Begin Again // Calum Hood

Chapter 16.

In the morning Michael invited me to hang out before he had to work the rest of the day. I felt bad for Calum, but I felt even more guilty for telling Michael about Calum talking to me. I didn't tell him exactly what he said, I thought that was too private.

"I feel bad for the guy." He mumbled. We laid on Michael's bed with our heads close together.

"Yeah, I don't think he tells his friends these things. They haven't been at our room in a while." I trailed off. "Or if his friends even talk to him anymore, actually." I traced my fingers down Michael's arm. l always had a habit of touching Michael subconsciously. His eyes adventured my face. He grew an innocent smile.

"What?" I whispered.

"You're so beautiful."

"Michael." I sighed.

"What?" He giggled.

"Nothing. You're just cute." I quickly kissed him and climbed off the bed. "We're gross, you know that?" I yelled as I strolled into the kitchen to find breakfast.

"What do you mean?" He chuckled as he followed my path.

"We're so lovey dovey. It's icky."

"Icky?" He breathed out a laugh.

"Yeah, icky."

He shook his head.

"I would call you adorable, but that's icky isn't it?"

"Very." I searched through his cupboards for any sign of a breakfast food. "Do you have any cereal? Or anything breakfast related?"

"Erm, probably not. I usually skip it. I have bread and butter if you want toast." He pointed to a loaf of bread next to his fridge.

"Mmm. Toast."

"Hey, it's better than nothing." He shrugged and sat in front of the bar at the kitchen.

"I guess." I popped two pieces of bread in the toaster and waited.

"Could you make me some babe?"

"Thought you didn't like breakfast?" I chirped. It came our a little more sharp than intended, and the look on his face showed that he took notice.

"Is something wrong?" His eyebrows furrowed to a line.

"Just kind of on edge I guess." I sat next to him on the tall stool. I nestled my head on his shoulder.

"Anything I can do?" He kissed the crown of my head.

"Everything I say will come off rude." I sighed.

"It's okay. Everyone has those off days." He rubbed my opposite shoulder and rotated me for a hug. I wasn't really in a very affectionate mood, but I didn't want to seem off putting, so I hugged him back.

"When do you have work?" I spoke as Michael's shoulder muffled my words.

"In about an hour." We separated the hug. A devious smile grew on his face. "You know what we could do..." He rubbed my thigh.

"Michael, I am no where near in the mood." I said in the most serious tone I could manage. "Could we just pretend like that didn't even happen? I mean yeah it was nice, but I was inexperienced so it probably sucked for you, and it all just happened so fast. Let's just have a redo." He giggled.

"So you just want to call backsies on your virginity?" His tone made me laugh and blush at the same time.

"That's precisely what I'm saying. I know what I need to do now, so we can just put the past in the past." I had to admit that this topic made me giggly and a little awkward.

"But that's the point of your first time, you have to learn the ropes and build off that. You have to get you virginity jitters out." He nudged my shoulder which sent me into a huge laughing spell.

"Please don't say that again." I choked out.

"What? Virginity jitters?" He laughed along.

"Yes, it sounds like some weird sex toy or something." I stood up and walked to the couch. Michael followed like a lost puppy. We sat on the couch and I immediately attached his lips to mine. My anti-affectionate mood had slightly softened with our talking.

"Your lips taste good." Michael vibrated against my mouth.

"Thanks. Yours taste like coffee." I put my elbows on his shoulders and my fingers went to the top of his head. Our lips were a few centimeters apart but we were basically breathing each other's air, as odd as that sounds.

It was actually nice not to talk and not to kiss.

"You're so beautiful and I like you a lot." He breathed.

"You've said that already, and I like you a lot too." Our lips moved in sync for a moment until I stood up. "You need to get ready for work without distractions." I mostly separated because I didn't want to lead into and making out or more. I headed towards the door. "Plus we were getting icky again and we can't have that." I half smiled. "Have a good day at work, and I will see you later okay?" I waved, blew a kiss and shut the door.

☣ ☣ ☣ ☣ ☣ ☣ ☣ ☣ ☣

"You're lying to yourself, Calum. Spiderman is the greatest superhero!" I argued as we stood in the kitchen.

"No way. Batman is way cooler. He doesn't even have any powers. He's just naturally that smooth. Like a ninja." He pulled an exaggerated fighting stance.

"Exactly what I'm saying. He doesn't have any powers. He just has money." I shrugged.

"You're totally missing the point here. He doesn't have powers. He's just that fucking suave." He spoke in a hushed tone. He sped to his room before I could respond. I didn't feel like the argument had a justifiable end, so I trailed behind him.

"But Spiderman has stuff Batman can't even buy. Like web powers and stuff." I stepped so we were much closer together.

"I'm sure there's something you can buy. I mean he's like a billionaire."

"Buying something is not nearly as cool as just having it."

"But he didn't just have it, he got bit by a radioactive spider." He genuinely smiled, exposing his top row of teeth with a little peek of tongue underneath. That was my favorite smile of Calum's, because it actually meant he was happy.

"That makes him even cooler." I whispered and shot him a look that read "you won't win this".

"This argument is going no where." He quietly laughed.

"There wasn't much of an argument to begin with."

"You have to admit, I fight hard. You went back on your argument a few times." He poked my shoulder.

"No, I'll stick with my argument." I smiled and looked into his chocolate brown eyes.

"You'll go back on it. I'm pretty convincing. Your argument will pale in comparison." He trailed his fingers up my arm.

"You are convincing, but I like my argument." I spoke at a regular tone. He watched his own fingers on my arm, mesmerized by the simple movement. "Calum?" His eyes finally met mine.

"Yeah?"

"We aren't talking about superheroes anymore, are we?" My mouth remained slightly open, my words hanging on my lips.

"Not even a little." He brought his lips closer to mine and I didn't pull back.

"Calum." I squeaked out right before our lips attached. He slightly hummed in response. "I shouldn't do this." Everything inside me was telling me to stop, to pull away, to leave him. Except my lips. They longed for the presence of his. I brought my hand to his neck and parted my lips to allow his tongue into the kiss. He slid my jacket off and I kicked off my shoes.

"Sorry I'm so convincing." He whispered, barely audible.

WOAH HEY.

sorry it took me forever and a year to update. i'll try to get on that more often.

*plot intensifies*