Risk & Reward

Three

Shi frowns as her car concert is interrupted by the ringing tone of her phone, pressing the button on the steering wheel to answer.

"Hey, Shi." Her uncle's voice sounds a bit tired as it comes through.

"Hi, Paul. What's up?"

"Saw you're on I-5 headed home, thought I'd call and check on you since it's late."

"I'm alright, traffic through the valley was surprisingly light and that helped a lot. I'm north of Frazier now so nearly to the homestretch."

"Are you headed to your apartment or should I make sure your room here is ready for you?"

"Don't set the alarm, I think I'm going to crash at home tonight. I'm babysitting for you guys tomorrow night anyway. Might as well just hangout all day with the family."

"Alright, I'll make sure to put an extra blanket on the bed and leave the light on. We might all be asleep, so try to come in quietly."

"I won't wake the girls, don't worry. I'll set the alarm once I'm in too. Just don't feel like going home to my empty apartment alone tonight."

"You rarely do after driving at night, but you'll always have your room here. We don't mind. Call me if you need anything before you get here, if not I'll see you in the morning."

"Thanks, Paul. Love you!"

"Love you too, fancy pants." He chuckles before the line cuts and her music resumes.

It's only five minutes later that her phone rings again, this time Tay's contact coming up on the dash before she hits accept.

"Baby boy giving you a hard time tonight?" Shi asks instead of saying hello.

"Why else would I be calling at this time of night?" Tay laughs. "Plus, I stalked you and saw you're driving home so I figured some company, at least in the form of conversation, could be beneficial to you. And since this cute little monster doesn't want to sleep I figured I could be that conversationalist for a bit while I rock him."

"I'm okay, headed to Paul and Jess's for the night since I'm babysitting the girls tomorrow anyway. He called about ten minutes ago for a similar reason." Shi chuckles.

"He's a good duncle." Tay laughs, using the term Shi and her sister had coined for their uncle after he selflessly took them in as toddlers.

"He's the best. Actually, and I was going to call you tomorrow about this. I have something to tell you, but I don't even think I want the rest of the chat to know yet, or maybe ever." Shi bites her lip nervously, she'd gone back and forth on whether she'd wanted to tell anyone about her conversation with Calum, even Tay.

"You got tea, Shi?" She can hear the excitement in Tay's voice.

"Some awkward but also not as awkward as it should have been tea." She laughs.

"Spill. You know my lips are sealed."

"Okay, you know how I feel about Benny, right? The song that is? And Place In Me?"

"Yes, I assume tonight was 'cry to the heartache of both' night?"

"Ya, I mean not 'sobbing my eyes out in my room' level of crying but emotional and tears were happening."

"And..."

"Someone stopped beside me, I was standing at the back of the balcony, mind you, and they asked if I was okay. Slightly embarrassed I said I would be and wiped my eyes before I fully looked at this person..."

"Oh my gosh! Was it Ashton?" Tay whisper yells.

"No. It was Calum." She chuckles.

"Not my guess, people online said Ashton was way more interactive and Calum was being considerate of it being Luke's night and mostly kept to himself."

"I never saw Ashton. But ya, Calum stopped to check on me because I was tearing up over a song which really should have been awkward."

"But it wasn't?"

"No! And it's freaking me out that it wasn't. We literally talked for like five or ten minutes and it was so natural feeling. When I met Ashton seven years ago it was fine but definitely not natural. With Ashton it was clearly a fan-meets-idol situation and it just wasn't with Calum, it was easy and a basic conversation and he made me laugh and complimented my Never Be tattoo and I even made him laugh I think..."

"That's cute. I love that you got a little moment with Calum, you deserve it. Maybe I'm glad I wasn't there, as much as I would have loved to hold your hand though that again, he wouldn't have approached you if I'd been there."

"See, this is why I can tell you this. You see it as a good thing, and you can see it without exaggerations and dramatics. I think I want it to just be our secret though, I don't think I can handle even the chat knowing. They already bug me because Calum follows me and I met Ashton. Unless someone else took a picture of Calum talking to me there's no evidence of it. I never even thought about asking for a photo or even a hug. I shook his hand when he decided to introduce himself with his full name." She laughs as she remembers the moment, looking back it feels like it should have been weird but it wasn't.

"The chat would be happy for you, but I also understand how they could get overly excited and dramatic about it. If you decide to tell them that's your choice. I'll keep your secret."

"Thanks, Tay. I know I saw you this morning, but I seriously miss you already. Why do you live half a country away from me?" Shi laughs, grateful to be pulling into the outskirts of Bakersfield as they talk.

"Because we would be far too powerful if we lived in the same time zone let alone the same state or city." Tay chuckles.

"Probably."

"Hey, you said Calum complimented you, was it just on your Never Be tattoo or something else too?" Tay asks as the conversation goes quiet.

Shi smiles to herself as she thinks about it, her right hand lifting to twist one of her curls. "He said he noticed my curls and when he glanced back to get a better look he realized I was crying and had to stop to check on me. He said my curls are beautiful."

"Stop! That's so cute, and from the man who shaves his far too often." Tay coos.

"Hands down the best compliment I've ever received, honestly." Shi laughs.

"As it should be! Alright, well you're almost home and baby boy is finally asleep again. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Shi. I love you."

"Love you too, Tay. Thanks for everything, and especially for keeping my secret."

"Of course. Text me when you get home safe."

"I will. Get some sleep, cute mama."

"I will. Bye." And with that the line cuts again, Shi's music playing through the speakers for the last fifteen or so minutes until she pulls into the driveway at the home she grew up in.

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~M =)