Her Persistence - Completed

Chapter 62

Calum's PoV

I paced nervously around outside the amusement park we were going to go into, walking up to the car and back to where the gang stood awaiting Poppy's return. Why wasn't she back yet? I stopped once again to check my phone but still nothing had come through from her explaining what had happened or where she was. I began to panic.

"I need to go back." I stated, turning round to our driver-slash-security guy. Dave was also going to meet us here but he was running late. At least he'd told me.

"Cal, she's fine. She'll be here soon. Let's just go inside and wait for her." Michael said as he put his hand around my shoulders and tried to steer me towards the entrance but i dug my heels onto the ground and swatted his arm away.

"If you guys wanna go inside, fine. Clearly I'm the only one worried about my pregnant wife-to-be." Sighing heavily, I turned away from them and walked off, making sure I was far enough before I pulled my phone out and dialled Poppy's number.

"Oh hey Calum!" She answered pretty quickly to my relief.

"Poppy, where are you? We've been waiting for like half an hour! I was so worried." I could hear the background noise behind her and it didn't sound like she was even on her way to the park.

"I'm on my way. The paps held me up and then it took a while to escape them because they were quizzing me on everyone." My fists clenched in anger and frustration. Why couldn't the paps just leave her alone? My mind went back to when I was in hospital and she was my nurse, when the paps pushed their way into the ward. She handled herself so well even then. It was no surprise that she would end up becoming a natural with them, despite me wanting to protect her from them at all costs. "But I'm just waiting for the car now. I shouldn't be too long, just go inside with everyone and have some fun, I'll meet you in there. Okay?" In the background of the call I heard a knock at a door, my heart hammered in my chest as i tried to work out what she was up to, clearly nowhere near making her way over to us. In my mind she would have left the paps and got a car straight here yet somehow she's ended up inside, somewhere where someone is knocking to enter the room. Do I question her now on the phone? Or later in person? "Sorry Cal, got to go. I'll see you in a bit." And she hung up before I had the chance. I stared dejectedly at my phone, my mind whirring with possibilities to explain her actions. It could be harmless, innocent actions that have an explanation. Or she could be seeing someone else. No, surely not. Not after everything we've been through.
I scoffed to myself. Hell, everything we've been through recently has been because of Naomi and I - and look how bad I was with her! I had no right in demanding that Poppy stay loyal when I couldn't even control myself around my ex. I ran my hands through my hair and sighed before I tried to compose myself and slap a smile on my face as I turned to the guys and acted my normal way through.

"Let's go!" I said as I put my arms around the shoulders of Luke and Ashton. "Poppy's fine and meeting us in there." I said with a smile. The others just cheered and headed towards the booth where we paid for tickets, grabbing them all and heading inside. For a moment we all stopped to take the atmosphere in. It was loud, busy, fun. Rides whizzed and whirred around us, the screams of people inside blowing over with the wind every now and again as the ride swung or dropped. I felt like a child again. Families walked past eating candy floss and toffee apples, holding boxes with a large slice of pizza or a hotdog. The smell of donuts being freshly cooked caught all our attentions and all at once, our whole gang grinned. This would be the most fun we'd had in a long time and frankly, we really desperately needed it.

"I'm going to the Big Dipper." Aston called out, pulling Bex along with him as she laughed.

"We're off to the Waltzer!" Luke and Sierra skipped off, noticing the line for the ride being particularly short.

"We're off to-" Michael started but stopped quickly, suddenly realising I'd be left alone if they went off too.

"It's fine." I said, shaking my head. "Go. You guys haven't been together in so long, have some fun!" I forced my smile out but it was convincing enough for them to nod.

"The haunted house, If you wanted to come?" Crystal offered, but the truth was I just wasn't feeling it right now. Instead of having an amazing time with everyone I cared about, I was now sat wondering what Poppy thought was more important than being here with me.

"It's fine, thanks. Poppy will be here in a minute, I'm just gonna hang back until she's here." The two of them looked between themselves and then at me, nodding before they took off in a slow walk to the ride. I sighed as I plopped down on the bench, watching all the rides and my friends on them.

"Trouble in paradise?" Suddenly someone sat beside me and made me jump. I shot my head in that direction, fists clenched until I saw it was Dave. Instantly I let out a sharp breath and relaxed back into my seat, my heart still hammering in my chest. "You were in a world of your own there. It's not safe you know." The security part always came in when we were out in public. "You has no idea I was coming."

"I was a little distracted." I said honestly.

"I gathered that. And noticed Poppy wasn't around. Everything okay?" Once again I sighed as I rubbed my hands through my hair. Dave took that as a no. "Anything I can help with?"

"I'm sure Piotr gave you the lowdown." The driver/security and Dave would have discussed everything that had happened as soon as Dave got here. I was sure of it. Dave nodded. "Well, obviously she still isn't here. So I called her to check she was okay. She said she had an issue with them quizzing her but she was on her way." Dave looked at me with confusion, not knowing where this was going. "But she was inside. I heard someone knock at a door and then she said she had to go. Who knows how long it'll be before she gets here now." I shrugged, slapping my hands on my thighs. "And I want to believe it's innocent, I know she isn't like that, but because of how I was with Naomi..." Dave straightened in his chair, understanding where I was coming from. "What if she's found someone else?"