Pretending (C. H)

Chapter 3: It's (Not) Puppy Love.

The next day around 6:30 AM, Nia was sitting down om the porch steps, patiently waiting for Calum to show up while she was hugging Edgar. He promised to show up at 6:20 but he seemed to be running late.

Nia waited another fifteen minutes but still nothing. She sighed as she started to walk back inside until she heard a car enter and park in front of their house. She closed the door and practically ran to Calum with Edgar. He pulled her in for a tight hug and Edgar started to bark at him. He smiled and cupped his little face in his hands, Edgar turned his head to the side and Calum let him smell his hand before he licked it.

"Can I carry him?" Calum asked Nia.
"Yeah,sure. Be careful though." Nia said.

Calum carefully pryed Edgar away from Nia with a genuine smile on his face. Even if Nia didn't have any romantic feelings for Calum, she couldn't help but to find the sight of him holding her dog adorable.

"So, should we go?" Calum asked.
"Yeah, just let me get his leash." Nia said, Calum nodded before kissing Edgar's head.

Nia quickly went back to the porch steps and took the leash, going back to Calum and Edgar. She clipped it on and they started to walk to the nearby park together.

They walked around, Nia and Calum taking turns to hold the leash and pulling Edgar away from barking at cats. He'd tell her stories of his previous tours and experiences with the band and so did she. There was a dog play area where the dogs could play and socialize with other dogs for a bit while the owners do their own thing and they dropped him off there.

They sat beside each other on a nearby bench and Calum was in the middle of telling her a story about how he and Michael would play at their school program sometimes. She listened intently, leaning onto his shoulder but she stopped herself.

"It's okay, go ahead. We're supposed to be doing that anyways." He whispered, just in case there were any fans that could hear them. She did so and started to feel sleepy. He massaged the side of her head,playing with her hair.
"Some friends do this,right?" She asked.
"Maybe but, I don't want to be like everyone else." He said.
"So, what's the plan tonight or tomorrow?" She asked.
"I guess I could take you to meet my family." He said which shocked Nia.
"Not to be rude but,why? We're not actually a thing and this stunt has only lasted two days so far." She said.
"Yeah, I know but I feel really close to you and I feel like you're my best friend now and we have so much in common. I always introduce those kind of people in my life to my parents." He said.
"Aww,that's really sweet." She cooed. "Do you think they'll like me,though?" He asked.
"You're a ball of sunshine, of course they will." He said.

They said nothing for a while, simply just enjoying each other's company. It was unlikely most of the time but, after last night, Nia felt as if she'd known Calum forever and he felt the same way as well. Though, Calum wasn't exactly Nia's type so she didn't expect herself to fall in love with him anytime soon. She didn't know about Calum,though.

"Should we go back?" Calum asked.
"Yeah, I think we should. It's starting to get really hot now,actually." Nia said.
"Thanks." Calum said and winked at her.

She jokingly rolled her eyes before she stood up and went back to the dog play area to pick up Edgar who was playing with a small schitzu puppy. She clipped the leash back on and a middle aged lady with pixie cut hair approached her.

"Is this your dog, young lady?" She asked warmly.
"Yes, ma'am. Is this yours?" Nia asked, pointing at the dog.
"Yes, it is." She said.
"You are very pretty, dear." The lady complimented.
"Oh,thank you." She said and blushed.
"May I ask what's your name?" The lady asked.
"I'm Nia, and you are?" Nia asked.

Calum then ran to the lady and gave her a big hug. Nia was quite curious on why he had done that and how they were related. He bent down and started to give the schitzu puppy belly rubs before looking up at Nia.

"I see you've already met my mum." He said.
"Oh my gosh, hello again, mrs. Hood!" She said nervously.
"Call me Joy, sweetie." She smiled.
Calum stood back up and placed an arm around his mother.
"What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn't arrive until tonight." He said.
"Mali and I's flight is earlier than your dad's for some reason." She explained. "Calum, you never told me you've found a new girlfriend!" She gushed.
"Oh, I'm not his girlfriend." Nia said to her.
"Yeah,mum. We're just really good friends." He said.
"Well, regardless. I think you're a lovely girl and you should come over and hang out with me and Calum's sister and father sometime." She offered.
"Well,I was actually planning on introducing her to you guys tomorrow since after last night, we ended up learning a lot about each other including the fact that we like a lot of the same things." Calum explained.
"Well,isn't that lovely. I look forward to seeing you again,Nia." Joy said and hugged Nia and Calum.
"I gotta take Nia back home now, mom. I'll see you tomorrow." Calum said and kissed his mom's cheek.

They started to walk away and shortly turned around to wave goodbye. On the walk back home, Nia felt flattered about how nice Calum's mom was to her even after explaining that they were just friends. She might have done the same to the other friends Calum has introduced to his family but,it didn't matter to Nia.

"I told you they'd like you." Calum said.
"Well, I still have your sister and father to meet so don't be so sure about that." Nia said.