Beginnings • c.h

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Four

Anni POV

"Who wants icecream?" I say, standing up and brushing the sand off my butt. We had been at the beach for several hours now, and the heat was finally getting to me.

I look around and see that no one other than Calum has responded. I smile at Calum, grateful for the fact that he wanted to come.

"Just you and me then, Cal?" I say, as we walk away from the rest of the group. I look back and see that the rest of the group is staring at Calum's and my retreating figures. Seeing that I was staring, they all turn back to their previous conversations.

I narrow my eyes in suspicion. They were up to something, and I was determined to figure out what. I turn back to Calum to see him looking back to the others as well.

"They're up to something, aren't they?" He says, looking back to me. I chuckle and reply,

"When aren't they? It's just a matter of finding out what."

"I guess so... So, what icecream flavour are you getting?"

I furrow my eyebroiws, thinking over my favourites.

"I don't know, I always go with chocolate, so I guess that's what I'll have."

Calum looks at me incredulously, 

"You can not seriously be considering chocolate?! It is so common! Choose something you would never go with!"

I let out an annoyed huff, and mutter fine. We remain silent until we reach the van, which was situated at the top of the beach. Calum orders his icecream while I look at the different flavours, trying to decide which one to have. As Cal receives his icecream and pays for it, I finally see a flavour that I didn't even know existed.

"What can I get for you, pretty lady?" The boy asks. I blush lightly at what he called me, not use to receiving compliments. I look at him closer, and realise that he is in fact, quite attractive. His curly blonde hair and cute smile give him a boyish look that only he could pull off. Suddenly intimidated by his attractiveness I stutter,

"H-hi can I get the Bangkok Peanut in a cone, thanks?"

The guy, who I have estimated is at least seventeen, winks and spins around, getting me my icecream. I feel Calum's warm hand on my shoulder. I look up at him as he says,

"Anni, you don't need to get a weird flavour, I was just joking around..."

"No, Cal, you were right, I need to get out of my comfort zone more." I say, counting the money I needed out, ready to hand to the guy when he finished.

"Well, if you're thinking of going out of your comfort zones more, maybe we could, you know, go on a-"

"One bangkok peanut, for the pretty lady!" The boy says, spinning around and brandishing a very weird coloured icecream. I go to hand him the money, but he shakes his head.

"Free of charge for you, madam." he says, giving me a flirtatious wink. Pulling out a scrap of paper, he scribbles something down on it quickly,

"Give me a call, maybe we can hang out sometime." 

He hands me the piece of paper and I look at it. Scribbled in an almost illegible font was the name Stuart, and a ten digit number. I open my mouth to deny him, but I am beaten by a protective Calum. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulls me back slightly and in a very territorial manner says,

"Or maybe not. Come on, Anni, let's go." 

Stuart looks between us, and glares at Calum. 

'What's your problem, dude?' he asks, clearly getting fed-up with him. At his response, Calum's arm tightens around me minimally, but Stuart's eyes follow the movement anyway.