Living With the Bad Boy

by Sharlay

  “Erm, are you backing out of a dare, Addy?” He asked with an amused expression on his stupid little face.

  I paused for a second before finally giving in. One thing about me is that I don’t back down, ever.

  “Fine but you keep those lips away from m-”

  I suddenly stopped talking as my stomach began bubbling like crazy, making me feel like I was about to explode.

  “Erm, I’ve got to go,” I said as I jumped off the couch and ran towards the stairs.

  “You ok?” I heard Caleb shout from behind me.

  “Yeah,” I managed to shout back as I ran towards the bathroom. This was going to be a long night.

  * * *

  I was right, it was a long night. I literally felt like my insides were being ripped out. I had already been to the toilet, three times in the last hour, and I don’t even want to scare you by describing what went down in there. I was so relieved when I heard Caleb go up to his bed, ten minutes ago. I was so embarrassed, and I did not want to face him. I was actually hoping that all of this may have put him off wanting to fake date me. I was not looking forward to this. I had discovered that everything to do with Caleb, always ended badly, and I was sure that this would be no exception. I did however agree to the dare, so there was no turning back.

  I decided that since my stomach was giving me a little break, I would go downstairs and get a glass of water before the beast returned. I walked into the kitchen, and turned on the light before grabbing a glass out of the cabinet. I got a fresh bottle of water out of the refrigerator, and poured it into my glass before getting distracted by the small bottle, next to the cookie jar. As I picked it up, everything fit perfectly into place. I was going to kill Caleb. I marched upstairs, forgetting all about my glass of water and pushed his bedroom door open.

  “Woah, I could have had company, Princess, what happened to knocki-”

  “What are these?” I said as I held the bottle up in front of his face.

  “Oh, you found them,” he said with a huge smirk on his face.

  I threw the bottle, so that it hit him right in the middle of his forehead before letting out a frustrated scream.

  “You seriously need some anger management-”

  “And you need help! You put laxatives in my pizza, didn’t you?” I screamed as I kept my eyes fixed on his. I couldn’t believe that he was actually sat there smiling.

  “Come on, you didn’t think that I was just going to let you get away with what you did today, did you?” He asked as he tried to prevent a smile from forming on his face.

  “I thought that the games were over?” I growled as I looked at him in disbelief.

  “Yes, and they are now-”

  “You are such a jerk!”

  “So I’ve been told, anyway you’ll be fine by tomorrow, you should just get some rest,” he said as he began chuckling to himself. It was as though someone had pressed a button inside of me that said ‘kill’. In a fit of anger, I ran over to where Caleb was lying on his bed and jumped on top of him. “Ahhh!” I screamed as I grabbed the pillow from behind him, and started hitting him in the head like a maniac. The reason why I kept hitting him faster, and harder was because he kept laughing which was making my anger reach an all time high.

  “You,” I began as I hit him again, “are,” I hit him again, “the,” and again, “biggest,” and again, “jerk-”

  Suddenly, I was interrupted as I felt the familiar feeling in my stomach take over.

  “Err, you ok?” He asked as he studied my face. He actually looked genuinely concerned but I knew better than to believe that he cared.

  “No,” I mumbled as I tried to control the feeling that was coming over me. I clutched my stomach, and closed my eyes for a moment as I willed the feeling to go away. “I’ve got to go,” I said as I jumped off his bed and ran towards his door, at full speed.

  “Ok, see you in the morning, girlfriend,” I heard him shout as I ran towards the bathroom.

  “Jerk,” I mumbled before locking myself in the bathroom for the fourth time tonight.

  Yes, this was going to be a very long night indeed.

  CHAPTER 14

  Girlfriends & Boyfriends

  As my eyes snapped open this morning, I was not happy. I had been running back and forth to the bathroom, until four am, and it was not pretty. I pressed the button on my phone and was even more distraught when I saw that it was only six am. Once again, Caleb had ruined a part of my life.

  I slid out of my bed, like a zombie and made my way into the bathroom. I scowled at myself as I looked at the dark circles that had formed under my eyes. I had heard rumors that a cold shower could help to wake you up, but that just seemed crazy to me, so I went ahead and turned it up to the hottest heat that I could handle.

  I did feel more relaxed once I stepped out of the shower, but that didn’t change the fact that I wanted to crawl straight back into my bed. Surprisingly, I was ready in less than forty minutes. I quietly made my way down the stairs. I knew that my dad, Bill and Caleb were all fast asleep, so I tried to make as little noise as possible.

  As I walked over to the refrigerator, I smiled to myself as I thought about last night. There was no doubt that Caleb was still a jerk but a tiny part of me did have fun with him last night. I don’t even remember the last time that I laughed till my stomach actually hurt. After I pulled the bottle of coke out of the refrigerator, I grabbed the glass that I never used last night, poured the water out and poured it in it. I knew that it wasn’t the greatest way to start your day but I wasn’t a coffee drinker, and I needed something to keep me awake today. After drinking four glasses of coke, I felt much more alert and jumped to my feet. I rinsed the remaining coke out of my glass and then filled it up with a glass of water. I crept up the stairs, trying to avoid the third, fifth and eighth, step since they were the ones that usually creaked. Once I reached the top, I scanned the hall way to check that the coast was clear before making my way into Caleb’s room.

  It was strange to see him sleeping so peacefully. If I didn’t know him and this was my first encounter, I would be fooled into thinking that he was a nice guy. It was clear to see that he didn’t sleep in one position, since half of his body was exposed, and the other half was still covered. He also slept with his mouth slightly open which made an evil grin appear on my face. If I was any other girl, I would probably take out the time to really check him out. He was just lying there in his tight, white underwear, exposing his perfectly toned muscles. Unfortunately for Caleb, I wasn’t your regular girl, and I didn’t come in here to swoon over him, I came to get revenge.

  Taking three quiet strides towards his sleeping body, I smiled to myself before silently counting to three. Once I had reached number three, I ripped the duvet off him and emptied the contents of my glass, over his entire body. I can’t even begin to describe how funny it was to watch him jump up from the bed, screaming like a little girl. I am not joking when I said that he screamed like a little girl either. The terror on his face was priceless, and the pitch of his scream, really could have put even Mariah Carey to shame. The look on his face was hilarious as he tried to figure out what was happening to him.

  “Morning, boyfriend,” I chuckled as I watched the realisation finally start to sink in.

  “What the hell, Addy? I thought that I was drowning!” He screamed as he began wiping his face with his hand. I literally couldn’t hold it in anymore, and burst into a fit of laughter that sent tears rolling down my face.

  My laughing came to an instant halt as I heard Caleb’s door slam open.

  “What happened?” Bill asked as he came through the door with a panicked expression on his face. Uh oh. I was about to try and make up a lie but then my dad came racing in too.

  “Is everything alright, I heard scream-”

  He suddenly interrupted himself as he looked from Caleb, to the soaking wet bed, then to the glass in my hand. This wasn’t going to end well.

  As we all stood there, in si
lence as the two of them tried to get over the shock of what they were looking at, I felt a nervous feeling race through my body. I watched as my dad and Bill looked at each other, slowly before turning back to Caleb and then bursting out laughing. I actually couldn’t believe my ears; they were laughing. Not just chuckling but full on howling like two crazy wolves. That was of course my cue to start laughing again which eventually resulted in Caleb joining in. If someone walked in at that moment then I think that we would all be sat in a nice white room, with a white jacket, that let us ‘hug ourselves’.

  “Well, I’m glad that you all found that so amusing,” Caleb said although his eyes were fixed on me. It sounds strange but he actually looked proud of me for what I had done.

  “Well, that was one of the funniest wake up calls that I have ever had. I don’t know what you crazy kids were up to but thanks. Now, time to go back to bed,” Bill said as he walked out the room while chuckling to himself.

  “Addy, can I have a word when you’re done here?” My dad asked as he gave me a warm smile.

  “Yes, sure,” I replied as I watched him walk out of the room as well.

  “I can’t deny, you got me good,” Caleb said, causing me to start laughing again.

  “You looked so scared, it was hilarious-”

  “Yeah, well I told you, I thought that I was drowning,” he said as I tried to bite my lip, to prevent another laugh from escaping.

  “I could tell.”

  “I guess that I deserved that after last night, right?”

  “Yup.”

  “So, we’re even now?” He asked, suspiciously.

  “Well, I thought that it was over last night but someone just had to take it a little further-”

  “Ok, ok I promise not to do any more pranks, if you will?” He asked as I tried to scan his face to see if he was being honest.

  “Pinky promise?” I asked as he looked at me like I was crazy.

  “How old are we again?”

  “Coming from the boy who made me play knock, door, run,” I replied as I raised my eyebrows.

  “Ok, give me that sexy pinky of yours then,” he said as chuckled to myself.

  “You’re so weird,” I mumbled as he wrapped his pinky finger around mine.

  “I, Caleb Gates-”

  “Your name is Caleb Gates?” I asked as I began laughing.

  “Yes,” he said as if I was crazy.

  “How many times have you let people think that your dad is the Bill Gates?” I asked as I shook my head at him.

  “Many times, and it works until they either see that he’s African American or they visit my house and figure out how poor I am,” he said as we both began to chuckle.

  “You, Caleb Gates are something else,” I said as I smiled at him. I don’t know why but it was a genuine smile and it felt kind of good. “Continue.”

  “I, Caleb Gates swear to never prank, Addison Taylor for as long as we both shall live,” he said as he smiled at me.

  “I do,” I added as I slipped my pinky finger from his.

  “You do?”

  “Yeah, I do except your promise, thanks,” I said with a smirk on my face.

  “You’re not promising too?”

  “Nope, you’ll just have to learn to trust me but remember that you’ve made your promise,” I said as I winked at him and walked out the door, smiling to myself.

  “Wait,” I heard him say as he followed behind me.

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t forget that we have to ride to school together-”

  “Why?” I asked as I raised my eyebrows at him.

  “Because we are supposed to be dating, remember?”

  “Yeah, so why can’t I just meet you there?”

  “We want it to look authentic-”

  “Oh, that’s a big word for you-”

  “Silence. As I was saying, we want it to look real. So, yesterday we were ‘fighting’ and now we need to come in, all loved up like we, you know, made up,” he said with a smile on his face.

  “Please, don’t put that revolting image in my mind. You have twenty minutes to get ready, and I’m driving.”

  “You’re not-”

  “Then no deal.”

  “Fine,” he growled before scowling at me and then disappearing into his room. Yes, Caleb, that is right, I am the boss.

  After laughing at Caleb’s attempt to look angry, I walked up the hall and knocked lightly on my dad’s bedroom door.

  “Come in.”

  “Hey, Dad,” I said as I slipped in the room and sat on the edge of his bed. My dad’s bedroom was like a real bachelor’s pad, he had cream walls, black satin sheets, a slick black closet with silver panels and of course a TV with several different game stations underneath it. I rolled my eyes at the thought.

  “So, I wanted to talk to you about yesterday.”

  “Me too, look, Dad I’m really sorry ab-”

  “Stop, Pumpkin, it’s me that needs to be apologizing,” he said, catching me completely off guard. “I was being way too hard on you yesterday. You didn’t know Caleb’s situation, and it was unfair of me to put all the blame on you because it really wasn’t your fault. The truth is, we’ve always been close, and you’re like my best friend. Sometimes, you act so mature that I forget that you’re still just a kid. And sometimes, I expect too much from you, and I’m sorry.”

  “It’s ok, Dad, I understand. When Bill explained everything, I understood why you were mad at me. I get what Caleb’s going through, probably better than most people, and that’s why I’m not going to change the way that I am with him,” I said as I watched the confused look on his face, “the truth is that as I got older, I was so jealous of the fact that all my friends had their mom, it was hard. They all tried to understand, and they kept apologizing or acting differently, and I didn’t want that. I just wanted to feel the same. I didn’t want people to be something else when they were around me. I think that all that Caleb needs is normality; he doesn’t need someone to talk to or to feel sorry for him. He just needs people to be themselves.”

  “Wow, that was a pretty smart analysis, kid,” my dad said as he smiled at me.

  “Thanks,” I said as I giggled to myself.

  “So, did you two sort things out last night, because you both looked pretty happy today?”

  “Yeah, in our own weird way, I think that we did,” I said as I smiled to myself.

  “Good,” he said as I rose to my feet.

  “I’ve got to go and do something,” I replied before heading towards the door.

  “Addy?”

  “Yes, Dad?”

  “I love you, never forget that,” he said as he stood, staring at me.

  “I won’t,” I whispered before walking out of the room and closing the door behind me. I stood still for a few minutes, just smiling to myself before I set about the task that I had.

  After I slipped my feet into my black shoes, I stepped out the front door and made my way across the street. I tried to walk as fast as I could before I changed my mind. When I finally reached Mr Bilsley’s front door, I knocked on it and then waited patiently for him to answer.

  When he finally opened the door, I scanned his face for a moment. I get that people spread all these rumors about him being mean, and angry but as I stood there and stared at him, all that I saw was a lonely old man. I didn’t know much about him but I knew that up until three years ago, he had a wife that lived here with him. Where she went, I don’t know.

  “Yes?” He asked in a frustrated tone.

  “Hello, Mr Billsley, I’m Addison Taylor, I just live right across the street-”

  “I don’t see how this has anything to do with me,” he growled as he looked at me impatiently.

  “Last night, a friend and I were playing around, and I knocked on your door and then ran away-”

  “So, you’re the little delinquent who made me run up and down?” He asked in an angry voice.

  “Yes, and I’m very sorry. It was just sup
posed to be a game but I know that it wasn’t funny, you could have fallen or hurt yourself because of our game and that’s not right. I do want you to know that it was all my fault though, my friend only came out to distract you, when he saw the bat but it was all me, and I’m sorry,” I said as I ducked my head in shame.

  “Well let me tell you this,” he said as I felt the nerves begin to bubble in my stomach. I knew that I was doing the right thing but it didn’t stop me from being scared. I just hope that this won’t be the second time that the cops have to visit my house. “That was probably the most honest, and bravest thing that I have ever seen somebody of your age do,” he said as a small smile framed his lips.

  “That’s it?” I asked in shock.

  “Yes, I can’t imagine that it was easy coming over here and telling the truth like that. Plus you said that you were sorry and there was no harm done,” he said as he smiled at me.

  “Thank you, Mr Bilsley, and I won’t do it again,” I replied, honestly.

  “I know you won’t. Oh, and tell your friend, from me, that he should hold on to you,” he said as he winked at me and then closed the door, leaving me stood there with a confused look on my face. When I finally came out of my trance and turned around, I spotted Caleb stood outside, next to my car.

  “What were you doing?” Caleb asked as I walked towards him.

  “Apologizing.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it was wrong. He could have tripped or had a heart attack last night, and I felt bad. Besides I wanted to tell him that you weren’t the one that knocked on his door, and that it was me-”

  “Why would you do that, he didn’t need to know-”

  “It’s fine, trust me. I think that everything will be just fine from now on,” I said as I turned to face Mr Bilsley’s house again. I caught a glimpse of him waving at me through the window. I smiled at him before raising my hand and waving back.

  “Come on, I’ve got to pick up Courtney,” I said as we both slipped into my car and headed towards Courtney’s.

  * * *

  It was only a short journey to Courtney’s house but I could sense that something had changed. Since I spoke to Caleb outside the car, he had been unusually quiet.