Pieces || c.t.h.

Nine || This House Is On Fire, (I'm Outta Here)

A/N: This chapter was very hard for me to write. I'd recommend listening to 'Broken Home' by 5SOS but I cannot guarantee dry eyes. 

As promised, this chapter is dedicated to @vyenanorin. Love you, girl! 

---

Previously on Pieces

"Don't," he leaned down and dropped a chaste kiss on the area above my heart. "You're beautiful, Brooklyn. Never let anyone make you believe otherwise."

Right then and there, I think I just fell in love with Calum Thomas Hood.

---

Nine || This House Is On Fire, (I'm Outta Here)

I don't know exactly what woke me up the next morning. It could've been the constant ringing of my phone from somewhere in the room. Or the bite of the early morning chill on my naked legs. Hold up. Naked? My eyes flew open. Only then was I aware of the arm slung around my middle and the soft snoring tickling the hair on the back of my neck.

Sh!t. I must have been more drunk than I originally thought. And here I thought it was all a dream. Not a chance. Everything that happened last night came rushing back to me, from the moment I set foot in Royals up to Calum falling asleep on me.

I didn't mean to spend the night. The plan was to slip out after Calum had crashed, drive home and pretend for Brett's and Dad's sake that I'd come from the party all along. What I didn't expect was for Calum to gather me close and keep me tucked beside him. Eventually, I'd fallen asleep as well.

If I were being honest, I missed waking up like this. To someone holding you tight as if he was afraid you'll never come back should he ever let you go. But this wasn't real. I had no business pretending this was anything more than a one off.

As gently as I could, I started lifted his arm from around me. For a moment, I felt his grip tighten before finally relaxing again. I slipped out and slid a pillow in the space I left, watching as he cuddled it closer to his body. Wishing it was still me. I remembered the last thing on my mind before Calum completely blew me away. In love. What a joke. This is no Disney movie. Calum was no prince. And more importantly, Calum wasn't mine.

I shook the errant thoughts from my head. No use daydreaming about something ridiculous. He had to hop back on a bus or a plane to the next tour, and I had to go back to my mundane life here in London.

I went around the room locating my bra and dress and slipped both on. My panties were nowhere in sight. I had an inkling feeling Calum stashed them somewhere but I didn't want to waste time looking for them. I had to leave before he woke up. I don't know if I could take the awkwardness I was sure to come if he caught me sneaking out. I'd let him keep the undies as a memento of a reckless night in London. Maybe he'd keep them, maybe he'd burn them. Who knows?

My phone started ringing again. I looked around before I finally spotted it lying near the door. I must've dropped it there when Calum carried me in. Once last fleeting glance, then I left.

The rest of the hotel suite was quiet when I backed out of Calum's room. There were two beds in there so he must have been sharing with one of the boys. I feel bad for whoever was kicked out of his own room. Then again, I wasn't even sure if any of the three guys made it back sometime last night. I snatched my car keys from the catch-all bowl near the main door. Taking advantage of the absence of witnesses to my walk of shame, I headed for the lifts. Thank God for underground parking. I didn't have to go through the hotel's lobby to be subjected to the scrutiny of hotel staff and early risers. I stuck to my path – lift, basement, car, and finally, home.