A Surprise ⇢ Callum Ilott

FOURTEEN

TW: This chapter mentions something heavy. If you'd like to skip this chapter, pop us a message and we will let you know anything important for the future chapters.

"So, let me get this straight: you had two dates with Callum this week?" George asked and looked at his phone screen, he was FaceTiming with Catherine. "Jeez, woman, you're making work from it."

Catherine rose her eyebrows and looked at her phone, what was standing on the kitchen counter against a box. "Mate, that is quite normal," she said. "It just happened. And I had fun. What else do you need?"

"More explanation," he smirked. "Just spill the tea."

"'Spill the tea', you are really impatience," she said and grabbed a cup. Catherine poured the hot water in it and threw a teabag in the hot water. She grabbed an apple. "Well, it was fun."

George straightened his face. "Is that really all you got? 'It was fun'. Ted..." He was shaking his head disappointedly.

"I wasn't finished yet! Calm the fuck down," Catherine smirked and took a bite from the apple. "So we went karting. Callum tried not to mention he was a driver, really adorable, he was avoiding the word. Anyway, we were part of a group, but let me tell you something; that group was aggressive. Like, the FIA would give them a million penalties," she annoyedly said. "Callum broke the track record, gave a false name; Joachim Meyer, because he didn't want other people to find out who he was. But I made a joke: you should have said Callum Ilott, because your name is Callum and you can race very well."

A laugh rolled over George's lips. "What was his reaction?" He was very interested.

"He laughed, like a fake laugh," Catherine smirked. "And then he asked if I knew Callum Ilott. It was really cute."

"Ted, you're amazing. You're the only person who would make that comment," he still laughed. "You finished first, obviously?"

"Mate, I wish," she chuckled and leaned against the counter. "Eighth, which is quite remarkable since I could handle and follow their pace and behaviour. Callum finished first. But he was so sweet, like actually caring and making sure I was having fun. And he now knows I'm your sister. Apparently, we look the same when we wear balaclava's."

"Wow, amazing," he sarcastically said on the last comment. "We are not twins, we absolutely don't look like each other." George grabbed a bottle of water and took a big sip. "And how was the other date?"

"Oh, we went to visit London!" Catherine raised her voice because she was enthusiastic. "Really fun. It has been a while since I've been to London. And it was cool to explore the city as basic tourists because I now got to see what tourists see when they visit London."

He smirked. "You have never sounded that positive about tourist London."

"Shut up, George."

"But I'm happy you had fun."

"But listen, Callum likes the same genre of music, and he has a dog! I mean, a better man doesn't exist." Her face lit up, and soft blushes appeared on her cheeks. "And we had dinner at Borough Market, and we talked a lot." Catherine smiled like an idiot. "At the end of the evening, we travelled back home. Callum lives in London, so he just had to take the metro, and that's it. I coincidentally had a transfer at the same station to the train. It was late, and he didn't want me to travel alone because it was almost midnight, so he asked me to stay over."

George nodded, impressed. "Well, well, well, things are getting serious. And he's protective, a real gentleman."

"I know. And it feels good. I like him, and he likes me too, at least, all the signs he gives me are right, positive, whatever you call it," she dreamingly told.

"It is early to say it, but I think you are in the first stage of falling in love." George softly smiled. "Adorable." Catherine shyly smiled. "Anyway, are you going to see mum and dad somewhere this week?"

Catherine took a new bite of the apple. "I'm going to see them this afternoon. Why?"

"They have a new computer. Time for you to play the ICT woman. Dad has asked me to look at it, over FaceTime!" George smirked.

"Oh, goodness. Here we go again..." Catherine dramatically rolled her eyes. "ICT company C.L. Russell." She carefully took a sip from the hot tea.

"The best in the world."

❉

Catherine stopped the car behind the car in front of her and looked in front of her. She was heading home from a day at her parents. For a Saturday evening, it was busy on the road. She ticked with her fingers on the steering wheel and waited for the traffic light to turn on green. It was dark, almost unclear to focus on what was happening at the intersection. However, Catherine was familiar with this intersection. The traffic light turned on green, and the first cars in front of her began to drive away. Catherine let the gear rise, and she pushed down the gas peddle. She switched to the second gear when she had created the speed.

The intersection was slightly chaotic, more carlines had the green light. But Catherine only had to cross the intersection, so there was no need to be extra extra alert. Her eyes were scanning the sideways; no cars were approaching towards her.

The red Mini of Catherine crossed the intersection, while the white Audi SUV made a turn left, and the grey Mercedes should have made a turn right - both away from Catherine's car. What should've gone right, escalated quickly. The grey Mercedes shot through and hit the white Audi. The Audi lost control and bumped into the red Mini. Other drivers handled quickly and could brake at the right moment.

The three cars stopped sliding over the intersection; the Audi turned upside down, the Mini bumped into a traffic light, and the Mercedes stopped on the middle of the intersection.

Bystanders stepped out of the car and ran towards a car; a few people to every vehicle. Some people got out of their car and looked at the accident with their hands in their hair. Others called the police and ambulance.

A man opened the door of the Mini. "Are you alright?" He was scanning the person inside the car. The front seats were covered with small pieces of glass. "Ma'am?" The person's head leaned against the airbag.

"See if you can find a heartbeat," a woman said. "Oh, my goodness," she whispered and covered her mouth with her hand.

The man reached for the neck of the driver. "I can feel a heartbeat," he said relieved. "Ma'am?"

A bystander who called the ambulance, visited all of the cars and helpers to share the information. "The ambulance will be here in a few minutes. How is this person doing?" The woman looked around; people were panicking, and others were calling, probably to share the persons' status in the accident.

"Alive, but I think unconscious. We're waiting for instructions from the calling centre," the man said who was checking on the Mini. "The others?"

"The man from the Mercedes is fine, we think a concussion. But the old couple from the Audi..." The woman looked sorry. "...it isn't going well with them."

❉

Callum  22:01
How was it at your parents? :)
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Callum  23:17
Did you arrive home safely?
UNDELIVERED