WRONG NUMBER / CH

chptr 21

Calum was convinced he was dreaming.

It was almost five a.m. when he was awoken by a simple ding of his phone. Half-conscious, he reached out for it, expecting some kind of bizarre text from Michael or Ashton. But when he saw the contact name, his eyes fluttered wide open.

from: leia :~)
hi.

Hi. That was all it said. But that was more than enough to lift Calum's spirits and save him from the depression he created himself. He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself just to make sure this wasn't a dream. He was more than happy to feel the pain.

It was real. Leia texted again, after almost a week. He felt like crying (but of course, he wouldn't).

Leia texted again. All was right in the world.

from: leia :~)
so i decided to text you again.

from: leia :~)
partly because im bored

from: leia :~)
partly because i miss you (even though a part of me still hates u)

from: leia :~)
mainly because i dont have anyone to talk to.

from: leia :~)
i know this doesnt rly count as "talking" but

from: leia :~)
i just need somewhere to vent

from: leia :~)
cos sometimes life's too much

Calum understood her feelings. Maybe once upon a time, he'd find it stupid, but now he knew how much someone could mean to a person. Even when they don't reciprocate it.

from: leia :~)
so its 5 am and we're all awake getting ready for the road

from: leia :~)
finally moving to sydney

He couldn't believe his eyes. Moving to Sydney. In a few hours he'd be breathing the same oxygen as her, and meeting her would be one step easier.

Moving to Sydney. The grin on his face was widening as he realized how much this could mean. He felt like a giddy school girl. Probably looked like one, too, but he didn't care. It was five in the morning but he was already having the best day of his life.

The sun was beginning to rise, so daylight started streaming in his room as he read through the string of texts she was sending. Mostly they were just random thoughts as they started their roadtrip, about her mom singing awful show tunes and Warren complaining about forgetting to say goodbye to their class pet.

But then she sent something that made Calum's heart gallop.

A selfie.

This was the second one she had sent him, so he knew what to expect. But looking at her now with a cute black bonnet and a pouty face and the glow only a sunrise could give, he wasn't prepared at all by the magnitude of her beauty. He felt his heart drop into a sea of butterflies raving in his stomach.

She looked like every form of art right then. She looked like every form of poetry that could stir someone's emotions.

And Calum felt very, very happy he had the pleasure of knowing she existed, even if she didn't know he did.

Calum jumped off bed and went straight to his best friend's room, practically landing on top of the blonde boy who was fast asleep. "Luke, wake up! Now's not the time for sleep," he announced excitedly.

Luke mumbled something that sounded like yes it is fuck you Calum go back to bed but it was muffled by the pillows on his face. Calum couldn't help bothering him- happiness was bursting through every pore in his body. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs until the tightness in his chest dissolved. He dialed Ashton. "Hello? Ash, she texted me again! She's moving to Sydney today!"

There was a lot of fumbling and dropping sounds at the other end. Finally Ashton's voice came through. "'S wicked, Cal, mmm. We'll talk...it...la'er..." It was followed by Ashton's light snoring.

Unsatisfied, he hung up and dialed Michael instead. "Mike! She texted again and she's moving to Sydney!"

"Oh, that's awesome, dude!" Michael replied enthusiastically. Calum frowned. He didn't sound like someone who just woke up. In fact, Michael sounded extremely chirpy.

"Why are you so...lively...for someone who just woke up?" Calum asked.

There were muted explosive sounds on the other end. "Oh, I never slept," he replied distractedly. More video game sounds followed, and Calum understood.

He hung up to stare at Leia's picture again (then realized he was still lying on top of Luke, so he stood up and left). He was overwhelmed with happiness in that moment.

He wondered if he could meet her that day.

a/n: hello my friends