balance // calum + luke (cake)

chapter three

"Where are we going?"

"Jesus, do you ever shut up?"

I huff and turn my body away from him.

"Well sorry I'm interested in where a total stranger is driving me to." We had been on the road for about ten minutes and Luke's silence was driving me insane. I switch my attention over to my phone, which rang on my lap.

James?

Why was he contacting me after all this? He left me, embarrassed me, and made me feel like trash. He was just like me, afraid... Afraid of our parents, afraid of any other life but this one... Afraid of coming out. We had plans just like any other teenagers in love. James was my "boyfriend". I felt amazing with him, he was everything I needed.  Until his mom found us making out on his bed- and everything changed. I was no longer his Calum... I was some kid who attacked him. This destroyed me. The guy I thought I knew, the guy I thought I loved... betrayed me. Of course I had to come out then. Mrs. Peterson just ran to tell the perfect Mrs. Hood that her not so perfect son kissed hers. My mother was devastated and here's where I am now.

I ignore the call.

“Who was that?” Luke asks me.

“Just a friend.”

“I thought Elena said you didn’t know anyone, and besides that look on your face is telling me its more than ‘just a friend’.” 

“Why do you even care?” I try to veer off the subject, I know I’ll start crying, even in front on Luke, if James was mentioned. 

“Fine.” He tells me and I wonder if I should trust him. He is intimidating and rude, me telling him I’m gay doesn’t really top my list of priorities. I immediately hear my Aunt telling me ‘lying isn’t a good way to make friends, Calum’, so I just inch away from my seat and blurt out something I may regret.

“My ex-boyfriend called me.” I straight into Luke’s eyes, awaiting his reaction. Something flashes through his eyes that I just can’t define and then gets laced with his signature smirk.

“You’re gay?” Okay… he hasn’t kicked me out yet.

“Uhm, yeah.”

“Okay.” Okay? What does he mean okay? He’s fine with that? I can’t believe he’s fine with that. I don’t know if I should be happy that someone in my life is somewhat accepting of what I am or surprised that a teenage boy is accepting of me.

"Caleb?" Luke's voice distracts me from my thoughts. I look up to his scowl. "I don't think you'd like me to leave you in the car."

Shit, we're here?

"Oh, uhm, thanks."

I step out of the car and on to what looks like at campus.

"Are we at FSU?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Fuck, why do you ask so many questions?" He rolls his eyes at me and leads the way into the wide building. Well, he’s back to being rude again.

We walk for what seems ages until we stop at a room that reads "29H" and Luke goes right in. Should I go in? God, why am I so awkward... Just open the door, Calum. Surely Luke will come and invite me in? I stand outside the door until it opens again, a light brown headed boy coming out. "Are you Caleb? I’m Ashton. God, Luke is such a jerk. You can come in." He gestures toward the door and I hesitantly walk in. "It's Calum, by the way." I tell the boy. "Oh god, I'm sorry, Luke said..." I roll my eyes. Of course.

 Inside the small room are two twin beds and posters covering the wall. Clothes and papers cover the floor and I automatically cringe. Aunt Elena would flip if my room looked like this. I scan the room to find Luke talking to another boy our age.

"How the fuck did your mom let you out after last weekend?" The boy asks him.

"She's got me babysitting this fag from Washington. That Caleb guy I told you about."

"You're a fucking dick, Luke." Ashton tells him and Luke looks back at me

I swallow hard and leave the room. How could I be so stupid? Trusting Luke? Stupid. So many thoughts run through my head, the first one being what the hell was I thinking Luke would actually want to be friends with me. I pace around the hallways until I hear my name being called. 

"Calum!”

“What?” I snap. Luke couldn’t be possibly asking me to stay after this. I did not come here to take shit about who I am from anyone.

“You dropped your phone.” 

I mutter a thanks before taking it from his hands and walking down the hall. How am I supposed to get home now? I know I shouldn’t have trusted Luke to show me around. If this is even that.

“You can’t leave.”

“Watch me.”

“You have no ride.” He points out, following me through the building.

“I’ll walk.” I huff and stride down the hallway.

“Calum, just… Don’t leave.” I try to not focus on the fact that he finally called me by my actual name and on his cruel words earlier. 

“Are you sure? I mean you wouldn’t want to be around a stupid fag from Washington.” He flinches at my words.

“Calum, you know I didn’t mean that…I – well I, I don’t know, okay! Fuck.” He runs his hand through his hair. Oh god, his hair. Those hands. Those hands on my body. 

“You know what, whatever Calum. Drive yourself home.” He tosses me his keys and storms back into the dorm room.