REMEMBER // Calum Hood

Seventy six // lies

(Listen to I Can't Go On Without You by KALEO for more tears)

"Hey, Brody. It's me" I lower the window to greet the security guard
"Good evening, Mrs Georgia" He smiles politely to me and the boys, opening the gates and allowing our entry
The car ride was mostly silent. Jason and Drew tried to distract me from the inevitable conversation I'm about have but I couldn't focus enough to hear what they were actually saying. As we drove past the condominium's quiet streets, I rested my head against the window glass. Taking deep breaths, I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind. I saw nothing, only darkness.
"We're here" Jason announces our arrival "Call us if you need anything"
"It's gonna be alright" Drew says, staying positive "You'll see"
Calum's car is in the garage which means he either got home early or he carpooled with one of the boys. I walk towards the front door, dreading it every step of the way. Inserting the key in the lock, I open the door and walk inside only to find the house as tidy as ever and a soft song playing in the distance. Lights are out but the candles scattered around the living room illuminate the place. I stand in the hallway, taking in my surroundings and making a mental note for every planned out detail. Calum is romantic and very thoughtful but still, I can't bring myself to be happy because the lump in my throat is too present to be ignored.
"Hey, you're home!" Cal appears by the kitchen entrance, a timid smile playing on his lips
Our eyes meet, his full of concern and mine, hurt.
"Where were you all day? You never replied to my texts" He says while I scan over his features
His hair is still wet, showing he showered recently. Calum is wearing black jeans and a plain white T-shirt, so simple but yet so handsome. His expression is unreadable, both hard and soft at the same time.
"I was at the club" I quietly say "With Jason and Drew"
He nods, running his fingers through his hair. The soft music fills the house with it's romantic melody while we share a moment of silence.
"You didn't find the time to check your phone?" His tone is not so kind anymore
Deep breaths, Georgia. I remind myself.
"I didn't want talk to you" I say before heading upstairs
Calum doesn't follow me and I'm thankful for it. I drag my feet up the stairs and into the bedroom where I throw my purse on the bed. Feeling suffocated and out of air, I strip down to my underwear and tell myself a nice bath is exactly what I need. I get in the shower, hoping the water will wash away all my thoughts and insecurities but it has almost the opposite effect. I can't stop thinking about those messages and I feel like I might explode if I don't ask Calum the truth.

Make sure he doesn't lie to you again

Taking all the time in the world to rinse my body, I wrap a towel around my body before returning to the bedroom. Calum is sitting on the edge of the bed, a bouquet of red roses in his hands and a look of guilty in his eyes.
Why do you feel guilty, Cal?
"These are for you" He says, standing from the bed and offering me the flowers "And I made us dinner"
I accept the bouquet, taking it in my hands.
"Thank you. I will get changed and go downstairs"
Calum nods, his eyes telling me more than the words that come out of his mouth. He gestures towards the hallway, indicating he will leave the bedroom so I can get dressed. My heart breaks a little seeing him act so uneasily around me. If it were any other day, Cal would never leave me alone to change clothes. If anything, he would normally pester me to let him watch it.

Are you sure you can trust your boyfriend?

But this isn't any other day and there is nothing normal about it. I change into jeans and a sweater, feeling the need to cover my skin so I'm not too exposed. Too vulnerable. When I join him downstairs, Calum is waiting for me sitting at the table but I put the bouquet in a vase before joining him. He offers me a glass of wine once I take a seat across from him.
"I'm sorry for getting home so late yesterday" He says, trying to intertwine his hand to mine
But the feeling is foreigner. I never once refused his touch, if anything I craved for it at all times.
But not today.
"You were wasted" I add, wondering if he met that girl last night