flawed with benefits

Cal didn't see Violet again before she left. Yes, he'd tried to, but she was always busy with someone else. Now it had been two weeks since she'd been gone and seeing photographs of her lying on the beach in Spain made him wish he was right there with her.

She'd texted him the day she'd left telling him to make sure he didn't break anything whilst she was gone, but that was the last he'd heard of her.

When his phone signalled a new message, he'd hoped it was from her, but it was someone he wasn't expecting: Elora. She'd asked him out for a coffee, which also surprised him because he never pitched her as the forward type. He thought she was more of the type to wait until asked.

Feeling like he had to accept, Cal told her he'd see her there and rolled out of bed. He pulled on a hoodie, stuffed his phone into his pocket just in case, pushed his feet into a pair of vans and headed out.

When he emerged, Harry looked over his shoulder at him from his sprawled out position on the sofa. "Where're you off to?" He asked, his usual grin plastered across his face.

"I'm meeting Elora," Cal replied, to which Harry raised his eyebrows and looked to Callum, who was sat beside him on his laptop. Now he looked up too.

"I thought you said you weren't that into her," Callum questions, frowning slightly. "What happened to that?"

Cal opens his mouth to speak, but Harry cuts him off. "Let me guess, Violet hasn't texted you once since she's been away?"

"No," Cal said, sighing heavily. "She hasn't, but that's not why. Elora's a nice girl and she asked me out for a drink. It's not a big deal, Violet and I are just friends."

"If you say so, Cal," Harry laughed, turning his attention back to the TV screen.

Cal decided not to push it further. Instead he just said goodbye before leaving the flat to make his way to the corner café he was meeting Elora in.

-

The walk wasn't a long one, but it gave him some time to think and reflect. The first thing that sprung to mind was Violet, as expected. He couldn't understand why she hadn't even texted him in two weeks. Of course, it wasn't like they were in a relationship but they were friends and it still stung to be ignored by someone you're close to.

In an attempt to preserve his bright mood, he pushed Violet from his mind and thought about Elora. The last time he'd seen her was the party, at which they'd kissed multiple times, and she'd said she'd call him, which she never did. So, it was an understandable surprise when she texted him that morning. Why would she choose now to contact him?

When he entered the café, Elora was already sat at a table with a coffee in her hands. Her hair was the only thing that made him notice her through the bustle of people between him and her. Cal strode over to her and sat in the seat opposite.

"Hey, sorry I'm a little late," Cal apologised, rubbing the back of his neck.

She smiled sweetly. "No, it's okay. I was early anyway." She paused awkwardly. "So how've you been? It's been a while since the last time we spoke."

"Yeah, sorry," Cal said, feeling the awkwardness burning him. It was painful. She wasn't easy to talk to. "I've been fine, just working on videos. And you?" He kept on glancing down at his phone just filling in the blanks between conversation. There were too many blanks.

"I've been good," She replied. Her lips begin to part to carry on speaking, but his phone rings. He took it into his hand, not quite believing who it was. His face must have lit up because Elora sighed and said, "You should probably take that."

"Thanks," Cal said. He'd never gotten out of a chair so quickly in his entire life. As soon as he answered the call he was smiling. "Hello?" He said, pushing the door open and stepping outside.

He sunk into the bench just outside as her voice rang through. "Hey, Cal," She replied, he could hear the smile in her voice. "Sorry I haven't been keeping in touch. I just wanted to have a complete break from life at home, but I-" She cuts herself off, the line is silent.

"Violet?" Cal forced a hand through his hair as he tried to hide the worry in losing the only chance he'd had to talk to her in two weeks. "You still there?"

"Yes," She confirmed before continuing. "I was going to tell you why I called, but you'll just laugh at me."

"I won't, I promise," He told her, his voice soft.

"You will, but I'm going to say it anyway." He heard her inhale and exhale before continuing. "I called to tell you I missed you," She mumbled. "I just thought you'd want to know because it seems like I've forgotten all about you, but I haven't, okay?"

"I miss you too." He felt a warmth within himself that only those words from Violet could create.

For a moment they are silent. They are just on the phone knowing that the other is there missing them.

"So," Violet said. "How's Elora?"

"I'm actually out with her now," Cal responded honestly.

She chokes on a laugh. "You're out with her, probably on a date, and you're on the phone to the girl you used to fuck? Nice one, Cal."

"Shut up, you were the one who called me." He took a moment to look behind him through the café window. Elora was still sat there, but she didn't look like she was having a good time. Suddenly feeling guilty, he turned away. "She said I should take the call."

"Maybe you should get back to the date," She said, the humour from her voice gone. "I have to go anyway. Kate wants to go to the beach. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"

"Bye, Violet."

-