Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 9

Skyler's POV

Sunday drags on slowly, and I try to split my time between my heartbroken best friend and my boyfriend who was leaving on Friday. I walk in to school exhausted and sad 

"Skylar alone?" Mallory snickers as I walk down the hallway "so not in the mood" I call back not even turning to look at her. I pull out my phone and send a quick text to Nat making sure she was alright, even though she stayed home today. I head to my first class math. Great. 

"Everyone pull out your textbooks a turn to page 218" I groan reaching into my bag, "can anyone tell me the answer to number 3 it was assigned for homework last night.  Skyler?" "Oh, it's uh" I start rummaging through my notebook. 

"The answer's 12" A voice calls behind me and I turn quickly to see Mallory's boyfriend Brandon looking at me smugly, I roll my eyes turning back to my paper "what he said" I mumble looking down. The teacher goes back to the board writing down an equation "You're welcome" I hear him whisper. 

I grab my phone and dial Nat's number, she doesn't answer and I sigh walking into the cafeteria. I see a couple year nines staring at me and I smile at them hearing my phone buzz. 

"Nat?" I answer with out checking the caller I.D. "Nope, no it's Ashton" "oh hey Ash" I say quietly "hey how's school going?" He asks obviously not that interested "awful" I admit walking back out of the cafe "that's great!" "why?" I laugh 

"Because Michael and I are picking you and Nat up" "Has Nat agreed to this?" I question skeptically "That's why we need you!" "It's a girls day" I hear Michael yell through the phone "Yeah, no boyfriends" Ashton says in his girliest voice. 

"Alright you've convinced me!" I grin "Meet me out front?" "Be there in 5!" Ashton sings hanging up the phone. I grab the rest of my things from my locker and walk out the front door, Ashton and Michael are already there waving at me excitedly. 

"You know some of us still have to go to school" I comment hopping into the back seat, Michael snorts "oh please you hate school almost as much as I did" I shrug in agreement pulling on my seat belt as the car begins to move. "So how exactly do you think we are going to get Nat out of bed?" I question 

"Well... if all else fails I guess we'll just have to carry her out" I smile at that tapping the back of Michaels car seat along to the beat of whatever top forty song was on the radio. We pull up Nat's house and I knock on the door nervously.  

"Answer…." I whisper under my breath ringing the door bell again. "Who is it" I hear her call from the inside putting on her 'adult' voice "Delivery" I call back knowing she can recognize my voice I hear the door unlock and I let out a sigh of relief 

"Shouldn't you be in school?" she questions still in her pyjama's "How do they accept me to study when my best friend is sad?" I say dramatically pushing her front door open "now, get changed we're going out" I announce "Sky" she whines "don't even try it!" I say grabbing her arm and pulling her up the stairs "you have 15 minutes Michael and Ash are waiting."

"So where are we going anyway?" I ask tapping Michael on the head "hey watch the hair!" He whines swatting my hand away Ashton giggles "ey keep your eyes on the road!" Michael screams pointing at the road. "Oh my god" Natalie says covering her ears 

"why are you so loud?" I laugh Michael shrugs "it's in my dna" "d-d-d dna" Natalie and him sing together "here we go again" Ashton says as they break out into the chorus "he's been singing this all week" "Admit it Leigh Anne is hot" Michael announces making Natalie chuckle 

"She laughed!" I say excitedly bouncing up and down in my seat and reaching over to hug her "Get off of me" she whines making me try and kiss her cheek. "Skyler!" She shirked pushing me off of her, I laugh sitting up right in my seat "so where is are we going?"