Something about Calum | c.h

Ashton to the Rescue

I blew out the smoke and sat up. Pulling my red plaid shirt around my shoulders tighter than before, I watched him throw the cigarette on the ground and step on it, grinding it into the grass. Great.

“Why did you do that?” I whined, reaching for the packet again only to find my lighter by itself.

“Looking for these?” Calum asked, chucking my cigarettes up in the air and catching them with a smirk plastered on to his tanned face.

“It’s not funny Calum,” I spoke loudly, staring him dead in the eye.

“I see you bothered to learn my name,” He raised an eyebrow and chucked the cigarettes back at me. I wasn’t in the mood to smoke anymore so I slipped both the packet and my lighter back in to my rucksack.

“Well, I assumed a nightmare dressed like a daydream was too creative for someone so plain,” I smirked at him as he put a hand to his heart.

“That hurt Marnie, that really hurt,” He pretended to wipe a tear away which made me laugh.

“Yay! I managed to turn that frown upside down!” He cheered, throwing his arms up in the air. People all around looked over at us in confusion so I bowed my head, looking at the recently mowed grass.

“Are you always this corny? First Taylor Swift and now that, wow,” I shook my head but I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.

“You love it,” He grinned.

Just as I was about to reply with some obscenity Ashton came rushing outside, pushing the door open with such strength that it hit the wall next to it making a loud banging sound.

“Oops, sorry!” Ashton awkwardly called to everyone who had decided to eat lunch outside. His eyes searched every face before he found mine and his frown was replaced with a warm smile. Then he laid his eyes on Calum who was now sitting opposite me and his frown returned, more evident now than before.

“Is that your boyfriend?” Calum whispered to me out of the corner of his mouth.

“No, that’s just Ashton,” I chuckled, pushing myself to feet and making my way over to him. I dragged my bag behind me before pulling the straps around my shoulders and securing it in place.

“Are you alright Marnie? I sent Amy to go and try and find you in the ladies’ but you weren’t there so my next bet was out here,” He sniffed and his nose scrunched up in disgust.

“What?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“You’ve been smoking!” He exclaimed, his frown deepening.

“I have not,” I stuck my nose in the air, refusing to admit it to him. Ash was one of the main reasons I don’t smoke all the time, he got me to stop because he explained to me how much I meant to him and how he doesn’t want to lose me, ever. That’s why I always felt guilty every time I took a drag on a cigarette but that guilt would be washed away with the distraction of all the smoke swirling around in my lungs.

“She has,” Calum spoke from behind me. I glared at him over my shoulder before returning my gaze to Ashton.

“So what? I hope to God you aren’t going to judge me Ashton because I’ve had enough of that from Tristian,” I huffed rolling my eyes.

“Who is Tristan?” Calum quizzed looking at me intently.

“Are you still here?” I replied, ignoring his question.

“Maybe that’s why this Tristan pissed you off so much,” His face was set hard as he began to walk away.

“What do you mean?” I questioned.

“Well, you’re in a bitchy mood and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t prepared to deal with you and neither am I,” He shrugged and walked off, back in to the cafeteria.

I stood there staring after him with my mouth open in shock. Wow, he’s a dick.

“Who was that douche bag?” Ashton followed my hands with his hazel eyes as I pulled my cigarettes out of my bag once again.

“No one. He’s no one.”

“Clearly.”

Just as I was about to light my next cigarette Ashton gripped my wrist gently, pleading me with his eyes to stop.

“Don’t you dare,” He said, his voice cracking slightly. I could tell he was recalling his plea from before with me which was a little over six months ago. He raised his other huge hand to where the cigarette lay between my lips and plucked the cigarette from my mouth, throwing it on to the floor. That is the second time someone has done that to me today… dammit.

“Sorry,” I mumbled as he pulled me in to his chest. I lay my head there for a good five minutes with him tracing circles on the part of my back that wasn’t covered by a black vans rucksack. The bell rang and we parted awkwardly, looking up into each other’s eyes.

My light blue eyes, which Ashton always tells me reminds him of the sea, reflected his hazel ones which held more secrets of mine than you could ever imagine. Out of my whole group I was closest to Ashton, he almost felt like a big brother to me since he was the eldest. We stood there staring at one another for a few minutes before he put his hand out to me which I willingly took. He led me through the corridors and to my history classroom, stopping off at my locker on the way so I could collect my notes necessary for my lesson and he squeezed me in a tight hug before kissing my cheek and departing to his next class, which he’d mentioned was music.

“Ah Miss Eckles, late again I see,” Mr Thompson gave me a stern look as I stumbled through the open door. I glanced at the clock to see I was, in fact, two minutes late.

“By two minutes sir, that is hardly anything to get your knickers in a twist about,” I joked making a few kids in the class stifle a laugh.

“Very well then, go sit in your seat,” He sighed, massaging his temples before turning back to what he was writing on the white board.

 As I made my way over to my seat I noticed Calum was in the seat behind me. No way Jose, na-uh!