The Space Between a Rock and a Hard Place- 5SOS

Chapter Twenty-Eight

99%- Gracey

Aviana Ross:

It's now been four days since the incident. Ashton and I haven't spoken much at all. Occasional texts here and there, but no calls, and we haven't physically seen each other since. It's really uncomfortable because I don't know what to do, and clearly, he didn't catch on that it all happened too quickly for me.

I can't just call him up and tell him that I don't feel like that yet. But I still really like him, and I miss him. I don't want us to keep up with this awful tension that's been hovering over the both of us for days.

Maybe if I just addressed the elephant in the room it would all go back to the way it was before.

Or maybe not.

However, I wasn't going to worry about it today.

A knock on the door signals to me that Calum had arrived. We were going to a small coffee shop I recently found. Well, it was more like I was dragging him there with me since I didn't want to go with Ashton at the moment. It was partially a cafe and the other half was a thrifted bookstore. The old book and coffee smell were heavenly, and it was the perfect quiet place to relax.

I quickly go to open the door and let him inside.

"Hey! I've just gotta put on my shoes and then I'm ready,"

"Sounds good," he replies, stepping in and getting comfortable in my kitchen.

I go to grab my converse, and end up with a flannel too, in case the early September air was chillier than I thought. I'm rushing back into the kitchen to mess with my shoes there, and not leave Cal exploring my home without supervision.

"Hey, Av? Where'd these flowers come from?"

I abruptly stop my motions while sitting on the floor and loosening the laces of my converse, trying to think quickly.

"Uhm, they're from my mom, she found a shop around here that delivered them to me,"

"Oh, that's sweet of her," he responds with a less questioning tone, while still studying the flowers from my boyfriend on the counter.

"Okay, ready to go," I direct the topic away from my temporary home decor as I stand up and open the door for Calum to now leave through.

I lock the door and follow him out to his car. Finally, I could get a break from everything going on.

As Calum starts driving to the address I gave him, I try to think of something to talk about. It's not like things were weird anymore, I just knew everything about him and the boys already.

He beats me to it though, "So when does school start, Av?"

"Two weeks. We start later than most places, but I also don't get much of a Christmas break since we will be having performances,"

"It's like you're trying to our career or something,"

"Not even close, Cal," I shoot back, laughing. Anything I make is going straight back into my tuition or buying new shoes.

"How're your rehearsals going then?" I ask him a question now.

"Not too bad, we've got a few song ideas, but they probably won't make the cut since it's just the start. Ash started a decent one the other day that we're currently putting together, though,"

"What's it sound like?"

"Not telling you, wait like the rest of the world," he teases, pulling into the parking lot of our destination.

We both get out of the car and approach the tiny street cafe. Calum opens the door letting me inside, and he follows me to the short line formed at the side of the store.

I study the menu even though I know exactly what I want to get. I'm not one for experimentation and get the same variation of drink no matter where I'm at.

"Hello, what can we get for you today?" the cashier says, a pleasant smile across her face. Clearly faked, I've used the same one myself.

"I'll have an iced vanilla latte, size medium," I answer.

"Same for me, but hot please," Calum chimes in. I give him a look.

"What? I like sweet drinks too!" he turns to the cashier, "And our orders are together,"

"I can pay for myself-"

"I got you this time, Av, take it as a thanks for the invite,"

I stop pushing as I know I'm not winning. I'll pay him back another time.

After he pays, we stand to the side to wait for our drinks. I take a moment to survey the place for somewhere to sit before entering into familiar conflict again.

"Why'd you do that? I'm capable of getting my own coffee,"

"Well, why not?"

"That's not a good answer," I reply, as an employee calls our drinks. I grab them for us, and make our way over to the corner I spotted.

He just sighs and follows me.

"This is a nice place,"

"Yeah, and uhm, thanks for buying and driving, Cal."

"Not a problem," he shrugs it off, taking the seat across from me.

I'm relaxed, just as I hoped, but there was still a small part of me that was just uneasy. Maybe not exactly that, but I just felt off. Hopefully, the caffeine will fix it for the day.

I take a sip of my iced coffee, but Cal sits there with both his hands gripping the hot drink. I eye his tattoos for a moment, I almost forgot he had them.

"Well, how is it?"

"Good, I needed it,"

"I think mine's a little too hot still," he explains, and fidgets with the lid, taking it off. Steam pours out, "Yeah, it's definitely hot coffee,"

We both smile at him stating the very obvious, and I nod in response to the observation. Looking away from him, I scan the books to the right of my seat. They were all pretty old but still kept in great condition.

"Do you want to look at the books? I'll watch the drinks,"

"No, I'm fine," I turn back to him and meet his calm brown eyes. He almost immediately breaks the eye contact to take a sip of his coffee.

"Wow, that's good,"

"I told you this was a nice place,"

"I never said I doubted you," he chuckles, a smirk spreading across his face as he tilts his head in acknowledgment.

Our entire relationship lived on our silly little arguments, and it just felt natural to push each other back and forth about every small thing. It was nice not holding a grudge against each other anymore, and just keeping things normal. I was going to miss this when I had to spend all of my time in classes and the boys were sure to be in the studio more and more.

I rest my chin on my hands, elbows up on the table.

"So what now?" I ask, taking another sip of my drink.

"Well, once I get a bit further in my drink, we can go back to my place, and I'll give you a little peek at the stuff we've been working from," he answers, smile still remaining, "You didn't really think I was going to make you wait, right?"

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Hope you enjoyed this one LMAO