5SOS Preferences/imagines

Caught Up In The Cute - Calum

VOTE AND COMMENT PLEASE ?

Calum is not stupid. Not by a long shot. In fact, he's probably one of the best problem solvers you know, and you're very proud to call him your best friend. But despite his uncanny (and under appreciated) intelligence, he's always struggled with reading and spelling. He can read and spell of course, but when you were in school together it had always been his weak spot, and since he dropped out of school for the band he isn't as good as other people his age and he's really insecure about it. Whenever there's a statement the band needs to read or anything that's longer than a few sentences, Calum passes it off to one of the other boys. His mates tease him about it from time to time, like when he makes spelling errors in his tweets or stumbles whenever he does read something, and he always laughs along with them. Truth is though, it really bothers him. But, having known him since you two were in diapers, you've come to realize the extent of his insecurity.

The thing is, you love English. Reading, writing, storytelling — it was your favorite thing in the whole world. You recite and read with such eloquence and grace that you're in multiple advanced writing and literature classes in college, and while you try to avoid the topic when you're with Calum, sometimes you just can't help it. You have a true passion for it, and you have to share it — especially with your best friend.

You were staying at the band's house for about a week while they're back recording for a while. They've been so busy with their skyrocketing careers you haven't really had time to hang with Calum, so you decided to take a week from college to make the most of this opportunity. You had gone to the beach with the boys today, and now you and Calum were in his room, just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. Calum was scrolling through his phone while you had your nose stuck in a book. You were so lost in the world encased within those pages that you didn't hear Calum address you.

"Huh?" you ask vaguely, continuing to hungrily absorb the words.

"I said, what are you reading?"

You tear your eyes from the page and look at Calum, who's laying on the bed next to you. You dog ear your page and close the book, handing it to him.

"Jane Ear," he scrutinizes the front page.

"It's pronounced Eyre. It's wonderful," you gush, "it might actually be my favorite book."

Calum snorts, "you say that about everything you read."

"I'm serious this time!" you insist, snatching the book from him and leafing to the page you left on, "just listen to this:

'It is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself, than to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you.' "

You glance over and beam at him, "isn't it just beautiful? Charlotte Brontë writes so poetically, but the practical implications she puts into every word just-"

"Sounds great," Calum cuts you off and rolls away from you, reaching for his guitar.

You frown, "you don't have to be so rude. You asked, anyways."

"Well, sorry not all of us are sophisticated readers and writers like you, y/n" he retorts bitterly, forgetting about his guitar and looking at you enviously, "I mean, I don't have any idea what the quote you read meant. And I hate it! I can barely even read simple things without stuttering, and my spelling's shit. You, on the other hand, read these classics and absorb every word, and when you read things out loud you do it like they're your own words." He sits on the edge of the bed, his back to you, "I feel so stupid when you talk about these things."

You blink, realizing you forgot how sensitive this subject was to him.

"Alright, let's get one thing straight. You are not stupid. Just because you're not a flawless reader doesn't compromise that. It just takes practice. And the last time I checked," you peek over his shoulder with a grin, "you were a little preoccupied being in a world famous band."