Pretending (A Calum Hood Fan Fiction)

Chapter 30: Her

"Here we are."

Calum and I stopped in front of a cream colored house. It was pretty big and fancy. The details and everything, how the flowers are all perfectly arranged in the pots and how neatly the decorations were placed in every corner. It's stating the obvious that a happy family lives here. I didn't have to ask Calum if this is where he lives because it was completely obvious. I looked up and observed the house once more. It was nothing compared to the one I can barely call my home. It was big, and it would look just as great as this house if happy people lived in there. But no, and sadly, it's starting to be far from the possibility of taking back the happiness that was once taken away from that house. I bit my lip and shrugged. I hate it whenever I think about things when I'm with Calum.

He opened the door without even minding to knock and gestured me to follow. I walked slowly inside and tried to stay comfortable. This is my second time to be in someone else's house. The first one was at Ashton's, and this is the second one. I remained silent while I look around, carrying the two boxes of pizza with me. Calum had disappeared, and I don't know where he went so I just remained silent at the corner and wait. After a few seconds, Calum came back with a smile on his face, and a woman following him from behind. I didn't know what to do so I just smiled at them as they walk closer to me. And before I could manage to say hi, the woman pulled me into a hug, a very unexpected one.

It felt strange, but at the same time it felt really comforting. I was never into hugging anyone. The moment she wrapped her arms around me, I automatically did the same the thing. I suddenly found myself smiling. I never thought this would feel really nice. I feel like I'm starting to be closer with people. I am starting to open my heart for them, as they do the same thing for me. I don't even know her yet, but her hug made me feel like a complete person. It was something I never expected, but something I've always wanted.

"Oh darling," She smiled sweetly at me. "What's your name by the way?"

"By the way mom, she's Kristen, my uhm- my gir-"

"It's a pleasure to meet you dear! I'm Joy, Calum's mom!" Calum's mom cut him off, and I smiled at how their eyes looked just like the same.

I chuckled lightly and she joined in, Calum looking at us, scratching his head. She looked at the two boxes of pizza I'm carrying and gasped lightly.

"Calum, why did you guys bother buying pizza?" She turned to look at his son. "I am cooking tonight, it's Friday!"

"I forgot mom," he stuck his tongue out. "Sorry."

"Let me put that on the kitchen honey," She took the boxes from me, leaving me with a comforting feeling that my hands are finally free.

"Want me to show you around?" Calum offered and I nodded. I'm left with nothing to do so I just let him suggest whatever.

His mom had gone back to the kitchen and we went upstairs. I can't stop looking around their house, it's really beautiful and captivating. Her mother must have loved decorating all the time. It's pretty obvious that every decoration had taken to much effort to be done. When we finally got upstairs, Calum had lead me into his room and I followed. Everything about what happened last Wednesday night suddenly popped out of my head. Did he remember anything now? I highly doubt he did.

I walked inside and he turned on the lights, making everything in his room visible. He pulled his curtains open, showing a great view of the city. I walked and looked around. I liked how the colors of his room matched his personality. It's quite weird for me to say it but, that's how I kind of see it. It's blue and white, with some black on it. His bed is unmade, but that's just how guys are. It seemed a bit large for him, but since he's tall, I guess he's all good with it. I turned to look at his wall full of posters. I smiled at the thought of seeing myself as Calum. I didn't know he liked all these bands as much as I do. There's All Time Low, McFly, Busted, Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce The Veil, We Are The In Crowd, The Maine, A Rocket To The Moon, Man Overboard, The Summer Set, Tonight Alive, Mayday Parade, and more. I can't stop looking at it. These people were my escape, the people I can run up to when I needed someone. I know they don't know me, but their music had saved me. It's really weird to say, and I can even barely explain how it did, but it did. Music saved my life.

"Guess you like them all too, yeah?" He stated and I smiled. He's watching me while I look around at his room. Nothing feels uncomfortable.

I turned to look at the other side and there I saw his little bookshelf on his table. There are few books, some of it are familiar and some of it are not. Seeing them somehow surprised me. I have never even pictured Calum being into reading. This just changed my another point of view of him.

He has his little studio too. His computer is placed on the table, along with an acoustic guitar on the side, and his white bass guitar. I remembered how he told me that it is heavier than me. I smiled as it crossed my mind. He was carrying me that time.

I've finished doing my little observation so I took a sit at end of his bed. He flopped down a moment ago so I'm not sure if he's awake or not.

"Your room is nice." I admitted.

"Better than yours?" He replied, letting me know he's awake.

"No." I chuckled lightly.

"You're just jealous." He retorted with a chuckle.

I grabbed the pillow behind me and started hitting him, making him grunt as he stood up. He grabbed the one he was laying and hit me hard, making me fall on the bed and bounce. He got shocked of what he did, probably forgetting that what he's hitting is someone who doesn't have strong biceps and long legs like him. I gained back my energy and run closer to hit him.

"You absolute dickhead!" I jumped to him from the bed and started hitting him with the pillow nonstop. He fell on the floor and couldn't manage to fight back as I give all my might while hitting his head with the pillow. He couldn't seem to move so he just laughed, and started tickling me.

"No Calum, uugggh!" I rolled over and backed away. "I'm not done beating the shit out of you!"

He didn't say anything but he remained laughing. He jumped on his bed and covered himself with his thick blankets. I laugh as I keep on hitting him, his own laugh echoing from the room. I have to admit, I love it whenever we're being playful like this. I always want it not to be over, but I keep reminding myself that at some point, it has to end.

A knock from the door interrupted us, making me stop from laughing but Calum didn't do the same thing. I laughed again and the door opened, her mom letting herself show. She looked at us for a moment. His son is still inside the blankets and laughing like crazy, I covered my mouth and face with a pillow as I try to stop myself from laughing. Her mother grinned and walked slowly to Calum, and hurriedly pulled the blankets away from him.

"No Kristen please oh my god I still want to- Oh hi, mum." He stopped laughing and smiled sheepishly at his mother. We both started laughing at how Calum looked like. He looked stupid yet cute. I couldn't brush it off my head, I want to remember this. I want to remember everything about what happened. I loved how it felt, the feeling of losing the capability to breathe because of laughter. Everything's just perfect.

"I'll be needing some help down the kitchen." His mom said, still smiling. "I'll be waiting for you two in the kitchen. Don't be too long."

"We'll go down in a bit, Mrs. Hood." I uttered and smiled. Even though I know I can just call her Joy, I still feel like I have to be proper and call her Mrs. Hood. I am not someone and it's my first time here. I'd better impress people, even though I don't know why I have to.

"Hey get up," I walked closer to Calum and sat down on the bed. "Let's help your mom."

He frowned and covered his face with a pillow. I don't know what's up with Calum being all playful and shit. I want to hit him in the head but I have to admit that I'm liking it. He's just so cute and adorable.

"Come on, don't be such a-"

"Eh, I don't want to." He said, cutting me off.

"But your mom said so?"

"No." He keeps insisting.

"Okay then," I stood up. "I'll go now and you'll stay there forever starving yourself."

He immediately threw the pillow he was hugging and stood up. He remained smiling as we walked downstairs. He's acting really weird, but I guess this is just his playful side. I don't want it to change though. It puts me in a good mood too.

We made our way to the kitchen and my stomach started making weird sounds. I closed my eyes and inhaled. That smelt so good. I was used to ordering as always for lunch or dinner. I only use the kitchen at night to make cereal when I'm hungry. No one has ever cooked in there for a long time. And with this smell, it felt home. I couldn't stop smiling to myself. I love this.

"So what do we have here?" Calum asked as he walked closer to his mother on the kitchen.

"We'll have spaghetti for dinner. I will be working on the noodles and you guys will work on the sauce." His mom stated and I stayed focus, Calum scratching his head again, confusion evident on his face. It made me chuckle.

"The ingredients are all ready, you're just going to mix it all up." She gestured us on the other table and showed the ingredients. "Calum, I trust you on this. Don't mess up."

She went back to her noodles and I was left with the ingredients and a frowning Calum Hood. I wanted to laugh at how stupid he looked like, but I ended up asking why is he acting like this.

"What's wrong?" I nudged him lightly. "It's just a sauce?"

"I can't cook." He admitted, as I fight back my laughter.

"You're lucky I know how to." I stated and winked. His face lit up.

"Really?" A smile beamed on his face. Oh my god Calum.

"Yeah," I smiled. "I'm a chef sometimes."

"So I can leave you here now?"

"Your mother said we'll work together so you'll stay here." I walked over to the table and started handing him the ingredients. "Start with this. Pour that in there."

We were both focused on our cooking thing. I can see he's really focused by the looks on his face. He's not smiling yet he looked happy. He didn't want to disappoint his mother, and I somehow felt he didn't want to disappoint me either. He said he didn't know how to cook so I taught him. It wasn't easy as I thought. This is just like how I taught him how to skate. But I hope this time we'll turn out fine. I'm pretty sure he won't mess up though. I'm not much of a chef but I can really cook too.

After minutes of making the sauce, Calum finally turned down stove and let her mom taste his own work. She took a sip of it as we both wait what she's going to say. This is looking like a contest from a TV show. Calum focused his eyes on his mother as he wait. She put down the spoon and looked at me, then to her son, then to the sauce. I swallowed the big lump in my throat. I hope it's not all bad.

"Oh god, son." She gasped. "I think you cook better than me now!"

Calum automatically smiled after hearing his mom, then pulled us both into a tight hug. His mother did the same thing, so did I. We were all happy of what just happened. This seems like Calum just passed a test that he keeps on failing. I know it means a lot to him. The way he hugged us tells me so. I couldn't stop myself from smiling because of all this. The happiness on Calum's mom's eyes is beaming. Her smile keeps touching my heart. I love how she hugged me. I love how Calum made feel secure inside his house. I love how happy I felt the moment I got here. I love everything about this house.

I have never felt so home for a long time.