As I walked from the Superdome parking lot to the alley I had a lump in my throat the size of Canada. But I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up. What were the chances of Calum showing up? 1 in 98,000. But I couldn't suppress a squeal of excitement as I rounded the corner.
I checked the time, 11. The same time I met Calum. The same time Hannah died. I searched my feelings to see if I felt sad. Excitement, anxiety, dread. No sadness. But as soon as I identified dread as the prominent emotion, it became more pronounced. What if he didn't like me? What if he thought I was ugly? I felt like I should just leave, to prevent rejection. He didn't want me.
As I was internally debating I heard footsteps. Being that it was New Orleans, and I'm not an idiot, I gripped my pepper spray, my finger poised over the button. I couldn't see whoever was approaching and waited for them to come to focus in the streetlight above me, and it promptly went out. The figure was still approaching and I tried to make out whether they were wearing skinny jeans or not.
My mouth fell open as I took in the view of Calum in front of me. His hair was longer than usual and looked unwashed. He had dark circles under his eyes and his (HIS, HALF KIWI CALUM THOMAS HOOD'S) skin looked sallow and green-tinted.
"I thought you'd be here." he said as he enveloped me in a hug. He squeezed me too hard and I was enveloped in a cloud of alcohol and.. weed? People at school smoked it and that was what they typically smelled like. I wanted to tell him how much he meant to me, and ask him how I could help him (he obviously needed it) but instead I said:
"What the fuck happened to you?"
"Let's eat something and I'll tell you."
"Okay." I said, trying to rack my brain and decide where to eat. Cafe Du Monde. Beignets make everything better.
"Actually scratch that," he said, "let's go to the hotel, I'm more horny than hungry."
I was torn. I could be offended, who was he to think that I'd just fuck him the second time meeting him. We'd said like 5 words to each other. But on the other hand, he's Calum Hood. And you don't say no to sex with Calum Hood.
"Okay." I said as I followed behind him.
