WRONG NUMBER / CH

chptr 40

"Another stuffed toy? You gotta step up your game, Hood." Leia took the pink tiger from Calum with a small smile on her face, obviously joking around.

"If you don't want it I can always give it to Luke," Calum replied, grinning back.

"No. I love it." Leia laughed and hooked her arm around his, already pulling him away to explore new sights. She cradled her new stuffed animal on the other hand.

They were at an amusement park that evening, trying every ride and every booth. Calum was determined to win every booth for Leia, which was why she was dragging around a string of small prizes: necklackes, trinkets, and now, that pink tiger.

They weren't sure if they were on a date, though. The thought distracted him all night. She had called him up with the decision to check out at least one amusement park, and she needed a plus one. So Calum was lucky enough to be her closest friend.

He wanted to ask her if this was a date, but he would seem presumptuous, so he kept his mouth shut. He wondered what she thought this was.

All Leia was thinking about was his hand in hers, and how wonderful that felt. And if he was going to kiss her.

She felt embarrassed by her own thoughts.

At the end of the night, Calum walked her home, carrying some of the stuff they won from the booths and joking around with her about filling her room with disgustingly happy stuffed toys and dolls.

"I'm serious. One day you're going to wake up and your room's going to look like the inside of a ten-year old girl's brain." Calum smiled at the thought.

Leia was cracking up, almost tripping over her own feet. "Oh, now you just gave me an idea for a great prank. Better watch out, Calum."

Their laughter died down when they arrived at Leia's front door. Calum couldn't really see clearly due to the low lights in her front porch, but she looked like she was blushing. He was sure he was doing the same.

Of course he wanted to kiss her.

But he didn't know if he should.

"I had a really fun time," he whispered, still chuckling. He handed her the rest of her prizes, suddenly feeling awkward.

"Me too," she said softly. She tiptoed closer. Come on, Calum. Make the first move, you idiot.

Calum held his breath. Leaned in. Tilted his head so their lips would meet finally-

A flood of porch lights turned on and made both of them startle and jerk away from each other.

"Mom, Leia's kissing some guy on the porch," a little boy's voice rang from inside the house. There were sounds of footsteps and and boyish laughter and doors opening after that.

"Warren, you little shit," she hissed under her breath, peeking inside one of their windows. Her little brother stared back and stuck his tongue out before running away. She sighed and turned back to Calum, who was grinning in amusement. "Sorry about that."

"It's okay. We probably shouldn't...I mean, not now-I'm, uh-this isn't even..." Oh, crap. He was stuttering now. Nerves were creeping back in his system. He only wanted to ask her if this was a date, and if he could kiss her. That was the polite thing to do. "I mean. Good night, Leia. Thanks for today."

She deflated inwardly, but managed a smile. "Thank you, too, Calum."

There was an excruciating silence after that. Calum felt that one small step toward her was impossible. He stepped sideways and back, waving goodbye awkwardly, almost tripping into one of their bushes.

"Be careful," Leia called out with a smile.

Calum was too dazed to reply. He watched Leia finally open the door and disappear inside her house. When she was out of sight, he sprinted down the street, trying to exercise his heart, which was beating too hard.

He almost kissed her tonight. Almost.

It wasn't the first time things like this happened to them. There were always electrically-charged moments between the two of them, alone or not. And yet he couldn't seem to find it in him to kiss her. She's only known him for three weeks, anyway. And he knew she liked him back. So what was holding him back?

He hopped on a cab and smiled all the way home in a nervous, slaphappy way.

He had made up his mind. He was going to ask her out. Officially.

a/n: fillers make the world go round