difficult | calum hood

11

"So, how's your love life Cal?" 

Ashton sits down beside me and I jump slightly, turning to face him. I stutter something about not knowing and behind to turn away. 

"C'mon, tell me!" Ash pesters, and out of the corner of my eye I see Luke and Michael talking to Zoe. "Who's on your mind?" 

Your sister. 

"Oh no one." I lie, flustered. I shuffle in my seat and fold, then unfold, my arms. 

"You sure?" Ashton teases, poking me in the ribs and nudging me. I jump at his touch and lean away, looking around the room awkwardly. He suddenly slumps against me and sighs. "Calum..." He whines, wrapping his arms around my torso and giggling. "Cal, tell me..." 

I awkwardly place my hands on his arms and look at his curly head of hair. "Ash, I'm just thinking about it, okay? But trust me, once I've figured it out, you'll be first to know." 

It was the truth, I had been thinking about Zoe and I, if there were to ever be a Zoe and I. If we were to start dating, I would definitely ask Ashton first. 

Or, at least, I'd try to.

"You promise?" Ash holds out one of his pinkies and I smirk, locking mine with his. 

"I promise." 

My fingers were crossed behind my back. 

There's only so many things you can promise, you know? How do I know for sure that I won't let it slip to someone else? Plus, I've already told Luke and he's probably telling Michael or already told him. 

Ashton presses our thumbs together and wriggles his arms away from around me, leaning back and grinning idiotically. 

"I'm glad, Calum, glad you appear to be getting over Hollie. I was worried that when we came back here you'd end up liking her again." He continues, looking up slightly to see Zoe in the other room on her phone. 

Shaking my head, I try to explain. "No, no. I could never feel that way for her again. She's actually crazy. She's really controlling and self-obsessed. As far as she's aware, she's what the earth revolves around. In her mind, she's the freaking Queen." 

Ashton nods. "Yeah, I've always thought that. She's not a good friend, especially to Zoe. I always catch little things Hollie's been saying or doing, and it drives me insane because I know Zoe deserves better." 

I could treat her better. 

"Zoe's really nice, she deserves good friends." I comment, my voice slightly distant. 

"You're right." Ash says and we both turn to look at Zoe again, who is just putting her phone in her pocket and being thrown over Luke's shoulder. "You guys treat her like proper friends would." 

I could treat her like so much more. 

"Yeah, I'm sorry I ever fell out with her." I say truthfully. Ashton nods and turns back to face me, grinning widely. 

"It was Hollie's fault anyway," He chuckles,  rolling his eyes and grabbing the TV remote. 

That evening, me and Luke are frying burgers on the Irwins' barbecue, everyone else in the pool behind us. I can hear Zoe and Ashton playing something with Lauren and Harry, and Mikey talking to my sister, Mali-Koa, who decided to come visit us for the night. 

I like having her around. 

Me and Mali have a very different relationship than Zoe and Ashton, who tease each other and steal each other's stuff, they argue but over the stupidest of things. 

Me and Mali get on really well, and yes, we tease each other but not in the same way as Ash and Zoe. We don't really argue, and when we do, it never lasts long. Me and Mali act more like friends do than your stereotypical siblings who argue 24/7. 

"Cal! Help!" Someone shrieks from behind me, someone in the pool. I turn around and see Ashton holding Zoe above his head, Lauren and Harry laughing at them and pushing each other around. "Calum, get me down!" Zoe shouts, bursting into laughter and wriggling in Ash's arms. 

Smirking, I pull off my t-shirt and jump into the pool, pushing myself towards Ashton. I collide with his legs and he topples to one side, dropping Zoe in the process. 

She cheers and jumps onto my front, hugging me tightly. I nervously hug back, seeing Mali wink at me from across the pool. 

Soaking wet, I return to barbecuing our food with Luke. He keeps nudging me,  winking at me, then mouthing Zoe's name. At first it was funny and I couldn't stop blushing, but after time it only made me realise how much I actually like her.