WRONG NUMBER / CH

chptr 14

"Why don't you ever reply?"

Calum didn't know how to answer Kar's question.

"Yeah, I noticed that, too. You're getting all these messages but you just read them," Jewel added, twirling spaghetti on her fork absent-mindedly. The two girls stared expectantly at Calum, so he decided to give up and tell them.

"Okay, it's a long story, but there's this girl..."

Jewel and Kar exchanged smiles almost instantaneously. Calum didn't know why, but suddenly everything came rushing out of him. All the thoughts and all the frustration and all the emotions he had ever held- spilled over spaghetti and garlic bread to two almost strangers.

"What am I even doing? Am I evil? Should I just come clean? I'm a fucking terrible person, aren't I? Oh God. I'm going to hell." Calum couldn't resist groaning in exasperation, running his fingers through the highlights of his hair absent-mindedly, closing his eyes and getting lost in his own emotions.

"Aw. Boy problems. Always cute," Jewel sighed. Calum fluttered his eyes open and shot them a small, apologetic smile.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "Can't exactly vent out to any of my mates. They'd probably call me a pussy and come clean to Leia themselves." He shuddered at the thought.

"Okay, the way I see it, Calum, you're not going to hell." Kar gave him an approving nod. "You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. It doesn't really matter if you don't reply, doesn't it?"

Calum thought her words over. He felt better than he did a second ago, but his conscience was still in unease. "But by not telling her the truth, aren't I lying?"

"But based on your description of what she's going through, I think she needs this particular white lie," Jewel argued, pouring iced tea into her glass.

He smiled. Tilted his head. Mulled over everything they told him, and decided they were right. "Thanks, girls," he said sincerely. "You're right. I'm overthinking this."

"I'm curious, though. When did you fall in love with her?"

That was the second question Calum couldn't answer that night. He stared at them, wide-eyed, stuttered for a bit, drank some iced tea before finally saying, "What?"

Both girls snorted and rolled their eyes. "Don't even try to deny it," they told him.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked weakly.

"You wouldn't be so upset about it if you weren't, duh," Kar said. She absent-mindedly lowered the volume of the television, eager to dig into the conversation. She raised an eyebrow at him.

Calum faked a nervous laugh. "Uh. I don't know, really. It just kinda happened." He shrugged lamely.

Jewel pressed her lips into a line. "But you don't even know anything about this girl. Why'd you fall in love with her?"

This time, Calum's laughter was sincere. He shook his head. "How does anyone know why they fall in love with someone? They just do." He frowned right after, realizing how disgustingly gooey that sounded. If Michael was here he would've laughed at him. Ashton would probably tweet about it. Luke would slap him. He was glad to spend time with people who were unbiased.

Kar sighed. "That's so sweet. Relationship goals," she mumbled wistfully.

A blush crept to his cheeks, and his face broke into a smile. "What relationship?"

But that lifted everyone's spirits, and finally they finished their small dinner party (Calum insisted on washing the plates to make up for his lack of culinary skills).

Before Calum left, he thanked both girls. "I had fun. We should do this again sometime, invite Luke, too." He frowned in consideration. "Or maybe not. I'm getting sick of Luke."

They all laughed at that. Jewel patted Calum's shoulder. "Good luck with Leia, Calum. If you ever need any advice, we're just next door."

He was happy to hear that. God only knew how much he needed advice from females. With one last goodbye, he made his way to his own apartment once again.

Surprisingly, Luke was there, lounging around in the couch, laptop in front of him. "Hey, Cal. Where've you been?"

"Out with friends," Calum replied as he shrugged off his coat.

Luke raised his eyebrows. "You have friends?"

Calum passed by Luke just to thump his head. "I have a life outside you guys, you know."

He made his way to his bedroom and immediately fell into his bed, exhausted from his day and from thinking about Leia. Kar and Jewel were right. He needed to stop being so hard on himself.

He fell asleep without another thought.

a/n: double update bc the previous chapter feels unfinished but sorry this chapter's so shitty its just conversations but hi kar nd jewel here u are luv u both sm