19 : carmen - lana del rey

stuff has been going on in my ((non-existent)) life so im sorry for the lack of updates

- unedited af I haven't even proof read oops

©alum

We walked (Cassidy rode her bike slowly to keep at the same pace as me) to the skate park in silence, but it wasn't awkward. I hoped Michael and Ashton wouldn't be there with us because I really needed to apologise to Cassidy for being such a prick. I needed to make sure she didn't hate me before I left.

She pushed the gate open and it creaked, making me jump. She rode up the big ramp and I ran, gripping onto the thin metal rim that stopped you from getting a splinter, and pulled myself up. Cassidy smiled and turned on her music. David Bowie started playing quietly, and as the chorus began Cassidy leant into me and rested her head on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, putting my arm round her.

"It's ok," she replied quietly. "It's okay, Calum."

It was quiet for a few moments before she spoke again.

"When are you leaving?" When I didn't reply, she moved away and turned to face me. "Calum? When are you leaving?"

"A month," I whispered, remembering back to the conversation I'd had with my mother earlier that evening.

((a/n: flashback in italics))

"Calum, I need to speak to you," mum was chopping vegetables in the kitchen.

"What is it?" I called, running down the stairs and stopping when I saw Rick glare at me because I was making too much noise.

"It's about America," she said, her voice cracking slightly. I knew how difficult she found this, I mean, her son was moving thousands of miles away, but I didn't understand because all she had to do was tell dad I wasn't going and it would all be okay. "Your dad applied for your visa a while back and it's come. I've been tracking your progress at school online; it says you'll be finished with the term in a couple of weeks. You dad and I think it would be best if you moved out in the next month or so."

"Month?" I stared at her in disbelief. "A month. What the fuck?!"

"Don't use that kind of language," mum scolded. "Look, honey, this is hard for all of us but it's for the best. Everything in America is... better than here; you've got to take this opportunity and make it worthwhile."

"I don't want to go," I said desperately. "Please, at least let me have longer than a month."

"Calum, the sooner you get this over with, the better," Rick came into the kitchen and put his arm around my mum's waist.

"Shut up," I mumbled. "You're just happy I'm leaving. Both of you are!"

"Calum, I want you to stay but I'm thinking about what's best for you here. This moving business has been on my mind for years now, but I've never had any reason to do it until you got excluded. The American schooling system is good; perhaps you'll like it better."

I just stared helplessly at my mum and Rick before sighing and stomping up the stairs. School was school. The country wasn't going to matter to me.

"Calum?" Cassidy said, waving her hand in front of my face. "You're joking, right? They- they're giving you longer than a month, aren't they? I'm leaving in six."

I shook my head. "A month. Thirty fucking days, and that's maximum."

Cassidy pulled me closer to her and wrapped her arms around my waist. "you've only been to two boxing sessions and I've only known you two months, but you would've kicked major ass in the end of sessions tournament."

I chuckled. "Thanks, Cas."

I kept Cassidy close to me because it was somewhat comforting and also because it was late at night and I felt I needed to protect her. Maybe it's because I wouldn't be able to in a month, because I'd be thousands of miles away. I felt so guilty for leaving Cassidy, I really did care for her. As we sat, she clung to me, tugging at my shirt occasionally, unintentionally, and I found it reassuring. It was only when I heard quiet snuffles that I pushed her away and took a proper look at her face.

"Sorry," she rubbed her nose on her sleeve. "I'm on my period. Oh shit, you didn't need to know that... I'm not very good at this, Cal."

I smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, Cas. All this would've been so much easier on you if it weren't for me. I'm making everything so fucking complicated. Luke and Michael's relationship, My mum and Rick's relationship, our relationship."

Cassidy blushed and shifted into my lap. "you've made my life better, Cal. I'm never gonna forget you."

I smirked. "Even when you're a professional boxer and you're winning all these awards and shit and I'm a skint foreign teenager in America?"

I nudged her jokily and she rolled her watering eyes sarcastically. "Only if you remember me when I'm a washed up college failure with no job and you're, like, a musician touring the world, or something."

I laughed. "Yeah, I'm sure that people would love to hear my renditions of cartoon theme tunes all over the globe."

Cassidy smiled distantly and rested her head on my shoulder. We sat, staring at the rising sun for a while.

"I love you, Calum," Cassidy said suddenly, after a while. "You're the best friend I've ever had."

I stared at her, with her beautiful wavy brown hair falling in front of her eyes, her cute little heart shaped lips and her deep meaningful eyes. She was so perfect, do fucking perfect that she made my head spin. She looked so innocent and so pretty and so delicate and I couldn't bare the fact I was hurting her so much by leaving. my heart was beating fast in my chest and I felt as though I couldn't breathe, but not like the panic attacks; like, in a good way. I leaned closer and she did too, the gap between us closing slowly.

I hadn't kissed a girl in a while. I couldn't really remember what it was like, but I don't remember it being as good as it felt to kiss Cassidy.

As we pulled away, slightly breathless, my eyes trailed down to her slightly swollen lips. we just kind of stared at each other for a while, like we were both taking in the fact we'd just kissed.

"I-"

"We-" we both spoke at the same time. I laughed nervously. "You go first," I said.

She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, almost ashamed. "I shouldn't have said that. Fucking periods."

"Oh," I replied, deflated. "I've just fucked our friendship up, haven't I? Can't fuck it up anymore then, can I? Well, I really like you, Cassidy. At least saying that won't make this any more awkward than it already is."

A smile broke out on Cassidy's face. "Thank God. I like you too, Calum."

"W-what?" I stuttered.

She smirked and tugged me towards her with my collar, reconnecting our lips. I didn't know what the fuck was going on, but I liked it.

-

i can't tell if this is short bc I'm writing it on my phone lol

also idk if i ever said how often the boxing sessions were but they would be monthly bc it makes sense with Cas and cal knowing each other's couple of months

I hit vote goal (yayyyyy tytytyty) so the new goal is

2k reads, 40 comments or 220 votes

- cx