𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐬 ✰ 𝐜.𝐭.𝐡.

1 | "there's this girl"

《Calum》

"Bro, what's up?" Luke asked, nudging my shoulder as I sat quietly. "You haven't been yourself all day."

"Yeah, man." Michael chimed in, his bright red hair sticking up as he peaked around the corner of the kitchen in the apartment that we share. "Something's up."

"Okay, Okay." I chucked, glancing at the two eager boys, "Well-" I paused, keeping my gaze low. "there's this girl-" I could barely finish before Michael called out from his place in the kitchen. I laughed before continuing my story.

"Well, anyways, I bumped into her at school today." I finished.

"Well, do you know her name?" Luke exasperated, sitting on the edge of his seat, he combs a few fingers through his mountain of a quiff.

"That's the thing—I don't-" I answered, my cheeks heating up slightly. "I think she might've just transferred." The room was almost silent for a brief moment until Michael came back.

"Looks like little Cal has a crush!" he called, moving over to the sofa with a sandwich in his hands.

"Shut up Mike." I roll my eyes.

"Tell us about her." Luke said nonchalantly as Michael taunted me.

"I don't know," I sighed. "She's beautiful—inexplicably beautiful—and I just can't get her out of my head. I'm aching to get to know her."

"Sounds like you need to do something about that." Luke smiled. He's never really been like this when it comes to girls. He's had a long streak of nothing but one-night-stands, and the sad part about it is that he doesn't seem to mind it. He's the kind of guy who can effortlessly get a girl while I, on the other hand, am still a virgin at 17. Michael is the same way as Luke, yet I can't even bring myself to talk to a girl.

"Bro, stop thinking about it." Michael called across the room. "You're talking to her tomorrow." I freeze.

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Of course, I had doubted Michael when he had spoken to me the day before, but as it unfolds, I've realized that he's not going to rest until we find the girl.

"Fuck," he huffs as he drags me around the school. "We've looked everywhere."

"We haven't checked in here." Luke states, gesturing towards the door to the library. Michael immediately perks up and yanks me towards the entrance.

"Is that her?" Luke calls, staring over towards a girl with long blonde hair. I just glance over and begin to blush immensely. She's so goddamn beautiful.

"Cal, that's her!" Michael booms, as giddy as a school girl. "Go over there!" I groan and swallow forcefully as he pushes me over, his hands planted firmly on my shoulders. She glanced lightly towards us, before quickly fixating her eyes back onto her computer screen. The pit in my stomach grew as I was pushed closer to her. My heart began to pulsate at a quicker pace and my hands began to sweat exceedingly. Before I knew it, we stood right in front of her-merely inches away. I gulped heavily.

"Hey." I exasperated, smiling fondly to the girl, who looked rather unamused. At this point, Michael and Luke were no longer at my side, but not far enough away where they couldn't observe. Her eyes stuck on me for a moment before moving back down to the screen. Not a single word had left her mouth. After standing awkwardly for a minute, I grabbed a chair and sat down across from the girl.

"I'm Calum, by the way." I smiled, keeping my eyes on her. "I'm assuming you're new here. I—" I frown with her cutting me off angrily before I could finish.

"What do you want?" she spat, knitting her eyebrows, staring at my with her icy blue eyes.

"I-um-I just wanted to introduce myself." I replied, sheepishly. This girl scared the shit out of me, yet she couldn't look any hotter.

"Oh," she breathed. "Okay, Calum. I'm Alex, and yes, I am new here." Her accent is thick, yet I can't place it. I watch her eyes flicker between my face and the screen. Her voice was no longer as abrasive, but held a more mellow tone. I smiled at this newfound change.

"I could show you around the campus, if you'd like." I added.

"I think I'll be fine." she replied, annoyance clearly evident in her voice, moving her gaze away from mine momentarily. How does she do that? She goes from snappy to mellow to annoyed within five minutes, and I continue to pine over her as if I've known her forever; or maybe because I want to know her forever. I blush at my own thoughts because I know that they're true.

"Are you sure?" I stutter, forcing out of my frowning mouth, my confidence rapidly deflating.

"I can handle myself just fine," she blatantly answered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll be going." Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. No.

And with that, Alex—the mysterious girl—gathered her belongings and stood up and walked out of the library, away from me, her short plaid skirt moving with every step. I don't even know what I did wrong. I frown yet another time.

I sighed heavily before meeting up with two grinning assholes.

"Well done." Luke clapped, patting me on the back.

"You must teach me your ways." Michael laughed, "I could never pick up chicks like you do."

"Very funny." I huffed, pushing past them and out of the room. I knew it would end like this. Why'd I even let Mike get do this to me?