Bitter As Tequila

Scene 7

I always expected Calum to live in one of these big mansions which just scream money. But now that I'm walking up to his front door I have to rethink since the house isn't big at all.

It is 10 to 8 as I knock. So I'm a little early, but I hope he won't mind.

A Lady, probably Calum's mum, opens up for me. "Hey, Love! You must be Allison." She greets me with a big smile. I am a little startled by her friendliness as she just pulls me inside, while continuing to talk. "I'm sorry Cally isn't here yet. He's still at work, but it will only take him 10 mins or something to be here. But Mali-Koa and I'll keep you company till then."

"Cally?" Is all I bring out while I must look really confused. So she starts explaining a little more. "Mali-Koa is Calum's sister and if you couldn't have guessed it I'm his mum."

We reached the kitchen by then, where a girl, if you could still call her that since she looked about 20 or something like that, sits. She stops reading her book to give me a wave and I respond with a quiet "Hello.", not really sure what else to do.

"So you two go to school together?" I just nod at his mother.

"How come you are doing this project together?"

"We are in the same Geography class and Mrs. Spence decided it would be a great idea to put us in a group and give us astrology as a topic." I didn't know what to say anymore so I just shrugged.

"What a great coincidence, isn't it?" Before I even attempted to answer she continues questioning me. "Do you have plans for college yet? Are you working part time like Cally does? Do you have any siblings?"

"Mum!" Mali-Koa interruptes her mother. "Leave the poor girl alone. You don't even give her time to answer your questions."

Mrs. Hood looks a little bit embarrassed but still has her big smile on. "I'm sorry, but Calum has never brought a girl home before and a mother has to take the chances she can get, hasn't she?" Mali-Koa just laughs at that and turns back to her book, while I'm in shock. Calum never brought a girl home before? Why wouldn't he do that? There must have been hundreds of girls dying to come here and meet his mother.

The door banging rips me out of my thoughts. It's obviously Calum coming home. "Hey, mum! Sorry for being late, but I've gotta hurry to shower now since Allison should be here any -." At that moment he walks into the kitchen he stops dead in his tracks as he notices all of us. "Oh, you're already here."

I wave awkwardly at him while his mother starts rambling again. "Oh Cally, why didn't you bring her home earlier? She is such a nice girl, I'm so happy for you." "Muuuum, stop it." Calum whines into his mother's hair since she walked over to give him a hug. As his mother lets go he mouths a silent "Sorry for her." to me which I only can smile at. I actually find it quiet amusing how she calls him Cally while he is probably 2 feet taller than her. I definitely should start calling him that as well.

Calum gives me a quick tour through the house. It's really nice and comfy. Especially in the living room. I stop there to look at all the photos on the wall and the shelves. Most of them show Calum and his sister some with their mum, some with what I guess will be their grandparents and some with friends. It seems they once had a dog. But there is someone missing on all the pictures.

At the end he leads me out into the backyard and hands me over the telescope and a blanket. "Can you set it up while I'm gonna take a quick shower? I just feel a little gross after working the whole day. If that's alright."

"Sure." I take the stuff out of his hands and he is gone shortly after, leaving me all by myself.

I just sat down when Calum already comes back. In sweatpants, a simple T-Shirt and still damp hair. "Swear you won't take a photo of me or my reputation is ruined." He attempted to sound frightening but there was a small smile and I just could chuckle. "No guarantees."

He plops down right next to me on the blanket. Taking a look at my notebook. "You already took notes for today?" I just nod. "So another hour of waiting? Or should I get my laptop and we start writing our assignment?"

"Okay, better start now and use the time." I smile up at him as he stands back up groaning. "I could've thought that before coming down here."

It just takes him 2 minutes while I look up at the stars enjoying the view a little.

I try not to look over his shoulder as he starts the laptop, but it's too tempting. As a background he has some football team I don't know and other than that he seems to mostly use it for school. He opens up a new file and so we start. I go through our notes while he writes everything down.

Time goes by quickly like this and we really get something done before Calum just puts his laptop down at some point and gets up. "Time for a little break, wait here. I'm gonna be right back."

I'm a little confused but shrug it off as I put my notebook down. When he comes back he's got a pack of crisps and a bottle of coke with him. "I thought we could use some energy boosters."

He hands the stuff over to me and I don't hesitate opening the package since dinner seems hours ago by now. "Thanks."

He doesn't pick up his laptop again, so it seems we are finished with that for today and in half an hour it's the last time to take notes from the telescope for today. I start a conversation while handing him the crisps. "Where are you working?"

"At a coffee shop in town." "At a coffee shop? I thought you'd work something more fancy." I take a sip of the coke. It's nice and cool. "Nah, I couldn't get anything else and I need the money for college."

"You need money for college? You have good grades and are football captain you must get a scholarship." I'm a little surprised by his words. "Yeah, I do everything I can to keep it like that or I wouldn't get into any collage." He seems a little bit embarrassed as is voice gets quieter at the end. "Why?" "Same reason as most people have, we don't swim in money." I can just nod at that. It's the same for my family but my parents still can afford sending me to a collage as long as it's not the most expensive one.

It's quiet for a while, before something pops up in my mind again. "Calum, can I ask you something." He looks at me surprised, stopping his hand full of chips halfway to his mouth. "Sure, what is it?" "I looked at the photos in your living room. There were a lot of family pictures but I never actually saw your father on one of them. Why?"

It's silent again and his mood seems to suddenly have dropped. "I don't have a dad." He sounds angry. I don't wanna dig to deep so I hold my hands up in surrender. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." Calum ruffles his hair with a sigh. "Don't worry, it's not your fault." A smile is sent my way and I relax a little.

I try to change the topic quickly after that to lighten the mood again. "So what have you been up to this week, Cally?" "Oh no no no no! Never call me that again!" I chuckle as I play dumb. "Why not? It's a cute name, isn't it Cally?" "No it's embarrassing and only my mum is allowed to call me that." I can't stop my laughter and even he has to smile. "Don't worry Cally I'll keep it between us." I give him a wink. "You'll better do, or I'm gonna call you Ally Monday morning in school." Now it's his turn to laugh at my shocked face. "No you won't! Say it Calum! You will NOT call me that in front of everyone."