Deal // Calum Hood

Birthday.

Annabelle.

"Happy birthday, Annabelle." Mia, a girl in my year who I guess I could call a friend, smiled.
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She was a small girl, around 5'1, and looking down at her always made me feel bad. Her personality matched her height, she was very timid and nervous. Although, she was incredibly passionate about science.
"Thank you." I smiled back, appreciative that she remembered.
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Birthdays weren't a big deal in my family, and so the day was never all that exciting for me. Usually it was just the same as any normal day. And as usual, that's exactly what it was
. . . until I saw Calum.
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After school, I went to meet Calum in our usual spot, beyond exited to tell him that we had a maths final tomorrow and I actually felt ready thanks to him. When I got there, he was waiting for me just like every other Wednesday and Thursday, leaning easily against the bike shed.
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"There she is." He grinned widely, standing up properly and walking over.
"The birthday girl."
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"Here I am." I gestured to myself as we stood before each other.
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I watched intently as he turned and opened his bag, pulling out two messily wrapped presents.
"Sorry." He mumbled, handing them to me. "I did try, but I just couldn't figure out the cello-tape and then it wouldn't fit all the way over and-"
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"Calum." I shut him up, filled with a delighted sense of surprise.
"Thank you. Really, this is so nice of you. You didn't have to get me anything you know." Because honestly he didn't.
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"I know." He smiled a little. "I wanted to." He shrugged. I smiled the goofiest smile just about ever and he tapped my foot with his. "Open it then!" He pushed.
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I pulled apart the awfully wrapped gifts, the first one making me snap my head up at him, and shake my head.
"No way, Calum. No. I can't accept this."
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"Oh would you relax, Annabelle. It's my old one! Now we you can tell me if you need help on a maths question whenever." He smiled, and I looked at the phone in my hand, gobsmacked.
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"My numbers already on there." He admitted, his cheeks pinking slightly.
"Just in case, you know."
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I nodded, slipping the phone into my pocket and opening the slightly bigger present. Inside the clump of cello tape, lay a small tape. I peered up at him, confused as to what it was.
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He looked increasingly nervous as he explained it to me.
"It's a mixtape." The tip of his ears burned crimson. "Of all my favourite songs, I know you said your dad had a tape player somewhere and I just thought that because you like music you'd like to hear more. I don't know. I'm sorry if it's stupid. I just-"
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I threw my arms around him as best as I could, due to his size, to shut him up. "Thank you." I whispered into his ear. Completely overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness.  He seemed shocked at first, heavy breathing and his arms locked outward, but then I felt as he relaxed and hugged me back. It was a magical feeling as we stood together, my face buried in his chest, his warm cotton jumper a nice pillow, and his strong arms locked tightly around me.
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And then I got past the wonder and was shoved into reality. I was hugging Calum. Calum! He probably felt so awkward, so uncomfortable. I sucked in a deep breath quickly and attempted to pull away just as fast. Only his arms were too tight and it ended up being slower than intended.
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I watched the floor, my cheeks burning bright with embarrassment.
"Sorry." I mumbled.
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He cleared his throat and I glanced up at him for a moment to find he was blushing too. He shook his head clumsily. "No, no, it's okay." He assured.
"So I'll see you tomorrow then?"
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My head snapped up at that.
"What? But it's Thursday?" I questioned limply.
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His skin returned to its normal tanned colouring as he no longer found it uncomfortable to look me in the eye.
"It's your birthday. Aren't you doing something with your family?"
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My stomach clenched with embarrassment and I felt my cheeks flush once more.
"Oh . . ." I mumbled, half to myself. Followed by me then beginning to nod continuously.
"Yeah. Yeah, sorry, I . . . Yeah.
Well, see you tomorrow then." I breathed out heavily, giving him a broad, forced smile.
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He looked at me long and hard. His brown eyes drowning in pity as he released a small sigh.
"You are a shitty liar, Annabelle Clark." He eventually stated.
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My eyebrows furrowed up in confusion and I opened my mouth to protest but he continued to talk.
"Now if you're sure you won't be missing out on any family fun, you are going to come home with me, and I am going to show you what a real birthday is like."
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*•*•*•*•*
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We chatted the entire way home about all kinds of rubbish as per usual, just laughing and enjoying each others company. We began to share childhood stories about one another, and I mistakingly told him about my tenth birthday where my parents had completely forgotten that it was my birthday at all.
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I had meant for it to be a funny story but Calum didn't find it the slightest bit humorous. Instead, he just looked at me with his big brown eyes, pity smothering him. I hated that look.
I changed the subject.
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A few moments after this, we walked past the local corner shop and Calum stopped me.
"Wait here." He instructed, running into the shop. "I'll be two minutes!" He called, disappearing through the doors seconds after.
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He kept his promise, as two minutes later he was back out, carrying a semi-filled plastic bag which, no matter how many times I asked, he wouldn't let me see.
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"Okay sit down, I'll be back." He pulled out one chair from his kitchen table for me to sit at, tucking me in.
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He returned around five or six minutes later, turning off the lights as he entered. He came over slowly with a huge grin on his face, his hands holding a small plate with two cupcakes on, a candle burning on each one.
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I melted like the wax on those candles as he placed the plate before me.
"Happy birthday, Annabelle." He smiled, waiting for me to blow out the candles.
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We ate our cake once I had done so, followed by us going up to his room and joking around over the mixtape he had made for me which was playing softly in the background the entire time. I loved it.  I absolutely loved it.