Shy // Calum Hood

*•Sleepovers•*

Bailey's P.O.V.
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My foot tapped repeatedly against the smooth plastic of my chair. It was fourth lesson, which meant maths today. and I was anxious to speak to Calum after the events of last night. I didn't want him to think I was an idiot, I appeared to of developed feelings for my new friend that I'd never really experienced with somebody before.
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My clammy palms squeezed tightly together as I watched Klara and the rest of my classmates filter in. I averted my stare from the old doorway, to avoid eye contact with any of them. I really wasn't in the mood to be teased as usual today.
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I felt someone's body warmth radiating over to my me from behind me and I knew Calum had arrived, creating me to take a shaky breath before turning to give him a small smile.
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"Hey." He whispered as he sunk into his chair, although he didn't have to whisper because our teacher still was nowhere to be seen.
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I was about to respond before Klara threw an object slightly larger and heavier than the usual scrunched up piece of paper at the back of my head. I turned around instantly to discover an eraser was her new throwing weapon as I ignored the paper balls now.
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"Rumour has it you can speak." She smirked slyly.
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As usual I failed to respond to her remark, it was silly anyway. She knew I could talk. I had after all, spoken to her on my first day.
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"My friend Tracy, tells me you two love birds skipped school yesterday and that you can speak!" She sang, raising her voice. An echo of snickers bounced around the room, mocking me from all angles.
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I swung my head back round and focused my attention to the front, as, to my luck, our teacher waltzed through the door.
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I felt Calum's palm rub my thigh gently, his actions letting me know to ignore them because I had him. My heart danced at the contact, pounding rhythmically against my chest.
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My mind felt heavy as our teacher babbled on about equations. None of this made sense to me and I was getting extremely frustrated and flustered. I felt like an idiot as everyone around me nodded their heads, they all understood. They weren't stupid.
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I watched carefully as Mrs Curly's hazel eyes stopped at me. My breath hitched in my throat as I knew she was about to ask me a question.
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"What's the answer then Bailey?" She raised a thin, perfectly shaped eyebrow at me whilst tapping her finger to a question on the board.
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I shrugged my shoulders in hope that she'd ask somebody else, which failed to work as she shook her head firmly.
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"This isn't difficult Mrs Rovers, and if you were listening you would understand." Her normally tranquil voice sounded irritated.
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A heavy lump was felt in my throat every time I attempted to swallow, I bit down so hard on my lower lip to prevent the warm tears in my eyes from spilling that I could taste blood. My breathing became rapid and unsteady as I began to panic. I had no idea what the answer was, and even if I did I'd never be able to say it in front of everyone here.
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"I can wait all day." Mrs Curly pursed her lips expectantly.
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I could hear the snickers mocking me from behind and I wasn't sure if I could contain the tears which were prickling my eyes.
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The person I was most embarrassed about was Calum. I didn't want him to know that I lacked knowledge in this subject, especially as he seemed to excel so well in it.
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"It's not difficult Bailey, just speak." Her voice forcefully raised.
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"Nine over six, now leave her alone." Calum spat from beside me.
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Her eyes darted to Calum in annoyance.
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"I asked Bailey, not you." Her voice sounded uncertain and almost . . . afraid of Calum. It was as though his previous silence was unsettling for her, and the fact he was now speaking concerned her.
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At long last the sound of the bell rang through our ears as I shoved my possessions in my rucksack before swiftly exiting the classroom.
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"Bailey, wait up!" I heard Calum's deep voice yell after me, but I was too far into it now. I couldn't let him see me cry two days in a row.
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I quickened my pace and locked myself in the girls bathroom, sliding my back down against the wall and placing my face into my palms. The hot tears were pouring out by now and I didn't even try to stop them. I was so humiliated. This was so embarrassing.
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Why am I like this? Why can't I talk? Why can't I do simple math? I threw my black bag to the other side of the single room in frustration.
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After a few brief moments the door began to vibrate as someone was thumping it from the other side.
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"Bailey, come on, open up." I heard Calum's muffled voice through the wooden door.
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"Is anybody else out there?" I squeaked back knowing I couldn't hide in here forever.
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"It's just me." He reassured before I stood up and clasped the lock in my palms revealing Calum standing alone in the Barron hallway.
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He strode directly over to me as he engulfed my body into his warm muscular arms.
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"Don't worry about it, she shouldn't of done that, she knows your shy." His hot breath was evident against my shoulder.
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"You know friendship lesson one?" I queried into his upper body, my short height unable to reach above about midway across his chest.
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"Yeah?" He let out a small chuckle.
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I pulled away from his torso and sighed.
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"I'm absolutely shit at maths." I blushed as he grinned.
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"I know." He smiled warmly. "I knew when you didn't do any work whatsoever before we spoke, and then you just copied me." He chuckled lightly.
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"Sorry." The heat rushed into my cheeks.
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"It's fine, I'm happy to help." He laughed gently.
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"You want to go to the tree?" He asked, swiping a strand of hair out of my face in the process.
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I just nodded in response, desperate for today to just be over already. I followed close behind his tall figure as we strode in a hurry towards the tree.
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Calum's P.O.V.
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I shuffled my body subtly closer to Bailey's as we lay side by side in the grass, watching some squirrels fly about the branches above.
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"So, er, I was wandering, what are you doing tonight?" I muttered to her.
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"Tonight? I'm really busy you know, movies, pizza and I have a great evening planned." She smiled as the squirrels began to chase each other playfully.
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"Do you think I can join you three?" I blurted out hopefully.
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"Sure, is this friendship lesson three?" I watched as she raised her eyebrows slightly.
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"That's exactly what it is. Lesson three of friendship is sleepovers." I nudged her in the side teasingly.
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Her face dropped the smile as she shuffled away from me, unsure.
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"I've never, um." She coughed awkwardly and faced away. "I've never had a sleepover before . . ." Bailey admitted shyly.
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"It's fun." I assured her immediately.
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"I don't think you're going to want to stay the night Calum." Her tone of voice lowered, despite there being nobody around us.
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"And why is that?" I pushed.
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"I'll disturb you, I told you last night what I'm like when I'm asleep." The heat lept to her cheeks.
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The truth was I couldn't get my mind away from Bailey anyway, but now I just kept worrying about her. These nightmares sound awful and I feel so guilty knowing nobody is there to soothe her.
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"Friendship lesson four. Best friends are always there for other best friends, no matter what." I smiled at her kindly.
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"Best friends?" She turned back to me and smirked.
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"Best friends." I repeated confidently.