lethal (cth)

two

"You guys lose! I knew long legs would be useful some day," I tease as a giggle escapes me.

Calum pouts--something that he sems to do quite often-- while the others let out light laughter. We take our seats at a large round table in a corner of the extravagant hall. The party is formal, to say the least. Miss Teen USA has to be introduced to a plethora of modelling agents and potential coworkers.

"That was you last year, huh?" Calum questions, noticing me staring in Cassidy's direction. The other guys have gone off into the mass of people to mingle. Calum had taken an instant liking towards me, I could tell, and I don't know how to feel about it.

I sigh, "Yeah. That girl's got a hell of a year ahead."

"What was it like?" he presses.

"Curious, huh?"

He gives me a taunting look and I laugh, "It's a lot of work. Constant motion, no breaks. She only has a year to prove to the world that she's the prettiest teen in America."

He seems unsure of what to say next and we both look to the center of the room as people begin to dance. 

"What about you, though? What kind of band are you, exactly?" I've heard of them before, obviously, and probably even seen them at events or parties. But I want to know more, as I always do.

He smirks and says, "We aim to be punk rock but the fam is constantly denying it."

"The fam?"

"Who's curious now?" he jokes before continuing, "Our fans, they're the 5SOS fam." He says "5SOS" as "five-sauce" and I'm glad to hear it because I'm sure I would have screwed the name up.

I can't help but be awed by what he tells me; I've never met a band that speaks so dearly about their fanbase. I, myself, technically have a fanbase and I'm sure people look up to me, although I never understood why. I wish I could tell the thousands of teen girls out there that they don't want this, but that's just letting my own bad experience ruin their dreams.

"CALUM," I hear Ashton shout. I look up as he and the other guys stroll towards us. They're incredibly out of place here in their skinny jeans and band shirts.

"Let's go, yeah?" Michael presses.

"The party just started!" I claim, not wanting to be forced to get up and socialize if they leave. I don't feel awkward wanting them to stay because that's not me, at all. Celebrities in general tend to be able to befriend anyone and although I'm far from a celebrity, I think I possess that quality. I've been a social butterfly since I first started pageants and that may be the best thing to have come out of it.

"This isn't really our kind of party," Calum says with a smirk.

"Me either. But I'm stuck here until it's over," I lie. Obviously it's my kind of party- it's all my last year has consisted of and I haven't a clue as to what kind of party they're referring to. I've been deprived of normal teenage parties, and of normalcy in general. 

"I'll wait with you, and then you can come up to ours and watch a movie with us, yeah?" Calum offers.

I smile and pause before answering. My parents are expecting me in the morning and I haven't been back home in over a month, but they'll have to understand.

"Sure, that sounds good," I reply with a grateful smile. Calum takes the seat next to me again and the others leave.

"You didn't have to do that," I tell him.

"You didn't have to say yes."

"You wanna go down the sass road, Calum? Two can play at that game."

"What? I can't hear you over the sound of hundreds of people obsessing over Miss Teen USA over there."

"Why don't you go over there and find out what they're saying? I'm sure a model girlfriend would boost your publicity anyway."

"If I wanted a model, why wouldn't I pick you?" He switches from obnoxiously sarcastic to completely adorable within seconds and I don't know how to respond.

I try not to blush and say, "I'm a human, Calum. You pick apples in the fall. When it comes to people you don't have a choice."

He laughs and raises an eyebrow. "Do you happen to be speaking from personal experience?"

"Maybe. But I don't like people, that's the first thing you should know about me."

He turns this into a game of sorts as he tells me, "Well, the first thing you should know about me is that I adore people, especially ex-Miss Teen USA's."

I smile and absentmindedly twirl my hair, thinking of what to say next. "Number two; I'm technically not a model. More like a pageant girl, if you think about it."

"Interesting. Two for me would be...I can't go very long without seeing Ashton."

I laugh at the band members' relationship and find myself revealing yet another little piece of me. "Three...I love music. I'd be dead without it."

"I was going to say the same thing!" Calum says excitedly. "Four-- without this band I'd be dead, too."

This sparks my curiosity but I insist on keeping up with the flow of our game. "Four...I love dogs. So much."

By the end of the night I lose count of how many random facts we've shared whether they were fun memories or favorite colors. As little and pointless our conversation was, it was the kind of conversation that established your bond with someone. I usually wouldn't be this easy to get through to, but friends are welcome now that I'm done with the Miss Teen USA stage of my life. I don't know what the future will bring and I don't know if Calum will remain in my life, there's no way to know.

But I do come to the conclusion that Calum is refreshing, like a rush of cold air when you've been suffocated for months.

(A/N: I know this was lame and not eventful but please stick with me, the plot of this has yet to develop and I know you'll love what is to come around chapter 5 -b)