College [c. hood]

29

'Lyss, please talk to me'

'I'm so sorry I hurt you'

'I knew I should've stayed with you'

'Fuck, I'm sorry'

'I'll be in the lounge on my floor all day getting work done'

'Please, come see me'

Calum didn't care that he was spamming her phone, he just wanted to see her. He did understand why she was upset with him, but at the same time, she walked out of their date. She said he needed to go. It was very mixed signals from her and he had no idea what he was supposed to do.

At the same time, he knew he gave a lot of mixed signals early on in their friendship, she's basically getting back at him at this point. He can't complain when he essentially did the same thing.

Going back to his homework, he tried to forget about all of this. He knew he fucked up, and all he could do was apologize. But she wouldn't even listen to that. So he has to do something to distract himself.

After twenty minutes, Michael ends up joining Calum in the lounge.

"Have you heard from Alyssa yet?" Michael asks, sitting in the seat across from Calum.

Calum groans, pushing his books away from him, "No! Fuck."

Kurtis joins them almost right after, and it just made Calum want to die. He did not want to be around anybody, and he probably should've just not come to the lounge.

"What's up?" Kurtis asks, joining them.

"I'm just here to bully Calum while he tries to work."

"There's a game starting soon, so hopefully you're almost done, Cal. There's a few people coming to this lounge to watch it."

Calum nods, "Oh, yeah, no problem. I'm having a hard time focusing anyway."

"Who's all joining you?" Michael asks.

"Uh, Jacob, Joey, Cody, Kristen and I think Erin? Erin said one of her new friends might join as well, with some of her friends. I'm sure when any of our friends walk by they'll join us as well."

Calum was kinda glad they were all going to be in the lounge to watch the hockey game, his homework wasn't keeping him distracted, so maybe being around some people and watching the game would help. 

Slowly people start making their way to the lounge, just the guys Kurtis mentioned have arrived so far. They all start setting up, and figuring out the best way to hide their alcohol so the residence workers don't catch them drinking. 

Kristen and Erin arrive right as the game is starting, and Calum notices other people standing behind them, waiting to enter the lounge as well. When he notices Talia behind Erin, his breathing hitches. If Talia is here, whoever else is out there could be Alyssa. 

When Alyssa is the last one of the girls to walk into the room, Calum felt like his heart dropped into his stomach. He didn't know what to do. Michael looked at him from across the room, seeming nervous for Calum.

Calum panics, and decides he's just going to go back to his room. He already wasn't in the mood to be around all these people, and now Alyssa is here? He was over it.

As he gets up to let Erin sit, he collects all of his schoolwork. Both Alyssa and Talia were still by the door of the lounge as he heads to the door.