colors.

just like she used to

He didn't know why he chose to sit in this exact booth. His eyes had been glued to the table since he'd sunk down into the seat he used to call his second home. It was at this table, at this exact cafe where his life had both began and ended. This booth held so much behind it that Calum had forced himself to try and forget to somehow ease the pain, but here he was- only a year had gone by and it was as if just sitting, breathing in that same lingering smell of coffee with a little bit of cinnamon, observing the same regulars he'd seen a million times before, had brought every memory he'd tried so hard to erase rushing back all at once.

The thoughts swarming in his head were brought to a halt when he heard someone clear their throat, "Are you going to sit there like a loner all day, or are you going to let me buy you a coffee?" Ella had shown up at twelve o'clock, right on the dot- just like she used to. Smiling fondly while he stood, Calum laughed, "I don't know, being a loner sounds pretty, fun you know."

Ella had ordered a croissant and a cup of hot cocoa, stepping to the side to let Calum tell the boy his order- just like she used to. After ordering his cup of coffee, Calum was fast to hand the cashier his money before Ella got the chance. "I invited you here, I should be the one to pay, Calum!" While Ella was busy whining, Calum grabbed the receipt and dragged her off to their booth. "I'm the gentleman, I should pay for you. My mother taught me manners." Knowing there was no point in fighting him on it, Ella sunk down into her seat and sighed. "We've got a good twenty minutes before the barista finishes up making our drinks, we might as well get to know each other a bit better so we can get started on the essay."

"Alright, so what's your favorite color?" Scoffing, Ella kicked Calum under the table, "Unfortunately, I haven't met my soulmate yet, meaning I haven't seen any colors- which you know fully well, Hood." Rubbing his shin, Calum groaned "Geez, I try to break the ice and get to know you better and where does that get me? A soon to be bruised shin. If I fuck up my kicking in football, it's gonna be on you." "You, Mr. Mysterious, play football? I find that hard to believe." Ella chuckled. "Ouch. My heart. I am wounded. Such cruel words." Calum mocked whilst clutching his heart. "I actually am the captain of the team, just saying." "Are you sure? I'm sorry, it's just- you don't seem that...coordinated."

"Alright, enough bashing me and my shin. Let's get to you. What are your hobbies Ms. Optimistic?" Blushing at the nickname, Ella started fidgeting with her hands in her lap as she got lost in her own mind, trying to think of some kind of hobby she enjoyed. "I don't really do much. I feel as if my life will start once I get to see the colors." Calum scrunched up his eyebrows, "Why do you need someone else to be the spark that starts your life? Can't you live on your own then live with another once they come?" "It's not so much not living, it's just that- well, everyone is given a soulmate, right? I believe whoever your soulmate is, they're meant to truly live life with you. As soon as you find each other this whole new world is unlocked and until that happens I'm not truly living. If I'm honest, I don't think any of us are truly living life to the fullest until we have our other half right by our side." Throughout that whole speech, Ella had been getting more and more worked up, as if you could see the passion she was putting into her words written out in her facial expression- just like she used to.

Out of nowhere, almost as if it was instinct, Calum lashed out a bit, "Have you ever thought that maybe this whole 'soulmate' thing is just a game? That maybe, just maybe, people paint this picture for all of us that once you find who you think you're meant to be with all the world's problems go away when in reality you're risking opening up a whole new world of problems? That maybe you're putting your heart out there for someone you don't even really know. That maybe whoever you think your soulmate is will never love you just as much as you thought they did. Did it ever cross your mind that putting your all into someone who possibly couldn't care less is complete and utter bullshit?"

Stunned, Ella didn't dare move. She hadn't seen this side of Calum, or any side of Calum beside this mysterious facade he put up to protect himself. Seeing him lash out intrigued, but scared her shitless at the same time. Just as Calum opened his mouth to apologize for his sudden outburst, he heard their order being called and got up to grab their food. With his mind a jumbled mess, he didn't think fast enough to look up before bumping into a body and dropping his coffee on the floor.

"Calum?" That voice. He hadn't heard that voice in a year, let alone it saying his name. Looking up from the spilled coffee on the floor, there she was.