The next three days Garrett wasn't in class.

Every morning I would arrive early hoping to see him, but the only person in the room would be Natasha. Math class was right back to being something I dreaded. I wanted to just come in late since Garrett had been being absent, but I didn't want to give Natasha the satisfaction of knowing that the only reason I come early was for him.

I wanted to ask about him at lunch, but after Brittany's weird reaction to my talking about them, I decided it was a bad idea. I guess I will just have to wait for him to come back to find anything out. It's weird that he missed so many days, he hadn't seemed sick on Tuesday, and the posters in the cafeteria boasted him as being a straight A's honor roll student. One of only five people on that list. Surely he isn't skipping. I wish I had gotten his number or something but it never came up.

"What are you thinking about over there in la la land?" Lucas asked and everyone at the table laughed.

I looked up from my plate realizing that they were all staring at me. "Oh, what?"

Lucas smiled. "I asked you if you want to come to a party with us tomorrow night."

"A party?" I repeated a little surprised.

Brittany rolled her eyes. "Your face is so easy to read." She told me. "Yes, we do have parties here."

I thought about it for a second, but then decided it would be a good way for me to get out of my house tomorrow. "I guess I could. When and where?"

Kaitlyn perked up in her seat. "It's at my house. My parents are going out of town tonight and won't be back until Sunday night." She bragged. "Come at like 8:30 and bring some booze if you can get any."

"I can bring plenty." I told her. "I don't really drink, but I have had a fake ID for a while so I could get into all the good clubs back home to hear bands play."

Hers, and everyone else's, jaw dropped. "Are you serious? You have an ID?"

"Uh huh." I muttered taking a bite out of my ham and Swiss. "Just text me what all you want and I'll pick it up. I may need a ride though."

"I'll take you." Jock boy, David, called excitedly.

"Cool."

***

A few hours later and I had actually survived my first full week in Swanford. The likelihood of maybe actually liking it here was looking a little better. Now that I had had the time to get to know some people it wasn't so bad. I still wasn't used to all the attention, but it didn't bother me as much as it did at first anymore.

I wasn't unpopular at my old school. I was pretty much cool with people from every clique at the school, so I was in on all of the best parties and hangouts. Here though, it's like everyone just wants to talk to me and hangout all of the time. I have been asked out more times in the last few days than I have in my whole life, and all the girls are trying to be my friend. With the exception of a certain two witchy girls. It's a lot to take in coming here and being the big fish in a small pond.

After school I sought out the town library and killed three hours there. Reading always gives me such perspective on my life. Every time I read a good book I try to incorporate certain parts of the characters, or their lives, into my own. I would have spent the whole night in that library, but it looked like a storm was brewing and I had walked here and I was not looking forward to getting caught in the rain.

I tore myself away from Ellen Hopkin's newest book and got to walking home. The low rumbling of thunder in the distance kept my pace pretty quick and I got back to my street quickly. I was walking up the sidewalk on my road when I saw my mom and dad walk out of the front door. I seriously considered turning around before they saw me but a flash of lightening cut across the darkening sky and I fought the urge.

"Cadence!" My mother waved to me. I walked up the porch steps to meet them. They were both pretty dressed up and dad kept checking his watch every three seconds. "I was hoping to catch you before we left. Daddy and I are going on a date night." She cooed proudly.

I snorted a laugh. "Since when do you two go out on dates?"

"I don't appreciate your tone Cadence." She scolded. "Anyway, we are going to dinner and a movie and we won't be back until late. I left money on your desk if you'd like to order something for dinner."

I shuffled my feet, itching to get inside. "Alright, thanks." I said. "Have fun I guess."

Dad checked his watch again then gave me a rushed smile and pulled moms arm to get her to walk to the car. "This is a terrible night for this Macey, it looks like it is about to storm." He complained as he pulled her behind him.

"Oh Rodney, stop being so negative." She muttered back to him.

I watched them climb into the car and pull out before I turned and went inside the house. There was a loud crack of thunder and then I could hear the rain ponding down on the roof. It was a full blown down poor. I bet dad is really happy about being out in this.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when someone knocked on the front door after I had only just shut it.

I peeked behind the curtain that covered the small window in the door and when I saw who it was I quickly opened the door back up. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

Garrett quickly slipped between me and the door, stopping in the foyer. "Sorry, I didn't want to give Carrianne a chance to see me here." He smiled. He was wearing a brown t-shirt with jeans and his letterman's jacket. He had obviously gotten caught in the onslaught outside because his wavy hair was stuck down, wet, to his head.

I closed the door behind me. "She didn't see, did she? Did you just come from over there?" I asked pointing in the direction of her house. Garrett peeled off his jacket and then shook out his hair like a dog, sending drops of water all over the room and on me in the process. "Gee thanks buddy." I laughed.

"Oh, my bad." He chuckled. "Nah, she doesn't know I am here." He said. He looked a little nervous for a second. "I remembered you said anytime I wanted to hide out..." He trailed off, waiting to see what I would say.

I smiled at him easily. "No problem, I meant it." I assured him. "We don't have to just stand in here though, we can go to my room." I told him walking by and heading for the stairs.

I heard his footsteps following me to my room. I walked in and made sure the new blinds on my window were securely shut and then sat down in my desk chair.

Garrett walked across the room and squatted to sit in the floor in front of my bed, facing me. "You've got a really nice house." He complimented.

I rolled my eyes at him. "My mom would love you." I said. "That's like the number one rule of visiting someone else's house. You always give a compliment of the fine home." I mimicked my mom's voice on the last part.

He shook his head at me. "Yeah my mom made me do the whole etiquette training too." He laughed. "Good times." He mused smiling at me. "Does that mean you were also a debutant?" I cringed at the memory of the horrid yellow ball gown. "I'll take the look on your face as a yes." He joked.

I threw a pencil off my desk at him, but he caught it easily and tossed it back at me. "No fair Mr. Football star." I said. "We can't all be as good as you."

"That's true." He agreed. "It is pretty impossible actually to be as good as me."

"Someone is cocky." I said pointing at him. "How did the team take you missing all of your practices?" I asked.

"It's off season Cade." He laughed. "You really know nothing about football, huh?"

"Whatever." I said shaking my head. "Where've you been? I've had to face you know who alone every day."

"I'm sorry." He said. "I just have had a lot going on and school was the last place I wanted to go."

I nodded my head. I get that pretty easily.

Some of the water from Garrett's hair ran down into his eye and he rubbed it quickly with the back of his hand. My heart skidded a little when I saw the dark color show up around his left eye. "Garrett, what happened to your eye?" Now that I could see the color I also noticed it was a little swollen.

"Nothing." He said quickly as he brought his hand up to it.

"Don't ever lie to me Garrett." I said back firmly.

"Nothing, I ran into something." He fumbled.

I got up and walked over to kneel in front of him. It was pretty obvious now that I was this close. "You don't try to cover up black eyes with makeup if you just got it from walking into something." I said lowly. "You only try to cover up ones that you shouldn't have gotten."

He ducked his head to his knees. "I just don't want to talk about it, ok Cade?"

I turned to sit beside him with my back against my bed too, then I leaned my head over onto his shoulder. "We don't have to." I said. "Just know you don't have to lie to me about that stuff either. Trust me, I know what it's like."

"Thanks." He whispered.

I reached over and mussed his hair like I used to do to Stephen. The hole in my chest ached a little from the familiar action, but I tried to push down the hurt. "Let's listen to some music." I said as I crossed the room to my stereo. "I will be your distraction for the night." I said cheerfully.

He raised his head up and shook his head smiling at me. "I'd like to be distracted." He said after a moment.

"Good."