The List (a.i)

Chapter 9 | "Sooner or later."

"Isn't it so interesting, the way he branded all that he touched?" Ricky Montgomery, Last Night.

"He likes you, it's official." Eden concluded, Max nodded in agreement and I groaned. I knew the second Eden called me and told me to come over that she would want to talk about this. Yet I still came, and I brought Max along with me.

"She's right, why can't you just understand that?" Max asked me, getting too close and I scooted towards Eden, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Why get my hopes up?" I shrugged and they both groaned. "Think about it! It's a little unlikely that one girl could suddenly change his mind about everything."

"Ever heard of love at first sight?" Eden suggested and I glared at her, ignoring my reddening cheeks at the 'L' word.

"I thought you hated him." I reminded her.

"I mean we've been messaging each other a little and-"

"What?" My mind was rushing to conclusions, that Eden liked him, that he liked Eden. I never thought a simple sentence could easily twist my heart and flip my stomach.

"We became friends, he even gave me Calum's number." She cheered and I gave her a tight smile. The mention of Calum made me feel better, but only a little. "I know what you're thinking Pieces, there is absolutely nothing going on between us."

"I'm not jealous." I mumbled.

"That wasn't really believable." She wrapped her arm around me and rested her head on my shoulder. "I'll stop talking to him if you want."

"What? No, I don't control your life." I declined her offer and she chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'm only after Calum's di-"

"AH! AH! Stop, I'm not listening! La-la-la!" I covered my ears with my hands, she teared my hands away while laughing, Max chuckling and I gave them a playful smile before sighing. "I guess I like him, but the way he feels about me is still uncertain." I decided, they both just nodded.

Ashton

"I want tacos!" Luke shouted and I gritted my teeth.

"If one of you yell one more time, you won't see your families again." I threatened and I saw the blond cower in his seat in the rear-view mirror. Calum was still in a bad mood because apparently I gave him a bruise on his arm from our fight a couple of hours ago, so he was just glaring at the world through the car window.

"You want pizza?" Michael asked, causing Luke to glare at him. I thought about it for a moment and nodded.

"Yeah, I like pizza." I told him.

"As much as you like Reese Cantalini?" Calum commented.

"Look, it speaks." I smirked at my pronoun and he mocked my voice, repeating what I said and I laughed. "Don't be grumpy about the fact that I beat your ass."

"Shut it." He snapped.

"Can you guys make up already, you're starting to annoy me now." Luke said, gaining some confidence. Calum and I made eye contact through the rear-view mirror, both knowing it was time to apologize.

"Sorry about saying that I was going to rip your shoulder blades out when I was drunk." He said.

"Sorry about the bruise on your arm." I mumbled, not used to saying sorry to him. Calum and I fought constantly, we usually just let our anger go and we never found the need to apologize. This time something within me clicked, I was so pissed off that he mentioned Reese and had her name in his mouth.