the lover || c.h + a.i au

t w e l v e

a/n: I'm sorry it took me so long to update, i had some stuff going on but i hope this chapter makes it up babes, also ill make some shameless promotion, go check my new story "truly" the first chapter is up and it's a Mikey's story.
Now enjoy the chapter xx

That night Lana avoided Calum as much as she could, not even taking a second glance when she had to go to their table. Keeping the composure professionally, it was just as if they never shared the most intimate moments.
Calum in the other hand zoned out frequently and stole a few glances of the girl every now and then, his girlfriend didn't let that go unnoticed but decided to brush it off. The boy never had so miscellaneous feelings and thoughts until now.

Everything was just so wrong, and the moment they all stood facing each other it all became real, it was a brutal fall, crushing into a hole surrounded by reality, leaving behind the lies and façades.
The whole situation was messed up and Lana's mind was hit by a thousand of ideas and stressing thoughts, all at once. It took just a snap of fingers in front of her face to understand the situation she was in.
Seeing that she was the girl hidden in the shadows while Calum just walked freely through the streets with Hazel, hand in hand, as an official couple that everyone knows.

Calum paced around his girlfriend's room, tugging at his own hair every five seconds. His heart pumping in his throat, stuck there.
He looked at a framed picture hanging in the wall in front of him; him and the brunette, hugging, celebrating their one year anniversary. The boy didn't know if he was feeling bad for Hazel, for cheating on her and committing one of the worst betrayals you can do to a girl.
Just maybe he was being totally selfish and despising the trouble he got in because it was also that in his mind, a huge trouble he dragged himself in but still made no effort to escape even when the answer was explicit.
He was glad Hazel didn't act suspicious and didn't cause an scene in a packed place like the restaurant, what would you explain to the relatives there?
Lana would have been trashed and spit on the face, probably called slūt, while Hazel would be the martyr and Calum the manwhore, but was there just one victim? just one of them got affected and was used?

The boy plopped down on the bed with a sigh, he tuck an arm under the pillow and tried to sleep. A figure cuddled his torso, under the covers. Hazel left a light kiss on his jaw and hummed. Her thumb caressing his cheek.
Calum kept his eyes closed with an arm wrapped around her waist.

"I know I may be really preppy and I can come off pretentious but I'm not a bad person, y-you know that, right?" Her voice soft and insecure. This took Calum by surprise and it made him stare fixedly at her. "I just, I feel like I'm..." she bit her lip and Calum tighten his grip. "I just feel you distant and I don't wanna think it's because I'm starting to annoy you. I really, really love you Calum." Hazel looked up at Calum, she was indeed nervous. She wouldn't just admit an insecurity, mainly because it didn't fit her persona.
Calum's throat went dry, her conscience attacking and eating him alive again.

"Don't...don't say that, love. You could never annoy me." He took a strand of hair and twirled it around his fingers. "I know I've been a little distant and hanging out with my friends a little more..." it was impressive how the lies rolled off his mouth so easily. "...I needed some space and I should've told you, I'm sorry." He kissed her lighty. Conscious that he avoided the i love you.

In the other hand Lana was alone in her flat, watery eyes and her dog, Indie in her lap. (a/n: yea, she has a dog that was mentioned at the beginning hehe)
She is convinced that it's love what she feels towards Calum, but now she's also convince that nothing lasts forever. She repeated again and again that she hated Hazel, she had everything she didn't. Therefore Calum was dating her instead of Lana, what else could it be?
The girl rubbed her face trying to vanish the tears threatening to escape. She shouldn't be crying over some boy that couldn't make up his mind.

"I'm such a mess, jesus." She murmured to Indie and pressed her to her chest, the dog licking her face. The grief was interrupted by the ring. Lana narrowed his eyes in confusion, she looked at Indie like looking for response but the dog just jumped off her and ran to god knows where, her nails clicking the wood.
As Lana approached the door she remembered Ashton, shīt. She checked her outfit, black joggers and a ripped old tshirt. There was no excuse like i'm getting ready, give me five minutes.
She opened the door and saw Ashton standing with a little black box with a bow and a small but boyish grin on his face but it soon fade away when he saw Lana's state.

"I'm sorry." Lana hurried to say and grabbed Ashton making him enter the place. "I was just..." The curly haired boy just waited. "It slipped my mind last minute." She sighed. "I mess up everything, oh my god." She mumbled.

Ashton placed the box on the coffee table. "Hey, hey. It's fine, really. I expected you to be, uh, a bit distracted." He smiled reassuringly. Lana stared at him and after a few seconds, hugged him tightly. Ashton wrapped one arm around her frame and the free hand was placed on her hair.
He sighed, would she ever notice? or the blindfold in her eyes was extremely thick.

"Lana, please." He tried to lift her chin. She looked so down and tired, mentally. "Don't beat yourself up."

"Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready to go out." She stepped back ignoring what he said. Ashton grabbed her hand, the touch being magnetic. Lana bit the inside of her cheek.

"Don't ignore me." He said firmly but in a sweet tone. Which was only possible for Ashton. "We don't have to go if you feel forced or if you still feel bad. Love, I know what you're going through, okay?" The girl in front of him nodded and blinked.

"You must think I'm an awful person, a bitc-"

"Shut up. I don't think of you any different. We all make mistakes in different ways." Their hands still entwined and the boy with hazel eyes didn't want to let go. "The situation will be fixed eventually."

"Thank you." She smiled gratefully. "Now please I'll go and change because I won't leave you hanging in this movie and food invitation." Ashton grinned.

"Sure?" Lana rolled her eyes. "Yes, idiot ." She let go of his hand to go to her room and made herself look not so zombie-like.

"You didn't open this." Ashton took the box in his hands. Lana grinned like a little girl and took the gift.

"I'm gonna be really cliché and say you didn't have to." She giggled and so did Ashton. Lana opened the box and gasped when she saw the content.
Ashton had a huge smile on his face, he knew she'd like it, but still was scared.

It was a little book full of van gogh's paintings and the front read this is for my favorite little one and now you'll see a starry night whenever you want xx lots of love, ash.

Lana's heart melted. She placed the gift carefully on the table and jumped to engulf Ashton in a tight hug.

"I love it." She separated from him a little. "I'm...thank you so much, Ash."

"Thought you wanted something to cheer you up." He said smiling and what occurred next, took both off guard. Lana's lips were placed over Ashton's maybe it lasted a few seconds but it made the boy go crazy.
It was so unexpected and it was her who kissed him, what made it better.

"Oh god, I didn't want to, I'm sorry, shīt." Lana started rambling while the grin on Ashton's face and amusement was clear. "I was just happy and it-"

"No, no. don't worry, it's fine, it doesn't-" They were still hugging and Ashton couldn't stop looking at Lana.
"we're fine." He whispered.
Ashton didn't know if it was right or not, he didn't care if it was just putting his hopes up.

"Fūck it." And this time was Ashton who kissed Lana.

Her emotions were all over the place, she was upset but she felt above all like she didn't have any pride left.