"It feels so damn good, and I wish you would...

(But, just don't)."

____

Royce successfully avoids Calum for the rest of the day.

Ha.

Lies.

He's everywhere.

Everywhere she looks, everywhere she turns. She gets out of class and spots him across the halls. She's walking to the library and catches sight of him in the courtyard. She's rushing to meet the cheerleaders for a mandatory meeting when she spots him on the stairs.

And it would be alright if she were the one spotting him. It'd be okay if it was just Royce catching sight of Calum and that was it. What makes this whole exchange an issue is that it's just that: an exchange. It's an exchange of glances between two people who really should have nothing to do with the other. It's Calum seeing her, too. It's Calum and Royce making eye contact. It's Calum sending her that smirk of his that's not really a smirk because it's more of a smile. It's more of that small grin he shot her during that calc test. It's more of a small acknowledgement, a knowing glance between them that yeah, something sure as hell went down in her bedroom but now this dynamic between this girl, Royce, and this boy, Calum, is somehow shifting unsteadily beneath both of their feet.

Calum, of course, seems to be way more okay with this slight earthquake than Royce.

Apparently.

Because at one point during the day, Royce catches sight of Calum across the courtyard and, for the first time that day, it seems, he doesn't see her. Like, he's staring off at something as his friend with the weird, dyed, colorful hair goes on about something and makes the blonde (that's not Luke) beside him laugh a little high-pitched giggle. And typical Calum, he isn't listening. Something's on his mind as he stares, head in his hand, tired eyes lidded, black hair tousled. Royce hates to admit to herself that she's still attracted to him, but damn it, she starts squirming in her seat as Calum continues to stare, but this time he licks the seam between his lips, tongue lingering in the corner for a beat too long, because Royce's mind has already switched to thoughts of his giant hands gripping her skin as that tongue of his flicks and sucks around her -

"Royce? Earth to Royce!"

"Huh?" She sits up immediately, snapping to attention as her sister sits across from her at the empty picnic table. "What is it? What's going on?"

Paige looks around. "What're you staring at-?"

"Staring? What? Me?" Royce scoffs, playing her staring off pretty damn poorly. "Not staring, just..." Royce's eyes flicker towards Calum. He's got his head down on the table, now.

He's staring at her.

They make eye contact.

He smiles.

Royce turns away, quickly, "Anyway," she shakes her head at once. "What's up, Paige?" And she raises a brow of her own. "Thought you had class, now?"

Paige waves her sister off. "Eh, we're only watching a movie, so I painted with Zayn, instead" she sings.

Royce laughs. "Wow...""Now," she claps her hands, scooting closer towards Royce on the bench. "I've got a major surprise for you, Poppy."

Royce rolls her eyes. "Whatever could that be?"

"You'll see," Paige grins, and Royce stares at her, disbelief written across her face.

"Are you kidding me, Paige?" She folds her arms as her sister rises, laughing now, from the table. "You don't just tell me you've got a surprise for me, Paige! God, who the hell does that? Now, I'm fucking curious, of course."

"You're so dramatic," Paige snorts, rolling her eyes. "You don't have to wait long, anyway. You'll see after school, alright?"

Royce snorts. "Says you."

"Yeah, says me. And Tobe doesn't know, either, so you both get to be surprised together," and Paige bats her lashes and tugs on Royce's hair. "I know," she says, "Love me."

"Yeah, yeah," Royce swats her hands away from her head. "Whatever."

Paige saunters away, blowing kisses to her sister as she leaves. "Love you, too, Poppy!"

And Royce only shakes her head, turning back to the books she has scattered on the table. She's trying to study, but now she's got a surprise to preoccupy her thoughts on top of the flashbacks she has of Calum on top of her...

God, she thinks, save me 'cause she's burning.

And it doesn't help that when Royce is walking to her locker, headed to grab her lunch, she's startled suddenly by a clang, a crash against the metal doors beside her as Calum leans up against them beside her and throws his arm around her shoulder and ducks his head so his face is beside hers, lips against her ear.

"Miss me?"

Royce gasps, whirling around. "Calum!" She hisses, looking around the empty halls.

He hums, snaking his arms around her waist.

"What are you doing, here?" She exclaims, as his hands ride low on her hips. God, what if Tobe - or worse, Paige - walks by and sees this?

"How'd you think the test was?" He asks, ignoring her initial question. He goes here, duh. "Since you were freaking the fuck out."

"I wasn't," Royce huffs, folding her arms against her chest.

He smiles, and Royce gulps because there's that smile, again.

He shakes his fluffy head. "Liar."

"Whatever," and she shakes from his grasp. "It's over now, isn't it?"

Calum easily pulls her back against him.

"That's too bad," he whispers.

Royce shudders. "What is?"

"Test's already over," he says, hands grasping her waist.

"And how's that a bad thing?"

"'Cause," he says, and he nips at her earlobe. "I really liked studying with you."

And Royce immediately thinks, Me too, but decides to let Calum trail his finger down her jaw, instead.

Lord.

Forgive me, thinks Royce, for she has majorly sinned.

So has Cal, but he doesn't care.

In fact, Calum has been having a pretty damn good day, dammit.

And that's really saying something for him to be as tired as he is. Because he's exhausted. Like, completely and utterly ready to pass the fuck out. Michael and Snake had him out late and now it's only fucking Monday.

And the day hasn't ended just yet.

The only things keeping Calum awake are his constant daydreams about Royce in that pink bedroom atop those pink sheets with hair fanned out upon those pink pillows of hers.

Maybe, next time they'll be in his place? Or his car?

After school?

Fuckin' hell...

He'd love to pop the buttons on that white collared shirt.

Or better yet, he'd love to slip his hands up that cheerleading skirt.

The thought of doing what he did with Royce in the front seat of his car, seat pushed back, windows rolled up, has his pants growing embarrassingly tight.

He forces himself to think of something else, or else that would be some shit he didn't exactly feel like taking from his friends, except thinking of something else is easier said than done when every time he thinks of Royce, she appears, looking pretty and sweet across the halls or in class or on the stairway. And he loves that she looks pretty and sweet, because it's his and her little secret that she's sexy and freaky on top of those sheets in that bedroom with him.

No one else has to know.

And when he catches her in the hall before lunch and teases her about math and nips at her ear, he really thinks that he's got some pretty serious restraint because he wants to pull her into the nearest janitor's closet and suggest they skip class.

He doesn't do that, though, because this is Royce Greene, and he really isn't trying to mess up the good thing he's got going.

Which is unfortunate.

Because somehow, some way, things get messed up pretty damn quick.

Royce makes it to the end of the day and realizes that she's forgotten all about her sister's surprise because she needs to get home and take a cold shower and clear all of the thoughts that has her mind, actually, all up in the gutter.

"You have cheerleading tonight?" Tobe asks, running up on his sister and Kennedy in the Junior class hallway after classes have finally been let out.

"Nope," Royce replies, because their mandatory team meeting turned into practice so now, she's free.

"Thank God," Kennedy mutters.

Tobe cracks a smile. "Sweet," he says. "Paige says to meet her at the car, then."

"Good," Royce nods before her brother trots off. "See you in a few," she replies, sighing loudly as she grabs for her lock.

And Kennedy is quiet as she watches Royce spin the knob for her combination.

"Hey, Royce?"

She looks up. "Yeah, Kenn?"

"This might sound stupid," she says, "but I really need your help with something."

Royce opens her locker slowly. "Anything," she says.

"Okay, well," and Kennedy takes a breath, tousling her hair. "I kinda..."

Royce lifts a brow. "You kinda...?"

"According to Lola..."

"According to Lola, what, Kenn?"

Kennedy fights a grin. "According to Lola, Liam's gonna ask you out."

And for a second, Royce's smile falters. "Oh," she says.

"Oh?" Kennedy scoffs. "Oh? Royce, one of the hottest guys in the entire school is going to ask you out, and all you have to say to that is, Oh?"

"I mean..."

And Kennedy smiles smugly. "Royce?"

She looks up. "Yeah?"

"There's someone else," she begins, "isn't there?"

"What?" Royce exclaims. "What? Kennedy," she laughs, "you're with me 24/7 when you come to class," she adds. "Who else even is there?"

"Okay, one," Kennedy holds up a finger, manicured nail glinting beneath the hallway lights, "that whole, 'when you come to class, shit,' was a low blow..."

Royce laughs aloud.

"And two, it's okay if you're feeling some other guy," she shrugs. And then a wide smile breaks out across her face. "I just wanna know who it is, of course."

"Kennedy," Royce laughs, "it's no one. Seriously."

Kennedy lifts a brow. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

She sticks out her pinkie. "If there was somebody," she begins, "would you tell me? I'd tell you, y'know."

Royce nods, hooking her finger through her friend's. "Of course."

Ha.

Lies.

But, what's she supposed to do? Calum wasn't her boyfriend, and based on what she'd heard about him, he wasn't trying to be. She had sex with him and that was it.

That was it.

Wasn't it?

But, what Royce doesn't need to happen is for Kennedy to think that there actually is something going on between the two when there's just not. They'd hooked up and that was all.

That was all.

Wasn't it?

And the footsteps growing louder in the halls snap Royce from these thoughts, as the girls break their handshake and turn.

Kennedy smiles. "Hey, Luke. Cal."

"What's up?" Luke asks, throwing his arm around Kennedy's shoulder. He grins at Royce. "Feelin' better, Royce? You were freaking the fuck out this morning."

"Yeah," she laughs, blushing a bit because speak of the goddamn devils. "I'm good. Test's over now, isn't it?"

Calum leans against the lockers between the girls. He wrinkles his nose and actually looks adorable to Royce and she hates that he looks adorable to her.

"Why do we always only talk about math?" He asks. "How 'bout we just not?"

"I second that," Royce nods, and Calum shoots her that smile, again. "I hate calc, so let's stop. Great. Thanks."

Calum raises his hand.

Royce high-fives it.

"I don't like this," Kennedy says at once, noting how Calum is sending these small smiles down at her friend. "Since when are the two of you friends?"

"Jeez, Kenn," Luke laughs. "Chill."

"Yeah, Kenn," Calum replies. "Chill."

And before Kennedy can say anything, or mention how Royce is somehow avoiding all eye contact with Calum, Luke chuckles, shaking his head. "Look, I came over here 'cause you left your gym bag in Ashton's car, so - "

"Shit," she exclaims at once. "You're right! Fuck," she tugs Luke's sleeve. "S'he still here?"

Luke reaches into his pocket and flashes the keys. "Yep."

She clasps her hands. "You're a lifesaver, Lucas," and she turns back to Royce. "Be right back?"

Royce looks up from her shoes. "I'll meet you in the parking lot, 'kay?"

"Bet," Kennedy nods, and she tugs Luke along. "See you in a sec," she calls, leaving Royce alone.

With Calum.

Again.

Internally, Calum is like, "Finally," and Royce is like, "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Shit. Dammit. Fuck."

So, Royce turns her attention back to her unpacked tote and begins throwing things into her bag with more force than necessary because she's trying to get the hell off this campus.

Calum is watching her with visible amusement.

"Got everything?" He teases, and Royce pauses her task. Her hair is splayed across her face and she looks a little sweaty, but Calum's smiling anyway. "What?" He laughs. "Just trying to help."

"Ha ha," she replies, reaching for her last item, her jacket, only to pull it from the topmost shelf in her locker and have it pull her Lit. Anthology with it.

The heavy book tumbles to the floor with a loud clatter.

Royce groans.

"Fuck," she exclaims, because this day just isn't over yet and she needs it to be.

"I got it," Calum chuckles, uncrossing his arms and bending down, lifting the book from the floor.

"Thanks," Royce replies breathlessly, except as she places her hands on her book and tugs, Calum tugs harder and Royce trips forward, stumbling into his chest with wide-eyes and an upturned face and a small gasp as she squeaks out a, "Calum," before he pulls the girl against him and ducks his head, pressing his lips to hers.

And like before, Royce's eyes go wide in shock.

Like before, it takes a moment to register what is really happening.

Like before, it takes a moment to realize that Calum Hood is kissing her.

And, just like before, Royce responds to the kiss. Like before, Royce kisses him back, and like before, it surprises Calum that Royce doesn't push him away or tell him off. Like before, he's happy that she's into this just as much as he is.

Or, so he tells himself.

And this make-out in front of Royce's locker gets more heated - like before - like last time. Calum's hands leave her textbook and feel their way around her waist. He pulls her tighter to his body, and she's small and he's tall, so he's ducking down and reaching around and Royce has the hand no longer on her book hooked around his neck, fingers in his hair as she stands on her tiptoes to get closer; even closer, because what Royce doesn't know is that Calum is exhausted. Like, he's physically ready to collapse, so this kiss for him is more than just a kiss - it's like, some type of quick fix or pick-me-up or energy spike that's keeping him from passing out, and he's gripping her tighter, his hands all over her as if letting her go might mean he'll fall.

What Calum doesn't know, is that Royce is stressed, and this kiss for her is an outlet, like dance used to be, that gives her a release for all of her pent-up energy and frustration and uncertainties about school and home and life, and Calum doesn't know that he's allowing her to release some of these burdens and it's somehow keeping her from exploding.

Royce is tugging on Calum's hair and his hands are gripping her waist and feeling down her skirt and they're both devouring each other when...

"Royce?"

And Royce quickly pushes herself from Calum and stumbles into the hall, freezing as she stares over his shoulder at not only Paige and Tobe, but Christian as well.

Surprise.

And he lifts his brows. "Are we interrupting something?"

Her whole fucking family just witnessed this boy's hands all over her.

Shit.

She's screaming internally.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Shit. Dammit. Fuck. Shit.

"No," she replies quickly.

Tobe's laughing and she wants to shut his fucking face up.

"No, I'm not...you're not," she says. "Nope. Nothing to see here."

"Y'sure?" Christian asks, a grin playing on his face. "'Cause y'know," he hikes a thumb over his shoulder. "I can come back. I can go wait in the car."

Calum snickers at her side.

"Nope," she musters, attempting not to glare viciously at Calum. "I'm fine. We're good. Nothing going on here."

"Y'sure about that?" Asks Paige, as she folds her arms and drums her manicured nails upon her sleeves. "I didn't know you two were friends, Poppy."

"We aren't," Royce replies quickly, because the way that her sister has spoken those words suggests her belief that the two are somehow, some way more than friends.

"I mean," Royce continues, missing the way Calum's brow furrows. "We're just in the same math class; that's it. We're like, barely study buddies, if you know what I mean-"

"And I think they get it," Calum blurts, because damn.

Paige is visibly unconvinced. "You're sure about that, Pops?" She's glaring at Calum.

"Yes," she says. "God, Paige, yes."

"Y'sure about that, Royce?" Calum asks, now, because really? Her tongue was just down his throat a minute ago and now she doesn't want anything to do with him. "Y'sure we're not more than just friends," he lifts a brow. "Not even a little bit more?"

Royce clenches her jaw. "Can I talk to Calum real quick, guys?" She asks her siblings, although she's got her angry glare pointed at the boy beside her. "Alone?"

And Christian steps to the side and out of the way, dragging Tobe and Paige along, too. "We'll be right here," he says, the amused smirk on his face still visible.

But, Royce smiles gratefully at her brother before her smile falls and she takes Calum's hand and drags him around a corner and into the nearest janitor's closet.

She locks the door, and Calum grows kind of excited before Royce stares up at him in the darkness and says, "We can't...We need to stop this."

Oh, the irony.

"I can't do this," she says, because that was way too close of a call. "Not anymore...with you."

Calum's face falls. "What?"

"I mean, like," she shakes her head, fingers raking through her hair, "we've got to stop. Whatever this is, it can't happen again. It can't. Like, never. I can't be caught like -"

"Like, what?" He snaps, furious all of a sudden. "Like, what, Royce? Huh? Might as well finish the statement, then. It's what?" He demands, despite knowing the answer. "It's me?"

"It's not you, it's anyone! It's -"

"Fuckin' save it, Royce," Calum grits out. "It's 'cause I'm me and you're you. Right, Princess? Anybody else could get in your pants, right? Anyone with a BMW and a trust fund could fuck you instead," he spits through clenched teeth, "couldn't they?"

Royce's nostrils flare.

"That's not what I meant, you dick," she snaps back. "So, fuck you."

"No, fuck you," Royce," Calum retorts. "Fuck you 'cause I didn't force shit on you. You wanted me, too, and now you wanna pretend like," he searches for the words, "like -"

"Like what? Like you don't just wanna fuck me? Like you're only pissed 'cause I won't give it up to you again? It's not like my sister hasn't told me all about your reputation," she sneers.

His nostrils flare. "My reputation?"

"Yeah. So, get the fuck away from me Calum and don't pretend like you weren't just using me for a fucking fix."

"Oh yeah?" He fumes. "And you know that, how? 'Cause of my reputation, Princess? 'Cause you know me so well, don't you?"

"Save it," she retorts, backing away. "Fucking save it," and she spins on her heels and throws open the door, stalking away.

So much for the good day Calum was having.

Now, he's pissed.

"Fuck Royce," he thinks, as he climbs over mops and other shit on the floor and makes his way back to the hall because he doesn't mean that 'fuck' in the good way.

Unless, of course, she decides to change her mind...

No. Not even then. If she ever came crawling back to him he'd tell her to get on with her perfect life without him and go fuck herself.

Unless of course...

Unless of course, he could watch.

"Hey, Cal!"

And Calum looks up and catches sight of Luke, who's motioning for him to join him outside in the parking lot.

The boys are gathered around Ashton's car.

"What?" He demands, hiking his bag over his shoulder as he joins his friends. "What's all this?"

Michael runs a hand through his hair.

"Look," he says, "

"Well," Calum exclaims. "What is it, then?"

"Yeah, mate," smiles Ash. "Get on with it."

"Alright, here's the thing," he pauses. "See, the thing is..."

Luke groans tiredly. "Spit it the fuck out, Mikey!"

"Hey, fuckin' chill, mate," Michel snaps back. He throws up his hands. "You know what? You want me to say it? I'll say it. Fine. Snake needs a favor. There. Y'happy, now?"

Calum thinks this day just got worse.

"No," he shakes his head. "No, Mikey. Fuck no. Count me out."

"Cal!"

"Nah," and he pokes out his bottom lip, shaking his head of black hair. "Fuck it. Whatever he wants, I'm not doing that shit. I hate Snake and this isn't my deal. This is on you, Mikey. I'm. Not. Doing. Shit."

Ha.

Lies.

__

my first version of this story didn't save so i had to rewrite it, so sorry this didn't come yesterday as promised but i was pissed and procrastinating heavily.

anyway. enough about me.

what'd you thiiiiiink? chris's here! did you expect him to be paige's surprise? fyi, paige is full of surprises...hehe.

also kennedy's about to have a bigger role in the story/be a bigger presence and i'm excited for all that.

are you mad at royce for ending things with calum? hehe... *grins 'cuz I know whats going to happen*

comment and vote! xx

we won't || jaymes young ft. phoebe ryan