10:53 [calum hood]

03

➸ r i l e y

I woke up on someone's chest and my back was aching against the wooden floorboards I was laying on.

I heard snoring next to me and looked over and was startled to see Calum. His face looked so angelic and innocent while he was sleeping, like a child's.

The events of last came flooding back in my mind. I had forgiven Calum, and we were now friends, or we were going to attempt to be friends. I don't know where falling asleep in a treehouse snuggled against a boy would lie on the friendship scale, but it was probably too high for my liking.

I propped myself up on my elbows and shook his chest. "Calum," I whispered. He groaned quietly and I rolled my eyes.

"Calum, wake up," I say louder, shaking him even more.

"No, leave me alone," he mumbled, turning onto his side.

Calum had never been a morning person and was practically impossible to drag out of bed.

"Calum, boobs!" I shouted. His eyes shot open and he sat up quickly.

He looked at me with wide eyes. "Where?" he asked excitedly with a stupid grin on his face.

I smirked. "Nah, I'm just kidding. Let's go." I stood up and took both his hands, forcing him up as he groaned.

"But you got me all excited," Calum whined, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

I laughed and ushered him towards the ladder that led to the ground. "It's not my fault that boobs seem to interest you more than your best friend," I teased, poking his face. The words had tumbled out before I could even process what I was saying.

He gave me a strange look and stopped walking, slowly backing me up until my back hit the wall. "Since when are we best friends again?" he whispered seriously, catching me by surprise.

"Since I said so," I smirked. He pinned my arms to my sides and leaned down until his face was inches from mine.

"I don't remember you saying that," he breathed, making chills run down my spine. I wanted nothing more than to kiss him, right now.

This wasn't the first time I had thought about being with Calum as more than friends. When we were twelve, Calum and I were alone in his treehouse and he crawled up beside me and asked me a question.

"Ry, do you believe in love?" he had asked, tapping his feet against the wood.

I looked at him strangely, twirling a piece of my short hair around my chubby finger. "Not really. I mean, my mom and dad thought they loved each other, and now he's gone. Love is dumb," I giggled. Calum's face had stayed emotionless and I leaned in closer to him. "Do you believe in love?"

He nodded his head slowly. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah I do. I believe that when two people are right for each other then they just know, and they know they're in love. And you know you're in love when no matter how bad the other person screws up, you'll forgive them anyway, because you love them. That's love."

And that was the first time I realized that I was in love with Calum Hood.

✿❀✿❀✿❀

"I don't remember you saying that."

I cocked my head to the side slightly as a smile played on my lips. "Really? Would you like me to repeat myself?"

Calum nodded, looking up at me behind his long lashes.

I took a deep breath before shouting, "Calum Thomas Hood, you are my best friend!" He jumped at my sudden outburst, making me giggle and push his chest lightly. "Happy now?" I asked, fluttering my eyelashes playfully.