Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 5

"Sky, Skyler where are you taking me? Mallory and maths is the other way!" She whined trying to pull me the other way "Like I'm letting you in to that class with her!" I say continuing to push her towards her car "I really think you don't want murder on your uni application" I add Natalie sighing and pulling out he car keys 

"where are we going then?" Natalie questions obviously still frustrated as he she jams her keys into the ignition "you know where" Natalie stares at me for a second before twisted the key the engine starting up I giggle as she turns the mix tape Ashton made her.

Natalie slams the car door shut the wind instantly throwing our hair around, "We're here, now what?" She asks stepping onto the sand "Scream" I say simply making sure there was nobody around Natalie shakes her head defiantly 

"No Sky" "Come on it'll make you feel better" I coax "Always does." Natalie stays silent obviously thinking, her lips clenched "….." I begin to count snapping Natalie out of her trance like state "2……3!" I say Natalie letting out and ear shattering scream I clap excitedly 

"Woohoo!!!!" I join screaming loudly she grins widely screaming again as we run towards the water rolling up our shorts as we hit the shore line. "Last one in is a rotten egg!" I declare running running full force into the ocean "what are you five?" Natalie shouts back tackling me into the water. 

"You know this beach is where Cal told me he liked me" Natalie smiles leaning closer to our bonfire "I remember" I reply patting her leg "god things were so much simpler" she admits "tell me about it" I joke Natalie and I both laughing our hair still drenched in sea water, "I don't know how to stop feeling so weird about the whole thing" she confesses "what are you talking about?" I question "It's just-" she begins fixing her eyes on the fire "I don't know, I guess I just miss him or something" she chuckles a hint of sadness in her voice, I sigh wrapping an arm around her "we've lasted this long what's another week?" I try to reassure her my phone going off in my pocket making me jump, I read the caller ID "it's Luke" I say patting Natalie's leg before standing up "I'll be right back" "hey stranger" I say answering my phone.

"Sleep over?" I say as Natalie pulls into my driveway a distant look still on her face. She smiles nodding enthusiastically "Mallory's a bitch" she states, making me break out in a fit of laughter "I love you Natalie" I say breathlessly opening her car door. "You too!" She replies.    

Natalie's POV

We walked into school the next day, quickly trying to make it to class.  Sadly Skyler had to leave me to endure Math with Mallory (see m and m?  No?  Ok...).  I was just about ready to murder her though.

"Oh hey Natalie!" she said a little too cheerily.  I didn't respond, pretending that my music was going, even though my headphones still in my ears.  I rolled my eyes however at her fake attitude, before sitting myself down.

"Alright class, do we have any questions about the homework last night?" our teacher Mrs. O'Hara asked, looking around the class, glasses perched on her nose.  No one raised their hand.

"Ok, we're gonna get started with the lesson then!" she said beginning talking about algebra, in short, the one thing that puts me to sleep because it is simply so stupid and boring.  But hard.  Definitely hard.  

Finally the bell rang, and I got out of class as soon as I possibly could, Skyler waiting outside for me.  "Hey!" she said putting her arm around my shoulder.  "Hey." I said a small smile on my face.  

"Come on where's my happy girl?  SMILEEEEE!!" she said turning the corners of my mouth upwards.  "Meh." I said shaking it off.  

School was a bore, obviously.  But I had started filling out university applications to universities in Australia, but I was looking towards California in particular.  There was Stanford, and a couple other good unis around there.  I figured it would be worth leaving home.

I wanted to either go into English or Law.  Maybe even Science.  I was stumped when it came down to decisions.  I figured however I could get a minor in English, and major in Law.  That was the way I looked at it.

I still had no idea what Skyler wanted to do.  I think she just wanted to move to LA and just see where her acting career could take her.  Personally I wanted either an acting career or singing career but my parents weren't huge fans of those as careers.  And besides it was always academics before anything. 

The week flew by, and before I knew it I was at home awaiting when Calum would text me to tell me when he would be back.  I sat on the edge of my bed, chewing my lip desperately.  

I suddenly heard my phone vibrating madly from my bedside table.  I immediately grabbed it, checking it was Calum.  "Hey babe, guess who's back?"