Reflection {Calum Hood}

Chapter 16

"So? How's work going?" Emily asked.

We sat at a cute little cupcake place, catching up on each others lives. We don't have room for her on our tour bus, so she flies out to wherever we are so she could visit Ashton and I. She wasn't exactly rich, but she's got the money, so she insists on visiting because face time calls with us just aren't enough.

"Work is going good!" I replied. "In fact..." I hesitated. "It's going better than I thought it would."

I smiled to myself while she looked at me confused.

"Better?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yup." I took a bite of my cupcake.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she wondered.

"Well...I sort of have a boyfriend now.." I said, taking a sip from my coffee.

"Boyfriend?" she asked. "How do you manage to find a boyfriend, and keep a stable relationship while working and traveling the world?" she looked at me with a puzzled face, thinking I was crazy.

"Well..." I started. "I kinda work for my boyfriend..."

Emily coughed, almost chocking on her cupcake. I looked at her, hoping she wouldn't hit me.

She finally calmed down and spoke.

"Oh! So your'e dating Michael." She smiled and sipped her coffee. "That's cute."

"Um, no. I'm not dating him actually." I spoke slowly.

She looked up at me, while I looked back, her eyes reading my own. She spoke.

"No." She replied.

"Maddie, no. After everything he did to me, and after everything you saw me go through, you just turn around and date him? Gosh, I'm gone for a couple of weeks, and your already making out with my ex-boyfriend."

I fell silent.

"How in the world, could you be dating Calum?" Emily half whispered and half yelled. After all, we were still in the cupcake shop.

"Are you mad?" I asked. "Should I have asked you if I could date your ex?" I questioned.

"Mad?" She replied. "I'm furious."

"Oh." I quietly said.

"I cant' believe that you fell into his trap." She said. "Just like I did."

"Trap?" I asked.

"You can date Calum." Emily spoke. "You don't have to ask me. So what if he's my ex? I dumped him because I don't love him, I love Ashton. He cares for me so much. He calls me precious and makes me feel safe and secure. Whenever I'm with him I feel like my heart is flying, and I can't help falling in love with him. He treats me like I'm actually worth something, besides trash. I know that I can count on him for anything, and that he will never break my heart."

My eyes started tearing up because of Emily's touching words. She deserves Ashton, and they're so right for each other. And to be honest, I'm actually kinda jealous because their relationship is everything I've always wanted, and Calum and I almost have none of that.

"Look, Emily." I started, "I don't know what kind of trap you're talking about, but Calum and I haven't been dating as long as you and Ashton have, okay? We're getting there, and I don't know what he's supposed to make me feel, but I feel loved and that is what important to me. I feel sure of myself, happy, and calm. I love the way we have our spontaneous kissing moments, and the way we laugh and smile every time we hold hands, and the way he looks at me when I'm not looking is very meaningful, so I'm told by Luke."

"Well." She started. "If you guys love each other, and your'e happy...then I'm happy." She smiled at me.

"Thanks!" I replied.

We got up to leave, but I started speaking.

"Oh, um, what type of trap were you exactly talking about?" I asked.

"Oh, no, your'e happy. You don't need to know." Emily said, glancing down at the floor.

"Um, yes, I do need to know." I told her. "I'm the one dating him."

We sat back down at our table.

"Okay, fine, your'e right." She sighed. "Calum's trap usually goes something like this:

He finds a cute innocent girl. They start dating, making out, and eventually fall into a relationship. You think everything is absolutely wonderful until BAM, he cheats on you with some chick, and your heart is broken. He apologizes, says it will never happen again, and because of his boyish charm, you accept his apology and get back together with him. Then, he suddenly starts to treat you like trash, and you become offended and hurt so you end up dumping him, and you feel crushed."

I looked at her in complete silence. My throat became dry.

"It's a compete cycle with him. It's like girls are a fun little game to him. He's never had a solid, stable relationship in his life."

"Okay, well maybe it was only you that he did this with." I suggested.

"No Maddie. I hate to break it to you, but its a cycle. It's his version of "The Circle of Life", only it's "The Circle of Girls."

"How do you know?" I asked.

"I talked to the girl he dated before me, Melanie, and she said that he did the same thing to her."

I looked down and fiddled with my fingers.

Emily continued. "She also told me that he's done the same thing to at least seven other girls."

I looked up at her with disappointment in my eyes.

"Well, I believe he can break this little game of his. I can help him. I'm not gonna be in that cycle." I stated proudly.

"Oh, honey." Emily replied.

"Your'e next."

.......................................................................................................................................................................dun dun dun (suspense music plays in background) Hey guys! Here is an update! Sorry I'm late, my parents took away my phone and I don't get it back until Monday, but I'll keep updating on my laptop, so dont worry and enjoy! :) ~Cassandra