playboy diaries : c.h

24: competition

calum hood.

"Guys, I swear if you don't drag your asses here on stage I will quit." Luke dashed as he ran a hand through his tussled hair.

It has been two months since we started practicing again for the dance competition. Everything went back to normal and all of us acted like we were not best friends.

"Can we just take a brea-"

"Take a break? Calum, all of you have been sitting and sprawling at the damn floor doing nothing!" Luke snapped at me.

"Okay! Take the floor, Luke. Since you are the dance instructor and leader of this group?"

All heads turned to me, even my girlfriend.

"You know what, I'm tired and groggy so fuck you all." I stood up and walked out of the room immediately, feeling the air crisp a little in my lungs.

As I stepped out of the door, someone was already beside me.

It was Clarice.

"Rough day, aren't we?"

I just shrugged.

"Calum, I know you're tired ever since last week but try to understand Luke because he-" I cutted her off.

"Understand?" I scoffed. "Try to understand that douchebag? For heavens sake he didn't do anything but banter about how much he needed this!"

Her mouth was left hung open as those words escaped those lips.

"I'm sor-"

"I'm so fucking done with you."

Clarice once opened the door and made her way back in, slamming it a little.

I slumped myself at the hallway floor, ruffling my hair and gripping it. I want to scream. I don't know what has gotten into me ever since this morning and I'm so afraid of snapping people.

And I did, to my girlfriend.

I entered the room once more and all eyes were on me.

"Can we just practice again?" I blurted out. All of them stood up and went back to their positions. Luke started to teach us again and I'm back at dozing off for myself.

This whole practice thing will be the death of me.

*

Practice was done and Clarice started walking her way home. I tried talking to her but she always ignores me and either talks to Luke, Michael or Ashton.

"I'm so fucking done with you."

Her words rang through my head and I decided to brush if off.

"She's just mad, we'll be okay soon." I assured myself.

Three weeks after..

It was the competition day.

Everyone of us were nervous as all of the groups went back to the stage for the announcement of winners. I still remembered when we went up to this stage, we were all dressed up neatly and nervous as well.

I bowed my head down and prayed to myself. Hoping that we would win this for the second time.

"And the winner for the 2016 Dance Battle is none other than.. the Australia International High School Dance Company!"

The crowd went crazy as my groupmates hugged me and ran down to the center, getting the biggest award among the rest.

I touched the gold metal than gave a shiver down my skin.

"Speech!" Ashton shouted and giggled. My mates were cheering for me. Clarice was just there, smiling at everyone.

Except me.

I grabbed the microphone and took the opportunity to speak.

"Uhh, hello! I'm Calum Hood and I'm the leader of the AIHSDC. Today I realized one thing. Teamwork. It is one of the best strategies one team should possess. Today, I witnessed how important this dance company is to me. I would like to thank Luke Hemmings who stood up for this team and bro, I'm sorry for snapping at you at those times that we have to practice."

"And I would like to get this opportunity to say thank you, to one of my biggest inspirations in this field. My girlfriend, my everything and my one and only.." I walked my way to Clarice, who is stunned by what I did.

She stood there, looking into my eyes with her sweet smile.

"I love you. And only you, baby. I'm sorry for what I did three weeks ago. I miss you, and I love you so so much."

I grabbed her face and kisses her in front of the crowd, cheering for us with awe and happy faces.

The emcee once talked again and closed the program with an upbeat song. All of us danced one more time before we all decided to go home and celebrate.

*

calum hood: hi babe :)

clarice anderson: hey :') what's up?

calum hood: i miss you :(

clarice anderson: i miss you too x

calum hood: is there something wrong?

clarice anderson: i'm a bit sick right now, and i'm just sneaking my phone because mom doesn't want me to use it :(

calum hood: want me to come over?

clarice anderson: yes please?

calum hood: i'll be there in a few, hang on okay? x

clarice anderson: okay :(

calum hood: i love you so much

clarice anderson: i love you

calum hood: don't be sad now, okay? turn off your phone and i'll be there

✔ seen by clarice anderson.

It has been exactly a month ever since the competition has been done. Me and Clarice are back to normal, ever since that fight we had she had just been ignoring me but the speech made her mind up.

A smile crept into my face as I near the Anderson's property. I'm gonna see her again after a week.

I pressed the door bell and immediately her Nana opened it for me.

"Thank goodness, you came." She sighed.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Well, nothing. Clarice has just been moody to everyone including me. I think she really needs you this time."

A sad expression was on her face as we entered the house. I brought her medicines, food and all of her favorite band cd's. Just then, her mom approached me.

"Hi Calum." A sad smile was all she gave me and enveloped me in a hug.

"Hello, Anne. What's the matter?"

"Clarice has been moody, and I don't understand why. When she's sick she's much more concerned of everyone else. But now, ever since she turned eighteen I think she's keeping everything from us." Tears were now forming into her eyes and all I did was hug her.

It doesn't make me happy when a mother cries over her daughter or son. It makes me weak.

I jogged through their staircase and immediately found Clarice's room.

It was a surprise for me because her door room was open. Who could be in there? I looked down first and saw her Nana and mother talking. Maybe it's his father.

I knocked on her door and I saw her.

Lips locking to someone who I am close to.

Luke.

----

okay, i know i'm such a bad person for doing that.

i'm baaaack! x