g w e n:

Death would've been a more suitable idea than to have to wake up to an intense pounding against my skull. A sledgehammer to my brains would've been more pleasing than whatever this was. But I guessed this was punishment for getting carried away when it came to mixed alcoholic libation. I didn't remember coming home last night, but as my eyes slowly adjusted to the stream of light that filled the room with a warm glow, I soon discovered that I was, in fact, not home.

My body jolted upwards, a total mistake, as it seemed like my brain slushed against my thick skull. I threw my hand to my head, wincing from the pain and prayed to God that this torture would subside soon. After regaining a state of calmness, I reopened my eyes to attest the situation. My eyes darted from corner to corner, taking in the posters, the television and the pile of unfolded clothes on the floor. It was then when this setting became more familiar, and less frightening.

Calum's room.

How I ended up here was a mystery to me and I hoped to find out- once my incredibly dry throat was ebbed with some water. I threw the blanket that was draped across my legs to the side, and proceeded to get out of bed. I noticed that my entire body was covered in a long shirt, to which I assumed belonged to Calum. Though my legs were weak, and head still felt dizzy, I mustered all the strength I had in me to find my belongings. To the side was my purse, but to my dismay, the cellphone next to it was dead.

"You've got to be kidding me," I groaned to myself, as I pressed the button on my cellular device. With a sigh, I chucked it into my purse and slung it around my body. By the closed door, my shoes were nicely placed against the wall, instead of it being flung aimlessly like the pair of Chucks at the foot of the bed. Grabbing my shoes, I quietly turned the door handle and peaked my head out the door.

That's when it hit me.

Like strong gust of wind to my nostrils, the savory aroma of breakfast foods infiltrated my nose, making my taste buds dance in excitement. Maybe it was Calum cooking? He was no where to be found, and I quite possibly hoped that the dark haired bad boy, whom I was still angry with, was downstairs flipping bacon on the stove.

I walked out of the bedroom, slowly making my way down the carpeted hall and down the staircase. As I inched closer and closer to the kitchen, the smell was relentless. I guessed this was what people meant when they hand the munchies, because grease sounded like the best idea ever. When I approached the main living area, I however was not met with the tattooed boy. Instead, were two women who were uncanny to Calum.

"She's awake," Mrs. Joy Hood smiled, her eyes gazing at the hot mess before her. "How are you feeling Gwen?"

I cringed in response, causing both women to chuckle. When I walked into the kitchen, I was immediately met with a hug from Mrs. Hood and soon after, an embrace from the other.

"I'm Mali, Calum's big sister," she announced, as she separated from the hug. "Please sit down. I'll get you some water and aspirin."

I did what I was told, taking a seat at the kitchen nook while Mali sauntered over to one of the cabinets.

"How'd you know I was here?" I questioned, just as Mali handed me a tall class of water and a tiny white pill.

"Calum," Mali simply answered.

"He walked into my room early this morning and asked, well, commanded that I take care of you when you woke up," Mrs. Hood explained, causing a pang of guilt to hit my heart.

"Oh no! You don't have to take care of me. I'll be fine," I quickly spoke. "I can call someone to come pick me up. I don't want to be a bothersome."

"Gwen, don't worry," Mrs. Hood promised, her smile seemingly genuine. "I like you, and I like how my son acts when he's with you. Besides, you're the only girl Calum seems to completely adore."

I blushed. I couldn't help it. Her confession made me warm and fuzzy inside. Normally, capturing the heart of mothers tend to be difficult- at least, that's how it is in most films I've watched. But when it came to Calum's mom, she seemed to take a liking to me, and this was only my second time seeing her.

"Speaking of..." I started, "where is Calum?"

"Not too sure," Mrs. Hood shrugged, "but he should be home soon."

I caught a glimpse of Mali, who stood over the stove, piling food onto a plate. She had this expression on her face that I couldn't quite read, but if I had my guess it was one of worry. Whether it was about Calum or something else in her personal life, I didn't know because when she turned around, Mali had a grand smile plastered on her face. She presented me with a plate full of steaming-hot food, and once again, my mouth salivated.

"Eat up," she told me, sitting the plate down, "and let me know if you want seconds. Trust me, I know the struggle of drunk munchies."

I laughed at her statement, before popping the aspirin into my mouth and washing it down with water. After, I took no hesitation and stuffing a huge spoonful of eggs and potatoes into my mouth. It was seriously hot, that steam was escaping from the edges of my mouth but I didn't care. I was beyond famished. Mrs. Hood sat across from me with a mug of coffee in her hand, a smile still on her face.

"Mum, you're gonna scare her off if you keep staring at Gwen with a creepy smile," Mali joked, taking a seat to her mother.

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Hood apologized with sigh. "It's just that... she just reminds me of Janet."

My heart stopped beating for a few seconds and if I had food in my mouth, I surely would've choked. I was not expecting Janet's name to come out of Mrs. Hood's mouth, let alone be compared to the tragic heroine.

"H-how d-do I remind y-you of Janet?" I stammered, my words cautiously falling from my mouth as I looked at the woman in curiosity.

"Janet was a sweet girl and I enjoyed the fact that she was with my son. Much like you, she was a good influence," Mrs. Hood expressed. "Ever since the accident my son hasn't been the same."

I shuddered from the thought. The gruesome accident that circulated through the minds of Calum and Luke as something done on purpose, was something I did not want to think about on this morning. But nevertheless, here I was, my mind swirling with details of the tragic night.

"I'm hoping that with you in Calum's life, you could trigger the intelligent, happy son I once had," Mrs. Hood was close to breaking down, as a whimper escaped her lips.

I felt bad for the woman- I really did. She was such a wonderful person and it killed me inside to know that she was hurting. I highly doubted that she knew of Calum's outside endeavors with drug lords, and it was that kind of withheld information that could kill her if, God forbid, something happened to him. His line of work was dangerous, and I knew first hand how risky it was.

Mrs. Hood reminded me a lot like Mrs. Irwin, Ashton's mother. She was such a kind spirit that when Ashton's death plagued her life, I knew it wouldn't be the same for her. There was nothing I could do to stop Ashton's tragic fate, but I knew it in my heart that I had the power to prevent Calum from having the same future. I refused to let Mrs. Hood lose a son and for Mali to lose a brother, much like Lauren losing hers. I'd do anything for Calum to cease all association with Fiora, even if it meant for him to be perpetually angry with me.

I finished my plate. Twice. I couldn't help but to grab a second helping of homemade pancakes because it was that good. By then, Mrs. Hood was over the fact that I reminded her of Janet and our conversation became more light. My headache was also gone, and even though I was still slightly dizzy, it was nothing in comparison to the Hell I felt earlier.

"You make California sound so much fun! I really want to go now!" Mali gushed, as I continued to tell her all about life back home in the United States.

"You're small enough to fit in my suitcase," I laughed, "come back with me when I go home in a few months."

"Don't tempt me Gwen!" Mali mused, "you might open up your luggage to find me inside."

The two of us hysterically laughed at the idea, and it was in that moment was I blessed to have woken up in a bed that was not my own. Granted, I was sure that Mrs. Hemmings was worried, and I had hoped that Luke somehow covered for me. As I was about to open my mouth to borrow their house phone to call Luke, my words were interrupted by a new presence.

"What's so funny?"

Calum had an eyebrow raised in curiosity as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He was in a plain black shirt that fitted across his body like a dream and I almost forgot why I was mad at him. But upon admitting to myself of Calum's obvious aesthetic manifestation, was the same second I remembered that it was those same good looks that lured some girl to his lips.

"Little bro, I might be going to California with Gwen," Mali wiggled her eyebrows playfully. "I mean, I'll be stuffed inside a suitcase for eighteen hours but I guess I can just sleep the whole time."

"Bring me back a keychain," Calum mused, letting out a chuckle that I didn't expect. He looked over to me, "ready to go home? My car's parked out front."

"That's okay Calum," I spoke, "I can call Luke or Mrs. Hemmings to pick me up. No need to bother you."

The atmosphere in the room changed within a snap, as Calum's smile quickly fell into a smooth line across his face. His face hardened, as did mine and I was pretty sure that Mali and Mrs. Hood knew something was going on between the two of us.

"Gweneth, may I speak to you alone?" Calum cooly asked, his dark eyes gazing right into me.

"Can it wait? I really need to get home," I quickly retorted, standing up from the chair, "I'll be calling Luke, now."

Calum grasped onto my forehand so quickly I didn't have time to react till he was dragging me from the kitchen to a more private area of the home. As I tried to wriggle myself free from his clutch, I was being pulled into what looked like a guest bedroom and within a second the door was slammed shut.

"Calum! Let me leave, please!" I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest, as I narrowed in my eyebrows as a pathetic attempt to showcase my scary side.

The tattooed boy only laughed, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, "you suck at being scary, princess."

"Whatever," I grumbled.

I tried to push pass him but Calum's reflexes worked at rapid speed. Lightly, he pushed me, the backs of my knees hitting the bed and causing my bum to plop against the soft mattress. I was frustrated, and let out a small groan.

"Are you still angry with me?" He would have the audacity to ask me such a stupid question when the answer was written all over my expression and my behavior.

So I didn't answer. Instead I re-crossed my arms and turned my vision away from Calum. I couldn't let him get to me- I couldn't let him get away with something that made me so upset. He was just so frustrating and absolutely hard to deal with. When I was with Ryan, our relationship came so easily to us. We never fought, we were always considerate of feelings, and communication wasn't an issue.

But a relationship with Calum was the complete opposite and it drove me mad. I guessed that was part of the appeal. Why I seemed so drawn to the bad boy in a way that I wasn't sure I had with Ryan. Calum was a challenge, but he was a challenge worth fighting for. And even though he and Ryan were two complete opposites, there was something so minuscule that connected the two together. I couldn't pin point what it was, but there was something etherial that both boys had, and it was that nexus that drew me to Ryan and was now drawing me to Calum.

"Why are you still angry? I didn't even think we were together at the time!" Calum shouted, he was done playing nice, but so was I. "And it was one tiny kiss. It wasn't like I fücked her!"

I cringed from the vulgarity, and almost wanted to cry at the thought of Calum being intimate with another girl.

"I am angry because I am hurt, okay? I don't just give my heart and soul to just anyone Calum! I gave it to you and only you! And I expect the same," I wasn't sure how thin these walls were and if Mrs. Hood and Mali could hear the argument from wherever they were.

"Gwen, I fûcking took your drunk ass home last night even after I tried to keep you from drinking! I woke up my mother and sister to make sure you were well looked after," Calum expressed, annoyance in his tone as he pulled at his hair, "I don't just do that for some bimbo! I did it for you, because even though you're irritating as fûck, you are my mine. Do you understand that, princess?"

I felt my heart flutter at Calum's statement. Filled with profanities yes, but without all the curse words, none of it would've came from his heart. It wasn't lovey-dovey in a sense of typical romance found in books, TV, or film. It was a romance that could only be concocted by Calum himself, and while it was sprinkled with F-bombs, I knew he cared for me.

"Well where were you this morning? Why couldn't you take care of me?" I questioned.

"That is something I am not discussing," Calum shot me down so fast, that only a bucket of ice-cold frustration fell on atop my body.

"That's why you anger me!" I shouted again. "Where is the communication?"

"What the fück? I am communicating! Did I not just spill my heart to you Gwen Guzman?" Calum argued. He punched the wall next to him, causing me to jump from the unexpected thud.

"I don't want you to keep secrets from me," I told him. "That's part of the communication. I need you to be honest with me."

Calum let out a sigh, clearly torn between me and whatever enigmatic trauma was plaguing his heart. He let his face soften as he took a step towards me, standing in between my legs. Calum wasted no time in gently holding my face and while I normally would succumb to the gesture, I made sure my glare were as icy as Antarctica. He softly rubbed circles on my cheeks with his thumbs, as if to smooth out the tension in my face.

"Baby, anger is not a good look on you," Calum whispered, "I prefer you happy, hyper, and with your head in the clouds."

"Why? You always say it's annoying," I spat, still trying my hardest to keep angrily gawking at him.

"Just jealous," Calum shrugged, "because I wished I had that same kind of hope, faith, and believe in the world like you do."

Darn it. I let my face soften, and I let Calum's words sooth my frustration. I couldn't be angry with him anymore, not when he was this close, and this honest with me. Honestly, I was still a little hurt, but I knew that I was his for the keeping.

"Do you forgive me?" Calum asked, topping off the plea with a pout of his lips and a puppy-dog gaze.

Groaning and with a roll of my eyes, "yea, I forgive you," I succumbed.

Calum grinned from ear to ear, quickly grabbing ahold of my waist and throwing me further onto the bed with ease. He climbed on top of me, causing an outburst of giggles as his lips placed kisses on my neck and jawline. With only a few inches separating us, and Calum's warm breath fanning across my face, I decided to take initiative. So I snaked my arms around his neck, and pulled his lips into mine.

"Babe, you're so aggressive," Calum teased into the kiss, and I could tell that he was smiling.

By no means was this kiss as tender as normal. This had more power, more lust, and more passion. It ignited sparks- from my lips, to my heart, to my toes. It was his tongue massaging mine, his hands tenderly caressing the exposed skin of where my shirt had lifted, and it was his rapid heartbeat I felt against my own. I just wanted Calum, and I wanted him all to myself. There was no way in Hell I was going to share the bad boy with anyone else, and as I kissed him hard, I hoped Calum knew that too.

The kisses had slowed down, as did our breaths, but our hearts continued to beat hastily. Using his forearms to prop himself above me, Calum's lips separated from mine with a small pop. My eyes opened and when they did, Calum was gazing down at me with adoration lacing his.

"I could get used to this," he spoke, his lips grazing mine with featherlike touches as each word fell from his mouth.

"Same," I breathlessly revealed, causing Calum to smirk and to kiss me again. Not once, not twice, but three soft kisses- each leaving me wanting more.

Calum got up from his position, holding out a hand in my direction. I grasped onto it as he helped me sit up on the bed. He was in a better mood, and so was I. There was still a part of me lingering that wanted to know where Calum had been this morning, but I was not going to ruin this moment by asking again. I'd bring it up though, maybe tomorrow, or maybe the day after. But until then, I was going to enjoy this feeling of utter, sweet bliss.

//

Aw, cute Calum/Gwen moments! I just had to because, well, Cal is still a bad boy with a lost soul and he is bound to mess up again. Just saying.

Thanks everyone for reading my story! Glad that so many people like it! Thanks for voting and for commenting, I appreciate it so much! Things are gonna get crazy soon and I've completed a chapter by chapter timeline. With that said, this story is slated to have around 40ish chapters.

Nevertheless, once again, thank you for reading my story. I really work hard on each chapter and I really take the time to develop a plot that's worth reading- something different from most fanfictions. So thanks for sticking around and I really do hope you're enjoying my story so far!!! :)