Room 21 - Calum Hood Punk -

Strange

- Elena's POV - 


"Wait, really?" I laugh.
"Yeah, she embarrassed me so much that day!" Calum laughs too. Poor Calum. I mean, having your teacher accidentally put a picture of you sleeping and drooling in a slideshow during your leavers assembly? Got to be humiliating. "So how come you're actually here?" Calum asks. 
"I-I don't like to talk about it..." I reply, looking down at my feet. Again. 
"Sorry, forget I asked!" Calum apologises.
"It's fine!" I comfort. Me and Calum get on really well and I have to admit, I keep getting a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Class is now over!" Leia says to us. Everyone gets up and starts filing out of the classroom. 


"Hey Elena, wait up!" Calum calls after me. I turn around and watch him run over to me. 
"Hey!" I smile. We walk down the halls together, laughing and talking about anything and everything. "What the fuck are you doing with him?" Ashton growls as he turns the corner and sees us. "I-I'm talking to him..." I stutter. 
"So... What? Are you friends with him now?" He glares. 
"No, we're not. I'm just being nice because of earlier." Calum answers. I just stare at him and he looks down at me awkwardly. "Well leave her the fuck alone then!" Ashton spits. 
"Sure, I don't have time for losers anyway. Have fun with your girlfriend Ashton." Calum scoffs, walking off. I just stand there, my jaw dropped in shock. Not friends? Only being nice because of earlier? Loser?!


"Why the fuck would you speak to that prick after how he treated you earlier?!" Ashton complains. "Whatever, Ashton." I hiss, barging past him and down the hallway. I close my room door and scream, throwing myself onto my bed. There was a knock on my door and I roll my eyes, getting up to answer it. When I open it, I almost slam it back in his face. "Elena, please! I'm sorry!" He apologises. 
"I don't care, Ash! I can talk to who I want to! He was only rude because of you!" I argue. 
"Elena, he was rude because he's cocky and doesn't want anyone thinking he's nice. It ruins his reputation." Ashton sighs. 
"I just don't get it! We got on really well during class and then he just shut me down," I growl in frustration as I sit back down on my bed. "Well I'm sorry he was so rude to you." Ashton says, sitting with me on the bed. "I just feel bad for you," He adds.


"What? Why?" I frown. 
"He's next door... So you'll probably keep bumping into him. A lot." Ash explains. Even though he was a dick earlier, I don't feel annoyed at the news. In fact, my tummy does flips. Strange... I can't like him, can I? No. No way. "Elena, you okay?" Ashton asks curiously. I nod, staring at the wall... 


- Calum's POV -


I growl, kicking the leg of my bed. Why?! Why did I say that to Ashton about Elena?! I am her friend. Or at least I was... I sigh and sit on my bed. I hear voices coming from the other side of the wall. "Elena, he was rude because he's cocky and doesn't want anyone thinking he's nice. It ruins his reputation." I hear Ashton. What a dick!
"I just don't get it! We got on really well during class and then he just shut me down!" Elena? She's next door? I had no clue... I punch my wall and stare at the dent. Another one on top of the ones I already have around my room. Why was I such a dick? I should've just said we were friends. She's not even that bad, she probably hates me now! "FOR FUCK SAKE!" I yell loudly, covering my mouth. I hope she didn't hear me... 


- Elena's POV - 


"FOR FUCK SAKE!" I hear Calum yell from next door. Me and Ashton exchange a glance for a second. Why was he yelling? "I'm just going to see what's wrong with him... I'll see you later." Ashton says, getting up. "Alright," I smile as he leaves. 


- Calum's POV - 


There's a knock on my door and I open it. "Why the fuck are you here?" I scoff as Ashton walks in. "I'm coming to see what's going on. Why are you yelling?" He asks me. I can't tell him, he'll laugh. "Is it Elena?" He crosses his arms. Shit.
"What? Oh, n-no." I lie. 
"Well it sounds like you're lying." Ashton challenges, "if you're angry with yourself for treating her like a dickhead, then fine. You should be angry with yourself. She's next door all confused!" 
"Really?" I say in surprise. 
"Yes, really." Ashton nods. 
"Should I go and speak to her?" I ask him. 
"That would be a good idea." Ashton encourages. 
I take a deep breath as I stand outside of her door and knock. She opens the door and I smile nervously, "hi..." 


- Elena's POV - 


There's a knock on my door and I assume it's Ashton coming back. When I open the door, Calum is stood there with a nervous smile on his face. "Hi..." He says.
"What else have you got then? Am I a freak? A weirdo?" I spit, trying to close the door. He puts his foot in the doorway and stops it from shutting, walking in. "No, you're not. I-I'm sorry," Calum mumbles. "I'm sorry? I didn't quite hear what you said over the sound of your own ego." I snap. 
"I'm sorry," he says louder this time. 
"Are you really sorry, though? You said that before, and yet you still changed to a dick again. I don't know if I believe you anymore." I sigh. 
"I know you probably hate me, but I'm begging for you to give me a real chance. I'm a dick, I know I am. But, that's me, my personality. You have to believe that." He sits down on my bed. 
"Fine." I reply. 


"Really?" He asks in surprise, looking up at me. I nod. "I promise I'll try to be better to you! I swear on my image as a badass!" Calum squeals, surprising me. He just squealed? I laugh as he leaves. "I'm guessing it went well?" Ashton laughs, walking in. 
"Yeah." I smile. 
"Good." Ash smiles back. 
"Ash?" I say. 
"Yeah?" He stares at me. 
"I know you want to protect me, I appreciate it a lot. You're honestly like my brother. But... I want to speak to who I like, and I don't want you to try and control that. Do you understand what I'm saying?" I bite my lip. 
"Yeah, I understand. You're like my sister too. I guess I'm just worried about you getting hurt or something." He chuckles. I hug him tightly. I know I surprise him, because he tenses at first. But then he relaxes and wraps his arms around me too. 


- Calum's POV - 


"Ash?" I hear Elena say. 
"Yeah?" Ashton replies. 
"I know you want to protect me, I appreciate it a lot. You're honestly like my brother. But... I want to speak to who I like, and I don't want you to try and control that. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Elena then says. She thinks of him as a brother? That must be why she always relies on him... I sit on my bed and sigh. Why can't I stop thinking about her? It's strange. I keep thinking about her smile, her laugh. I don't know for sure, but... Well I think I might like Elena...