in yesterday. I reached into my bag, pulling out my notebook and a pen, before plopping my bag on the floor next to my feet. I aimlessly doodled on the cover of the notebook, letting the tip of the pen draw swirls and random designs.

"Hey baby girl,"

I cringed at the familiar voice that whispered into my ear. I could still feel Calum's warm breath tickle my skin as he sat in the seat next to mine with a smug look on his face. I didn't dare look his way, and instead I ignored his presence.

"Don't ignore me Gwen," he leaned over in his seat, closer towards me. "I have a feeling that we're going to be working in very close quarters."

Reluctantly I turned my head with a snap, glaring at Calum with narrow eyes, "your feeling is wrong."

I could feel him stare straight into my soul, sending shivers down my spine. I stared straight ahead at the white board, concentrating real hard to not succumb into Mister Hood's dangerous gravity. The bell rang, prompting Calum to sit properly back into his chair.

The desks were filled and our teacher, Professor Duncan, stood up from her own, walking to the front of the room. Her head intermittently looked down and back up at us as she scribbled on the clipboard she was holding. I assumed she was taking roll because when her eyes landed on the tattooed boy next to me, she did a double take-- strike that-- a triple take.

"Good morning class. Hope everyone is doing well," she started, "if you had the chance to look at the syllabus I passed out yesterday, which I know one of you has," she paused, an eye brow raised at Calum, who slumped further into his seat when the attention was brought onto him, "then you'll know you have an end of the semester project that will be due before your winter break."

A loud groan echoed in the room.

"This project," Professor Duncan sternly said, bringing the class back to her attention, "will be in replace of a midterm. But if you'd like a one-hundred question exam instead, I'd be glad to cancel this project and give you a study guide."

"Project!"

"Never mind, project please,"

"I'll do three projects,"

Students chimed in their opinion, obviously choosing the ladder.

"Again if you look in your syllabus, I have clearly outlined the details of the project. This will be a two-person assignment," Professor Duncan was suddenly interrupted by a roar of claps and high-fives, "but before you get excited, I've already picked your partners. Don't be upset, I did you give you a 24-hour chance to pick your partner but no one did except for one. Read the things I hand out to you, people! So starting off with Calum Hood, who seemed to be the only one to pay attention to my syllabus even though he didn't even attend class yesterday... I read your email this morning and fulfilled your partner request to Miss Gwen Guzman."

I died.

Calum leaned over towards me and with a deep whisper he declared, "I told you I had a feeling."

//

Ahhhh!! Calum pays attention to syllabi hahaha. The school badass paid attention and he wasn't even in class. Aaaand Luke is kinda fishy for not telling Gwen the whole truth.

Anyway, thank you uber much for reading my story! I hope you liked it. Please vote, comment, and tell your friends about it!!

Also, this chapter dedicated to the wonderful losangelluke who is the author of one of my favorite Calum stories, SECONDS. If you're living under a rock and haven't checked it out yet, DO IT. She is a FABULOUS writer with an amazing story and I'm sure you won't be disappointed with it!!