Summer //hood//

12. Babysitting (pt.1)

Calum laid on the couch while absentmindedly changing the tv channels. It had been three days after his last fight with Summer. He felt stupid for it. He moved his gaze to his phone on top of the coffee table in front of him. He had contemplated a few times to call or text Summer, asking for an apology. But he was sure Summer would never want to forgive him. She made it clear that day.

"Hey, Cal," Michael called as he walked into the entertainment room. Calum tilted his head to get a better view of Michael. "I need your help," Michael continued.

"What help?" Calum furrowed his eyebrows.

"So, as you can see, Luke and Claire brought all of the families to Vegas yesterday and they won't come home until a few days," Michael started. Calum furrowed his eyebrows even deeper, getting confused.

"Since there's no one else in this house, except you. I want you to babysit Nathan and my cousin's daughter, Chloe." Michael took a seat on the armchair near Calum.

Calum shot up and sat straight, looking at Michael with horror expression. "No," he answered immediately, not even having second thoughts about it.

Michael slid down on the floor, kneeling in front of Calum with puppy eyes. "Please, Calum. Helena and I barely had time to spend together since Nathan born. We need this. We need you," Michael pleaded.

"But you know I'm not good with kids," Calum reasoned. He knew how badly Michael needed some time to spend together with Helena. He wanted to help him, but he's never been good around kids.

"Well, don't worry. Someone will help you to babysit them." After Michael finished his words, there was a sound of car horn from the outside. "Ah, that must be them," Michael said to himself then ran excitedly to the front door.

"Calum, come here, man." Michael called from the front door.

Calum grumpily stood up from the cozy couch and went downstairs where he met Michael with Nathan in his arms and his cousin's daughter, Chloe, who talked to Michael about barbie.

Michael chuckled to whatever Chloe said then he averted his gaze to Calum who stood near him with a scowl on his face. "Chloe, that's Calum. He's my best friend," Michael said to Chloe.

The blonde little girl whipped her head around to see Calum. Her eyes gleamed in excitement as she saw Calum. She ran into Calum and hugged his legs since she was so short compared to Calum. It took Calum by surprise. "Hello, Calum," Chloe greeted him sweetly.

"Hey, Chloe." Calum said and awkwardly patted her head while offering her a nervous smile.

"So yeah, you don't have anything to be worry about." Calum straighten up as he heard Helena's voice. He also heard some clanking voice from heels against the floor. That's when he saw Summer walked into the room with Helena. She had not notice Calum yet, because she was looking at Helena while listening to her.

"Shit," Calum muttered under his breath and Michael slapped his side of head.

"No cursing around kids," Michael warned with barely whispered voice.

"Sorry, sorry." He mumbled.

Helena and Summer stopped in front of them and that's when Summer turned her head to see the person who stood in front of her. Her eyes widened as she saw Calum but soon they were furrowed and her eyes filled with hatred.

Michael, who sensed the sudden change of the tension between them, quickly handed Nathan to Summer- well, shoved his son to Summer to be exact.

"We've got to go now. See you tomorrow. Have fun," Michael said quickly in one breath. He kissed Nathan before practically ran, dragging Helena behind him.