Begin Again // Calum Hood

Chapter 2.

He stuck out his hand, expecting me to shake it apparently.

"You're kidding right? You're kidding."

He slowly shook his head side to side.

"You're my roommate." I whispered. "But I filled out the paperwork asking for a girl?" I tried to sound commanding and affirmative, but I ended up subconsciously questioning myself. They brushed passed me and sat down on the couch.

"Last time I checked, I'm not a girl." He yelled to me.

"This is a mistake. This has to be a mistake." I paced the floor. I don't want to live with a guy.

"Can you calm down for a second?" He got up from the couch and walked over to me. "It's fine, we can talk to whoever is in charge around here and get it changed. If you really hate me that much." He lowered his voice at the last part.

"No, I don't want to make a big deal about this, just, I don't know." I walked into my room and shut the door. Why is this such a big deal? I've been friends with guys before, what's so different with him? I mean he's kinda cute and, well that's all I know about him. I took a few deep breaths and walked out. They were playing my PS3. Sure, help yourself, strangers, don't bother asking.

I started over and said how the conversation should have started.

"Hi I'm Amber Jennings. I'm from a tiny town in Michigan and I came here for a fresh start. I'm an English major at FSU and I'm sorry for kind of freaking out earlier. I tend to do that a lot." Shut up, don't make them think you're a freak already.

Calum paused the game and walked over.

"I'm Calum Hood. I'm not from here but I'm living in Florida now. That's all that matters." He obviously has a past that he doesn't want me to know. "That's Luke." He pointed to the blond with a lip piercing. Luke smiled and waved. "And that's Ashton." He didn't didn't even turn around. We stood in an awkward silence for a few seconds. "Is that your PlayStation?"

"Uh, yeah. I had to bring it with me because-" Stop talking. He doesn't care. "Yeah it's mine." My eyes rested on the ground.

"It's pretty cool. Do you care if we play?"

"Yeah go ahead, I'm just gonna go to bed." I said as I slowly edged my way to my room.

"Goodnight." Calum said. He sat down on the couch again.

I shut the door and got in bed. Maybe this won't be as bad.



I woke up early in the morning, took a quick shower, and ate cereal all before Calum had even left his room. I had a mission today; get a job. I walked to my car and then drove to a small coffee shop I noticed when I first came. A small sign in the window read now hiring, so I walked in. I waited in a short line before being greeted by an obviously-dyed-white-haired guy behind the counter. He was extremely attractive. I found myself staring into his pale grey eyes for an extended period of time. But, he was staring back. Usually, one person would break the stare, but neither of us did. He blinked a couple of times and asked,

"Hi what can I get you today?" in a deep voice. Deeper than I expected.

"I was wondering if I could apply for a job here?" I asked.

"Ok, I'll get the manager and get you all set up." He started walk away and stopped. "I'm Michael by the way." He smirked.

"Amber." I smiled in return. He left to get the manager and she handed me an application. I quickly filled it all out and returned it to her. She said that she would review it and call me for an interview as soon as possible. I went to a restaurant and also got an application for there, but all I could think of was the snow white haired boy from the coffee shop. I got one more application to a grocery store, bought some food while I was there, and headed back to my apartment. I got inside and picked up all the beer bottles they left last night. Calum has to be hung over, there's more than the three they came in with. I turned on my laptop and got on twitter. I heard his bedroom door open. He walked out with no shirt, loose grey sweatpants and severe fluffy bed head. His tan, toned abs were all I could look at. I just wanted to feel his abs and play with his hair.

"Good morning." I said to him.

He slightly jumped and mumbled "Jesus Christ" under his breath. His eyes closed. "I forgot you were here." He brought his hand up to his hair and ruffled it, something I want to do. He slowly walked like a zombie into his room and walked back out as he was putting a dark blue shirt over his head.

"Are you just waking up? It's 4 pm." I said, trying not to be rude but doing an awfully good job of being just that.

"Coming from someone who is strongly hungover, you talk very loud." He went into the bathroom and shut the door. I heard the shower start running so I got on my twitter feed. I went into my room with my laptop but left the door open. The loud shower turned off and Calum quickly ran into his room with only a towel loosely draped around his waist. I quietly giggled at him. I remembered my phone and went down my car to get it. As I walked back up the stairs, Calum passed me, buttoning his jeans as he went.

"Someone's in a hurry." I commented.

"Yeah." He was out the door.



I texted a few of my friends from Michigan, with no reply. I can't say I'm surprised. I lead a boring life. I hoped Florida would change that, but to no avail. I looked at the time and somehow I had spent hours doing nothing. It's almost 10 pm. The door opened and shut. I heard Calum talking to someone.

"This is my place." He walked by with a gorgeous brunette. Her hair was long and loosely curled all the way down her back. I slowly inched towards the door and curiously opened it wider. I heard Calum mumble a few words. Then I heard silence. Then I heard the uncomfortable sound of kissing. Shit, I have to pee. I tried to walk across and be silent but she noticed me.

"Who is that." She quickly sat up and looked at me.

"She's my-"

"I'm his roommate." I finished his sentence. I ran into the bathroom. I'm so awkward. I can't even speak to her. I quickly went pee and heard them loudly making out again. I walked in on them basically sucking each other's faces off. I ran back into my bedroom and shut the door. I sat on my bed and covered my face with my hands. That's probably his girlfriend, and I'm going to have to face her all the time, great. I couldn't hear them out there anymore, so I cracked my door to see an empty living room. I closed the door with a look of horror on my face. I kept hearing muffled moans, thudding, and Calum's name over and over. So, I ended fell asleep to the uncomfortable serenade of other people's sex.