Chapter 11

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"Move over, Ral pal," Ava whined, nearly pushing Ralley into Calum's lap. The three were seated on one of the leather couches in the boys' basement while Michael, Ashton, and Luke tried to decide on which movie to watch first. At the moment it was between Anchorman and 21 Jump Street.

"Christ, Ava," Ralley complained, rubbing her arm. "What do you want me to do? Sit on Cal?!"

"I certainly wouldn't mind it," Calum chuckled, pulling Ralley closer to him. She rolled her eyes as he pressed a kiss to her jaw and tuned back in to the other boys' argument.

"I've seen Anchorman a billion times," Michael groaned.

"But Ava hasn't seen it," Ashton countered, holding up the DVD.

"Screw Ava--" 

"You obviously wanted to the other night--" Ashton said coldly, taking a step towards Michael.

"Whoa, guys," Luke said, appearing between the two. He shot a tired glance at Ralley before addressing the issue. "Let's just calm down and pick a movie."

"21 Jump Street," Michael said in unison with Ashton's hard, "Anchorman."

"Alright then.." Luke sighed, looking over at Ava and Ralley on the couch. "How about the girls decide?"

"I--" Ava started. Ashton interrupted her.

"You know what? I don't feel like watching a movie anymore," he stated coldly, setting Anchorman down on the coffee table.

"Let's go upstairs, Ava," he commanded, walking over to the couch, glaring at Michael.

"But, Ashy, I wanted to watch a--"

"Let's go upstairs," he repeated, putting more force behind his quiet words. He offered her his hand, and she took it reluctantly. She turned around and winked stealthily at Ralley before disappearing up the staircase.

"So... 21 Jump Street," Ralley asked cautiously, breaking a heavy silence. 

"Actually, I'm not really in the mood for a movie either," Michael spat, still staring after the long-gone couple. "I'll be in the game room."

He stormed into the other room, slamming the door loudly behind him and leaving the other three staring at each other awkwardly.

"So." Calum said as they all exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"We could watch Now Is Good," Ralley suggested in a small voice. "I brought it over.. I really wanted to show it to you guys."

Calum nodded slowly. "What kind of movie is it?"

Ralley looked to Luke and then her hands before admitting, "Well... It's kind of sad..."

Luke fidgeted with his hands awkwardly.

"Oh," Calum commented.

"I think I'll go hang with Mike," Luke blurted. "I'm not a huge fan of sad movies."

"Oh, alright," Ralley said, watching him disappear into the gaming room. She let out a breath heavily. Their movie marathon was in shambles. Calum rubbed her shoulder soothingly.

"Do you wanna watch the movie, babe," he asked softly. He looked at her with a sort of tenderness in his eyes, as if he was afriad she might crumble right in front of him.

Ralley sighed. "We don't have to watch it if you don't want to..."

"No, no, let's watch it," Calum insisted, pushing himself off the couch to set up the movie. "Where is it?"

Ralley smiled at his attempt to brighten up the situation.

"I set it by that speaker," she said, pointing him toward a shelf on the right side of their ginormous television.

"This doesn't look sad," Calum said, examining the DVD case. "Look. They're on a motorcycle."

Ralley smiled to herself. He had no idea what was coming.

Ralley was a strange girl. Sure, she loved a good RomCom, but what really got her was unrequited love. She always felt herself drawn to stories where the guy didn't get the girl, where someone died and their partner had to live on without them. It made her chest ache in a lovely way, and she was addicted to that ache. She wanted other people to feel it.

Calum put in the movie and returned to his place at her side. Almost immediately after sitting, he kissed her. His teeth tugged at her bottom lip gently, and she knew what was coming next.

She placed her hand on his chest cautiously before pulling away and meeting his eyes. He was confused.

"Please watch the movie?" She asked him, wearing something akin to a puppy-dog face. The corners of his lips turned up.

"Sure thing, babe," he answered, obviously thinking he would get a proper make out session further into the film.

But that was because he didn't expect himself to get as involved in the storyline as he did. He cringed when Tess's nose bled so bad she had to go to the hospital and gasped when they found out her friend was pregnant and smiled when Tess climbed a tree and was able to have a moment of peace. Ralley didn't watch the movie nearly as much as she watched Cal; the way his forehead would wrinkle in concentration or how he'd press his lips together when he got frustrated with a situation or a character. He hardly commented at all, unlike how Ralley usually was at movies, and every once in a while, he would glance at her to make sure she was watching it too.

"You can haunt me if you want, Tess. I don't mind."

Ralley turned her head to see Calum's reaction, her lip pulled between her teeth nervously. She was surprised to see tears threatening to spill from his eyes. She rested her head on his shoulder and fumbled for his hand.

"Life is a series of moments... Let them go..."

He squeezed her hand, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath to compose himself. The credits rolled, and Ralley could feel herself trembling from heartache. This movie seemed to leave her in pieces every single time.

"Why did you show me that," he asked through a lump in his throat. Ralley paused for a moment.

Why had she shown it to him?

"It was sort of a test," she admitted to him and to herself at the same time.

"A test? Did I pass?" Calum teased, scrunching up his nose in a ridiculous, pain-concealing smile and becoming a playful flirt again.

Ralley giggled, "Stop that! You look like the Grinch."

His face fell into the classic Playboy Smirk, and his index finger bounced itself off her nose on its own accord.

"Well, did I," he repeated, honestly curious.

"With flying colors," Ralley confirmed, smiling at him softly. She touched her lips to his, and then snuggled further into his arms. 

After a bit of banter, Ralley fell asleep, but Calum was content just holding her in his arms while he watched football.

Sorry, this is pretty bleh. The next chapter will probably be a filler as well as I'm working up to the big schtuff.

Also, I kinda might've spoiled Now Is Good, but you should still watch it because it's amazing.

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