Unpredictable (Calum Hood)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Calum and I made our way home from the ice cream shop, stopping at the steps up to my house. We stood in front of the door and I turned to face him.

“I had a really fun time, I’m glad you invited me.” I smiled.

 “Me too!” He nodded. “Oh, here! Put your number in!” he handed me his phone and I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and handed it to him.

I gave him his phone back before pushing my key into the lock. I waved goodbye as he walked down the steps and then I stepped inside.

My brother was in the living room watching some stupid show on Cartoon Network, nothing new there, so I went into my room. I threw my phone onto my bed before collapsing on top of it.

I felt stupid, laying there smiling like an idiot, but I liked Calum. He was the first friend that I’d made here, let alone the first decent person that I’d met. I could actually see myself hanging out with. Truthfully, I was glad he asked for my number. Maybe this meant we could hang out another time. I hoped so.

Before I knew it, Aunt Linda was calling me down for dinner.

A few days passed and I was bored out of my mind. Sick of hearing the sound of gun shots come out of my brother’s Xbox, I decided to take a walk on the beach. I put on my flip-flops and pulled the screen door to the back porch open, closing it behind me. I made my way down the walkway and to the steps before stepping in to the sand. I hadn’t been walking for very long before I realized that bringing shoes was probably not a smart or comfortable idea. I had always hated walking on the beach with shoes on. At least this time they were flip-flops and not tennis shoes. I decided against them, kicking my shoes off and holding them in my hands.

I stopped walking when I reached the pier, about half a mile from the house. I stood underneath the tall wooden beams for a while and listened to the people’s footsteps from above me. I figured that this would be a good point to turn around. My slow, dragging feet had carried me only half a mile in 10 minutes. I continued trudging the walk back home, dreading the sound of those computerized gun shots.

I reached the house too soon for my liking and decided to sit near a dune. Lost in my thoughts and the sound of the waves, I didn’t hear him approach.

“We just keep meeting like this don’t we?” he said. “Last time I believe you were in the exact spot, lost in thought with that same look on your face.”

I smiled up at Calum as he claimed the spot next to me. “Does it not get boring? Staring out at the ocean for this long?” he questioned.

I shrugged. “Nah… not when you’re from the city. We drive eight hours to get down here then my mom has to drive another 8 back home. It’s a lot of driving but sometimes it’s worth it.”

“Only sometimes?”

“When I don’t have to hang out with my brother 24/7 it’s worth it. But usually I do, so most of the time it’s not worth it. You’re the first person I’ve met who’s staying longer than I am.”

“Well then, it looks like we’re going to be keeping each other company for a while, huh?”