Cryptic (A Calum Hood Fanfiction)

Chapter #33

Author's Note;

just a little btw: there's been a bit of a time skip, so in this chapter, Calum and Annabel are in the process of the identity project! & sorry, this is a bit of a filler chapter, but the next chapter is going to be pretty intense

-Carly

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Calum's POV:

"Okay, I have a few names picked out," I start, opening up my notepad as Annabel gets her daily check-up from Trisha.

"Shoot," she nods.

"I have Christian, Carter, Chance, Chase, Colton, Chandler, and Casper," I share.

"Chandler? Don't go all Friends on me now," Annabel teases. "And Chase reminds me of that one boy from Zoey 101 with the Jew-fro," she adds.

"Okay, so what about the others?" I ask, scribbling out Chandler and Chase.

"I like Colton or Casper the best," she decides.

"I like Casper, too," Trisha pipes up.

"Okay, are we all in agreement on Casper then?" I check.

"Casper it is," Annabel declares. "Now, it's my turn," she smirks, fishing out a crumpled piece of paper from her front pocket. "Okay, I've got Ava, Amelia, April, Ansley, and Arabella," she shares.

"Arabella? Don't go all Arctic Monkeys on me now," I tease, imitating her.

"Okay, okay," she laughs, scribbling it out. "What about the others?" She asks.

"Ansley sounds like a spice or an herb," I crinkle my nose, so she scribbles that name out next. "Ava is a little boring," I add, so she scribbles that name out next.

"Alright, we've got Amelia and April left. Which one do you like best?" She inquires.

"I like April," I decide. "Me too," she smiles.

"April it is," I entwine our hands, kissing the top of her's.

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Casper's POV:

"Come on out," I call to April from the waiting area.

"Introducing, the new and improved April Gaiter," Talia, the agent in charge of the identity project, pulls back the curtain, revealing April. She walks out with the help of her crutches, moved on from her wheelchair as she continues to regain her strength each day. At first sight, her eyes pop as she takes in my new blonde highlights and green contacts.

"I'm going to miss your brown eyes," is the first thing she says.

"They were only brown," I shrug, taking in her new honey-ash blonde hair, cut just below her shoulders, and light brown eyes. "Now, your eyes are ones worth missing," I comment, already missing her bright blue eyes that were a toxic contrast to her long dark brown hair. She looks so naïve and vulnerable in her new state and appearance, running her fingers through her new hair and twirling the ends around her finger; I can't help but find it adorable.

"What last name were you assigned?" She wonders.

"Hade," I reply.

She nods, "I like it." April takes a seat beside me, resting her crutches on the ground and for a good few minutes we just stare at each other. "I do really like your highlights," April speaks up, ruffling my hair.

"They're... different," I shrug, still not used to the new look.

"Won't be long now; another month and we'll be free at last," April grins. "When will Mr. Dannings know our new location? I'm eager to find out," she adds.

"Soon enough," I reply, pulling her onto my lap and resting my chin on her shoulder.

"What is Mr. Dannings going to do about our parents? Mine think I'm in the Caribbean's studying plant life, but that won't do forever; they'll start to worry and wonder and what will happen when they can't reach me? They'll send out a search party and it will be a disaster," April murmurs.

"He's already dealt with my mum and she understands the circumstances. They're going to have to stage your death," I mumble.

"What?" She softly gasps.

"Mr. Dannings has it all figured out," I assure her. "I'm really sorry," I sigh, pulling her closer and hugging her tighter.

"My parents are going to be devastated," she whispers, turning into me and rest her head on my shoulder.

"It's the only way," I retort.

"Gee, shit just got real, Cal," she bites her lip.

"Casper, you have to call me Casper from now on," I remind her.

"But, I like your name; I like Calum," she argues.

"My name is Casper now and yours is April," I say sternly, only because I have to. The sooner we grow acquainted and used to our new names and new selves, the better.

"I know, I know," she grumbles, sliding back to her own seat. "Y'know, I keep telling myself that it'll all be worth it, because I'll have you, but the cons are starting to weigh out the pros," she shares.

"Love overpowers all," I counter.

"I know, I know," she grumbles again. "Promise me one thing?" She requests.

"Anything and everything," I nod for her to continue.

"We'll be happy, right? I'm not looking for a fairy-tale or a 'happily ever after', but we will be happy, right?" She questions.

"We'll be happy," I promise.

"Okay," she nods in agreement and smiles and I can tell by her smile that she believes it.

"Let's head back to the suite, alright? We still have quite a bit of packing to do," I lean down, picking up April's crutches and handing them to her.

"I hope we get located in Maine or Vermont or maybe even New Jersey," April goes on as we near the elevator.

"What's the reasoning behind those choices?" I inquire, stepping into the elevator and clicking the button for our designated floor.

"Maine has great lobster, Vermont is great for skiing, and I love the beaches in New Jersey," she explains.

"I think Wisconsin would be nice," I shrug.

"Excuse me?" April blurts.

"What? I'm a man with a love of cheeses," I shrug again.

"Wisconsin is known to be populated by the most serial killers; I would never live there," she counters as if I should know the random fact.

"You know what? I do love a good lobster," I laugh, shaking my head.