Neighbor Calum

Chapter 17

"Are you gonna tell Calum?" Kylie asks in almost a whisper as if he'd somehow hear all the way from his practice.

"Tell him what? There's nothing to tell," I shrug.

"You're right. You only went on a date with some other guy," her voice now holding a hint of sarcasm.

"It wasn't a date and even if it was Calum and I aren't together besides, he said he'd be fine with me doing it anyway."

"Well obviously he's going to say that Kot, he can't exactly just tell you not to."

But that's the thing. I want him to. I want him to tell me that he wont be fine if I were to date someone else. I want him to tell me that he doesn't want that, that he wants to be the one I go out with and maybe that's the reason I agreed to the stupid non-date in the first place.

"Why can't he?" I have to physically keep the whine out of my voice.

"You and I both know Calum wouldn't, he's just not that kind of person," she sighs.

"Well then he shouldn't mind should he?" I can't help but be a bit snippy. It's just not fair really, he can't say what he's feeling so I have to just wait around for however long - maybe forever - until he decides he's ready to tell me what he's feeling and if he even wants me at all.

At this point I'm just making assumptions but he could very well not want anything to do with me romantically speaking so why shouldn't I be dating and finding someone who actually likes me and is more than willing to tell me so?

Even if I don't count it as a real date because a real date in my head is going to the old record store in town and picking out my favorites then going back to mine and laying on the floor listening and talking and oh yeah, Calum. Calum is a very important figure in this date in my head.

"So you don't mind if I tell him then?"

"It wasn't a date, tell whoever you want," I reply coolly but hope she knows me well enough to see how panicked the thought makes me.

"Ready?" she says instead of pressing the issue and I nod.

-

"Penis!" Michael shouts but it's still not loud enough to catch the attention of people at the public pool.

"Penis!" I shout just a volume louder but still no looks.

"Peen...is" Kylie doesn't even really try.

"That's cheating! You have to say it and you have to say it loud," Luke retorts.

"Shut up Luke, it counts," Michael shoves Luke off his pool chair.

"Hey," I frown. "No shoving, and it doesn't count," I direct the last part at Kylie. She rolls her eyes but does it over nonetheless.

"Penis!" Calum goes after her and it's loud enough to get the attention of a couple of girls not too far who giggle at him. I internally groan and have to keep from rolling my eyes because that's my Calum and he's playing the game I suggested and he stays up late with me and they can piss off.

He doesn't miss the chance to send them a smirk and all eyes are on me it seems.

I don't care.

I don't care.

I don't care.

"Penis!" I shout loud enough to get every mother, child, and teens attention from all around the pool. In return, I get daggers from mothers who cover their children's ears getting their stuff together to move, snickers and giggles from the teens and a warning from the lifeguard.