10:53 [calum hood]

prologue

➸ r i l e y

* Three Years Earlier *

"I hate you!" I screamed, trying to slam the door in his face. He stuck his foot in the door to keep it from closing and pushed it back so his full face came into view.

"No you don't," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You're just mad because I'm right. Besides me, your friends are lame and you shouldn't be hanging out with them. They're losers, and they make you look bad. Especially that Luke kid, I don't like him."

My eyes shot daggers through his perfect face as he wore a calm expression. How could he remain calm while making fun of me and telling me that my friends were an embarrassment?

Don't get me wrong, I love Calum. He's been my best friend since we met for the first time in second grade, and he's stuck by me through every tear and laugh since then. He was always my shoulder to cry on and the one if went to for advice.

"Calum, they're my friends. What's so bad about them?" I spat, shoving him back.

He blinked a few times, obviously surprised by my actions. "They're losers. They ruin your image. I'm just trying to help you, Ry."

He used his nickname for me that I absolutely hated, but I only let him call me that because it made him happy.

"Well if all you care about is your damn reputation and how my friends will affect you, then you can get out of my life and go find another popular best friend," I shouted, throwing my hands in the air.

Calum gave me an odd look, one that I recognized being scheming and thoughtful. "Alright, fine. I'll leave. But trust me, Riley, you're going to wish you never said a thing. Have fun with those little friends of yours." His tone was so emotionless that it sent shivers up my spine, even though I knew that he was leaving empty threats hanging in the air.

Calum turned on his heel and walked down my driveway so quickly that I thought he would trip and fall. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I slammed the door shut and collapsed to the ground. I heard his car rumble to life and speed off down the street.

At the time I had thought that this was another one of our pointless arguments that would be resolved within the next 24 hours. Whenever the argument was "Calum's fault" he would take me to the bowling alley because he knew that I could easily kick his ass, and whenever it was "my fault" I would take him to the arcade, where he would spend at least $100 on tokens to play every single game at least twice.

Calum and I knew each other inside and out. He always knew when I was lying or being sarcastic and I always knew when he was angry or wanted something from me. But this was the first time I was actually worried that this wouldn't blow over and he would hate me forever.

When Calum didn't call the next day, I knew I was right. This wasn't one of our 24-hour fights, and I spent the whole day snuggled in a blanket while watching Disney movies.

By the following week, I knew something was definitely up. Calum and I couldn't simply argue over something as stupid as who I was friends with and not talk ever again. I was secretly hoping that the reason for his long silence was that he was planning one of his "It's All My Fault and I'm Trying to Make It Up to You" ideas.

Boy, was I wrong.

Calum had planned something, all right. The next day when I entered school, I felt the atmosphere shift immediately. People stared at me with wide eyes and had their heads close together, no doubt whispering about me. When I approached Calum at the end of the hallway, he was laughing with one of his popular cronies, Derek. They were laughing at me.

"What did you do?" I shouted, hitting him in the shoulder so he stumbled back.

Calum snickered, rolling his eyes. Derek continued to laugh, only louder this time. "Sorry, I don't talk to sluts," he smirked, turning away and laughing loudly with his friend.

I felt my blood run cold and I wondered if I had heard him correctly. Was I just a slut to him? Why would he even think such a thing when we've been best friends since forever? Tears welled up in my eyes, and I tried my best to keep them from falling. He knows that I've only had a few boyfriends and the longest relationship I've had only lasted two months.

I later learned that it was a rumor. A rumor that involved me hooking up with Luke, Ashton, and Michael: my apparently "lame" friends. Calum had started a wildfire that couldn't be contained, and I ended up dreading school every single day because of what he's done.

Long story short, I hated Calum Hood.

He tried calling me a few days later and he left countless text messages, all of which I didn't bother to read. I knew he felt guilty for what he had done and acted too quickly out of anger, but he deserved it. Whenever I would see him in the halls or in class, I would immediately look away and avoid eye contact.

Calum ruined my life. He tried to ruin my friendships as well as my reputation. I was more than happy to have him out of my life.

But unfortunately he found his way back in.

✿❀✿❀✿❀

ayyyy yo guess who's back, back again

so after having major calum feels for the past 3 months ((its pretty serious and should be classified as some sort of disease)) i've decided to write a calum fanfic woohooooo

i promise it's gonna be good, alright?

trust me hehe

xoxo stay rad

✿❀✿❀✿❀

|| cover by outsides ||

[fanfiction #12, teen fiction #47]

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