more ↠ lrh

thirty-nine

"Calum, hey!" I grinned at the sight of the caramel skinned boy from the other side of my laptop.

"Hey, Arabella," he grinned at me. "You look great, as always."

"Too nice, as always, Cal," I smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm doing great, actually got a gig," he smiled. "It's just playing a few songs on my guitar, nothing else, really."

"That's awesome," I smiled. "That's great, you deserve it."

"Thanks, Aria," he smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm good," I said to him. "I'm doing really good."

"What have you been up to?"

I bit down on my lip to stop from smiling so hard. "I uh-I'm kind of seeing someone."

"Yeah?" Calum said before laughing. "Really? Aria, that's great, tell me about him."

"Well, his name is Harry, oh my god, Calum, he's so sweet," I gushed. "He's not like the assholes before, he's caring, and he just-he gets me. Not like Luke."

"Is he hotter than Luke?"

"Calum!" I laughed. "I'm not answering that."

"Oh, come on, I need details here," he groaned. "Have you two fucked yet?"

"Calum!" I repeated. "We've only been on one date!"

"Past few times, that was enough for you-"

"You are disgusting, why do I even talk to you?" I groaned at him.

"Because you love me!"

"Calum, who the hell are you talking at 2 in the morning?" Luke's voice rung in from the other side.

Calum panicked, adjusting the camera downward so that Luke couldn't see his screen. "No one, did I wake you?"

"Who is it? You're girlfriend?" Luke teased, his voice getting louder.

"Luke, quit it, go back to sleep- hey, stop it!"

"Come on, let me see her-"

Suddenly, the camera was moved so that Luke was sitting in front of it, face to face with me.

"Oh," he said, his eyes stuck on the screen, both of us frozen underneath each other's eyes. "Bell, hi."

"Hey, Luke." I said, my voice quiet. 

"Um, how are you?" He asked, discreetly pushing Calum out of the frame.

"I'm uh-I'm doing good," I said to him. "What about you?"

He nodded. "I'm good."

"Alright, now piss off-" Calum started saying.

"Shut up-"

A knock sounded at my door, making me furrow my eyebrows. "Actually, I have to go, there's someone at my door-"

"Are you expecting someone?" Calum asked.

"I'm not."

"Well, stay on the line," Luke interjected. "..so we can make sure you're safe."

I set the laptop up on my counter so that it was angled at my door. I unlocked it and opened it, a smile spreading across my face at the visitor.

"Hello darling," Harry greeted, kissing my cheek. "I know you have class today so I brought you some-why are there people watching us?"

Oh fuck, I completely forgot about them. 

I spun around, seeing Luke sitting there, his eyes wide and his mouth open with shock. "Sorry guys, I've got to go, see you later, Cal!"

I quickly hung up before turning around and looking at Harry, sighing. "I cannot believe that just happened."

"Who was that?" Harry asked, setting the drinks on the counter.

"It was my friend Calum," I said. "And Luke."

"Ex-boyfriend Luke?"

I nodded. "I was talking to Calum and he practically took the computer from him. He didn't know it was me, how awkward was that? I can't believe he saw you."

"Oh, I'm sorry, love, I didn't mean to come at a bad time."

"No, no, it's not your fault." I said as he wrapped his arms around me in a hug.

Harry and I had been seeing each other for a couple weeks, nothing interesting, really. We hadn't even kissed yet. Just hung out.

I smiled as he pulled back, squeezing my shoulders gently. "Thanks for the coffee, Harry."

"Of course, Arabella." He smiled, his green eyes meeting mine.

I took the drink from his holder and took a sip, an cringe falling on my lips. "This doesn't have almond milk in it."

"Oh, sorry, love, that's mine," he chuckled, taking it from my hands and handing me the other one. "Still like my whole milk."

"Why do I even like you?"

"Is it my looks?" he teased. "I think it's my looks, my personality's shit."

"Oh, shut up, it is not."

"Whatever you say."

"I've got to get to class," I said, glancing at my watch. "Drive me?"

"My pleasure, darling."