S E E K I N G
She keeps me hanging on
• • •
"Woah, woah. Wait a second." Audra turns down the Radiohead album currently playing; because did she hear Roy correctly? "You're telling me that you think the old Disney is better than the old Nickelodeon?"
The remaining minutes of their drive to her apartment were spent on this argument. A very important one apparently for Audra to turn down Radiohead, in Calum's opinion.
"Absolutely." The blonde answers.
"You're crazy." Audra nods, before glancing at the tan boy beside her. "Please tell me you don't feel the same?"
He purses his lips thinking about it. "I mean Disney did have better shows than Nick back then."
"Wow, it's like.... I don't even know who you are." She jokes.
"You don't seriously think Nick was better though, babe?" Calum snorts.
"I most certainly do. Thought it was obvious Nick was top tier in the ninety's and two thousands." She scoffs.
"That's so Raven, Jonas, Camp Rock, Boy Meets World, Hannah Montana." Roy starts listing off shows as to prove her wrong.
"Can't forget Lizzie McGuire." Calum interjects.
"That and much more. Really though, what did Nick have besides SpongeBob? Because that's the only show that carried the network."
"Oh you chose the right day Roy. I feel like arguing." She starts, making Calum chuckle. "Ok, so Rugrats, Hey Arnold, Wild Thornberry's, Danny Phantom, Kenan and Kel, The Amanda Show, should I go on?"
"Please do. I'm waiting for something iconic." Roy teases, just to get her riled up.
"I'm gonna kill him." She states plainly, turning back around.
"Don't think it's wise for you to say that out loud." Calum jokes. "But we've gotta give her Danny Phantom and the Amanda Show at least mate?" He looks in the rearview mirror at his friend.
"I'll give you those two... only." He relents.
"And I'll give you guys Boy Meets World only. Legit the only reason I watched Disney." Audra responds stubbornly though there were others shows she'd watch.
The next few moments include the pair talking about top tier Cartoon Network shows, while Calum sings along with Thom Yorke's voice faintly playing. Soon enough, he pulls into her driveway, just as her and Roy were agreeing on Courage the Cowardly Dog not being remotely scary.
"Hate to interrupt such a meaningful conversation, but we're here." Calum cuts the engine.
"This meaningful conversation is to be continued." Audra says, grabbing her purse, and the cake she brought.
"For sure." Roy says managing to hug her, before sliding in the front seat. "Enjoy your night Audr'."
"You too, Roy." She heads up the driveway, with Calum not too far behind. She manages to push her door open; the cold air instantly hitting both of them.
"Feels like Antarctica in there." The tan boy comments with a light laugh.
"Mona must have left the central air on by mistake." She rests her stuff down, reaching for the lights, before rushing over to her thermostat. "There, should feel less like polar bear central soon." She sees him still in the doorway. "You could come in if you want you know."
"Didn't wanna turn into a block of ice." He jests, stepping in. The real reason being he'd get caught up in her company and forget Roy was waiting on him. In fact letting Roy carpool with him was strategic. Baby steps, he remembers her words. He was doing his best to honor that. She was worth it.
"Sure." She laughs, heading his way. He waits anxiously as she inches closer to him. Her arms loop around his shoulders. "Thanks for the ride home."
"Of course." He croaks out wondering why now of all times he was suddenly all timid.
"Text me when you guys get home?"
"Yeah..."
"K." And hell he almost feels like a crushing schoolboy again when she smiles at him. Instead he didn't have a silly crush, he loved her. So much. His mind only gets cloudier as he takes in her aromatic scent of peaches and some new perfume he thought went well with her body's chemistry. It's only moments before her lips are pressed onto his. If anyone had asked him for his name in that moment, it would take him a solid few minutes to remember. His hands wedge onto her waist; rings burning into the exposed skin. Keeping her in place— his best attempt to ensure the moment never ends. But it does as her arms loosen from around his frame.
He clears his throat, wondering why he was so hellbent on making things awkward; especially now of all times. But the thought was weaving through his head all day. "Not to ruin the mood or anything love....I was supposed to tell you this earlier but I wanted to wait until we were in a less public space." He starts, and she looks on curiously. "But uhm, I don't want to get the test anymore...the DNA test. If you say it's mines, then I trust you and your word."
She studies him for a moment, he was being truthful. "Thanks babe. And he could literally here the but coming before it rolls off of her tongue. "But, I think you may still have to. "She sees the question mark on his face. "Ok, so I didn't wanna tell you this until Lisa got back to me, but....she called me earlier today and said your management reached out."
"My management?"
"Yeah. They were talking about how and when we'd let the public know, just so that info doesn't overshadow what you and the boys are doing. And I guess the topic of verifying that the child is yours came up. Just to be sure."
"That's the least of their concern though." The disappointment is clear in his voice. He knew it wasn't farfetched for them to want more information than they needed, but still: it was irritating to know they were probing for that kind of intel.
"I mean, yeah. But apparently, they feel it'll be a safety net in case the media comes for one of us. If someone questions how truthful I'm being, then the proof is there, I guess. Our teams were going back and forth about it. So, I told her to shut everyone up, we'll just do the freaking DNA test."
He runs a hand over his head. "It shouldn't be like this. They of all people don't have the right to invade your privacy."
"Cal, it's fine." She reassures him. "Like I said, you can do the test at my next appointment. We'll just get it out the way, give everyone the proof they need, and hopefully that'll settle things for now." She sees him going to protest again. "Okay?"
He sighs. "Alright."
"Good." She presses one more kiss to his jaw. "I love you."
"I love you too." He squeezes her hip before heading out.
"Drive safe and try not to hit any squirrels."
"Will do" He laughs, heading towards the car, looking over his shoulder with a smirk when he remembers something. "Oh, and don't think about eating that cake tonight either."
"Ugh, I was hoping you forgot." She groans.
A/N
A filler just for you guys🙃. Thanks for reading !!
