Finding 4

Chapter 12

Callum

It's been three entire weeks since the mart incident with Marley. Three weeks and even though we haven't said a word to each other, I still can't get her out of my head.

She's seriously starting to become invasive. I need to stop it. I need to get that girl out of my head, because she's no good for me, and I'm definitely no good for her. We're like fire and petrol, the moment we touch a big fire happens, and it's a recipe for disaster.

Besides, I highly doubt she's thinking of me. Not when she has a boyfriend. The same boyfriend that I used to insult her with three weeks ago.

Normally I wouldn't mind getting under Marley's skin, but the moment she looked at me with those eyes that were all big and sad, I knew I messed up. I had hurt her, and possibly worse than she has, or ever would hurt me.

"And then she got all teary eyed and mad," Finley says with a strained voice as he sets the lifting bar back down on the rack. Apparently him and Keely are off again. "I don't know what to do anymore. I love her to death, I really do, but this on and off shit is driving me insane."

"I don't blame you," Niall chimes in from where he's eating a sandwich my Mam made for him. "I'm tired of hearing about it."

Finley goes to say something—probably offensive to Niall, but I cut him off before he can.

"Look, relationships are hard, you of all people should know that," I shrug, sitting down on the bench next to him. "And you and Keely have a good relationship. You're perfect for each other. You just have to stop letting these little things break you up. You have to fight for it."

Finley sighs and rubs his jaw "I know."

I clamp him on the shoulder and then stand up. As I walk over to the fridge to grab a water, Niall starts to talk again.

"We should go to Biddies tonight." He leans back on the open bench and lays down.

"You say that every night," Finley argues.

"And every night it's a great idea." Niall winks.

I roll my eyes at his comment, and twist around to face him. "Good idea huh?" I take a sip from the plastic water bottle, leaning my back against the fridge.

"No, not good." He shakes his head and narrows his eyes "Great."

I find myself laughing at his comment, pushing off of the fridge and moving to sit next to him. "Fine. I'll go tonight."

"Ugh," Finley groans, tossing his head back. "Fine I'll go too."

"Yes!" Niall exclaims at his victory, tossing his arms up.

I watch as the blond headed boy stands up and starts to dance around the garage, humming a sing-song tune as he does. I laugh at him again, rubbing my jaw and standing up.

"Well," I stretch out with a groan "better start getting ready."

<>

"Thanks Mary," Niall says to the older woman when she places a round of pints down in front of us.

She smiles at us and walks off. The bell to the lounge rings and we all seem to look over.

"Uh oh," Niall snickers.

"Shut up," I roll my eyes, looking back at my friends and scooting over to hide in the booth.

I've been trying to avoid Marley, for multiple reasons. One, I was such a dick to her that I don't think I could escape an encounter with all four limbs, two, I'm also trying to avoid an argument all together. But we all know the biggest reason, whether I'll admit it or not.

That girl is dangerous. She is way too pretty for her own good. Her blond hair that literally fucking shines when the light hits it, and how it's always so...perfect. Or the way her face always looks so calm, even though shes supposed to be angry all of the time. She is dangerous, because she's the only girl who's been able to get inside of my head and stay there, and her looks don't help at all.

"I'm gonna go talk to Keely," Finley nods to himself "yeah. I'm gonna take your advice Lynchy."

I nod "You do that, Finley."

The broad brunette stands up and Niall and I watch as he walks over to the three girls, more specifically to Keely. The moment they start talking, Tierny and Marley break away, and when Tierny spots us, she smiles and grabs onto Marley's hand before dragging her to the table.

"Hi guys," She smiles as she sinks down into the booth next to Niall, leaving the only open seat the one next to me.

I swear they are all in on this together.

"Hey T," Niall smiles, "you're looking well."

"Thanks," she beams "want to go get a drink?"

"What? No," Marley and I both are quick to protest the two of them leaving us...alone.

That's an even more dangerous game for me. She could seriously hurt me. Take off my gonads or something, I don't know.

"Yeah sounds great," Niall winks at us as he slides out of the booth with Tierny.

Marley sighs annoyed, leaning her elbows on the table and rubbing her face.

"Elbows on the table is bad manners," I mutter, picking up a peanut from the bowl and eating it.

"Shut up," she tosses back quickly.

I smirk and slightly snicker, reaching my drink next. Slightly twisting her head to look at me, she moves one of her fingers out of the way of her eye.

"Are you laughing?"

"No," I say leaning back in my seat and looking over at her. "'Course not."

She glares at me but doesn't say anything else. Instead she follows my move of leaning her back against the wooden rest in the booth bench.

Against my own will, my eyes travel over her. She does have one hell of a body, it doesn't take a genius—or a best friend—to see that. And then there's those legs of hers. Long, tan, perfect legs.

I take note of the bracelet stack on one of her wrists, and the watch on the other. They sit underneath a long sleeve shirt. They always sit underneath a long sleeve shirt. I don't think I've ever seen Marley's arms.

"You're staring." She states plainly.

"Well it's kind of hard to keep my eyes off," the words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them. When I see the way her eyes slightly widen, I decide that maybe I should take a new approach to this whole angry relationship we have going on. Swallowing down the intimidated fear that she puts inside of me so easily, I add one more thing for confidence. "Anderson."

She chuckles "I always knew you liked me, Lynch."

Fuck, she is not going to make this easy.

Somehow I manage to keep the confidence up as our eyes stay locked. A smirk grows on my face as I stare down at her, and her ridiculously enthralling brown eyes.

Her phone buzzes on the table and she looks down at it, letting out a deep breath through her nose before picking it up.

"I have to get this," she mumbles as she stands up and walks away, towards the door of Biddies.

A/N

This morning I was like half asleep when the stupid storm surge warning alarm thing started blaring and it was so loud I about jumped out of my britches 😭 anywho guess who's out of school for the rest of the week

🙂🙇‍♀️🤗🥰😝🎉