Twenty Eight Lattes 》Calum Hood AU

chills

Calum hadn't come into the shop for a week.

I was beginning to think I scared him off, which made me partially happy.

Because he was getting close to being my favourite customer. And he's not something I wanted to add to my list.

I thought I was safe from his questions and his good looks. But I was wrong because just when I thought he was gone, he walked into the shop with three other guys. Very attractive ones I might add.

Fantastic. This is exactly the opposite of what I was hoping for.

I rid myself of any physical emotion and put on a polite smile. The three boys grabbed a table while Calum strolled up to the counter with his hands in his pockets.

"Hey." He greeted with a small smile.

"Hi." I said nervously.

We stood there for a moment just looking at one another. Trying to figure out what was happening.

We snapped out of it when one of his friends shouted at him. "Get me a cookie would ya Cal, thanks!" The green headed one grinned and went back to talking to the two other boys.

Calum turned back to me and smiled again.

"Can I get two vanilla lattes, a chocolate latte, a mint latte and a chocolate chip cookie please?"

"Yeah, sure." I said and told him the total. I made the drinks and put them on a tray, along with the cookie.

As a new customer service thing, I was required to bring the drinks to a group if it was an inside order.

Nerves built up inside me as I took the tray and placed it on the table with the boys.

"Enjoy your drinks guys." I said and went back behind the counter.

An hour had passed when the boys stood up and threw their empty cups out. The green haired boy walked up to the counter and smiled at me.

"Lyra, right?" He asks and I nod, surprised.

"I'm Michael." He introduced himself. He was very cute but he couldn't top Calum. "Nice to meet you. Did you enjoy your latte?" I ask politely, my conversation skills at an all time low.

Michael chuckled. "I did. So did Calum. He comes here a lot. He talks about you. I can see why, you're insanely pretty and you make a kickass latte." My eyes widen.

"He...talks about me?" The green haired boy nodded with a smirk.

"Well, see you around Lyra." He smiled and rejoined the other boys. I caught Calum's eye as he was leaving and he waved. I waved back.

When they were out of sight, I let out a breath I had no idea I was holding. Then I felt a shiver go down my spine. I didn't know where it came from as the shop was very warm and I was wearing a cardigan.

I couldn't shake the thought of Calum telling his friends about me. The way Michael talked about Calum made me feel like he knew something I didn't. So for the last couple hours of my shift, I made lattes and absent-mindedly thought about none other than Calum.

I wasn't trying to make friends while I was trying to die.

But Calum was there and I knew somewhere in the back of my mind, I considered him a friend of sorts. I didnt want to but I couldn't get rid of him.

He was there when I closed the shop, sitting on the patio in the cold.

This spring wasn't exactly the warmest and I could see him shivering, his cheeks pink.

"How long have you been out here?" I wondered aloud. He gave me an embarrassed smile. "Two hours. I was waiting for your shift to end. I wanted to talk to you."

"You must be freezing. Here." I gasped, and without thinking I quickly hugged him. I was trying to transfer my body heat to his.

I felt his body stiffen and I realized what I was doing. One, I was hugging a boy I barely knew and two, I was caring.

I went to pull away and apologize but then Calum suddenly wrapped his arms around me.

"You're really warm." He said and sighed contently. I chuckled silently and his gripped tightened. Don't tell anyone but I secretly liked it. I felt safe, even though I was in zero danger.

"You're shivering Calum." I pointed out as we stood outside my uncle's coffee shop hugging like a couple in one of those romance movies.

"These chills aren't from the cold."