Amnesia • Calum Hood

•Chapter Twenty-Seven•

Focusing on the dart tournament was a lot harder than I anticipated.  Not only was it the most boring activity I'd ever witnessed, having my ex breathing down my neck was not helping the situation much either.  Calum had yet to actually approach me, instead opting to quietly watch my every move from a corner.   It was unnerving, and set my whole body on edge, but the minute I saw him I vowed to myself not to get worked up.

I tried to smile at Nick every time he glanced over at me, which wasn't very frequently, but after a while I grew tired of faking enthusiasm.  He had enough onlookers drooling over his beaming smile and praising his half-assed dart throws.  If I had any hope of getting through the night, I needed a drink.

"Excuse me," I murmured, shouldering past a cluster of barely dressed girls.  They were ogling all of the guys competing, including the one that had invited me here.  But with each passing minute, my interest in Nick lessened, until I grew more irritated than attracted to him.  Sure he could be witty and charming when he needed to be, but there a certain was depth missing that I needed in order to really be close to someone. 

Slipping onto a bar stool, I called over the bartender and ordered a scotch, my go-to drink that I knew would serve the purpose for which it was intended.  I wanted to forget large chunks of tonight, and it would like a charm.

Right on cue, however, Calum strolled over and took a seat right next to me.  I was flooded with déjà vu, and the night he confronted me at the bar with Charles came flashing into my brain.  The events were almost parallel, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.  Of course this happens to us twice, it's only fair.

I felt his eyes glance over to me, before he let out a soft chuckle and ordered a beer.  Confused by his relaxed attitude, I tried to pick up what he was feeling.  Would I have to prepare the defenses, or was he going to be civil for once?  I had a battalion of insults and statements I could fling at him if I needed, fully prepared for an onslaught of cruelty.

But he was just sitting there, and my curiosity peaked.

Even though I was trying to remain frigid and uninterested, I couldn't help but look over at him.  Calum was wearing a simple muscle shirt and jeans, not dressed for the slightly cold air outside.  But he'd never been one to follow other people's rules.  His brown eyes were bright and sparking, and his lips were turned up in a small smile as if he was imagining something in his head.

I wanted to know what he was thinking about.

Stop being an idiot.  How stupid was I?  I knew his intentions.  Calum was going to pester and berate me all night, no matter how innocent he seemed on the surface.  This was a constant cycle, and I was ready to break it once and for all.

"What do you want, Calum?" I asked coolly, cracking the shell of a bar nut and focusing on that so I didn't have to look him in the eye.  That boy's gaze could melt my icy heart like snow in the sun, and I was not about to let this happen.

"Another date, huh?  Ditched the square, did you?" 

Just his voice was setting me on edge.  I shifted on the stool, and glared at the tabletop rather than him.  Looking him in the eye was becoming harder and harder.

"I was invited.  And at least I'm out with friends, which is more than you can say.  Where's your usual tramp?  The girls finally realize you're a massive dickhead?"  Out of all the times I'd seen Calum, he was never with a friend or anyone close, just a bunch of random women who only wanted sex.  This meant he must have been lonely, but at the moment I couldn't care less.

If he was surprised by my scathing words, he didn't show it.  Calum simply rolled his shoulders and pulled out some money, tipping the bartender before he grabbed his beer and leaned down to whisper, "Enjoy your date, Joey."