Aria's pov. It's been weeks of sneaking around with Calum, I don't know there's kinda a thrill of keeping everything on the DL. I see the doorknob turn and the tall boy standing in my doorway. "I brought snacks," he says and smiles. He places a kiss on my lips and sits next to me. The boys leave again in three weeks. "Calum I think I'm falling in love with you" I blurt. He chokes on his icy. "I didn't think you found me THAT repulsive" I joke. He grabs my face and kisses me. "I think I'm falling in love with you too," he says and kisses me. "So umm what, are we like boyfriend and girlfriend now" I joke. "I think that might be what it means" he jokes "Unity joint," he says and presents a blunt to me. "Thank you, kind sir," I say.
We decided we aren't gonna tell them we are dating, just kinda do our thing and if they ask to let them know, we are too awkward to like set the group down and be like ya we are dating, that's weird, right? I wake up before Calum and brush my teeth and put on some shorts. I crawl back up next to Calum. "Cal, wake up," I say softly. I kiss his cheek. Then I leave kisses on his neck. He wakes up and smiles at me. "Good morning gorgeous," he says, and kisses me. "I have work today," I say. "Call in," he says. "I'll pay you for the day" he jokes. "I'm not a prostitute Calum," I say and roll my eyes. "That's not what I meant Ari, let me take you out for the day, maybe even get a tat or something," he says, I smile at him and pull him into a hug. "Let me see what I can do," I say and kiss him.
I make a few calls, it is pretty easy to get your shift covered when you work with young single moms trying to pay their bills bc their pos baby daddy don't know how to act.
I get ready and cal hangs out with me while I do so. We walk downstairs together and go to leave. "Where are you guys going," Ashton asks. "Out on a date day," I say. "A date?" He questions. "Oh shit I forgot to introduce you to my boyfriend, silly me, Ashton this is Calum, Calum this is Ashton, my brother, ironically you guys are both in bands, I'm sure you'll hit it off" I try to joke around the awkwardness in the room. "You're dating my sister," ash says. "Rad man, I was scared she was gonna get with some dumb mother fucker" he jokes. "Anyway be back later," I say and grab Calum's hand. "Ew, I'll never get used to that" I hear Ashton say as we leave.
"She wasn't that bad," I say. "I don't know why I was scared, I felt like I was betraying him or something," he says. "You're so cute," I say. He opens the door for me and we drive off, I take the aux and play heartbreak girl. "Uh you're so embarrassing," he says attempting to skip the song. "It's good," I say and smile. "I was checking you out at your Sidney show" I add. "I knew you always had a thing for me," he says cockily. "As if, I'm not some obsessive fan girl" I joke. "Idk you kinda stalked me down" "Oh says the one who literally pulled up on me at Taco Bell because I left graduation" " touché," he says
We went into a small studio in the middle of nowhere, very different from the last place, I know that Calum has a tattoo artist that has done most of his tattoos so I trust whoever he trusts. I went first and got this gorgeous tattoo stenciled on my thigh, Calum was very particular about making sure I like every aspect of the tattoo. I could tell tattooing was almost like a hobby of his, he knew a lot and he looked so good. "It's badass baby," he says and kisses my head. He sits next to me and holds my hand. It honestly wasn't too bad this time. I knew what to expect and it was fine. Halfway through my tattoo, they took Calum to the station next to me to start his, after what seemed like forever Calum must have convinced his artist to open the curtain between us. "How ya doing over there," he asks and looks at me. I set the book I was indulging on my lap and turn my head to him. "It feels good," I say and smile at him. He smirks at me. He picks up his phone suddenly I hear my phone buzz.
Cal 💕: You're so sexy, and I can't wait to have my head between your legs with such pretty art to enjoy. 🫦
I bite down on my lip and look at him. I send him a text back. Me: wanna spend the night? He looks down and his phone and his jaw clenches.
"You're all done," the artist says. "Holy shit cal, look at this," I say and show him the gorgeous work on my thigh, it had only been 4 hours.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I walk up to cal and he reaches around my waist and pulls me close laying his head on my stomach. I can tell this tattoo is more painful than the rest. I play with his hair gently. Within the hour he's done. "Calum we aren't having this argument again, I can pay for myself," I say to him. "It's a date, so I pay" he insists. "We should take turns paying and you paid last, so my turn," I say. "You can get dinner," he says. I glare at him and he hands the guy his card. "Both of them," he says sternly. I grab some cash out of my wallet and slip it into his pocket without him paying attention. He grabs my hand and we walk blissfully out of the shop.
We walk into my favorite little diner with a gorgeous back patio. "What can I get to drink for you guys," the waitress says. "A lemonade please," I say. "I'll take a coke," Cal says. We chit-chat about random things and the waitress brings our drinks. "I want don't want to go to college," I say. Calum's eyes widen at me. "Are you sure?" I questions. "Positive, I love hair, and makeup, and I'm so curious about the beauty industry, not cleaning teeth," I say. "My parents are gonna have a stroke" "Ari, do what your heart tells you, it's your life nobody else's," he says. The room goes quiet, the Calum breaks the silence. "Ari, we are moving to California in August" he blurts. My heart sinks, what does he mean? How could Ashton not tell me? How could he not tell me sooner? I go quiet thinking. "Ari?" He says softly and reaches for my hand. "Why did you tell me?" I ask. "I wanted to, I really wanted to, I was waiting for Ashton, it wasn't my place, and then it was my place because I'm in love with you and I think you're in love with me and it's different now" "So what does that mean," I ask. It goes quiet. "Here's your burger and chicken stripes," the waitress says and leaves quickly, you could cut the tension with a knife. "You could come," he says. What did he say? I couldn't have heard that right. "I can't leave," I say. "Why? Ashton's leaving, your parents are never home, what do you have keeping you here?" He says, his words were sharp. I feel my eyes water. "Ari, I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be a dick, I just don't want to leave, can you think about it though, whatever you decide we'll figure it out ok? We'll be fine" he says and grabs my face. Not even moments later there were flashing lights in my face. "Really through the fucking window, come on," cal says. He throws some cash on the table, way more than enough. The waitress was a sweetheart I hope she understands. He grabs my hand and pulls me into his jacket to stay close to him. I know it's because he wants me to be safe, not because he's embarrassed for people to know, right? We sneak out of the back door and sneak to the back to find his car, I crawl out of his coat and he grabs my hand smiling at me, we start running towards the car and the paparazzi aren't even 15 feet away. "Ok we just have to play this off, there's no getting around it, I'm gonna help you to the car and make sure you get in safe and then I'll get in and go ok?" He explains quietly, he gives me his jacket and grabs my hand, he guides me to the car and we get about halfway there, then they swarm the car. "Arianna it's so nice to see you again" I smile at the crowd. Calum opens the door and I get in. "Calum are you and Aria together" "How would Ashton feel" Their yells get louder and louder as Calum gets into the car, he quickly starts it and they move out of the way, the paparazzi weren't near as harsh as they used to be with the boys, I wonder what changed?
We pull up and Calum walks me to the door. "You're not gonna stay?" I ask. "I can if you want me to?" He says. "Do you want to?" I say. "Obviously," he says and smiles. He picks me up and carry's me into my room. Not a soul to be seen. We get into my room. "Where's everyone at?" I ask. "Probably bed, Ashton said something about beach girl" "Oh, let's watch Netflix," I say He smiles and snuggled into his spot. I love that we have our spots now.
