g w e n:

I sat across from Calum in a booth at a breakfast diner, holding onto a glass mug with shaky hands. I stared at the tea and milk mixture before me, my mind reverting back to the night before. I never felt so much fear in my life than in the moment did I come face to face with Fiora. He was like a grenade the way he held himself; he was oddly calm, just ticking away till he combusted. I never wanted to see Fiora ever again; I never wanted to feel his presence because it was a presence made of pure evil.

"Baby," Calum's voice was soft and the way he called me baby gave me butterflies in the pit of my stomach. He reached over, grabbing one of my hands and held it in his. "Please talk to me. You haven't said a word since we got home last night."

I shrugged. There was nothing to say, really. I was scared but I was also itching to know more.

"Will you tell me more?" I asked, looking up from the hot liquid.

"What more is there to tell you? You kinda figured it all out last night. You know the type of business I'm in," he stated.

"Can you at least tell me why you're in it?" I questioned. "I've seen where you live Cal, it's not like you need the money."

"We live like we do because I have the money," he snapped suddenly. He took his hand away from mine, slumping in his seat with a huff. "Look, my dad was a dick; useless, a coward and did nothing but make my mum's life a living hell."

"Where's your dad now," I questioned. I was curious and I could tell it was a touchy subject for him but Calum owed me some kind of truth.

"He's dead," Calum declared and I saw no remorse in him. His face was hardened, showing no emotion as the words escaped his lips.

"I'm sorry to hear--"

"Don't be," he interrupted sternly. "Like I said, he was a dick. He cheated on my mum with dirty whores. He'd come on drunk as fück and hit her. He'd hit my sister too until she ran away to Uni. He ended up catching something from one of the whores. Then one day he just died from it."

"That's terrible. Your mom's lovely and I hate to think that she was battered by your dad," I expressed. "So you got into the business to save your family?"

Calum nodded, "we had nothing. Now we have everything. My mum's safe, my sister is in school..."

"But what about you?"

"What about me? I'm fine,"

"Are you happy? You saved your mom and sister but all that's left is you. What are you going to do that's going to make you happy?" I asked him. I only now realized that even though Calum had the tendency to do whatever the heck he wanted to do, I wasn't exactly sure if it put a smile on his face.

"You know what's going to make me happy, Gwen?" Calum stood up from the cushioned booth and I watched in curiosity as he rounded the table and sat right next to me. "This," he cupped my cheeks in his hands and pressed his forehead against mine, "is going to make me happy," his lips ghosted mine and his warm, cigarette and peppermint breath fanned against my skin.

"C-Cal-Calum," I stammered, flustered at his touch and the close proximity of his lips to mine.

"You," he whispered, his lips grazing mine slightly I wanted to melt into a puddle, "everything about you; your altruism, your power to see the good in people, even the way you don't fücking curse is enough to make me smile. You make me happy and it drives me up a fücking wall."

My stomach plummeted faster than I had time to let the words sink in. My heart was pounding against my chest and I couldn't breathe. Calum was making me feel things I didn't even think was at all possible. Even with past boyfriends, I never felt such an intense, heart-clenching feeling in me before. Not until Calum, and it scared me.

"I-uh-I," I was speechless. Literally. Anything that would come out of my mouth would be incoherent and sound like blah.

"Don't say anything," he breathed, his lips barely touching mine, "just--"

"Breakfast is served!" a voiced happily chirped, causing me to push Calum away. He scowled at the joyful waiter who came by with a tray of food and placed it down before us. With flushed cheeks, I looked over at Calum who was shooting death glares at the waiter for interrupting what I assumed was going to be a kiss.

I was kinda glad for the interruption. I don't think I was ready to kiss Calum just yet-- especially in a diner filled with people. All I knew, was that the stubborn, rude and tattooed bad boy had a kind soul and he made me happy too.

"We can continue that later," Calum winked, sending shivers down my spine. I loved how one simple gesture was able to send me over the edge but at the same time it scared me because it showed how much control he had over me.

"What's going to happen now?" I asked Calum, taking another sip of my warm tea. "With Fiora and all that, I mean."

"Well," he started, wrapping an arm around my torso, resting a hand right by my hip, "I keep doing what I need to do, but first Ashton's family needs some closure. Michael says the funeral will be held next Thursday."

"I'll come with you," I told him. Calum was surprised with my words and a small smile formed on his face. He took his other hand to push a strand of my hair behind my ear before placing a kiss on my forehead.

"That's why I like you baby dumpling," he stated, another round of pesky butterflies to chaotically churn my stomach. Suddenly, I felt a vibration in my pocket and I guessed Calum did too because he easily slipped his fingers into my pocket and pulled out my phone.

"Let me see," I said, grabbing the phone out of his hand. I assumed it was a text from Mrs. Liz Hemmings wondering when I was going to be home after spending the night at a girlfriend's house but when I looked down at the glowing screen, I saw that it was not in fact Mrs. Hemmings.

"Who the fück is Evan? And why does he have a smiley emoji next to his name?"

"Calum, just because I like you--"

"Wait, you like me?" Calum looked surprised and I looked at him with a cocked head. I thought my reactions to his touch was obvious enough.

"Aren't I obvious?" I wondered out loud.

"Oh you are baby, I just like hearing it come out of your mouth," he cheekily mentioned with a smirk. The cuteness only lasted for a second because before I knew it, angry lines formed around his eyes, "but seriously, who the hell is Evan and why the hell is going to pick you up at 6:30?"

"Not that I have anything to hide from you, but you didn't have to read my text message," I lightly scolded him and he frowned. "And Evan is just a guy from the outreach center."

"Just a guy," Calum scoffed, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms in a huff like a child. "If he's just a guy, then why is he planning to pick you up tonight?"

"I kinda agreed to have dinner with him, that's all. It's no big deal. It was just a silly exchange," I explained.

"Exchange of what? Bodily fluids?!" he exclaimed, earning a few angry stares from the customers around us.

"Calum, please calm down," I pleaded, "I agreed to go out with him in exchange for finding out where you lived. That's all."

"Whatever," he groaned, resting his elbow on the table and letting his head fall onto the palm of his hand. He discontinued to look my way and I could see him angrily pick at his food with the fork in his hand.

I rolled my eyes at his childish behavior. Who knew that Calum could be such a little boy at times, especially when he did all he could to save his family-- a selfless trait that I will always find attractive.

I quickly texted Evan back that I'd be ready by 6:30 and even though it was still before noon, I really wanted to go back home and sleep more. I could barely keep my eyes shut after coming home from the docks last night. And I know Calum couldn't sleep either. I don't think he meant for me to hear, but I could hear Calum whimper in his sleep and I swore I heard him whisper Ashton's name. He was having a tough day-- he needed comfort, only then did I realize. With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and sent out another text to Evan.

"Are you texting lover boy?" Calum scoffed.

I lifted my head to meet his eyes and I nodded.

"But before you say anything, I'm canceling on him," I announced. Calum picked up his head and looked at me with wide eyes and a growing grin.

"What?"

"You need me more than Evan," I honestly told him, earning a surprised gasp from Calum. He let out a huge smile, pulling me into a warm hug and kissing me on my temple. I giggled, "I'm really tired though. Can you drop me off at home and we can hang out again tonight?"

Calum's smile faltered, "I don't want you alone in a house with Hemmings."

"Cal, Luke's not going to hurt me," I assured him. "You don't trust him but I still do. He and I have a lot to talk about."

"Can I--"

"No, you can't join in on our discussion. Luke and I need to sort things out for ourselves, okay?" I reached up stroke Calum's cheek with my thumb, easing his worries. I could feel the tension in his muscles start to relax at my comforting touch and I smiled.

"Fine," he groaned.

"Thank you Cal," I hugged him and kissed his neck right below his ear lobe, to which he suddenly gasped. I leaned back to look at Calum with narrow eyes.

"Gwen, you can't just kiss me there," he sternly said and I sat confused. "You're gonna give me a boner."

Oh.

//

Another update because I was inspired and these two give me the feels. I needed to be a little cheesy because the last chapter was intense.

Anyway, thanks for reading, voting and commenting. I appreciate it so much! Love you all! <33