Tommy boy | c.t.h AU

chapter 5

chapter 5- out of my limit 5 seconds of summer

Calum and I sat next to each other in English and he tried to poke a conversation out of me. I said a few one-worded replies and eventually the chatter stopped. I didn't like being mean to him but I also didn't want to give him the wrong impression. We worked silently on the rest of our project. Using cut up pieces of paper and the old magazines we brought in as well as the pictures we printed of each other, I'd say Calum and I's get to know you projects looked pretty good.

While we were interviewing each other in Mali's office, Calum sat in her spinny chair and I was cross-legged on the floor. We just kinda flowed back in forth when he shot up out of the chair. I looked at him like he was crazy and he asked, "We need pictures of each other for this right? I feel like it only makes sense if its a collage yeah,"

I nodded and smiled. Pictures seemed quite reasonable. Calum had slid from around the big desk and sat a bit in front of me on the floor.

"Can I take your picture Adwin?"

"Sure,"

The way he asked was so nice. So basic, but it felt good to be asked for permission first. I shook my head to try and rid my mind of the memory, and resumed gluing pieces of paper to other pieces. Glancing at the clock I realized the bell was about to ring so I started putting back all of my craft supplies. As I was placing my Calum collage into my binder, the boy himself stopped me.

"Hey Adwin," He had turned his body completely in my direction with his elbows on his thighs. I tried very hard to not stare at his arm muscles flexing. Or the curls that flopped onto his forehead.

"Hm?"

"Did I do something wrong? Sorry I interrupted you and your boyfriend-"

"Jamie's not my boyfriend,"

"Oh..okay well-"

"You're not doing anything wrong Calum I just..."

"Do you wanna maybe hangout? With me? I mean I just you're really cool and I oh gosh um I just-"

"You ramble a lot." He finally looked up at me through his thick eyelashes and smiled his stupid boyish smile.

"But um I don't have a lot of free time right now,"

His expression dropped and I felt like I'd just kicked a puppy, "How 'bout I just give you my number instead? Text me and maybe we can reschedule or something no biggie," He shrugged like it was the easiest most obvious solution in the world. And I guess it was.

"You're very persuasive Hood,"

"Oh so all it took was offering my phone number? I should've done that ages ago then,"

Yeah I know I said I didn't wanna upset whoever this Sophia is by hanging with her boyfriend, but I really don't wanna kiss him or anything like that. Besides he's allowed to have friends. I'm allowed to have friends.

"You really should've,"

—

"Good afternoon Adwin!" Ashton called from his spot on our front porch. I locked my doors and hoisted my bag higher onto my shoulder.

"What're you doing?"

"Basking in the sunshine,"

Hippy shit.

"Have fun," I said as I passed him.

"I will!"

—

It was nearing 5 o'clock and I had just finished gluing my Calum Collage. The picture I'd printed of him was cute, too cute. I almost hated it.