difficult | calum hood

04

The car ride to the local supermarket is awkward, we stay silent most of the ride, until Calum finally starts speaking, tapping his fingers off the steering wheel. "So... You've changed since I last saw you." He says, turning round the last corner and driving into the car park. 

"Yeah?" I question, opening the door and hopping out into the absolutely blazing heat. "How?"

"You just, you don't seem like Ashton's little sister anymore. You've grown up." He says, climbing out of the car and locking it behind him, standing beside me and sliding on some sunglasses. 

"I'll take that as a good thing." I smirk, grabbing a shopping cart and pushing it in front of me. "So, Calum, why did you let Ashton force you to come with me?" I ask as we walk into the store and are immediately hit with the air con. 

"He didn't force me." Calum answers simply, turning around and glancing out of the big glass windows just as it starts to rain. 

I decide not to question his answer and grab some fresh fruit from the fruit and vegetables aisle, ignoring Calum as he follows me like a lost puppy. 

"Fruit for a party?" He asks, and I turn to face him to find his nose scrunched up in confusion and fake disgust. It's freaking adorable. 

Rolling my eyes, I turn back to the trolley and sigh. "It's for my breakfast tomorrow." 

"Oh my gosh, Zoe!" 

I spin around quickly as my name is mentioned. I immediately frown, as my eyes land on one of the fake girls who I used to go to school with rushing down the aisle towards me, and Calum. 

"I haven't seen you in forever!" She cheers, pulling me in for what is quite possibly the worlds most awkward hug. If I'm being completely honest, I don't remember her name. It's something like Courtney or Brittany. I'm quick to pull myself out of her hug, tightening my grip on the shopping cart's handle. "I heard you're having a party tonight, but I didn't hear a certain band would be there." She winks at Calum and I'm filled with so much jealousy it drives me slightly crazy. 

"Whatever." I snap, looking up and down the girl with disgust on my face. "If you're only gonna be nice to me for my brother's band, I'd advise you not to even bother showing up. Not that they'd like you anyway, I mean, have you seen your eyebrows?" I don't know what comes over me, and clearly, neither does Courtney/Brittany, as a small gasp escapes her mouth and I smirk, spinning on my heel and grabbing Calum's elbow, practically dragging him down the aisle and away from her. 

"Zoe," he mumbles, his eyes briefly landing on my hand which his firmly clutched around his elbow. His eyes only flicker there for a moment, too brief for anyone else to notice, but I see it. And I also see a small smile swim across his face, before being replaced my confusion. 

"What?" I snap at him, not meaning to be as rude as it comes out. "I mean, yeah?" I correct myself, coming to a stop outside the alcohol aisle and watching him do the same thing, glancing around before slipping off his sunglasses and looking at me with those big brown eyes. 

"I hope we can get along." He whispers, his eyes meeting mine. 

I had almost been starting to forgive him, but him mentioning this makes me remember what he did, and how much he hurt my best friend. What kind of best friend would I be if started to become friends with the guy that broke her heart? 

So, I just shrug and turn away, it breaking my own heart to do so. 

"Cmon, we need to get some drinks." I mumble, pushing the trolley down the aisle and sighing, picking up boxes of beers.