Shy // Calum Hood

*•Stop•*

Bailey's P.O.V.
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Calum's large hand slid a ruler across the table, right on que. I'd been at this damn school three weeks now, and things had only gotten worse. Klara and her little gang use every chance they get to make my life a living hell. I at least avoided them at break and lunch because I hid in the toilets every day.
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The only highlight of this dump was maths. I still suck and I still hate it but me and Calum have a routine. Were still yet to speak to each other, but he let's me borrow his ruler and I let him borrow my rubber, or when we need to go up and get something, like a worksheet, we take it in turns to get one for each of us. It's lame I know, but I love that he's the only person here that doesn't pick on me.
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The only problem is, he's some sort of maths genius and I'm terrified he's going to see how awful I am at it. I subtly cover my work from him at all times, making sure he will never see. Having Klara know is bad enough, she purposefully tells everyone I'm a 'maths wizz' and that they should all ask me for help.
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Calum's P.O.V.
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At first, I try my hardest to concentrate on the work, but after a few minutes I find myself drifting and my eyes staring at the side of Bailey's head. She usually wears her hair down, but today it's up and I can see her neck. I imagine kissing it. The thought makes me feel hot all over. I try to wipe it from my brain, like it never existed. I take a deep breath and focus on the worksheet.
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Another scrunched up piece of paper hit the back of Bailey's delicate head causing her to jump slightly. She sighed at the snickering behind us and unraveled the note. I peered over her shoulder curiously at what they had written this time.
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'Freak.'
Was written in big, bold letters paired with a terrible drawing of her with a red cross over her mouth. My fists clenched as I was becoming more and more agitated with our classmates.
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They didn't tease me so much anymore, and when they did it was always about her. Bailey. The beautiful, fascinating brunette who sat next to me four hours a week, every week. They teased us because we were quiet, knowing we'd never defended ourselves.
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That however was about to change if they didn't stop this. It's one thing bullying me, considering my past I would bully me too. But Bailey? What's she ever done to them?
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We still hadn't spoken, but we had exchanged frequent glances whilst we thought the other wasn't looking, occasionally we even made eye contact, and even if it was only so for a couple of moments, it's more than I allowed with anyone else.
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Klara's chair screeched, signalling her time to walk past us and do something to Bailey. She did this every lesson, it was like a routine.
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I watched intently as Bailey pretended she didn't know what was about to happen. Maybe she thinks if she concentrates hard enough, Klara will just ignore her, but she doesn't know Klara like I do. She'd never pass the opportunity to humiliate someone.
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Her signature red finger nails subtly slid into her handbag and pulled out a yogurt container, and before I could do anything, creamy white yogurt was coating over Bailey. Her eyes glazed over and she looked flustered, as though she was about to cry.
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"Klara Adams! What have you done?" Our maths teacher barked to the sly girl.
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"It was an accident Mrs, I tripped over my shoelace, silly me. I'm awfully sorry Bailey, I'm such a klutz sometimes."
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"Right . . . Well Bailey why don't you leave to go and get washed up?" She sighed sympathetically.
Bailey seemed dazed and unsure of what had just occurred.
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"Do you know where the washrooms are?" Her gentle voice soared over to us.
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I watched as the pretty girl opened her delicate lips to speak, but nothing came out. She shook her head ashamed.
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I stood up instantly causing heads to turn and stare, including Baileys. They had no idea what I was going, this wasn't me at all. I had no idea what I was doing.
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"Yes Calum?" She inquired.
My eyelids squeezed shut and I pushed out a breath, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly.
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"I-I will . . . show her." I mumbled staring down at my palms, as I heard a few sarcastic gasps at the fact I hadn't spoken to anyone here in well over two years.
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My teacher seemed stunned but when I looked up, she smiled none the less.
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"Well that's very kind of you Calum. Off you go."
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Bailey's P.O.V.
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We gently strolled down the blank hallways in an awkward silence. The only noise accessible being the trudge of my yogurt filled shoes against the floors surface, I was still extremely confused at the situation. Puzzled as to why I was covered in yogurt.
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I felt the urge to say something to him, anything. The silence was too uncomfortable, even for me. I rehearsed what I was going to say in my head over a few times before digging my nails harshly into my palm.
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". . . Thank you." I whispered, barley audible.
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His head swung round and he stared at me intently, scrunching up his eyebrows, confused. He hadn't heard what I had said, great.
I took another deep breath and tried to say it again, failing, I pressed my eyelids together and muttered the words out, slightly louder this time.
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"Thank you."
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His plump lips tugged into a goofy grin and his cheeks reddened slightly.
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"It's no problem." He forced quietly in return. I loved his Australian accent. It was so much more interesting than my plain English one.
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I nodded, unsure of what to say next, before turning my head and watching the walls dance by. I had done enough talking, for now at least anyway.