Roller-coaster ride : c.h.

Truth be told

"Calum..." I trailed off not wanting to get into the detail. To be honest, I never thought in a million years that I would a) see Calum, b) be friends, c) be living together, and d) would be in a romantic relationship with him. I wanted to tell Calum all about my book, I really did, but how do you tell someone that them hurting you was the reason for your success?

"I can handle it." He said putting his hand on my thigh and rubbing his thumb against it.

"Yes." I chocked out. "The things that happened between Jack and Kelly are based off of what happened between you and I. I never meant to hurt you, but I was so so angry and I just needed to find a way to cope, so I wrote it all out. I changed the names and added my thoughts to it and fictionalized it obviously. I was just so hurt, and you were my only true friend who I trusted with everything and after what happened I just needed to find an escape. It wasn't like I could go and tell my mom and dad that the boy who was basically a son to them had taken my virginity and humiliated me." I felt tears starting to build up.

"I tried to call you..." He said wiping tears from my face.

"I couldn't face that, I wouldn't even know what to say. I needed to leave Sydney and when the opportunity came, I took it."

"I had no idea what I did to you."

"I'm not gonna lie, I was damaged for awhile. I still am not confident in myself or trusting in myself again yet, but when I found Keaton, I thought he was gonna be my redemption. But when I found out that he had been seeing someone else because he wanted things to move faster, I just.. I don't know." I sighed letting out all of the pent up anger and resentment.

"Alana, I never want that ever to happen again. I promise I will never hurt you again and if I do I don't know what I'll do. It was hurtful knowing how much you hated me and how much pain I caused you. Honestly, I don't know if I would've know what to say even if you did talk to me before you came here." I truly for the first time in my life I was at a loss for words. I had nothing to be mad at Calum for anymore. He had just said everything I wanted him to say.

"I don't even know what to say Cal."

"You don't have to say anything, just know that's it true." He pressed a light kiss on the tip of my nose making butterflies flutter in my stomach. "Can we do something fun today?"

"Like?"

"Why don't we take advantage of this beautiful beach and get tan."

"Sounds good to me."

-

I slip into my black bikini and grab some chairs walking down to the private part of beach. The sun was hot just as it always was in California on a day in late June. I took a seat plugging in my phone to a portable speaker putting on some Pandora. I picked Blink 182 station since it was both me and Cal's favorite band. After a couple of minutes of soaking up the rays I reminded myself of the sunburn that hurt like a bitch. "Hey Cal, would you mind putting some sunscreen on me?" I asked feeling sorry for making him move.

"Yeah." He said as I stood up he applied the cool moisture of the cream on my back sending chills down my back between his hands and the cold. I began to shut my eyes and technically started falling asleep standing up. "All good." Calum said turning around and handing the bottle back to me. I threw it back in the bag and reclined in my chair allowing myself to doze off. It felt like 15 minutes before I was woken up by a splash of cold water. "Calum Thomas Hood!" I screeched. He didn't answer he just dunked me under the water. "You. Are. So. Dead." I said jumping onto his back and dunking him under a wave. When he popped up he started splashing me, "Okay, okay we're even." I said trying to dodge the water coming at my face.

"Okay, fine, we're even." He said pushing his chest close to me. It looked like he was about to go in for a kiss when he dunked me yet again.

"You're a jerk!" I said trying to catch my breath and pushing him away from me. I heard him giggling behind me. "It's not funny. You made all of my makeup come off."

"It's not like you need it." He said rolling his eyes at me. He walked over and scooped me up leaving only my bottom half in the water.

"I swear to God if you dunk me again I will kill you."

"I'm not." Calum said putting his forehead against mine. Our lips were so close but they did not touch just yet. I wanted to kiss him, I really did, but my thoughts couldn't stop the feeling of rush how rushed I felt. I liked Calum, like a lot, but it was way too soon for me to jump right back into the relationship pool with him.

"I'm cold." I said turning away from his kiss. He put me back down to my feet as we packed up our things at the beach since the hot California sun was setting. Calum jumped in the shower but I decided to look around the apartment. I went into the garage and ventured around to discover my old guitar. I pulled it out and plopped myself down on the couch trying to play a couple of chords before I was interrupted by a shirtless Calum. He grabbed the seat next to me and pulled me onto his lap placing his arms around the guitar and me. "What song should we play?" He asked grinning at me.

"I was trying to figure that out myself."

"What about one of my songs?"

"Deal."

"Which one's your favorite?"

"Long Way Home." He took my fingers and placed them between certain strings. "We're taking the long way home. Taking the long way home.

Take me back to the middle of nowhere. Back to the place only you and I share. Remember all the memories? The fireflies and make-believe kicking back in the old school yard singing songs on our guitars this is our reality crazy stupid, you and me. I know this is the way it's supposed to be. So we're taking the long way home cause I don't wanna be wasting my time a-lone. I wanna get lost and drive forever with you. Talkin' about nothing, yeah, whatever, baby. So we're taking the long way home tonight. " He turned me around to face him and I climbed off of him. "So, what'd you think?"

"It was fun, but I'm definitely rusty."

"It's okay, guess that means we have to practice more."

"Guess so." I said standing up and trying to control the butterflies in my stomach. I went into the bathroom and started to wash the salt off of my skin. I crawled into bed where Calum was laying down and scrolling on his phone. I turned off the light and laid my head down on the pillow. "Goodnight." I husked.

"Night." He said curling up next to me.