IRL ➳ c.h

three

12-5-14, 1:09 am {calum}

I groaned threw my phone down onto the seat on the couch next to me, earning a confused glare from the guys. I had checked my phone at least ten times in the last hour and she hadn't texted me back yet. It had been nearly a week since she'd last texted me.

"Cal? Y'all right?" Michael asked, putting his guitar down and coming over next to me.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I rubbed my face over my hand, closing my eyes for a moment, before blinking. Michael stared at me, turning my phone over in his hand. I took it from him, shoving it into my pocket.

"Is it that girl again?" I nodded. "What'd she say?"

"I found out she goes to school with us," I bit the inside of my cheek and Michael nodded at me. I continued, "So I asked her if I could meet her and she said no."

"Did she say why?"

"She told me she didn't want to ruin the illusion," I held up my hands, using my fingers to make air quotes. "Whatever the hell that means."

"Maybe she's just nervous," Luke murmured, not looking up from his guitar. "You've only known her for a little while anyway."

"I've known her almost a month, Luke." He shrugged,

"Maybe she likes you or something." Once I heard his words, the idea wouldn't leave my head. What if she did like me? That'd be pretty cool, I guess. I thought she was lovely.

"Calum?" Michael snapped his fingers in front of me. "You okay? You're kinda out of it, mate." he chuckled.

"I'm good, man," I stood up, running my hands through my hair. "I think I'm just gonna go for a walk and get something to eat. Anyone want anything?" The guys all shook their heads, except for Michael, who wanted fries.

I stepped out of the house and the hot air hit my face. I stretched my arms out and made my way down the street, trying not to think too hard about Astrid, but she constantly kept coming back to mind. I had no idea what she meant by ruining the illusion. I shook the thought off.

I made it to Macca's in under ten minutes. It was empty, beside the two girls sitting in a booth at the back. I gave them my order, making sure to get fries for Michael, and sat down in one of the front booths. I pulled out my phone from my pocket, clicking the screen on and off.

"Don't do that, you'll freeze your phone up." a voice said. I looked up, meeting eyes with a short girl with silvery white hair. Her blue eyes were big on her face and she had a small smile. She sat down across from me, folding her hands in front of her.

"Can I help you?" I asked. She rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"Not me, my friend," she nodded to the red haired girl in the booth who was giggling at us. I gave her a small smile and a wave before turning my attention back to the girl in front of me. She had taken her mobile out and was frowning at it. She stared at it for a moment before looking up and noticing me. She clicked it off and turned it face down onto the table. "Sorry about that, I'm just-never mind. My friend wants your number, so if could please write it down somewhere so I can give it to her and she'll let me go home?" She handed me a pen and I chuckled.

"Are you going to take my number too?" She scoffed,

"I'm just the wingman," she smiled softly. I wrote down my number on a napkin quickly, signing my name next to it. She grinned, taking the napkin from me, but her smile faded once she'd read it. "Your name's Calum?" she asked. I nodded and she stood up quickly, clutching the napkin in her hand. "I've gotta go." She said quietly.

"Wait!" She jogged to the other side of Macca's, whispering something to her friend, who got up immediately. Her friend shot me an apologetic look before grabbing her hand and running out, the blue-eyed girl throwing the napkin into the trash bin on her way out.

{astrid}

12-5-14, 1:47 am

I ran for it, running down three blocks before finally stopping to catch my breath. Meg stood beside me, huffing and coughing.

"Sorry," I muttered, taking another deep breath.

"No, no, don't worry about it," She coughed, sitting down on the grass and taking her inhaler out of her bag. I sat down next to her, calming myself down. She took a puff of her inhaler, then brushed her hair from her face. "So that was him? That's the guy you've been texting?"

"Yeah, that's him."

"But you haven't texted him in a week?" I shook my head. "What happened?" I sighed,

"I was scared," I ran my hand through my hair. "We were talking and found out that he went to the same school as us and he asked me if he could meet me and I freaked out."

"Why don't you want to meet him?"

"Look at me, Meg, I'm a mess," her gaze softened and she took my hand and squeezed it. "If he met me, he wouldn't like me. He's probably picturing some hot blonde girl with a perfect complexion and a perfect body."

"Astrid," she groaned, falling back onto the grass. I mimicked her. She turned to face me with a stern expression. "I absolutely hate it when you talk shit about yourself and I won't stand for it."

"Thanks, Meg," I murmured. She grinned at me.

"You're welcome, babe. Now text him."

12-5-14, 2:08 am

To: calum

hi i miss you

To: astrid

hi babe i miss you too

To: calum

i'm sorry for ignoring you, i've just had some stuff going on

To: astrid

do you want to talk about it?

To: calum

no, i just want to talk to you