Innocence

XIV

"Oh my god, Crystal, my baby, are you alright-" my mother threw her arms around me as I exited my hospital room. I cut her off by throwing my arms up in defence, pushing her back.

"One, I'm not your baby," I chuckled, smiling weakly at her. "And two, I'm fine,"

My mother sighed in relief, the panic slowly fading from her eyes. She worked at this very hospital, except the hospital had some stupid rule about family not working with family. They said it caused too much stress and panic.

"Oh my f-" I heard the recognizable shrieking sound of Zoe, except it was cut off by a hospital staff hissing at her to shut up, obviously realizing she was about to swear. She spat at them and hurried towards me and the tall shape who'd just stepped out beside me.

"Calum! Crystal! Oh my god I got the phone call and I thought you died, did you hear that the chick driving you died? That's so sad," she pouted, throwing her arms around both of us, causing a mega group hug.

I felt warmed to the very heart. Last time I'd talked to Zoe, it had involved some mega door slamming and cussing. And now here she was, hugging me, and saying how glad she was we didn't die.

"You missed like a million days of school, I was so lonely," she sang the last bit in a tune I didn't recognize. "I had to put up with my annoying year ten friends," she pouted.

"Well, considering we only missed four days of school, I'd say you're alright," I chuckled, messing up her hair. She glared at me, but she was smiling so I knew she wasn't secretly plotting my death in her head.

"And today is Thursday," Zoe sang merrily, looking chirpier than I'd seen her in a while.

Thursday... I looked at Calum and saw my own thoughts reflected in his eyes. Six thirty, our date. Our first date.

I didn't even realize how long we were staring at each other for, but even the most non-observant person in the world, Zoe, noticed something.

"Did I miss something here?" she asked suspiciously, glancing back and forth between the two of us. I awkwardly glanced to my mother, to realize she wasn't there. Thank god, I didn't want the third degree from her over this.

"No," I murmured but at the same time Calum said yes.

"What?" Zoe's eyes widened. "Yous two totally got injured so you could screw in the hospital to cross it off your I've-screwed-here list, didn't you?"

I've never been so mortified in my life. My face changed from its normal pale complexion to a shade of red and I awkwardly stared at my feet, listening to Calum and Zoe laugh their heads off at my embarrassment.

"That is completely out of line," I muttered under my breath, my face burning like my own personal sun. "I wouldn't screw anyone in a hospital,"

Out of the corner of my eye, I swore I saw Calum pout for about three seconds and Zoe burst into another fit of laughter. I couldn't even contain it any longer, so I joined her.

"You're weirdos, the lot of you," Calum announced randomly and that just made us laugh harder. Who called people weirdos anymore? Well, Calum obviously.

"Well you're a carrot then," I shot back after my giggling fit.

"No, no," Zoe started, taking a break from her laughter. "He's a zucchini," she burst out laughing again. "Oh my god, zucchini is such a funny word,"

I stopped laughing. "We're all very OC at the moment," I giggled a little.

"Huh? English please?" Zoe suggested. Yep, there was the normal Zoe.

"Don't worry," I waved my hand.

My mother was walking back over and she looked at all of us, me giving her my most innocent smile while Zoe pretended to hug Calum and say caring words but I could tell she was saying something offensive or sly by the amused expression on Calum's face.

"I'm going to take you three back to my house, since your mother is in America," my mother stared at Calum and Zoe. Calum raised his hand and he almost looked embarrassed. This would be good, my eyes locked on him, eager to hear what he'd say.

"Could you please drop Zoe and I off at our house? Because I'm picking your daughter up for a date tonight," my blood ran cold as my mother looked at me with shock. I could already hear what she was thinking.

Just friends huh?

"She didn't tell you?" Calum faked a mortified face and looked mockingly at me, sticking his tongue out. "Crystal, how rude of you?" he winked.

"I was gonna tell you!" I burst out. "Like, tonight when he picked me up," I blushed.

"Oh golly, you two," my mother gave me a tight hug and watched Calum suspiciously.  "We have to get an outfit and your make up and your hair," my mother rambled, looking proud. "Do you two mind walking home?"

Wow, real smooth mum, real smooth. Make the kid with a broken glass indented foot or whatever walk home... he's going to enjoy that.

"Sure, I could use the exercise," Calum stretched out his shirt so it made him look fat and I giggled. My mother chuckled and walked off, waving her hands in the air.

"Love is in the air," she sang as she vanished down a hallway. I blushed again and looked at Calum who was smiling.

"I better go catch her before she tells everyone in the hospital her baby girl's got a date. I'll see you tonight?" I asked, still blushing.

"You'll see me tonight," he confirmed. "Six thirty, don't forget it,"

I began to walk away and I looked over my shoulder. "Me? Forget? Pfth," I scoffed. "I remember everything now ta-ta," I said in a fake accent. I thought I heard a choke sound come from behind me and Calum was staring at me in shock.

"What?" I asked, confused. Did I say the wrong thing?

"You keep remembering everything then," he smirked but his eyes were dark as if he didn't mean what he said.

"Um, I will... I guess,"

Things just got really awkward really fast.

"Um, bye?" It came out as a question and he nodded, turning around and following the hallway up to where Zoe had vanished a few minutes beforehand.

I sighed, biting my lip as I turned and followed my mother up the hallway. Why can't we just have a normal day?

Author's Note: So, so, so sorry!!! I've been the laziest person ever, it's been a whole month without updating. But I'm back :) try and guess the song lyrics for a dedication next chapter!! I'll try and update more I PROMISE. The GIF on the side is Zoe laughing :") x

Keep me close when you go far away. Keep this light to see you through.