Negative Space (Calum Hood A.U.)

Chapter 24 - Cooling Off is Not Cool

a/n this one's a little short but a very important chapter

im also updating 'cause i freaking saw panic! at the disco last night!!! ❤💙💚💛💜

June's POV

I quickly pushed Tom back when I realized what was happening. "Why did you do that?"

"I'm sorry." He sincerely apologized. He was looking anywhere but me. He just kissed me. Why would he kiss me?

He cleared his throat. "Look. It's uh. Okay, I'm not going to make excuses like that's how British people say goodbye because we don't do that. I'm just going straight and say it. I like you."

Okay, what?

Tom Holland likes me?

That's impossible. I uh, but he kissed me.

There's too much going on with Sydney liking Calum and now Tom, with me? What is happening right now?

"Oh. I uh-what? Wait what? What? Whu what?"

"You don't have to say anything. I'm leaving and I just needed to let it out. It's not like I'm going to do anything about how I feel for you because I won't. Calum's my friend. I would never do anything like that." Even with this, he's still nice. It must've been really hard for him.

Fuck, I feel so selfish and insensitive. I always bring everything Calum related to Tom without even knowing how he must've felt.

"I want us to stay friends. I don't want this to come between us." I also want to stay friends but when he just told me his feelings for me, how could I?

Maybe that's why he only said it now. It's because he's leaving. He won't have to deal with seeing me.

I sighed, "Tom, I uh, of course. We'll still be friends." At the same time, I didn't want to lose him as well. He's become a huge part of my life.

He smiled wide, this time, I know it's genuine, "Thank you. I would uh walk you to your apartment but I'll make it easier and just leave."

"You said it's dangerous for a woman to walk alone." I can't be certain that nothing will change between us after tonight but I want to at least make the most out of our remaining time together before he leaves for Atlanta.

Tom chuckled and accompanied me back to the apartment.

--

Tom's leaving today and for the past week, I was glad we were back to normal. Like nothing happened. It's not like anybody else saw it like what happened with Sydney, so we didn't let it come between our friendship.

Calum came with but he just sat there, not really talking to anybody else. Jackson, Ashton, Malcolm, and Sydney were here, even the other Betas. Then again, he's an honorary member of Beta.

"I'm going to miss you, bro. Don't get too famous, okay?" Jackson gave Tom a bro hug, saying his goodbyes to his bestfriend. Tom was closest with Jackson and Malcolm as they shared a room before the two became frat bros.

"I'm going to miss you, too, mate." Tom patted Jackson's back and Malcolm walked over, talking to him, probably saying his goodbyes as well.

When Tom was done talking to all the Betas, Calum surprisingly walked over and pulled Tom aside.

My boyfriend told something to Tom which made his eyes wide. What could it possibly be? Tom glanced towards my way for a bit before turning back to Calum.

I looked closely to the two, trying to read their mouths. I read Tom's lips mutter 'I'm sorry' but I couldn't make out Calum's response because he turned his back on me.