Chasing Time

#16

              Michael, Ashton and I were playing on the Wii when Cal came home.

"Where did you guys run off to?" Cal asks.

"I asked her to go with me to see my sister." Ash lies. Damn,  for someone who hates lies, he can come up with one really easy. 

"Hey, asshole!" Ash says,  getting back to the game.

"I'll hit you with my Wii stick." Michael says. I don't know if he's joking or not. I wouldn't test him now. 

"Hey," Cal says,  kissing me.

I wish things would stop being weird between us...

"Where did you run off to?" I ask Cal. 

He shrugs. "Around. I had stuff to do."

Okay? 

Cal leaves and heads upstairs. Michael pauses the game and turns to look at me. 

"Oh,  honey, we have problems." He says. 

"What?" I ask. "What are you talking about?" 

Luke walks into the living room, anticipating the upcoming conversation. 

"Its Cal. He's been sneaking around everywhere. We tried to talk to him but he won't talk to us." Mikey says. 

I look at Ash. He seems clueless. 

"I'm pretty sure it's Harper... " Luke says. 

"Come on guys." Ash says. "Why are you doing this?"

"We're going by what we've heard,  Maddy." Luke says. 

I go upstairs to look for Cal. 

"Come on Harper,  it was one time,  forever ago." Cal says. 

Harper says something and he laughs. "We can talk later, after Maddy is asleep okay?" 

I knock on the door and open it. 

"Oh,  hey Maddy." Cal says,  casually. 

I take a deep breath. "I don't even know what to ask you right now." 

"What do you mean,  Maddy?"

I sit on the bed. "What's going on here Cal? Are we.. Is this.. Over?" 

"What? Why would you you think that?" He asks. 

"Think about it Cal. I have too much damage and you don't have the time. We keep secrets from each other and we can never be honest. You're messing around with Harper..." I explain. 

"Wait.. Harper?  Maddy, I'm definitely not in things with Harper. Who told you this crap?" 

"Cal, I'm not blind. I see the way things are."

He runs his hands through his hair. "Maddy, I don't like Harper the way I like you. Please believe me."

"Fine,  okay,  I believe you. Just,  promise me I won't t have to see her?" I ask. 

He nods. I lay in his lap like I usually do. 

---    

              When I wake up the next day, I completely forgot my own birthday. 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!" All the guys yell. 

"Bit me." I whine. 

They laugh. 

"Maddy..." Cal starts. 

"What?" I ask. 

"Harper stopped by to say hi..."

Oh,  great. The hell and truth awaits. 

I want to cry right now. 

"Perfect."

I go down stairs and sure enough,  Harper is there, pissed off. 

"I want the truth now. Are you and Cal dating?" 

She sighs. "I want to be,  but he's held down by you. He flirts with me a lot."

"That answers my question. Now,  if you'll excuse me." I go back upstairs,  grab Jared and pull him into my room. 

"I need to leave now. You either come with me,  or I'll go alone." I say. 

"I know what this is about Maddy. I'll come with you."

I feel the tears,  but ignore them. I should have seen this coming.