ⓒⓞⓛⓞⓤⓡⓢ |c.h + l.h|

Chapter 3.

Realising that he still hadn't replied to Luke, Calum spoke up. "Ashton never explained any of this to me, but I'm just going to assume that I have no say in this matter whatsoever, yeah?"

"Basically. But hey, I won't always act as perky if you want. I can be boring too, and I can talk for hours about the new T-shirt I got yesterday. You see, it's blue. But it has some black on it, too. Ooh plus there's a really cute penguin on it. And the penguin is wearing earmuffs and gloves and this really cute little scarf and--"

"Alright Lu--," Calum cuts in.

"--And the scarf is yellow and pink. The shirt says 'I love penguins' and I'm pretty damn sure that it's just made for me, because I love penguins. I mean, who doesn't? They're so cute and just ugh. Hey Cal, do you like penguins? If not, then I'm afraid that I may not like you as much. Please tell you like them. Hey Calum are you still there?"

Wow, this boy can talk. "Well that was a lot to take in. But yeah, I like penguins. I prefer puppies and dogs though."

Calum could hear a gasp on the other side of the phone. "Are you being serious? Puppies over penguins? No way. No. I refuse to accept this."

So maybe Luke isn't so bad? He's the total opposite of Calum, sure, but he seems okay-ish. Calum still doesn't know what Ashton's planning though. Why'd he even make Calum talk to Luke in the first place? It doesn't really make sense.

"Yes. Puppies over penguins. Wait...no. That sounded wrong. Let me rephrase that. I like puppies better than penguins. Deal with it."

"We can't be friends. I'm sorry. But you hurt pengy's feelings," Luke huffed.

"Pengy?"

"My penguin."

Calum scoffed. "Your penguin. Is he a stuffed one?"

"Actually, he is. Leave him alone, he's really insecure about his body."

Just as Calum was about to respond, Ashton walked back in. "Did you say sorry to Luke yet?"

Calum held the phone away from his ear. "Yeah," was the only answer Ashton got.

"Can I have my phone back now? If you really want to talk to Luke I can give you his number," Ashton said.

Calum was unsure. Did he want to talk to Luke again? Or did he just feel obliged to?

"Look, it doesn't matter," Ashton sighed. Calum could hear Luke yell a very vague 'goodbye' over the phone. Calum didn't say it back, he barely knew the guy. He heard a sigh from the other side of the line, and then Luke hung up.

Ashton suddenly got this excited look on his face. "So? Do you like him?!"

"What? What do you mean?" Calum was totally and utterly confused now.

Ashton gave him a blank look. "Do. You. Like. Him." He said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Maybe it is the most obvious thing ever, but it still isn't registering properly in Calum's mind.

"Like him? Ash, he's a stranger that I barely talked to over the phone. Where is your logic?"

"Calum, my logic flew out the window ages ago. But do you like Luke?"

That's the thing about Ashton, he can change the subject in the blink of an eye. Calum decides to answer Ashton's question, even though it doesn't really make much sense. "Not really...As I say, he's a complete stranger to me."

"Fine. Be that way...," Ashton mumbled grumpily, not pleased with the answer he received.

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