10:53 [calum hood]

19

➸ c a l u m

"Mickey?" I asked, staring at her with wide eyes. She smiled back at me, totally ignoring my discomfort.

"Cal, it's been so long!" she squealed, racing over to hug me.

I didn't hug her back. I didn't want her anymore. "Yeah, real long."

"I've missed you! Your mom was just telling me about how you went to New York over Christmas!"

I looked over Mickey's shoulder at my mom, who was wearing a smug expression on her face. I narrowed my eyes and shook my head, hoping that she would get the message.

"How was it?" Mickey urged, grabbing my shoulders. I flinched at her proximity.

"Good, I guess."

She inched closer, only adding to my rigidness. "And I heard you brought a girl along. What's her name again? Reagan? Ronnie?"

"It's Riley."

Mickey paused and smiled, looking sinister as if she knew something that I didn't. "Oh, right! I met her in the music store didn't I?"

I nodded, too afraid to speak. "I would really love to get to know her," she continued, backing away to my relief. She started pacing around the room and both my mom and I had our eyes trained on her.

"Mickey, can I talk to you privately?" I asked, tapping my foot.

She whipped her head to look at me and nodded, giving me a close mouthed smile.

I stepped out of the room and held the door open for Mickey so we were both in the hallway alone. "First of all, what are you doing here again?"

"I came by to see you, of course. And then your mom said you had slept over a friend's house so I waited for you."

I mentally cursed myself. You didn't have to wait, I wanted to yell. "Look, Mickey, you're a really nice girl, but there's...there's someone else out there that I really love. And I kinda need to fight for her right now?"

Mickey eyed me suspiciously. "Is it Riley?" I nodded. "But I thought what we had was special," she wailed suddenly, making me flinch in surprise.

"We went on one date. Riley and I have known each other since we were in elementary school."

She gave me a stern look and crossed her arms over her chest. "What's so good about her anyway? I bet I'm way better. Plus, I swore the first time I saw you it was love at first sight." Mickey pouted, trying--and failing--to win my sympathy.

I laughed humorlessly. "You're crazy."

The last thing I saw was her pretty face twist in anger before I left to retreat to my room. I paused for a moment, twisting around halfway so I could see her in my peripheral vision.

"I actually know someone you might like. I hope you're into blondes."

✿❀✿❀✿❀

➸ r i l e y

"That was exhausting," Luke mumbled, pulling into Ashton's driveway. I sighed as the car rumbled silent. Since it was only around midday, Luke had invited me over to spend the rest of the night with the boys.

"Thanks for taking me. I really thought Ashton would drive and I didn't know he would make you come so...sorry for that."

"It's cool." He held the front door open for me, and I could hear laughter and giggling coming from the living room.

"Sounds like they're having some fun. Too much fun, maybe?" Luke whispered, and I hit his arm.

We found Ashton and Michael sitting cross legged on the floor in front of the TV, playing COD. "Ashton, stop shooting me; we're on the same team!" Michael grunted, knitting his eyebrows together in concentration.