Pretending (A Calum Hood Fan Fiction)

Chapter 44: Her

"Meet Calum, Ri." I held Calum's hand, as I keep talking. "He's just like you. You both have fluffy hair and you guys are both stinky."

I felt his elbow nudging me on the side. I chuckled lightly, causing him to join in. We remained sitting their for another couple of minutes, until I decided to go somewhere else already. Calum stood up and started heading back to his car, leaving me all alone for a minute just like what I asked him. I sat back down on the grass and smiled at Riley's grave. A tear roll down my cheek immediately.

"Sup, Ri." I smiled. "I told you I'll come back here, see? I'm all grown up now. I dyed my hair, I even got a tattoo already. I'm sorry if it took me years to come and visit you again. I didn't forget you, but I accepted the fact that you're not coming back."

I paused for a while as I let the tears stream down my face.

"I miss you, Riley. Things aren't really well at home, and I think it got worse. I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it all, but I think I can. I might get sad, but hey, look," I wiped the tears and chuckled lightly, looking at Calum who's waiting outside his car.

"I'm in love, Ri. I'm in love with someone who makes me happy. He's just like you. He makes me feel loved like all the time. I wish you're really here to come and meet him. You guys are probably gonna be great friends. I love him, Riley. And I know it makes you happy. Finally, I'm happy again."

After a minute, I decided to go. I stood up and wiped the tears in my face. I took a deep breath and smiled. It felt really good.

"I'm going now. I shall see you again next time." I stated and smiled. "I love you, Riley. See you again."

*

Calum pulled over in front of a basketball court, making my lips form into a wide smile. After grabbing something to eat and driving around the city, he decided to come here with me. I didn't have any idea. Calum's just a boy filled with surprises in his head, and I admit he never fails to amaze me. I love basketball. He knows me a lot.

We both went out of the car and he immediately took out the ball he brought under the backseat of his car. It's a perfect weather for a Saturday, and I love it. It's windy yet not too cold. I can feel the summer fast approaching.

"So this is where your surprise is, huh?" I walked towards him, smirking.

"Yep," Calum grinned widely, making his eyes smile too. "I'd like to beat you up at a shoot out."

"Oh really?"

Calum started running towards the basketball ring while dribbling the ball. I pulled my hair up in a tight bun, grinning as I walk. I have a feeling that this day is the last day for my shoes. It's so worn out and I think it wouldn't be able to handle a one-on-one match with a dumb shooter. I laughed alone at my thoughts as I get closer to him. I'd rather just lose a pair of shoe, rather than miss this another perfect moment with him.

"I might be small," I winked. "But I can do some ball, Calum."

I started running towards him and tried to steal the ball. Just as I expected, I got it from him at ease and started running closer to the basketball ring. I stood at the line and aimed for a shot. I took a deep breath and threw the ball up in the air, making a ringless shot that made Calum jaw drop.

"There's a foul!" He exclaimed with a laugh.

"What? It's pure ball!" I shouted and walked closer to him, holding the ball.

"I'll get three free throws."

Calum took the ball out of my hands and walked to the free throw line. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at him. I couldn't tell if he's just being playful with me, or he's just plain stupid about basketball.

"There wasn't even a foul!" I exclaimed. "And if there is, you'll only get two points, you dumbo!"

"Watch and learn!"

Calum shouted and I started laughing again. He dribbled the ball and took a deep breath, looking all serious with what he's about to do. He raised his arms and aimed for the ring. I followed the ball with my eyes by the moment he released it in the air. It didn't hit anything.

I fell on the ground and started laughing hysterically. He didn't walked away from his spot after he recovered the ball, and laughed in unison with me. He didn't look embarrassed or anything.

"Calum please," I gasped for air. "Just stick to soccer."

"You haven't even seen the best of me yet!" He retorted with a laugh.

"Just get over yourself!"

He rolled his eyes and laughed at me, then started dribbling the ball again. "I still got two shots! Watch!"

I looked at him as he started dribbling the ball. Calum is undeniably tall, with a perfect body. I grinned as I realized I'm checking him out. Oh well.

He threw the ball again in the air, aiming for the ring. I followed the ball with my eyes as it went in the air, landing smoothly inside the ring. Calum started jumping. I still laughed.

"You're laughing because I finally got you impressed, aren't you?" He said, raising his arms with his hands widely opened.

"You're just lucky." I stated.

I bit my lip as I felt my cheek heat up. The thought of him trying to impress me by doing the things I love is just incredibly nice. And sweet.

He walked back to the line, holding the ball with his hands. He started dribbling again, slowly this time. I looked at him, the grin never leaving my face. When he finally dribbled the ball for the last time, he raised his arms and threw the ball, letting it go from his hands. I followed the ball as it went through the air, hitting the backboard so hard that it bounced back, hitting his face.

Calum fell down on his knees, touching his face. I stood up and hurriedly ran towards him. I took his hands and tried to remove it from his face. His eyes are tightly shut as he grunt. I started looking for a bruise, or a cut, even for blood, but there's nothing on his face. It looked perfectly fine, and he's still beautiful. But he didn't stop grunting. I punched him lightly on his arm.

"Ow!" His eyes opened widely, making a smile evident on his face, no matter how he tried to hide it.

"There's nothing in your face!" I exclaimed.

"But it hurts!"

He hugged me like a he's a kid, begging for a candy. He started acting like he's crying, looking at me with his puppy look. I couldn't help but smile and roll my eyes.

"Kiss it, it would stop hurting." He pleaded like a child. I laughed lightly and rolled my eyes.

"Where?" I asked.

"Here." He pointed at the top of his cheek, beside his left eye.

I leaned in closer to kiss it, but Calum moved closer, making our lips meet. My eyes opened widely, seemingly surprised about what happened. His lips started moving slowly with mine, giving me back the familiar feeling that I know I'll never ever get tired of having. I started kissing him back, keeping it slow. I cupped his face, making him wince. I must have touched the part where he got hit by the ball. I remained kissing him as I wait for my favorite part. And there it was, I felt it with my lips. He started smiling again as we kiss. I just love it when he does that.

He slowly pulled away, making me smile.

"There," He kissed my nose. "There's no pain anymore."