ᴋʟᴜᴛᴢ | ʟʀʜ

𝟑𝟕. 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐂𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭?

This chapter is dedicated to rosedtattoo because she helps me get through the fucking day lmao and ^^ His gorgeous smile ughhhevrhvioh I live to see him happy :') Enjoy this chapter!

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"Ok, he's leaving now," Alina murmured into her phone, holding the device close to her ear while trailing far behind a certain 6'4 man, or as Nina liked to call him, the target. The nice, cool February breeze offset the warm temperature that was beginning to rise once again after the brisk Californian winter.

Nina's shrill warning reminded her of the necessity for constant alertness: "Don't let him see you!"

"I won't, shh."

"Why are you following him home again? Why didn't you just see him after his shift at Ketchup's like a normal person?" Calum spoke up. Alina could almost see the humored shake of his head that she was sure had gone along with his deep voice.

As if it just suddenly occurred to her, the 5'3 girl inquired slowly, "You know, now that I think about it, why am I doing this again, Nina?"

Her roommate's awkwardly forced laughter filled the call between the three of them. "Oh, well...ha. Just for a bit of dramatics," Nina admitted unabashedly with a shrug as she popped a couple of goldfish in her mouth on the couch back in their apartment.

"My life isn't a movie, you bitch!" Alina chastised, pinching the bridge of her nose with her free hand. In reality, she wasn't pissed but would appreciate a bit more solemnity if this was going to work out; that is, her attempt at an apology.

Two days after chatting with Ariana and here she was, trying to patch things up with Luke. She had no idea if he was still upset or what was going to happen. Alina hadn't dared to text or call him; the tense moments between them during their shifts at Ketchup's and the quick, hidden glances had spooked her out too much. Call her intimidated or cowardly, but that's who she was. The girl wasn't one to go out of her comfort zone unless she was pushed to the edge of her limit.

No communication or solid interaction with Luke for almost two weeks.

This was her limit.

"Nah, you're right. It's really following more of a fanfiction sort of plotline," Nina concurred.

Calum mused thoughtfully, "The more you guys talk about fanfiction, the more I think I should start reading some of that shit."

"To what? Spice up your relationship with Jada? Get a few tips?" The brown-haired girl posed with a snort.

"Don't worry, Nina, Jada is completely satisfied with my skills in f-" At this, Alina held the phone far from her ear, wishing to avoid whatever he was going to say. She was sure it wasn't suitable for a young audience.

Nina's screech she was able to hear, however: "You WHAT?"

Bingo. Alina's assumption was correct.

"Can you two stop? He'll notice me if you keep shouting," Alina whispered quietly, keeping her eyes on the man who was rounding the corner of the block, in a whole other world of his own.

Rolling his chocolate brown eyes, Calum countered, "You aren't the quietest yourself, Lina. You're conspicuous without even trying." The curly-haired man was referencing her clumsiness and awkward ways of drawing attention to herself in her attempt to not do so.

"Shut up."

"That's not nice. We're trying to help you here," he huffed teasingly with a tsk.

"Trying is the keyword," she muttered back sassily.