blind first dates (c.h)

"self control"

"Clearly that's an opinion, my friend."

"Calum is so lucky Pete calmed the other guy down," I said, barely listening to Cassidy's words. "I mean, the guy could have pressed charges or something." After reminding myself of why I had been stressing, I found myself immediately getting off my couch and walking back to the shelves. Instead of dusting, however, I started to reorganize the books and trinkets occupying the space. "Why did Calum get so upset? I mean, sure, I love the justice for women, but isn't it crazy that we have this thing called language for the sake of settling arguments and minor misunderstandings?"

"Emmie, he made a mistake," Cassidy said and I sighed quietly, but knew she was right. I didn't want to be mad at Calum, but I personally thought it was stupid of him to do. "Also, not everyone is a raging pacifist."

"I know, I know," I said, crossing back over to my couch as I felt that even cleaning wasn't making me feel any better. "It just... makes me nervous, almost. I mean, I'm just starting to get to know him. I don't know if this is out of the ordinary for him, he could have some crazy temper that I don't know about."

"Em, he went to Dartmouth. If he was a total lunatic, I think they would have kicked him out, okay?"

"He says he went to Dartmouth..." I said, becoming wary of Calum.

"Emerson Michel! Calum is not lying to you, so don't you dare start theorizing."

"Okay, fine!" I said, feeling defeated as I fell back against the pillows on my couch. "I just don't know what he was thinking!"

"He was probably thinking that some asshole was degrading a girl he happens to think is really great! Guys do dumb shit all the time, Emmie. I don't know why, but usually they don't either. Accept his apology and don't shut him out." It was clear Cassidy was unhappy with how I was beginning to talk. "Emmie... what did the guy say?"

"I don't even know... something about how it was a shame that such a fine rack and ass could have such a big mouth," I said, trying to remember what the guy had said. "He was digging for an insult."

"Fucking dick," Cassidy muttered under her breath and I bit the inside of my cheek, surprised by her language. "Emmie, I would have punched him."

"No, you wouldn't have," I said, rolling my eyes. "You might have given him a piece of your mind, but you don't just punch people! End of story." Cassidy began to respond when there was a knock on the door of my apartment. "One sec, Cass. Someone's here." I pushed myself off the couch and sighed quietly as I walked to the door. With my phone in my hand and pressed to my ear, I opened the door. As I met eye contact with the person in front of me, I knew I would have to end the call.

"Cass... I'll have to call you back. I promise I'll keep an open mind," I spoke quietly into the phone and hardly heard Cassidy's response before ending the call. I kept my eyes locked on Calum's and slowly crossed my arms as I brought my phone away from my ear. "Hey."

"Hey," Calum said, sighing quietly as he brought his hand up to the back of his neck. "Emerson, I am so sorry. What happened last night shouldn't have happened, and I promise that's not something that I tend to do. I don't get into bar fights, I'm not a fucking idiot, but I acted like one. However, I was not going to sit there and listen to that fucking dickhead talk about you like that. I know I could have handled the situation differently, but for some reason when I heard him talking to you like that, something just switched. No one deserves to be talked to like that, and especially not you. Also, I'm sorry I didn't say something before coming over here, but I—"

"Calum... maybe you could come in before all my neighbors hear every detail?" I bit my lip gently once I suggested Calum step inside instead of staying in the hallway, and I could tell Calum was embarrassed by the way his shoulders slumped as he nodded his head and took a step forward. As Calum moved inside, I countered and closed the door behind him.