Maroon Socks

12: SICKNESSES AMONGST DATES

12

day 5

"Calvin!" someone furiously yells, shaking Calvin's sleeping form. "Calvin! Calvin, wake up!" Calvin mumbles a few words, stirring a little, before returning to his previous state of sleep. "Will you wake up?" A hard object hits his shoulder, repeatedly, making his eyes open instantly, to see Brooke throwing a book onto the bedside table. "Come on, get dressed. We're leaving."

Calvin does a double-take, instantly sitting up, putting on his glasses. Elijah is sleeping, loudly, beside him and Arthur on the other end. The boys decided to join all the beds in the room, much to Arthur's discomfort and reluctancy. "What?" Calvin asks, blinking a few times, to adjust to the eye-sight his glasses give him. Brooke's walking towards his suitcase at the corner of the room."I know we all aren't all that great, but why are we running away? Why are you taking me? I want to sleep. Don't take me."

Brooke rolls her eyes, throwing a black sleeved shirt at him. "Will you get dressed?"

"I want to shower, if you don't mind, before we execute this plan of yours," Calvin says, looking at the girl in his room in disbelief.

"Hurry up!"

"I smell of booze, woman. Chill," Calvin says, taking off his t-shirt and going into the bathroom. After a few minutes, he walks out to see Brooke impatiently tapping her foot against the ground. She glares at him, annoyed, before walking out the room. Calvin puts on his belt, grabs his phone and backpack, before heading out. Going to the living room, with an open kitchen attached, he sees Brooke pacing around.

"How long does it take for one to shower?" Brooke scolds, grabbing the end of his sleeve, to tug him towards the door. Calvin stops them, pulling her back to the beginning of the doorway. Simultaneously, Brooke and Calvin turn their heads to meet a familiar face.

Fiona takes a slow sip from her small cup of tea.

After a long curious silence passes, Fiona says, "Do I want to know what you —"

"No," Brooke and Calvin rush to say in unison. Immediately, Calvin presses his hands against Brooke's lower back, pushing her out of the door.

Once they're out of the door, they points at opposite ways, trying to figure where to go, before Calvin wraps an arm around Brooke's shoulder and they go off to Brooke's said direction.

Brooke's shakes are felt by Calvin, and he rolls his eyes, understanding the reasons. "It's going to be alright?" Calvin assures, rubbing her shoulder.

"Oh, yes, saying that will make all my nervousness disappear because that's what's supposed to happen! Of course, bravo, Calvin Hallman!" Brooke frustratingly spits out, hiding her face into his chest, trying to save herself from the embarrassment.

"Will you chill? Dating doesn't come with a manual!" Calvin says. Brooke pouts, fiddling with the straps of her bag, in hope to distract herself.

"What do I say to her?"

"How about 'hi'? It's a conversation starter. And then, you can go on with complimenting her on how she looks," advises Calvin.

"Are you freaking joking? You've seen her! Her face alone is a lot to handle! She's so fracking beautiful," Brooke mutters. "I know nothing about her."

"Then why don't you start with getting to know each other? Seriously, do you want me to be there with you? To whisper the sentences into your ear so you know how to respond?" asks Calvin in disbelief. Brooke looks up at him with pleading eyes, actually considering what he's saying. "Nope! No —"