Tommy boy | c.t.h AU

chapter 12

chapter 12- same boat lizzy mcalpine

"Cal, you gotta explain it to me cmon,"

Calum was sitting on Mali's couch scrolling through his phone. School work discarded, but mostly complete. I know for a fact he was looking for the most optimal new song to play.

Barely glancing up he scoffed at me, "Explain what the entirety of the game?"

"Yes!"

"You really wanna know?"

I leapt up from the big spinny chair and bounced across the room to sit next to him. I fell onto my knees on the smooth leather couch, so close my knees nearly pressed into his thigh. Without even thinking about it, I touched my hands to Calum's sweatshirt clad arm.

"Yes, oh my gosh. I wanna hear it from someone who like actually enjoys soccer. Plus how am I supposed to cheer you on tomorrow if I don't understand what's happening?"

Calum looked over to me through his long lashes. He was trying to fight it but I could see the smile and eagerness growing on him.

Quickly his tongue drew across his lips and he started, "Okay okay well um there's eleven players right,"

"Okay actually only seven usually you know it all really depends,"

Cal talked with his hands. A lot of gesturing but I got the picture. I had also noticed when he got excited his accent would really jump out. Only a few years here and it was kinda feint, but still I was hung up on his every word. He had to backtrack a few times like his mind was running faster than his mouth. Which honestly it also often did.

I would chime in every now and then with a "Uhuh,"
"Yeah," but I think he could've said anything and I would've agreed.

By the way, Mali-Koa had loved the pieces we got for the studio the other day and totally agreed that the lamp was not ugly. Calum said we were delusional but I certainly caught him eyeing it a few times.

Mali-koa had also noticed Calum and I's new friendship. We were working with a smaller clothing brand one day and Calum was doing homework in the office while I helped.

Didn't really have a set job this shoot but simply being in the room allowed to assist wherever I could made me feel needed. While the stylist fixed the models Mali had casually strolled over to me.

"So, my little brother huh?"

I was leaning against the wall behind the snack table and she watched me as she took a carrot stick.

"Your little brother?"

"You two seem... close," She relaxed on the wall next to me but held up her camera and pretended to examine it so as not to look me in the eyes.

A chuckle flew past my lips. I really couldn't believe I was still having this conversation.

"Mali I'm not dating Calum, he's a sweet boy and all but he's just my friend,"

This smug look of sureness was painted on her features as she pushed off the wall.

"You know, I never mentioned dating,"

And yeah that was the end of that conversation.

So that brings us back to now, said sweet boy rambling on and on about the game he loved. I think If Mali hadn't come in and tell us to go home when she did he would've gone all night.

No, I know he would have because as we walked out the doors he still kept going. All the way to his car, he was bursting with all these soccer things and I was hardly retaining any of it. The streetlights shined differently on him as he spoke. And the way his lips moved distracted me.