Beginnings • c.h

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty One

Christmas Eve

Anni POV

"Luke, shut up!" I scream for the fourth time.

"Make me!" he screams back. For the past three hours, all Luke had been doing is running around singing Christmas carols. Sure, I get that it is Christmas Eve and everything, but how many times can you freaking sing 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer' until someone punches you right in the face?

Because it was Christmas Eve, and everybody was spending time with their families tomorrow, everyone thought it was a good idea to all gather at Mikey's house to exchange gifts and whatnot. But I couldn't really concentrate on anything that had really happened these past few weeks of holidays. My mind was to caught up in thoughts of a dark-haired boy.

I was a little annoyed and saddened by the fact that Calum hadn't asked me out yet, I mean, come on! He had admitted to liking me around four weeks ago, and he still had done nothing about it. We had kissed, for god's sake! I mean, wasn't that enough of a clue to say that you like a person! We had been texting almost constantly, but we hadn't actually spoken in person since the night I stayed at his place. Whether or not I was deliberately avoiding him, I still wasn't sure.

My head was constantly swimming with the same thoughts. What if he doesn't like me anymore. What if maybe he thought I didn't like him. What if he was waiting for me to make a move. You know what, playing the 'what if' game doesn't help anything, so just stop Anni.

Oh, great, now I am talking to myself. See what the confusion about Calum has driven me to!

I am brought back to my senses when I hear Aimee calling my name and waving her hand in front of my face. Shaking my head, I look up at her from my seated position on Mikey's couch.

"Are you okay, Anni? You've been kind of quiet, other than yelling at Luke." She chuckles, but says in a tone that lets me know she was serious. I nod my head,

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine..."

Aimee looked unconvinced, but still took a seat beside me, as everyone made their way to the lounge room. Everyone was either piled onto the lounges or seated on pillows on the ground. I look up from my hands and see that Calum was directly opposite from me, and from what I could see without making direct eye contact, he was attempting to gain my attention. Luke, seemed to notice this as well as he came to sit on the ground in front of me.

"Calum's staring at you, if you didn't already notice." he whispers, turning to look at me. I glare at him and he quickly turns around. I let out a sigh. Ever since the day that I let my secret loose, Luke and I hadn't been on the best terms. We had barely spoken, and quite frankly, I was missing one of my best friends. I lean down, and using my hair as a curtain from everyone else, and whisper in his ear.

'After we all hand out the presents, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Without looking at me, he tensely nods and I sit back up. Unconsciously I look up and meet Calum's gaze. Our eyes meet only for half a second but that is long enough for the tension between us to grow. I look away and almost let out a smug smile.

He was clearly watchnig me whisper in Luke's ear, as his fists were now clenched as well as his jaw, and his gaze flickered between me and Luke. Serves him right, my brain mutters. Ashton and Megan both seemd unnaturally excited; both were clearly over-excited children.

"Let's hand out the presents before Ashton or Megan wee themselves." I announce, pulling out my presents for everyone.

Everyone follows suit, and within two minutes the entire Clifford lounge room is covered in multi-coloured and patterned wrapping paper.