Cryptic (A Calum Hood Fanfiction)

Chapter #3

Annabel's POV:

The next morning, I wake up an hour earlier, so I'll have time to stop at Java for a coffee and to report back to Calum with my discovery. I enter the small cafe, heading straight for the counter. "Hi, can I please speak to Calum?" I request to the man currently at the register.

"I'm sorry, but Calum's shift doesn't start until 12:00," he replies.

"Alright, I'll stop by later. Thank you," I smile, waving as I leave.

----

My classes seem to go by agonizingly slow today and I sigh in relief at the sound of the final bell ringing, the clock reading 2:00 p.m. "Have a great day," my French teacher calls as everyone exits the classroom. I stride to my locker, cracking it open and packing up my bag for the day.

"Hi Anns," Luke greets me, leaning on the locker opposite of mine.

"Hey," I reply, smiling.

"What're you doing today?" He wonders as I sling my backpack over my shoulder.

"Nothing much, why?" I reply, closing my locker.

"I was wondering if you wanted to hit up the skate-park this afternoon?" Luke asks as we start to walk outside.

"Yeah, do you want to meet up at 3:30? I have a few errands that I need to run before then," I share.

"See you then," Luke smiles, heading off in the direction of his car, while I head in the direction of mine. I stroll into Java 10 minutes later and this time, I see Calum behind the counter.

"Annabel," he greets me with a nod.

"Calum," I greet him as well.

"So, I see you've figured out my name?" He inquires.

"Yes, I have," I agree.

"Well, what can I get you? A tall soy latte with two shots of hazelnut, dry?" He asks.

"If you join me," I answer.

"As much as I'd love to join you, Annabel, I cannot due to the fact that I am on shift," Calum replies.

"My presence isn't needed until 3:30, so I suppose I'll just wait until you have a break," I retort.

"Very well then," he states, getting back to work, while I take a seat by the window, skimming over a magazine. Around a half hour later, Calum takes a seat across from mine. "I admire your patience," Calum shares, handing me my coffee as he takes a sip of his own.

"Thank you," I reply. "By the way, you have a lovely name," I add.

"Thank you," he replies.

"You intrigue me, Calum. You have such an alluring aura," I tell.

"Annabel, I kindly suggest that you get to the point because I'm aware that Luke is expecting you at the skate-park in approximately a half hour," he reminds me. I look at my watch and indeed, he is correct.

"How did you know that?" I wonder.

"I know a thing or two about a thing or two," Calum smirks.

"Who are you?" I ask, my eyebrows furrowed.

"I thought we already discussed that my name is Calum. It's very nice to meet you," he grins, sticking his hand out for me to shake.

"What caused you to visit London?" I ask, ignoring his gesture.

"Business matters," he answers, simply.

"What kind of business?" I elaborate.

"None of your business," he retorts. An alarm coming from Calum's watch sounds and he stands. "Well, it seems that my break is over, so I best be going. Have a nice day, Annabel," Calum shrugs, tossing his empty coffee into a nearby bin. "Oh, and do tell Luke that I said hello," he adds.

----

I meet Luke at the skate-park, my pennyboard in my hand. "Hiya," he waves, hopping up from the bench he was seated at.

"Aloha," I joke.

"Ready to shred up the pipes?" Luke inquires.

"You bet," I reply, smirking as I place my pennyboard onto the ground and hop on, skating towards the half-pipe. I've been practicing Steve Caballero's famous 'Caballerial' and I manage to suceed in the manuever for the first time. "Did you see that?" I exclaim to Luke.

"Sick," he compliments, fist-bumping me.

"Let's see what you've got," I challenge. Luke goes for a 'McTwist', named after the one and only Mike McGrill and he suceeds in doing so, with perfect technique. "That was wicked," I comment, in awe. We continue skating for another hour or so, until we decide to grab a bite to eat. "Poe's Chinese?" I suggest.

"Is that a rhetorical question?" He teases, racing to my car. We walk into Poe's and a waitress leads us to a booth in the front.

"So, how long will your friend Calum be visiting?" I ask, my curiousity getting the best of me.

"I'm not quite sure, he kept things vague the last time I spoke with him," Luke replies.

"How long have you known Calum?" I continue.

"We've been pals ever since middle school," Luke sighs, smiling at the memories.

"How did he know I was meeting up with you today?" I blurt.

"What?" Luke furrows his eyebrows. "Oh, I talked with him this afternoon and he asked about you," Luke remembers.

"H-He did? What did he say?" I wonder.

"He seems to have taken a liking to you," Luke smirks.

"He fancies me?" I gasp.

"I suppose so," Luke shrugs, innocently. He looks back down to his menu and Calum remains unmentioned for the rest of the night.

----

I lay awake in my bed, tossing and turning; I am restless. Calum consumes all of my thoughts and I yearn to learn more about him. However, I don't know how I feel about him taking a liking to me; I find it a bit unsettling. I won't deny that he's good-looking, but there's something about him that doesn't quite rub me the right way.

Author's Note;

So, "Cryptic" didn't reach 15 views yesterday, but I still updated & I am happy to say that my Harry Styles fanfiction, "Sweetheart" has reached 50 views! If you like 1D, but you haven't read it yet, I highly suggest that you do! ;)

QOTD: What should Calum & Annabel's ship name be?

Calabell? Cannabel? Calubell? ... Comment & I'll pick my favorite

-Carly