track and trace // calum hood

37 | Elizabeth

"So, you guys are back together?" Crystal asked the next morning when I was filling her in on everything that happened last night. "Yes, I guess so. But we're taking it really slow. And I'm not even sure we can go back to how we used to be a year ago, but we can try." I told her and she nodded.

"Yeah, I get that. A lot has happened in the past months, you guys need to regain each other's trust," she said. "Exactly. Which is why we're also keeping it a secret for the fans. I'm getting enough hate already, I really don't need any more for dating Calum again." I said and she sighed. "Fans can be tough. Do they still send hate, even after Michael's post?" she asked and I shrugged. "Don't know. Haven't checked my social media yet." I said.

Crystal nodded, a sign she understood my decision. "How do you feel now that you and Calum are back together?" she asked and I let out a deep sigh. "I don't know, I don't feel different. I still feel like shit. Is that weird? For eight months I wanted to get back with Calum. Now we're back together and I still feel like a depressed piece of shit while I should be happy." I leaned against the wall as Crystal crossed her arms.

"Maybe that is because of everything that happened? You know?" Crystal said and I let out a small chuckle. "You mean Cal and I acting like complete sex obsessed humans in the past month? I'm praying he didn't get a weird STD from one of those girls."

Crystal laughed. "It's a miracle you didn't get pregnant yet, girl," she said and I laughed. "Thank god no," I said. I felt my phone buzz in my back pocket and grabbed it, seeing a text from Calum. Crystal picked up on the sudden change of my mood. "Guess you're a little happy, then?" she said with a smile and I looked up at her. "It's Cal, he wants to go on a date tonight," I said.

"Like a second first date?" she said and I shrugged. "I guess so, but what about the paparazzi? I told him I wanted to keep us a secret." I told Crystal. "Calm down, Calum probably figured something out. As long as you two don't go holding hands and kissing in public, it's fine. Fans are too busy yelling over him crying at the show anyway."

"That's why I'm worried, paparazzi will be all over us to find out why he was crying."

"Jee, Liz. Just go on that date with Calum, will you? He's trying so hard and I know you're still upset but so is he. Please try." she said and I nodded. "I am, I am, calm down," I said before quickly texting Calum back.

"I need your help with an outfit," I told Crystal, who immediately smirked and walked to my suitcase. "At your service."

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Calum knew what he was doing. To make sure that the fans and paparazzi outside our hotel didn't get the idea that we were on a date, he brought Luke and Ashton with us in the cab. Not a great start of a date, but he realized how much I cared about our privacy now that our relationship was still so fragile.

Calum had taken us to a fancy restaurant in the city center and Ashton and Luke would pick us up when we were done. Calum was nervous and so was I, it reminded me of our first date, a long ago in Los Angeles.

We sat down at the table in the corner of the restaurant and looked at Calum. His brown eyes had that sparkle back and it was the most beautiful thing ever. "Are you okay? I mean - with this date? Is it too fast? I thought maybe we could just start over completely and I thought a first date was appropriate but -" Calum started and I chuckled. "Hey, it's my job to ramble," I said with a smile and Calum nodded. "I know."

"I'm glad you took me on this date, Cal. I really am." I said, my fingers intertwining with his. "Thank god," he said and let out a deep sigh.

We chatted for a while having our dinner and the thing I started to notice was that even though we were talking a lot, we were never talking about one of us. The conversation always went to the tour or the boys or their significant others, but not about us. It was like we were avoiding the one subject that really mattered.

I mean, I could understand why. It was awkward. We were awkward. Only time could heal us at this point and we needed to trust each other.

After our dinner, we hopped back in the car where Ashton and Luke already were waiting for us.

"What did you guys do?" I asked Luke and he chuckled. "We sat at the bar next door," he said and I noticed he was a bit tipsy and I giggled. "Typical."

"I'm glad you guys are back together," Ashton said and I smiled, looking at Calum who was sitting next to me, our fingers still intertwined. "Me too," Calum said, a soft and relaxed smile on his face. I scooted a little closer to him before resting my head on his shoulder. Thanks to the blinded windows, no one was able to see us.

We drove back to the hotel and made our way to our hotel rooms. "Isn't your room over there?" I said as Calum walked past his room and continued to follow me. "Isn't a man supposed to bring the woman home after a date?" he said with a smirk, making me smile a bit.

"Right, totally forgot," I said, walking to my own door before turning around to Calum. "I had fun tonight, Calum. Thank you." I said and he nodded. "My pleasure," he said before coming a little closer to me. "Is it - Is it okay if I kiss you?" he asked me as I held my breath, giving him a small nod before I already leaned in, dying to feel his lips touching mine in a loving way.

This kiss was different, it was pure, it was soft and caring and everything I needed. It wasn't the rough kisses he used to give me when having sex, this was different.

I slowly pulled back and opened my eyes again, looking into Calum's. "Goodnight," I whispered before opening the door with my hotel card. "Goodnight, Liz," he said, smiling at me once more before walking back to his own room

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this chapter sucked but its xmas so i didnt have time to write but ok

ALSO i have a great idea for my next fanfic which i will start when this book ends (and idk when that is) and i need yo opinions: mute!calum x liz. I love liz so much i want her to be in another book sksksks sorry. i dont have a storyline or anything figured out so if any of u have some grEAt ideas hmu in dm