Cryptic (A Calum Hood Fanfiction)

Chapter #27

Annabel's POV:

"Darren, where have you been all morning?" I ask as he enters the suite.

"I was just running a few errands," he replies coolly. "Did you eat breakfast yet?" He asks.

"I made myself a bowl of cereal," I reply, flopping down onto the couch. "Ever since my memory loss, my taste-buds have changed; I remember eating honey-nut Cheerio's nearly every morning for breakfast and now, I've been craving nothing but Frosted Flakes; I had three bowls," I share, sighing to myself as I turn on the television and surf through the channels until I settle on a re-run of One Tree Hill. Fifteen minutes into the episode, I grow uninterested and turn to Darren who is at the table completing some paperwork. "What kind of errands did you have to run?" I wonder.

"Nothing to your interest or your concern," he responds blandly as he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"I didn't know you wear glasses," I comment, twirling a strand of my hair in pure boredom.

"They're reading glasses," he explains.

"I like reading," I comment. "I don't think I've gotten my hands on a single book since I've been here though," I add.

"There's a library downstairs, we can take a trip there once I finish this paperwork," he promises.

"What am I supposed to do until then?" I drone, realizing that I'm probably starting to get on Darren's nerves, but not caring too much.

"The same things you'd do to occupy yourself when Calum was here," he mutters, trying to concentrate on his work.

"We'd watch a lot of movies together," I quip.

"Then go watch a movie," he shrugs his shoulders.

"It's not much fun watching movies alone," I sigh.

"What else would you do?" He asks, scribbling more notes.

"We'd talk a lot," I tell, now sitting on the couch with my feet dangling in the air and my head hanging off the edge. "I like talking," I share.

"Color me surprised," he says humorlessly.

"I like getting to know people is what I mean," I roll my eyes. "I don't know much about you," I remind Darren.

"I'm not very exciting, boring even," he shares, dropping his pen as he cracks his knuckles.

"Got any special talents?" I inquire.

"I can name all of the presidents," he announces.

"That's kind of lame, don't you think?" I snort.

"I can say the alphabet backwards," he tries again.

"That's pretty neat, go for it," I urge and Darren does so. "Slightly impressive," I give him.

"Do you have any special talents?" Darren retorts.

"I know how to juggle and I never miss a free-throw in basketball," I boast.

"I played recreational soccer all through elementary, middle, and high school," Darren shares and I sigh to myself in relief; he's not a total square.

"Is there a basketball court here?" I ask, though only once I ask it aloud do I realize how ridiculous it sounds.

"Not necessarily," he chuckles.

"There's not much to do here, is there?" I murmur, being here already a little over a month.

"Not necessarily," Darren repeats.