mistake || c.h au

|| chapter twenty-eight ; closet space ||

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|| may 21, 2015 ||

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Calum chapped his knuckles on the wooden door lightly, almost hoping that whoever was inside hadn't heard. It was Tegan's flat, he was sure of that. He wasn't quite sure, however, of what he would do if Luke Hemmings answered the door, but he figured he would cross that bridge when he came to it.

Calum waited nervously at the door, running a hand over his face while the other was tucked in his jacket pocket. The clicking sound of the security lock being taken off made a breath catch in Calum's throat.

The green door was pulled open halfway and left like that while Calum watched Tegan's back as she walked further into the apartment, taking no notice of him.

"I just need to do my hair and get dressed, Luke, then I'm ready," the familiar soft voice floated out to the hallway.

Calum didn't move. He didn't want to intrude. He knew that being there in the hallway was a big enough intrusion in itself. Although, there was a fiery pain that formed in his chest at the mention of Luke Hemmings, because Calum wanted it to be him.

"Luke?" Tegan repeated, appearing from behind the door again, much to Calum's surprise.

"Uhm - I - uh - shít - hey ?" Calum stumbled over his words, immediately cursing himself out in his head profusely.

"You can't be here," was all Tegan said.

"Look, Tegan, please," Calum sighed, it was the response he had been expecting. "I really fücked up - I know that - but you have to hear me out and let me explain."

"No, like you really can't be here," Tegan repeated. "Luke will be back any second."

"Two minutes, that's all I need."

Tegan sighed and chewed on the inside of her cheek. There was something about the look on Calum's face and the rawness in his voice that made her give in. She knew she'd always have a soft spot for Calum and she hated herself for that. No matter how hard she tried to hate him, she just couldn't.

"Come on, then. Two minutes," she agreed, opening the door a little further to allow Calum to step inside.

He was silent for a few seconds, drinking in the appearance of his ex in her spotty bath robe and slippers, make-up done perfectly for a night out. Tegan coughed lightly , bringing Calum back to reality.

"What I did, it was stupid - pretending to be someone else just to stay in contact with you. But I knew that you wouldn't want to talk to me after I fùcked you over the first time," Calum explained. "After I moved, everything was just so complicated-"

Calum paused for a moment.

"In fact, it's not complicated at all. I thought if I moved away, I would be able to start over new," he said. "But I still loved you, and that's not changed. Yeah, I fùcked up and I made mistakes, Tegan, but I still love you."

Tegan swallowed harshly.

"I - Cal - I -," she attempted, and Calum thought she was about to repeat the same words back to him. "I don't have time for this right now."

"Tegan-"

"Really, Calum. I think you should go."

"Right, yeah," Calum nodded. "If that's what you want."

Calum turned to leave, sighing in defeat.

"I think it's for the best."

"Okay, so before I leave and do what's for the best, I want you to know that-" Calum paused for a moment, tiliting his head into the air and sniffing a few times. "Are you cooking something?"