Michael
Calum Thomas Hood is the kind of guy who's always full of surprises. He will leave you breathless each time you try to inhale the oxygen around you. He will make you feel weak in your knees because every time you see him, you forgot that walking is a legitimate thing. He will surprise you with gratitude and love and anger and shyness and a variety of emotions that cannot simply be expressed with words. He will delicately hold you and whisper hopeless melodies about how important it is not to smoke because he thinks your life is much more valuable than you do. He will surprise you in the most unexpected ways, and that includes something I wasn't ready for nor expecting.
"You shaved your hair."
He smiled awkwardly as he ran his long fingers through it, which made me smile on return because I could see that his nails were freshly painted black and not chapped off and I still had the familiar feeling of hope that one day he'd let me paint them for him.
"Yeah, it's really hot and I didn't feel like dealing with it."
"Do you like the way it looks on you?"
I noticed how Calum's body went stiff and how his eyes went from maintaining subtle eye contact with me, to almost completely avoiding my face and looking straight ahead, which looked to be the train where his sister would be getting off any minute.
"Uh, yeah," he choked up and I almost felt sorry for him. It was as if he was having second thoughts or regrets about shaving his hair and I didn't like it. I wanted, no, needed him to feel confident with himself because as much as I adore the beautiful boy standing in front of me, its hard trying to take away his insecurities when I've grown to love all of mine.
"Hey, if it makes any difference, you look great."
"Thanks."
I also didn't expect to be dragged along with Calum and his sister, unplanned, because apparently he told Mali that I was going to join with him and truthfully, I didn't want to but I was willing to sacrifice what I didn't want to do for Calum. I was the one who got him into this mess, so I have to be the one to suffer the consequences.
"So Michael, what made you decide to join the department?"
I glanced over at Calum who was staring at me with heart eyes and I practically felt myself melting but I tried my absolute best to control myself because well, his sister was asking me a question and I needed to be respectful about it.
"I play guitar."
"You do?" Calum asked with a hint of confusion in his voice. It was as though it came out as more of a shock to him than a why didn't you tell me sooner kind of thing. I didn't want to tell him because I didn't want to be one of those sappy hopeless romantic guys who brings someone to their room to play a tune on their guitar, and then all of the romance goes down the drain because all they really wanted to do was get in the persons pants.
I'd never betray Calum like that though, because he deserves to be looked at as so much more than just another excuse to have sex. He was beautiful, like the dolphins that dive into the crystal water that glistens under the blue moonlight and he was beautiful like the sound of a baby crying for the very first time and being held by the mother, because they were brought into this world for the same reason Calum was, for the same reason I was, which was to discover what it really means to be alive. It can be hard sometimes trying to figure out the true definition of that word, since sometimes I rely on a short smoke that I could quickly do in an alley or a parking lot. But Calum, he is what gave that word a definition.
I never wanted to do romantic things until I met him. He's changed a lot of things and I'm not as cocky as I used to be, but maybe it should be that way because all I ever want to do is make the boy in falling head over heels for, happier than he can get.
"Yes."
"When were you going to tell me?"
"I didn't think my interests were as important as yours. I'm trying to focus on sparking your confidence within your artwork. It's amazing Calum, which is exactly why you belong in the department in the first place."
Calum smiled, wanting to hug the hell out of me probably but I could tell that he was trying to maintain himself as Mali continued to ask questions.
"How long have you been playing?"
"Almost my entire life."
"What other talents do you have?"
At this point, I wasn't sure. I've been so focused on trying to discover things about Calum that I didn't realize there was something else that has yet to be discovered and that's me. I know that I like to dye my hair, and I know I like playing guitar and making covers of my favorite songs by my favorite bands. I know I like standing on top of buildings, watching the city lights with Calum and taking late night drives in the car at two in the morning because its the way the breeze feels against my skin that makes me feel so alive.
But I never really thought about my talents.
"I sing?" I replied in a more questioning tone.
Calum stopped to reply once again, bring shocked and excited and happy for once over the fact that I played guitar and I sang. Is there something he isn't telling me?
"I sing too but only in my bedroom and shower. I'm not very good."
Mali grinned at her brother and kindly pushed him to the side to flip her hair and do a little dance which confused me beyond measures, but then I understood what she was doing once she opened her mouth.
"He also plays bass and guitar."
"Mali, I wanted to keep that a secret."
"Why a secret?"
"Because I - I, I'm not very good at it and I don't want to be made fun of."
At this point, I frowned. Because not only was he ashamed of the amazing artwork he created on paper, but he was also ashamed of the way he sang and the way he played bass and guitar. I desperately wanted to hear all three because I knew it'd all sound beautiful. But he'd never believe me.
"I have a feeling your voice is majestic and you're just in denial because you won't let yourself be good at anything."
"Are you saying I choose not to be good at anything?" Calum frowned.
I shook my head, because that isn't what I meant to say at all.
"No, I'm saying that you should cut yourself some class and give yourself the recognition and praise you deserve. You're amazing with comforting people and you care so much about the environment and you like doing things on your own which proves you're independent and there's a lot of things that make you who you are Calum, and your talents are one of them."
"What talents?" Calum laughed bitterly, and both Mali and I rolled our eyes because he just didn't understand how good he was at nearly everything.
"You're good at making people feel like they should and could be better. You're good at putting a smile on my face. You're good at giving me something to look forward to everyday. Is that enough to believe you're talented?"
I saw the tint of crimson pink rising on Calum's cheeks and I wanted to pinch them, but I wouldn't because we were in the moment and Mali was standing there dumbfounded because she practically just watched me flirt with her brother but it was okay, because she had a boyfriend of her own to worry about.
"Maybe."
"Good, because you really know how to make a guy feel special."
Calum smiled, a genuine one this time and he hugged both Mali and I at the same time.
"Thank you for helping me make my weaknesses strengths."
"Anything for you," Michael said in almost a hushed tone, "anything for you."
-
A/N:
I'm so emo.
The YouTube video with this chapter is my life.
So cute.
So adorable.
So much fond.
I'm in love.
Malum for life.
Okay, bye.