defective :: calum hood

five

✖defective✖

        :: f i v e ::

"There is no way you have something better to do on a Saturday night, Raven. Come on!" Erin was in the middle of her attempt to convince me to go with her to Michael's house. I continued to reject the idea.

"I do! Luke is coming over to look over my portfolio and show me his for reference," I told her as I continued to fold the laundry that had sat at the edge of my bed for two days already.

"Is that like a sexual thing? Why does it sound sexual?"

I stopped folding the pair of jeans I held in my hand and offered Erin a look of annoyance. "Portfolio? Portfolio sounds sexual to you?" She laughed and shook her head.

"Raven, pleeease. This is my first time seeing Michael again, and I'm scared! He's so cute, I don't want to mess it up, you have to be there to make sure I don't embarrass myself...again."

"You'll be okay. He wasn't scared when he saw you projectile vomit on his friend, something tells me he doesn't scare easy," I told her shrugging.

"I did not—that's not the point. I just don't want to go alone. Also—never mind," Erin stopped what she was saying, causing me to look at her with a raised brow. She looked at me with a blank stare, which was odd.

"Also, what?"

"Nothing, that was it," she said, obviously lying. She was not able to lie to me, ever. I knew her too well.

"Tell me," I said, almost as if I was a mother questioning their child. She refused to tell me at first, which resulted in a back and forth situation in which I asked for answers and she wouldn't give me any.

"I'll tell you, but only if you say you'll go," Erin finally said, causing me to roll my eyes. I hated situations like that, they made me feel cornered and as if I was a loser if I gave in. And I hated feeling like a loser. I offered Erin one of my stares and she laughed as she shook her head. "Fine, you don't have to go, I'll still tell you."

"Okay, so earlier today, when Michael and I were talking on the phone—after he invited me for tonight—Calum came in," she began to say and I rolled my eyes at the mention of his name. "He didn't know we were on the phone but they started talking, right, and I was just listening to their convo. Michael was telling him about how he was having people over tonight and mentioned some friends and me—Raven you should hear how he says my name! It's so hot!"

"What did he do to you," I laughed, "he really has you in deep."

"I know! But, anyways, Calum didn't know my name—duh—so he asked who I was and then Michael said I was 'the pretty girl from the club'. "

"And Calum knew who you were from that?"

Erin laughed, "No! So then Michael had to clarify I was the one that messed up his shoes. So embarrassing! Anyways, Calum immediately asked about you once he knew I was going and he sounded excited at the idea that you might be going."

"He did not! There's no way you can know that," I said shaking my head.

"Okay, so maybe I can't be sure of his tone but he did ask about you right away," Erin said as she cleared her throat. "Is her friend coming," Erin said with a deep voice as she attempted to imitate Calum.

"That's how he said it, like quick, no thoughts or anything." I shook my head at Erin, knowing she was just over analyzing the situation. I went back to folding my clothes—the pile now noticeably smaller.

"He definitely wasn't excited. And he's just another reason as to why I don't want to go. I hate him," I told her.

"How can you hate him? You don't know him!"

"You don't have to know people to hate them. It can be hate at first sight," I said, offering her a smile. She rolled her eyes at me, lifting herself up from my bed so she was standing.

"I swear, you hate everyone! I'm surprised you don't hate me," she laughed.

"Only sometimes," I shrugged.

"Stop lying to yourself. No one could ever hate me," she laughed, "but I should start getting ready, it's so late! And I need to look good for Michael!"

+

"Now this one is my favorite," Luke spoke as he held up one
of the pages from my portfolio. We were sat on the couch, The Neighbourhood playing softly in the background. The page he held was a self-portrait I had done recently, one of the drawings I was proudest of. "You really captured yourself in this one."

"Thank you, it's the first time I ever drew myself," I told him.

"You did great. All of these are amazing, Josh is going to be impressed."

"You think so? I'm so nervous."

"I know so! Also we're in need of another realism artist and you're perfect, I'm truly amazed," he said, giving me a smile.

"Means a lot coming from you," I told him. "So Josh said I should go next week?"

"Yes. He's not in town but in a week he will be back." I smiled at him, feeling both nervous and excited at the fact that I was getting closer to beginning another chapter in my life. Luke and I continued talking about his experience at the shop—he had been there for 4 years now—and he was also showing me all of the work he had done on himself, which excited me for a future in which I would be able to have my own art on myself and also be the one doing it.

Our conversation was interrupted when my phone began to ring.

Erin.

I answered but no one spoke. All that was heard was music and laughter, leading me to believe it had probably been an accident. I shrugged and hung up. I went back to talking with Luke, then again I was interrupted, this time by multiple texts all sent one after the other.

from erin:

raven

from erin:

please come

from erin:

quick

from erin:

raven can you please come

from erin:

i need tou

from erin:

you