To love you | Malum

Ch. 14 - Football Fields + Blindfolds

Michael + Ch. 14 - Football Fields + Blindfolds

The gym teacher decided that today was more of a day than other to trust your opponents, since the day after, we were going to have a competitive basketball game, that of course, I wouldn't be able to participate in. He had us in four different groups of six people, and one group of five, since we had one extra student - me, that came in the way of evening out the teams.

"Calum, you're up first." Great. I didn't miss the way he nodded anxiously as he asked Keaton to tie the bandana over his eyes as a blindfold. I didn't miss the way his hands shook as he stepped towards my group of four, which consisted of me, Luke, Keaton, and Ashton. I didn't miss the way he began walking towards nothing but thin air, as laughter filled the atmosphere. But I did miss the way he quickly brushed it off and started walking towards Luke, who unsurprisingly was his first pick.

"Okay, so I have to try to recognize them by touching their hair and face?" This wasn't an exercise of trust at all. It was just seeing who you knew better. The teacher mumbled an incoherent correct while Calum nodded and resumed with running his fingers against Luke's cheeks. "Hm, okay."

I watched as Calum walked through his friends, touching their cheeks, noses -- lips, hair, just before his figure began to approach me. I attempted to sit up further so the height between us wouldn't be noticeable, and oddly enough, it worked. He held his thumbs out and began to examine the skin on my face, the feel of my plump lips against his fingers, and then his hands were roaming through the beads of my hair. I didn't miss the way his breath hitched in his throat. I didn't miss the way he nodded to himself as he stood back. I didn't miss the way he started to smile softly to himself. But I did miss the way he placed his hand over his heart, because it was beating in tune – pounding. "This is Michael, definitely."

Everybody was caught off guard, including me. Calum Hood recognized me before he could recognize Luke Hemmings. That has to mean something. "You're correct."

Calum shakily untied his blindfold just before smiling to himself as we made eye-contact, but Luke was fuming and stopped it immediately. The blonde strolled over towards we were, fists tightly clenched as stepped between Calum and I, his eyes lowering further and further while I attempted to roll away. "You're not going anywhere, Clifford."

"W-What?" I stammered, placing my hands on my lap to get them to stop shaking, but it wasn't working. Luke had an angered look in his eyes, and in all honesty, it was petrifying. Even Calum was scared. "Don't act so innocent. You're trying to steal my boyfriend." I watched as Calum stood back behind the blonde, while Luke was glaring at me in front of everyone. This was the kind of scene that everybody wanted to see, and it was the kind of attention that I didn't want. It made me feel unsteady, and scared. I was so unbelievably scared.

"Whoa Luke, chill out," Keaton stepped in, ringing his sweaty hair out with one of the white gym towels. Luke wasn't having it. He tightened his fists more, more than I thought he was capable of, before cracking his neck and easing his body towards me. He was about to punch me -- I could just feel it.

"Don't tell me to fucking chill out."

"You're scaring the poor guy," Keaton rolled his eyes, while I gave him a small, unapproachable smile that was awfully forced, but thankful. While Keaton was trying to calm Luke down, I was watching Calum out of the corner of my eye. I didn't miss the way his lip was quivering. I didn't miss the way his eyes were watering. I didn't miss the way he was telling me to wheel away. But I did miss how his voice cracked afterwards. I wheeled away, because I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't hear their conversation, and quite frankly, I didn't want to.