𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 - 𝑡. ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑

𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑞

⁂☽ chapter forty-four ☽⁂

EACH DRINK OFFERED SEEMED LIKE A BETTER AND BETTER IDEA. THE JOKES GET FUNNIER, AND THE THREE GIRLS BECOMES COMEDIANS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS. Calliope felt pretty, witty and cool.

"Go on tell him you love him." Donna slurred towards Calliope after a few vodka shots, mind in a frenzy, the world spinning faster than normal, legs giving way. Under the influence of alcohol, everything seems like fun.

Conversations that under usual circumstances would be dull, become thrilling as a result of muddled words, loss of filter and a burning desire to be brutally honest.

There is, of course, a small voice quietly nagging at the back of Calliope's mind, reminding her that she won't feel this way tomorrow and that her actions will have repercussions, and perhaps ones of great severity.

But when she's drunk, she is well beyond the point of caring. Her motto becomes, "Live in the moment," as opposed to her usual "every action has a reaction."

Zendaya placed down her shot of Tequila, sighing dramatically and drunkenly before placing a hand on Calliope's shoulder.

"Listen to me, Callie," Daya said, her head dropped before shooting back up, the alcohol taking over control quickly, "You and Tom need to get together, like now. Cause I'm tired of you talking about him and you need a boyfriend, like now."

Calliope winced, feeling the bass of the pub speakers causing her a headache. She rolled her eyes at Zendaya's statement, but she did agree that her friend was right.

The girls continued to drink aimlessly into the night, not realizing Tom and Harrison entering the pub, ready to drink their way into the evening. The two gentlemen were there for all of thirty seconds until Harison heard a familiar laugh from the bar. He turned to see his three female friends, sitting down and drinking, obviously already intoxicated.

"Mate, is that the girls?" Harrison questioned, patting Tom's arm to get his attention, before pointing towards their three friends.

"Oh, God."

_

THE GIRLS WERE PRETTY DOCILE AS THE GROUP WAS WALKING BACK TOWARDS TOM AND HARRISON'S APARTMENT. Luckily Tom and Zendaya didn't have to work tomorrow, so he didn't have to explain to the directors why their MJ is severely hungover.

Once they reached the apartment complex, the new challenge was getting his drunk friends up the stairs.

Calliope tried to walk up the stairs, but her legs were telling her otherwise. They were swaying– left and right. No matter how many steps she took, she was no closer to where she wanted to be. She stumbled before Tom caught her with ease, steadying her balance.

The two made their way up to Tom's door, he quickly fished out his house keys from one of many pockets on his jackets and unlocked the door. Once everyone was inside, Tom shut the door and watched as Zendaya and Donna collapsed on the couch, knocking out instantly.

"Well, I guess my work is done," Harrison joked, he turned towards Tom and motioned towards Calliope, who was still drunk in Tom's arms.

"You got her?"

"Yeah, it's no problem," he reassured, walking slowly towards his bedroom, leaving his friend for the night. He let go of her once he got Calliope on her feet, and removed his jacket and threw it on the dresser.

Unthinkingly Calliope collapsed onto the bed with an exhausted sigh and began to doze off.

"Calla, hold on, at least take off your boots and jacket first," He said sitting beside her and unzipping her coat slowly. She groaned reluctantly and forced herself into a sitting position.

"If you wanted to see me naked all you have to do is ask." She spoke unexpectedly clear and coherent, and raspier than usual.

Calliope flashed her one of her signature half-smiles Tom loved and shifted closer to him.

"You smell good," she paused to draw in his cologne, "Really good."

Tom was trying not to get sidetracked at their close proximity, but he couldn't help it.

"You're drunk," he said dismissing her statement as he reached down and undid her boots. She smiled and inclined in again, snuffling the crook of his neck, "And you're so warm," she rested her forehead on Tom's shoulder and he felt her arms drape around his lower body.

She respired deeply, her shoulders unfolding as she relaxed her entire body against him. Tom will admit, he liked having her weight against him. It made his heart flutter watching as her eyes drooped shut from time to time.

"You feel nice," Calliope said, causing Tom to shudder at the rumble of her voice against him. He bit down on his bottom lip gently and removed her arms from around him.

"Calla lay down, you need some sleep." he insisted. She gave him a goofy smile before patting the empty side of the bed next to her.

"Stay?" she whispered, looking Tom with pleading eyes. He sighed and nodded, pulling back the covers and slipped into the sheets, resting his head on the silk sheeted pillow.

Just as he was falling asleep, he felt Calliope begin to snuggle up against him, wrapping her arms around his body, head resting on his chest. His breath caught at the close proximity but after a couple of seconds he relaxed, wrapping a protective arm around the girl.

He prayed that she couldn't hear the rapid beating of his heart. Tom watched as she visibly relaxed, letting sleep take over her.

"You are going to be the death of me, Calliope Rose."

_