The Past Is In The Past||Calum Hood

Chapter Four

We were driving for about fifteen minutes and Calums ‘explaining on the way’ didn’t happen. In fact, he didn’t say a word. I spent the whole journey doing my usual, staring at the road. Although, every so often I could feel Calums’ eyes looking at me, but I never turned to look at him. He was probably just staring at me and thinking ‘what have I got myself into?’. I noticed he was driving further and further away in the city, which was a positive I guess, because I don’t like people. However, if he was going to kill me, less people would hear my screams...

Calum pulled the handbrake and the car came to a halt, at first I thought we’d broke down because we were in the middle of nowhere. It wasn’t until Calum told me we’re here when I realised that was not the case. I looked around to see forest, forest everywhere. We were parked on a small field and the forest surrounded the car. I was too busy coming to terms with the fact I was going to get murdered so I didn’t notice Cal get out the car and open my door for me.

“Follow me,” Calum said after closing my car door behind me. I couldn’t see any weapons on him, so I did follow him. Calum is taller than me so he has longer legs, and longer strides. I dawdled behind him until we got to the entrance of the woods.

“Hurry up!” he said to me and grabbed my hand; he pulled me along with him through the woods because for some reason he was jogging, which to an unfit girl like myself, is the equivalent of a sprint. He jogged for about five minutes, making me try to hide how much I was out of breath.

Calum randomly stopped and turned to me, I looked around and I could see more trees and branches, we can’t be stopping here?

“Close your eyes,” Calum said to me; making me a tad more nervous about if I would ever leave this forest in ways that wasn’t a body bag. I slowly shut my eyes and felt his soft arms wrap around my waist. This gesture made shivers go down my spine, I breathed out heavily and relaxed my shoulders, and I felt safe.

“Sorry about all this physical contact on the first date, but I unfortunately need to direct you safely.” Calum explained making me jump slightly because I was enjoying the silence.

“Then let me open my eyes!” I replied. This outburst caused Calum to giggle and I could feel him shake his head because his hair tickled my ear. He took a step forward and so did I. Whenever he stepped, I did.

Calum eventually stopped walking and removed both bands from my waist. He placed his right hand into my left and interlocked our fingers. The smell of burning candles filled my nostrils.

“Open your eyes, Isla.” I opened my eyes to see a cave with a large picnic blanket placed in the middle with a bottle of Champagne and two glasses on it. Surrounding the blanket are hundreds of cream candles, all different shapes and sizes. Each one was lit and was producing a glaring flame. All expect for one in the far back, but I didn’t want to point that candle out in case I seemed ungrateful or rude.

“Come on in!” Calum cried letting go of my hand and walking through the candles which had a gap in like a wedding isle. I followed him and sat down next to him. First, he poured me a drink, and then one for himself. He stared at me and turned his head slightly, making him look like he was deep in thought. I stared back at him, taking in the beauty of his chestnut brown eyes. This staring completion continued for approximately two minutes.

“Let’s play a game!” he shouted excitedly. I nodded because this silence was making me drink faster, and we all know what happens when I’ve had too much to drink, even Cal does.

We decided to play 21 Questions which was a shock to me, because I was planning on something, a little less...revealing perhaps? Like eye spy maybe. But anyway, I agreed because this game involves a lot of talking and when I’m talking, I can’t be drinking.

We started off just asking normal things, for example, “what’s your favourite colour?” and the questions slowly progressed making me share more and more personal information with every answer. Fortunately, we both know we both aren’t virgins, so that question was irrelevant.

After a while of playing, Calum asked about my scars. I knew it was coming so it did not surprise me; however this is still a sensitive topic which I don’t like to share with anyone. No one knows, not even Indi. I explained for about ten minutes, telling him the reason I cut is because of my troublesome past. I also explained that I am always haunted of my mistakes, and whenever I remembered one, it would cause me to cut. When I told him this, his expression of content listening, changed to worry and guilt. Yes Calum, when I realised you took my virginity, I cut.

I finished telling him all this and he said nothing. Great, I’ve scared him off. We sat in silence just staring at each other, now again I would look at the candles around us. However, he didn’t take his eyes off me the whole time.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. Shocked, I looked at him.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He shook his head and pulled me into a hug. My head lay on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. One arm was around me, the other was over my shoulder. His hand was cupping my head. I had never felt safer.

We stayed like this for a while, in a pleasant silence. I felt Cals’ heart rate increase. He leaned back slightly and moved my head up to face him by using his thumb underneath my chin. He looks straight into my eyes, and I returned to gesture. His heart was still beating faster than normal and mine began to do the same.

His eyes flickered from my eyes to my lips repeatedly. He got closer and closer to my face until I could feel his breathing on my nose. He then looked me straight in the eyes and our lips just touched. Just. I saw him close his eyes so I did the same.

And then he kissed me. It began just a gentle peck but we both wanted more. He asked for access and I obliged. Then he did the same. Our mouths fit together perfectly, almost as if they were designed for each other. We explored each other’s mouths and after a short we changed position. We moved so we were both sat bolt upright facing each other. His hand is the nape of my neck and mine are resting on his shoulders.

No wonder he took my virginity when he kisses like that...