Girl Next Door

...

we were now at Calum's house. I had poured my aching heart out to him with my head in my hands. I felt so little. So broken. Like a chixxxld. Weak. Vulnerable. Dependent. Most of all, ashamed. I had just poured my heart and feelings out to a boy whom I have strongly disliked for my entire life. here I was in Calum Hood's living room cuddled up into Calum, him rubbing my back trying to soothe me, but my tears wont stop. Micheal had really hurt me. as much as I hate to admit it, he did. he broke my heart. and the person who yesterday would've laughed in my face saying I was worthless and deserved it is now comforting me. what was I doing? I didn't like Calum. Did I? no. absolutely not. He's still the same asshole as yesterday and this morning. no way did I like him. I got up and dried my eyes with my sleeve.

"is everything alright?" Calum got up and grabbed my wrist. I shook it off.

"no. I'm just tired. I should get some sleep." it wasn't entirely a lie, I was tired. tired of all this shit. of all these feelings. of Michael. of Calum. of life. I'm tired of being lied to. one day Calum could care less if I was crying and the next his shirt is absorbing my tears and comforting me.

"here," he said picking up the bags I was trying to get with my trembling hands. "let me help." I was back in tears.

"why?" I was now sobbing. what's wrong with me? I'm acting completely unlike myself. "why do you care? yesterday you would've been laughing at me if I was deserted in an empty field because I refused to have sex with my boyfriend in his truck because I was trying to tell him I had to come home to help you babysit when you are nothing short of a baby yourself! speaking of which where is your cousin? huh?" I made sure I put air quotes by the word 'cousin' "because I sure as hell don't see a kid running around here!" I tried to grab my bag from Calum's hands but he refused to let go. and sure enough, at that moment my legs began to give out and I fell. I was practically laying on the floor sobbing. what have I turned into? an emotion filled teenage girl crying at the feet of the most popular guy at our school? sure enough that's exactly what it looked like.

"Fine." Calum had dropped my bags to the floor. "this is not how you are supposed to treat someone who picked you up from an empty field when I assume no one else would, who comforted you because you so called boyfriend broke your heart. And my cousin? he wasn't supposed to get here until-" Calum was cut off by the sound of the doorbell. "now." he said as he greeted his aunt at the front door. I was sitting behind the couch attempting to hide my pathetic self.

"Where's that girl your mother said would be here?" his aunt was looking around.

"Oh" Calum scratched the back of his neck as I have him a pleading look. "she is in the bathroom. you know girls" Calum faked a smile as he led his aunt out of the door to her car assuring her that his cousin would be okay.

"I'm sorry." I apologized as Calum walked in.

"It's fine." Calum walked up and picked up his little cousin. "who's a good girl? Katy is!" he threw her up and caught her as she giggled. he looked amazing. I have never seen him like this before, this side if him. " Hey Hannah, if you don't mind, can you take Katy upstairs?" Calum handed me Katy.

"Okay." I took her. "hey Katy!" the little girl giggled. "I may not be able to throw you up in the air like Calum, but I can play with you." she giggled again. I set her on the floor and watched her build blocks and talk gibberish. "you know your big cousin calum? he is really awesome. he is the best pillow."

"Hey." Calum walked in and sat on the floor beside me. Mali, his sister followed him and stood in the doorway.

"Hey love birds." his sister smirked.

Calum had stood up and scratched his neck.

"Enough, Mali." he snapped.

"Oh you didn't tell her?"

"Tell me what?" I stood up and walked over there with Katy in my arms.

His sister spoke up, "did my little bro not tell you? He has a little crush on the girl next door." Calum ran out of the room slamming the door.

What? He had a crush on me? why me? what's so special about me?

"Oh. Really?" I guess my face turned red.

"Don't be embarrased. I know you like him too."