Adelaide's Point of View

"Can you come inside with me? Michael really wanted to apologize to you. I don't expect you to accept it, but I do think it would be nice for you to hear," I suggested.

Calum drummed his stubby fingernails against his steering wheel. His jaw was clenched tightly with nerves. We were sat outside of the floral shop in Calum's car. He had offered to drive me today since it was raining cats and dogs outside and he didn't want me to have to walk in the rain. Cue the sappy rom-com music.

He swallowed, the sound of his gulp echoing throughout the vehicle. Calum twisted the keys in the ignition, turning the car off. It surprised me. "Fine. I'll hear what he has to say and then I'm leaving."

I smiled widely, unbuckling my seatbelt and racing around the sedan to get to the driver's side, just so I was able to hold his hand. "I'm really proud of you," I told him happily, intertwining our fingers as I pushed against the glass door to Fabulous Florist.

Luckily, the store was completely baron with no customers around to give him any glares and make him regret his decision of coming inside. I led my boyfriend towards the backroom, where Lucy, Michael and Eric were all sat around the metal table, working on some more baskets and centerpieces.

My eyes immediately were drawn to Michael's arm draped across Lucy's shoulder, just as everyone else's gaze was on Calum. I couldn't help but squeal at the sight of them together though, almost forgetting about bringing Cal inside.

"Hey guys," I greeted politely, tightening my grip on Calum's palm. "Um, Michael did you still want to talk to Calum?"

He nodded, his blue-green eyes glistening with fear. Mikey's face was no longer swollen, which I was grateful for. He stood up, untangling himself from the redhead and approaching the two of us. "Yeah, so um I'm really sorry for not believing you. I was a really crappy friend. Addy opened my eyes to this but I should have trusted you years ago. I'm really sorry for not being there for you like I should have been and for wrecking our friendship. I deeply regret it and again, I'm truly sorry."

Calum's brown irises flickered from me to Michael. He weakly smiled at him and seemed utterly distraught on how to respond to his lengthy apology. "Um, okay? I'm sorry for punching you a few days ago. I hope it didn't hurt too bad."

Mikey chuckled, raising his palm to feel the lower portion of his face, rubbing against the small bit of scruff on his jawline. "It's all good. Addy was just trying to help me finally get a girlfriend."

I grinned, letting out yet another squeal of happiness. "Aw you two are actually together! That's so cute! Oh my God, you guys are so cute. I'm literally going to puke you are too cute. Aw."

Lucy giggled, wading over towards us as well and wrapping her arms around Mikey's waist. I felt like a proud mother. "Thanks, Addy. Um, so you didn't kill Ellie?" She asked awkwardly, her voice wavering with fear as if she was unsure on how to word it.

"No. I would never do that. We were hit by a drunk driver but the jerk pulled a hit and run and was never identified," Calum assured her. Lucy nodded, her mouth forming a slight o shape.

"I was only buzzed," A voice called from behind us.

The four of us shifted our attention to Eric, leaning back in his folding chair with his hands behind the nape of his neck, a smug smirk evident on his features. His comment was confusing and no one seemed to understand what he had muttered.

"What was that?" Calum repeated for clarification, his thick eyebrows furring together in a puzzled fashion.

Eric continued to smirk. "You heard me. I wasn't drunk, I was just buzzed."

"Are you saying that-" Calum tried to ask.

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Eric interrupted, snickering lightly. His icy and condescending tone made me shiver. "But I didn't mean to kill Ellie. I was trying to kill you."

Michael lunged at Eric within seconds, leaping over the table to place him in a chokehold, Eric's head slamming against the concrete floor beneath him. Michael repeatedly collided his fist against his face. Calum pushed me towards Lucy before rushing over to Michael for back-up.

Blood and screams were both escaping out of Eric's mouth. I was still frozen in shock, my arms tightly enveloping around Lucy to protect ourselves.

"You asshole! I thought you were my best friend! How could you do this?" Michael shouted, knocking a few of Eric's teeth out. He was whimpering softly, trying to break free of his tight grasp around his neck as he gasped for air.

Calum lifted Michael off of Eric, his arms holding him back from smashing his face anymore. Calum's eyes were narrowed. He seemed to be contemplating on if it was even worth it for him to beat him up as well. Eric was already gushing blood and easily had a dislocated jaw.

My boyfriend kicked him in the ribs one time, enough for him to get the windknocked out of him. "You ruined my life. And I'm about to ruin yours."

This venomous side of Calum was frightening. I was shaking uncontrollably, my teeth shattering with fear. "Lucy? Can you please call the police?" Calum ordered casually, obviously noticing that I was too afraid to even move.

Michael's best friend just admitted to attempting to kill Calum. Michael's best friend had killed his own cousin. Michael's best friend had ruined Calum's entire life. Michael's best friend took away Calum's girlfriend.

Lucy scurried off to pick up her phone, dialing the number for the local police station. Eric was groaning in pain, his eyes flooded with tears. Calum and Mikey were whispering words to each other that I couldn't hear. My mind was too loud with thoughts to even think about anything else.

Calum's arms swaddled around me, pulling me against his chest. He was rubbing circles against my back, trying to muffle my sobs. "Shh, baby. It's going to be okay. Eric's going to go to jail. Don't be afraid."

"He wanted to kill you," I murmured, my voice cracking at the thought alone of Calum lying in a casket. My life would be completely different if Calum was the one to have died instead of Ellie. I never would have been able to fall in such a state of bliss if it wasn't for Calum. And the guy who potentially could have wrecked my opportunity to meet my boyfriend had the nerve to be all friendly with me. I was completely disturbed and shocked, and my head became increasingly more dizzy. "How could he do that? How could he live with himself for killing his cousin?"

"I don't know, Ad," Calum mumbled, kissing my forehead. "It's alright. Please don't cry, baby."

It wasn't alright though. Eric was the one who caused Calum such immense pain. Eric is the one who testified against Calum, and made the entire town loathe Calum with every fiber in their being. Eric is the reason Michael stopped being friends with Calum. Eric is the reason this city had to suffer the loss of Ellie Cunningham. And without one doubt in my mind, I could officially say I hated Eric.

I clutched even tighter onto Calum, as my nerves continued to swim through my veins. Eric was bleeding uncontrollably and was screeching in pain, but I didn't even feel an ounce of sympathy towards him. In fact, I truly wish Calum did continue to assault him. He deserved it. Knowing that the true monster in this situation was rolling around in his pile of thick blood only a few feet away from us scared the crap out of me, and even more tears continued to stream over my numb cheeks.

Lucy entered the room again, sliding her phone in her back pocket. She stole a few glances at Eric's wounded body before cuddling up into the traumatized Michael. "Police and an ambulance are on their way, should be here any second. They said they are going to get him cleaned up, then the cops will investigate and they will have another trial." 

I clutched tighter onto his flannel shirt as the sirens outside soon became even louder in approaching volume. I have never been involved in a crime scene before. And I was terrified to be apart of one now.

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author's note: oH IM REALLY SORRY WOW IDK I FEEL LIKE THIS IS KIND OF PREDICTABLE BUT PLOT TWIST AY

SORRY ITS SO SHORT OKAY I WAS JUST REALLY HYPE

IDEK WHAT TO SAY BUT THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT I LOVE YOU ALL

DEDICATED TO CALUMSTHINGORTWO BC I LOVE HER SHES THE SWEETEST