Beginnings • c.h

Chapter Forty Two

Chapter Forty Two

Anni POV

“How is she?” I whisper, leaning back to press my chest against Cal. We were currently sitting in the chair beside Megan’s bed in comfortable silence. Our fight ended only minutes after it began, thankfully, so now Cal and I were sharing a seat, me in his lap.

“She’s alright, I think. I only got here an hour or so ago.” Cal mumbles back, rubbing soothing circles on my arms.

“I should have been here earlier.” I whisper ashamedly, a small tear falling down my cheek.

“Hey, don’t cry-“

“But Cal, she is my best friend and I didn’t even know she was in hospital until twelve hours after she had been admitted!” I wail. I was currently on the edge of hysterics, and I think Cal had quickly realised that I was about to have a meltdown.

“Shh, Anni, it doesn’t matter, you’re here now and that is all that matters.” He comforts. Streams of tears escape, but eventually they subside into singular tears and an occasional hiccup. Cal continues to draw light patterns on my skin with his fingertips as I slowly regain control of my emotions.

Once completely in control again, I sit and watch Megan’s sleeping figure. This was the first time I had seen her up close in several days, and I was quick to notice the subtle changes. She had more bags around her eyes and it seemed as though she had lost a bit of weight. Her physical appearance mirrored what I imagined my emotional state would have looked like. 

I look away from her, unable to see what damage I have caused. The movement of my head caused the rest of my body to move subtly, and I felt Cal tense slightly underneath me. Ignoring his strange behaviour, I shift my body weight, trying to find a more comfortable position. I wriggle around for a few seconds, unable to get entirely comfortable

“Anni, damnit, sit still.” Cal hisses, eventually grabbing my hips and holding me in place. I jut my lip out in a pout and fold my arms, mimicking a small child.

“I was just trying to get comfortable. What’s wrong with that?” 

“What’s wrong is the fact that your bum was grinding against my crotch, and if you kept moving I was going to get…excited.” Cal says the last bit hesitantly. I furrow my eyebrows, confused by what he meant. Cal raises an eyebrow at me, and then glanced down. Following his eye movement, I am hit by realisation.

“Oh,” My eyes widen and I feel my cheeks redden with embarrassment. “Shit, sorry Cal. I'll just stand up.”

Cal quickly shakes his head, “It’s fine, just, um, try not to move too much.”

I immediately still. I try to hold my breath as much as I can, afraid that my breathing could possibly cause Cal to, ahem, grow. I feel Cal chuckle underneath me.

“What are you laughing at?” I whisper.

“You can breathe, Anni.” He says with a laugh, “I just wouldn’t suggest moving around.”

My cheeks go an even darker red, and I let out the breath I was trying to hold.

“Good, because I was about to pass out from lack of oxygen.” I joke. Without even having to turn around to look at him, I can tell that Cal rolls his eyes at me. Despite his assurances, I can’t relax completely, still too afraid.

Cal sighs and pulls me back against his chest again, and I smile at the contact. We fall into silence, and minutes later everyone bursts through the door.

Their laughter cuts off as they see Cal and I by Megan’s bed. It was almost comical to see all their mouths fall open slightly, completely in sync. I give a small smile, but none of them return it.