dedicated to cathartics bc man, aesthetics will forever be one of my fav fanfics. the perfection is real
~*~
The two teams approached the doors of the pizza parlor, and stopped for a picture before going in. Hallie still felt quite awkward around Calum, especially since she was forced to sit at the end of her team, making her end up next to him. Calum cleared his throat as an attempt to start a conversation between them.
"So, Hallie, uh, do you, like, uh, Club Penguin?"
"What?" Hallie nearly shrieked, letting out a loud laugh. Calum stayed quiet, a furious blush across his cheeks; he didn't mean to say that.
"Well, I loved it when I was younger. My favorite game was sled racing," she told him.
"You should add me. My username is cooldudecal03," Calum informed her proudly.
"Were you one of those guys who picked up girl penguins at the pizza parlor by using the heart emoticon?" Hallie teased, a small smile gracing her lips.
"Maybe," Calum admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.
"Is that what you're doing now? I mean, we are at a pizza place."
Calum didn't say anything, he just blushed. A silence overcame the two, though the restaurant was filled with aimless chatter, mostly from the football teams.
"Yeah, I'll add you," Hallie told him with a smile that Calum found adorable.
~*~
Soon after eating enough pizza to feed an army, the two teams left the pizza place, excluding Calum and Hallie. After some playful banter, the two decided to stay and play in the arcade.
They entered the dimly lit room, and Hal's eyes immediately lit up when she saw the air hockey table.
"Hood, prepare to get your ass kicked," she cockily remarked, while flashing a grin.
"Are you this competitive about everything?" Calum genuinely inquired.
"Get used to it," Hallie laughed and passed the puck to Calum, nearly making it in the slot.
They played back and forth for a while, whispering obscenities at each other (in fear of getting kicked out for their fowl language). Unlike today's football game, Calum won. He out a victorious yes!, giving Hallie a wide smile. Hallie smiled back, a blush forming on her cheeks.
"Maybe you should stick to soccer, Cohen," Calum sarcastically comments.
"Well, maybe you should stick to air hockey," Hallie says with a glare.
"Well, Hal, what do you say to round two?"
"I like the sound of that almost as much as I like it when you call me Hal," she states confidently. She then blushes at her words and looks up at Calum to see him attempting to hold back laughter.
"Shut up and play the game, you little cheese ball."
The second game went well for Hallie this time. After making the winning shot, she let out a victory shriek similar to her one at the football game. Calum laughed, telling her it was just luck, to which she scurried around the air hockey table and smacked his arm (not too hard, though, she'd save that for the field). The restaurant was about to close when they finally left. Currently they were stood in the parking lot, trying to figure out how to bid each other goodbye in the least awkward way possible.
"So, when do you want to meet at the field?" Hallie inquired. If she knew when they'd next meet, she could prepare herself beforehand and maybe she'd have an easier time controlling the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
"Hallie, it's gotta be spontaneous!" Calum chided with a warm smile. After he received a questioning look from the football captain, he sighed.
"I'd text you before," Calum explained in mock exasperation.
"You're ruining the mystique," he added.
"Well, if you're going to be texting me, you'll need my number, huh?" Hallie mused as she took out her phone. After exchanging bashful smiles and phone numbers, they went their separate ways.
~*~
"Hey, Rylin, can I come over?" Hal inquired over the phone.
"Yeah, sure. There's nothing better to do," Rylin sarcastically replied.
"Well, good. I'm already here," Hallie stated and hung up the phone. She ran up to the front door and barged in without knocking.
"HELLO, AXFORD FAMILY!" Hallie yelled as she entered Rylin's house. Enthusiastic greetings were exchanged before Hal made her way up the stairs, to Ry's room. Hallie burst into her best friend's bedroom animatedly, a giddy smile spread across her lips.
"Oh my fucking fuck, Rylin," Hallie sputtered, clambering on to her friend's bed after they exchanged hellos. Rylin didn't have to ask what Hallie meant by her statement, she already knew she was talking about Calum.
"How'd it go?" Rylin said knowingly with a suggestive smirk.
"Better than I anticipated. He's -- I don't know -- more fun than I thought," Hallie mused. This is what Hallie always did when it came to boys. She would freak out and then calm down to analyze the situation and/or boy within seconds. Hallie continued to ramble about her night while Rylin listened avidly, being the good friend she is.
"So you like him?" Rylin confirmed, though it sounded like a question because she knew that Hallie could become defensive sometimes. A sigh left Hallie's lips as she stared at Rylin's ceiling from her pillow.
"Yes," Hallie admitted almost reluctantly, "but I have no time for a relationship or crushes. Football is first."
"I think that's bullshit. Calum seems decent; I'm sure he'd understand your busy schedule more than anyone especially since he plays football too."
"I hardly know him," Hallie countered.
"Then get to know him, Hal."
~*~
Meanwhile, Calum was sat alone in his room. A mixture of remorse, guilt, and a happy warmth filled him. No matter how much Gretchen hurt him, he still felt guilty, like he'd betrayed her for being with Hallie. He told himself that she probably hadn't even let him cross her mind tonight, but feelings are feelings, and they can't be dismissed. He actually enjoyed himself tonight, which was a surprise, but making plans to see her again was foolish. He wouldn't cancel; that would be rude and another thing to regret. Calum knew what he was getting himself into, but he had no intent to get himself out, despite Gretchen.
~*~
HELLO SRY THIS IS SHORT. CURRENTLY WRITING OTHER CHAPTERS FOR OTHER BOOKS BUT I WILL GET TO THIS ONE SOON.
ALSO TYSM FOR ALMOST 300 READS ILYSM
XOXO- SARA N LENNON
