close as strangers | calum hood

two

Jaden

I remember my last real conversation with Calum like it was yesterday...

cal: jaden, could you meet me at our spot? i need to talk to you.

Reading the text made knots form in the pit of my stomach. He needs to talk to me? Fuck, that's never good. Plus, he used my full name. This must be serious.

I bit my lip out of nerves as I texted him back.

jade: sure, i'll be over in a sec.

I jumped out of bed, my feet landing softly on the fuzzy carpet beneath me. I grabbed an over sized champion sweater from my closet and slipped it over my head. Nights like this were always chilly. Satisfied with my lazy look, I turned off the lights in my bedroom and headed to the window. I lifted the glass all the way, and climbed out of my room and onto the roof of my house.

My house was a semi detach, connected to Calum's; so the roof's of our houses connected in the middle. The way the house was structured created a perfect platform on the roof of the houses between my room and Calum's room. To top it off, it was facing the beach.

I climbed out and onto the platform, seeing Calum already there. He had brought a fleece blanket, knowing I get chilly on nights like this. I crawled to the seat beside Calum, and hugged my knees as he draped the blanket over my shivering legs.

"So." He spoke.

I nodded, indicating to him that I was prepared for the talked we were about to have.

We both sat there, watching the sun as it set before us. The sky was painted a beautiful magenta, fading into pink and orange. Sunsets like these were my favourite. But as the sun went down, I got colder.

Calum noticed as I shivered. He wrapped a strong arm around my waist and pulled my body closer to him. I could feel his warmth radiating off his body. I felt better as I was closer to him.

"Jaden, you know I'm leaving soon." He finally said.

I nodded, "I know."

"So uh-" Calum said before sighing, "I want you to know that I don't want to leave you, but this is an amazing opportunity for the boys and I."

"I know, Cal," I laughed lightly. "I'm not stopping you from going."

"You're the only thing preventing me from going, Jade."

With those words, I sat up and looked at him, furrowing my eyebrows.

"What do you mean? All I'm doing is supporting you." I said, suddenly offended that he didn't acknowledge my efforts to support him and the boys.

"I know you are, that's not what I'm saying. You're the only thing that makes me wanna stay here. With you." He said nervously, and bit his lip.

"Huh?" I asked. I wasn't exactly sure what message he was trying to convey.

"Jaden, I have feelings for you." He whispered.

My heart started beating faster.

We had known each other for 17 years, and had all that time to fall in love, start a relationship. Why now, when he's leaving, does he decide is a good time to tell me.

"Calum, you're leaving." I frowned.

"Can you just- tell me if you like me, too?" He asked, almost impatiently.