All In Due Time

Shut Up

"Wow, you suck at this." Calum observed humorously.
"Shut up, Calum. I told you I'm terrible at video games!" Winnie scowled defensively and frowned at her player, feeling disoriented and clumsy.
"It's so easy though!" He argued.
"Ugh!" She gave up and tossed her controller on the floor. "If we were playing Mario I'd kick your ass."
"HAH." He paused the game and then faced her on the couch. "You could try."
She looked down her nose at him and crossed her arms. "Is that a challenge?"
He nodded, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
They were waiting at Luke's house, they'd arrived early and used the spare key to get in. Winnie was going to watch them practice and then make everyone food. Everyone had cut their hair, Michael too, although it was still fairly long and very wild and brightly colored to keep his punk rock aura intact. Puberty was beginning to take its toll on all of them. Ashton's hair was her favorite but she didn't tell the rest of the boys that, it was brushed over his forehead in a small wave of soft hair. She'd always run her fingers through the front of his hair in greeting or when showing signs of affection. Ashton and her were partners in crime, unless of course he was scheming with Calum, then she was bumped down a rank to second in command of reeking havoc. Ashton loved filming little videos of the band and pulling pranks. Winnie loved it because it always ended with a fit of laughter or a giggle-fest from Ashton and he had the best and most diverse laughter in the entire world. His arms are adorned in even more muscle and he just loves muscle shirts whenever Flo comes over to her house the same day the boys do. Valerie appreciated it more than anyone; she was still modeling and in the choir at their school and still gorgeous and was only mildly appreciative and impressed by the boys. Same old Val.
Luke's height skyrocketed almost as high as his hair. He now towered over Winnie who was a solid 5'4" and he styled his hair by spiking it up. He was still a lil cuddly penguin though and had grown a soft spot for Winnie, getting very protective over her. One time he came over on his own, got in bed with her, cuddled, then made cookies and watched movies with her because all the boys were busy (that's what she thought the reason was any way). He was always a little quiet when they were all around new people so he'd hang out with her, letting Ashton and Michael do most of the talking, and they became very close. Not as close as her and Michael but they had a sweeter type of friendship.
Mikey was still a bundle of pale skin, colorful hair, and cuss words-the light of Winnie's life. Meaning he was constantly at her house eating her food and bringing a trail of his hungry friends behind. Whenever Calum or Ashton pulled a prank or joke on him they'd become a dynamic duo and team up to retaliate. Winnie brought cunning and intelligence to the table while he brought enthusiasm and ammo. She was the one who always dyed his hair, which was currently a bubble gum pink. They constantly exchanged friendly but usually fairly angry or passionate banter, constantly wrestled that usually ended up in one of them tapping out in exasperation and annoyance, constantly poking fun, constantly tossing random overwhelming affection, and were almost always together.
Except for times like this.
When it was just her and one of the boys.
Like Calum.
Winnie always managed to take sneaky glances at him and on special occasions even get in a lengthy stare, usually she didn't get caught. Usually. But one day the boys took notice of a blush on her cheeks after Calum said something to her and since then they love teasing them that they're secretly in love. His hair was a little like Ashton's, length wise, but his was brushed more across his forehead. He was much more muscled than he was a year ago. Much more. He too enjoyed muscle shirts. He was unbearably adorable, enormously sassy, cleverly funny and he unknowingly stole her heart and had slowly squished it. He was infatuated with Valerie and even invested in asking Winnie for advice, saying some stomach punching thing like I can trust you and you're such a good friend and all that jazz and then continued to ask about Valerie. She always rubs her thumb over the scar she gave herself on the back of her hand when he talked about her or tried to flirt with her. Valerie, bless her soul, kept her eyes on the prize, which to her was Luke's height and Ashton's arms. Calum loved annoying and poking fun at Winnie, as much as, if not more, than Michael. Sometimes it took an almost cruel tone but she couldn't blame him since she never let it show that it got to her. He was just a boy. But he always added at the end a sweet comment or act of affection that made her blush furiously. He loved calling her silly names and talking smack on her food or teasing her about how she looked but always adding something at the end that made her heart pound. It was rather unfair, in all honesty.
"I don't know, sweet Winnie, I don't want to embarrass you too bad." He pulled a pitiful face, eyebrows drawn together and up, maximizing the puppy look. She made a face at him and got up to change the game, she knelt in front of the wii and turned on the controls, tossing one behind her and hearing Calum catch it.
"I'm hungry." Calum announced.
"Hi hungry, I'm Winnie." She said absently while searching for the game.
"Did you really?" Calum questioned and she glanced over her shoulder to see his judgmental but amused expression.
"Whatever, Calum. Go make yourself your own food."
"No, make me a sandwich, WOMAN." He said in a deep theatrical voice.
He knew it would illicit a response from her, just what he always wanted. Her face morphed into an outraged offended expression and she strode over and shoved him off the couch.
"Don't call me woman, boy, I'll kick your scrawny ass!" She yelled down at him. Then added, "and never make you food again!"
He was in a fit of laughter though so she huffed, crossed her arms, and turned on Mario Kart, grumbling angrily under her breath.
"I'm kidding, Winnie!" He chuckled, trying to get up but was laughing too hard. "Wow, I love how worked up you get over nothing."
"NOTHING?" She echoed loudly and he giggled, kneeling in front of her.
"Are you going to rant at me?" He taunted and place his warm hand on her bare thigh, sending a jolt through her veins, but she slapped it.
"YEAH, YEAH I FUCKING AM CALUM HOOD." She jabbed her finger into his chest, pressing forward and pushing him back with her finger with every word. "WOMEN. ARE. NOT. AROUND. SIMPLY. FOR. A MAN'S. PLEASURE. WE ARE OUR OWN PEOPLE."
She nudged him forcefully back onto his back and was leaning over him, one hand braced by his head, her thighs on both sides of his torso and she continued to yell at him; not even noticing the amused smirk or his hands on her hips.
Calum watched her, biting his tongue to keep from smiling too widely. Her cheeks were turning pink and her brown eyes were bright with her fit of rage and her pointer finger repeatedly rammed itself into the left side of his chest. He didn't process a word. He felt her hair brush across his cheeks and neck and moved his hand from her hip to tuck the strands behind her ear but she batted it away dismissively.
"Are you even listening to me Calum Hood for fuck's sake, I know your mother raised you better than this she is a lovely woman-"
Impulsively he leaned forward and connected their lips. Winnie stiffened immediately, frozen, her body rigid in shock. He retreated and threw himself back on the floor limply, one hand behind his neck while the other arm sprawled out randomly. His finger tips tingled. But it was just Winnie. It was a friendly peck on the lips to get her to shut up.
He chuckled. "The look on your face is priceless, Winnie."
She blinked and tried to get her expression under control but her heart was hammering wildly and felt like it was bouncing off the walls of her ribcage. "Shut up."
"Now that you've stopped screaming at me, I'm sorry for injuring your pride and I'll help you make food because I agree that women and men are equal. Happy?" He said and patted her shoulder.
She took a deep breath. "Sure, Cal. Try not to burn Luke's house down, alright?"
She got up and tried not to rush away from him.
"Hey!" He protested. "Are you saying I can't cook?"
She brushed her finger tips lightly over her lips and shivered.
"Luke would still love me anyways!"
Her lips were warm and felt almost numb.
"Fight me!"
She blinked. "What a nerd."
"Nerd???" He demanded.
"Yep," she confirmed, popping the p.
"Excuse me, sugar," he grabbed her wrist and flung her body against him, wrapping his arm around her. "I am no nerd."
Granted he was cooler in school due to his sassy attitude and seemingly lack of toleration for people besides Luke, Michael, Ashton, and usually Winnie, but nerd was just a silly insult. And he knew it. So what was with all this touching. Maybe it was just her, the kiss messing with her head. She felt like she was going to melt in a puddle and/or cry. The scar on her hand was burning.
"Nerd."
He pouted and she smirked.
"Look at you," she cooed. "A cute wittle nerd. Oh, so precious."
She pinched his cheeks and he scowled and his hold around her waist tightened. "Watch it Jane."
She was pleasantly surprised at how hard his muscled were, she could feel them around her and pressed against her stomach, through their shirts.
"Oh please." She rolled her eyes, unimpressed.
His thick comical eyebrows rose as if he was hoping she'd say something like that. He scooped her up like a princes and started strolling to the back yard.
"What are you doing?" She questioned and he just grinned gleefully. "Cal!"
She struggled in fear but he kept his grip on her and she was now held like a sack of potatoes thrown over his shoulder. He opened the glass sliding door and then turned on the hose.
"CALUM." Winnie pleaded only to feel his chuckle vibrate up his back. "CALUM."
She heard the faucet turn and the rush of water through the hose and she writhed and squirmed desperately. He gave her a quick swat on her rear before dropping her and then aiming the hose at her. She screamed and ran and he chased after her, spraying her with freezing water.
"CAL-UM" her voice hiccuped when he shot her in the ass on the jet setting.
"Ouch! That looked like it hurt!" He called behind her, hot on her tail.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, Calum okay, fine, I take it back! I take it back!" She chirped.
"WHAT WAS THAT?" He shouted and heard her sigh.
He stopped running so she jogged to a cautious stop, eyeing the hose.
"You're not a nerd, and I'm sure you're a phenomenal chef." She muttered in defeat.
He grinned broadly and puffed out his chest and cat walked over to her with the hose slung over his shoulder. "Tell me something I don't know."
"You're ruthless, Calum Hood." She tried not to smirk but he saw it and his grin grew wider and he tucked her wet hair away from her face and cupped her cheek.
"I know."
She rolled her eyes and he wrapped his arm loosely around his shoulders and did a victory walk, Winnie jumping on his back halfway to the door.
"You're getting my back wet." He complained.
"Oh, boo hoo, poor baby." She pressed herself against him more, before saying in his ear, "well, sucks, I'm drenched."
He laughed and tossed the hose aside and went inside.
"I'm going to dry off." She hopped off his back and went to the bathroom next to Luke's room. Calum went to the kitchen first to search for what food he wanted, tugging at his wet shirt in annoyance and deciding finally to just borrow one of Luke's.
He strolled through the door to see Winnie shirtless pulling on a pair of Luke's boxers over her marvel character underwear, she stood up before he could tell which one but he was fairly certain it was Thor.
"Cal," she chided. "Quit ogling me."
She then proceeded to casually throw on a plain white t-shirt over her bare chest. She browsed his closet and then decided to pull out a red and black flannel and pulled that on too. Calum blinked and snapped himself out of it and grabbed a random shirt, ripped his off and then glanced at Winnie to see her looking at him from the corner of her eye. He smirked and she straightened and left to the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves.