g w e n:

Today was difficult.

Funerals are never an easy thing and while I didn't personally know Ashton, I could tell that he was deeply loved by several people. As I sat with Lauren during the reception, letting her reminisce about the fun times she had with her older brother, I could overhear guests discuss Ashton's death. From what everyone could understand, was that Ashton succumbed to the injuries from being jumped. But even I knew that wasn't the entire truth.

After numerous hugs, the Hemmings and I departed and shedding our black clothes. It was sunny, beautiful and seemed out of place for a funeral. But the more my skin was kissed by the warm Australian sun, I realized that it was as if Ashton was declaring that he was okay now. He was the sunshine in his mom's life, his siblings' life, in his friends' life and everyone else he touched. Ashton's funeral wouldn't have been complete without the sun, because its cascading rays were coming straight from the curly-headed, dimpled boy, radiating from the Heavens above.

I guessed I was more tired than I had thought, because when I finally woke up from my nap, the evening had set and darkness surrounded me. I sat up in my bed, turning on the bedside lamp and stretching for a few moments while I gathered the idea that it was indeed nightfall. As I stretched however, I felt a shooting pain at the pit of my stomach and a soreness all over my back and legs. When I threw my legs over the edge of the bed, that's when I felt it.

An all too familiar wetness pooling in my panties, and no, it wasn't from being sexually aroused. Aunt Flo, not from Progressive Insurance, had decided to show up today, which would explain the fatigue, soreness, cramps, and I could sense my taste buds yearning for something sweet. Maybe salty. Maybe greasy. But knowing me, it was probably all three.

"Tampons, pads, tampons, pads," I muttered to myself, as I rummaged through the drawers in the bathroom looking for my menstrual cycle essentials.

However, to my dismay, there was nothing but a light flow tampon sitting at the bottom of the drawer. I sighed, knowing that I had to get myself to the market to grab some more. I threw on a cardigan over the leggings and plain v-neck I was wearing and grabbed my purse. I slung it around my body, turning off the bedroom lights as I walked down the hall.

"Where you going?"

I turned around to see Luke's head sticking out of his bedroom door.

"Going to the market. I need some stuff," I told him.

"Do you need a ride?" he offered, and I could tell that he was trying to regain our friendship back. I hadn't exactly forgave him yet, but I wasn't upset with him any longer.

"No thanks Luke, I'm fine. I actually want to walk. I'd like some fresh air," I explained, earning a nod from him.

I know, I know, I'm on my period and I'd rather walk to the market than be chauffeured there. But I knew my body, and I had about three hours till maximum pain would shoot through my body like daggers to my uterus.

I descended down the stairs and into the foyer. I could see a few lights from the main part of the house and when I took a peek, Mr. and Mrs. Hemmings were in the kitchen playing cards and drinking wine. I ship them so hard. I was about to let them know where I was going, but they were so engrossed with their game, I decided not to bother them. I would be gone less than twenty minutes and Luke knew where I was off too, so I didn't think it was entirely necessary.

I slipped on a pair of combat boots, before unlocking the main door and walking out onto the front porch which was illuminated by the lantern. Putting a foot forward, I trekked down the steps and started my journey to the convenient store. I liked the calmness of the evening, and how all my senses seemed to be working at an all time high, keeping me vigilant in the darkness.

The darkness reminded me of Calum; it reminded me of him in so many ways. The darkness of the evening represented the darkness within him, but the tiny twinkling stars that still shined through the billowing blackness of the sky, was like the light still leftover from Calum's past. When the darkness surrounds me, like it does every night, I wished it were Calum instead.

In less than ten minutes, I found myself walking right up the front entrance of the convenient store, its bright, florescent lights shining through the the glass.

"Good evening ma'am," the store clerk greeted as I walked through the sliding glass doors.

"Good evening," I smiled back at the woman before proceeding down to aisle seven where a whole shelf was dedicated to several different brands of lady products. As I perused the aisle for the specific items I needed, I felt my stomach grumble violently. I looked down at it, giving it an unamused look as if my stomach had eyes to see that I was not going to tolerate its tomfoolery. I also made a mental note to grab whatever my heart desired in the food aisle.

I plopped down all the items for purchased on the black counter top of the register. I was glad that the clerk was a woman because the thought of a man ringing up my personal things was embarrassing to me. As the woman rang each item up, she looked at me with a sympathetic look. She knew.

"Looks like it's that time of the month again," she smiled, placing my things into a plastic bag.

I nodded my head, "yup, hence the chocolate, crisps, peanut butter and I don't even like Vegemite but for some reason It sounds so good with digestive buscuits."

"Are you sure you aren't pregnant?" the woman joked, a chuckle escaping her lips. "You sound like me when I was pregnant with my son."

"Oh, I'm very sure I'm not pregnant," I assured confidently. The idea of being pregnant at my age was something I couldn't even fathom. Not only would my parents kick me out of the house, but raising a child meant having to put my own needs and my own dreams on hold. I was too selfish and too ambitious for that.

After paying for my items, and bidding the woman goodbye, I proceeded towards the glass doors. However, before a toe could even hit the outside concrete, I ran into the one person I've been wanting to see all day.

"Calum," I breathed, my eyes wide with surprise. "I've been trying to call you all day. Why weren't you at Ashton's today?"

"I didn't want to be there. Ashton would've understood," he grunted, a bit of an edge to his tone. He sounded almost annoyed with me.

"You could've at least called or texted me back," I told him, looking up at Calum with concern painted on my face. "I was worried about you."

"Well you don't need to be," he declared, not even having the audacity to look me in the face. He pushed himself forward, walking into the store with his hand stuffed into the pockets of his leather jacket.

I hoped he wasn't mad at me for the countless calls and texts but he couldn't blame me for being worried. It was his best friend's funeral and he was no where to be found. I hadn't seen Calum in several days and I guessed I just really missed him.

I let him walk away from me as I continued out the sliding glass doors, but the moment my feet hit the asphalt of the parking lot, I knew it was a mistake. I couldn't let him walk away when I had a gut feeling that Calum really didn't want to be alone. So I turned right around, sauntered through the glass doors like nobody's business and stomped right back to the boy.

"Go home Gwen," Calum dictated, sensing my presence as I trailed behind him. I caught up to Calum, walking beside him as his eyes scanned the shelves in aisle two.

"No, I won't," I crossed my arms in a huff, staring up at Calum with a stern expression.

"Don't be stubborn babe. Get the hell out of here, I got shit to do," he proclaimed. He bent down, looking at the section of batteries and ghosting his fingers across the packaged selection.

I almost backed out and followed his orders, but as long as he was going to push me away, I'd be right there pushing my way back in. I was going to be stubborn because Calum was too. He had such a tough outer layer; only showing the softer side of him on his own terms. It was an emotional whiplash to the heart.

"No Calum!" I bellowed. I guessed my voice was louder and more grim than expected because Calum's attention immediately snapped to me.

"Are you actually standing up to me Gweneth?" He smirked.

"Yes I am. You're being stubborn and whatever stuff you need to do," I air-quoted, "I'm coming with you."

"I don't think so baby dumpling," Calum let out a chuckle, snatching a package of large, rectangular batteries.

"Why not? Are you gonna go sell drugs right now? Is that the stuff you have to do?" I questioned him, my lips pursed and full of frustration.

"Damn, not so loud," Calum scolded, pushing his way passed me and I followed suit. "And no, I'm not doing that."

"Then what's so important that I can't come with you? Are you going to spend time with another girl? Because if you are, I'd rather have you tell me now. Which makes every word that came out of your mouth about me making you happy complete bull,"

"Oh my God! Will you calm down? I'm not spending time with another girl. And for the record, every damn thing I told to you wasn't bullshit, okay?"

"Then why won't you trust me?"

"I do trust you!" Calum declared, ripping at his hair in frustration. "It's just... ugh, I just need some time on my own to think!"

Calum stomped over to the register, and tossed the pack of batteries onto the counter top. After pulling out money from his wallet, he handed it over to the woman who shot me a sympathetic gaze. She was probably thinking why I was getting myself involved with a guy like Calum. He snatched the batteries and his changed in irritation, marching away without another word.

I followed Calum like a lost puppy as he trekked out of the store and into the outside evening air. I noticed his long legs walk faster, and despite the creeping soreness that was beginning to develop in my thighs and back due to my period, I tried my best to keep up. Calum simultaneously pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, holding the cancer stick in his lips. He lit it of course, because he wasn't Augustus Waters, and Calum wasn't into metaphors.

"Calum!" I called out, seeing a thick, plume of smoke waver around him as his tilted his head back. He continued to ignore me, walking towards a car I came to know so well.

"Calum," I called out again, this time with more annoyance and desperation. Calum, as predicted, ignored my pleas. I stopped at the center of the car park, narrowing in my eyebrows in frustration as Calum unlocked his car and opened the door. He took another puff of the cigarette, blowing the smoke out.

I groaned, not wanting to give up just yet. So I ran. My purse lightly bouncing against my bum as I hastily approached Calum. Without really thinking of the consequences of my actions, I gripped onto Calum's arm, pushing him against the car and snatching the cigarette right out of his mouth. He looked at me with both amazement, shock and anger as I gently held the cigarette in between my fingers.

"What the fuck Gwen?! Give it back to me!" Calum yelled.

"Oh, now I have your attention?" I smirked, glaring at him with affliction.

"Whatever, I have more in my pocket anyway," Calum retorted, pulling out a pack from his jacket. I reached for the package, but Calum seemed to sense my reaction, as he quickly retracted it away, holding it above my head. Calum smiled, as he saw my short stature as his advantage.

"Where are you going?" I questioned.

"I told you, none of your God damned business," Calum snapped. "And you're not coming with."

"If taking this away caught your attention," I started, mischief to my tone as I held out the lit cigarette in my finger, "then I wonder what kind of reaction I'd get if I actually inhaled it?"

"You wouldn't dare. You're too much of a goody-good, prude to ever do it," Calum predicted, boldness in every word that dripped out of his mouth.

"Try me," I challenged, a brow raised in defiance.

I slowly maneuvered the cigarette closer and closer to my lips. Calum glared at me, still not convinced of my motives. However, as the bud grazed my lips, I saw a change in Calum's perpetual grimace. He grabbed the cigarette out of my fingers throwing it to the ground and stomping it all in one, swift movement.

"Fucking hell Gwen! Don't you fucking dare smoke, you hear me? I don't like it," he professed, sullen, furrowed brows directed towards me.

"Well I don't like it when you keep things from me," I crossed my arms, "I won't go to wherever you're going, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't lie to me. I think you owe me that much Calum."

We had a stare down. He glared at me with chagrin and I glared back with the same amount of intensity. Calum was always so closed off; he didn't let anyone in. It was as if he threw his inner most feelings into a box, locked it and threw the key into the deepest part of the ocean. But for some reason, I was swimming for that key, and I was willing to drown trying.

"Fine," Calum let out a sigh, succumbing to my request.

I smiled, easing my anger. To buffer his feelings however, I stepped up to him and placed a hand on his cheek. He leaned into my hand, reacting to my gentle touch in a way that I didn't think was possible for the hard-headed concrete soul.

"It'll be fine," my voice was mellow, soft and sent a swell of comfort towards Calum as he grasped my hand with his large one.

He kissed it before pulling me into his chest, and it made my heart flutter from the smoothness of his gestures. As he leaned against the car, I leaned into the warmth of his body, catching whiff of his signature scent. Calum wrapped his arms around my waist, as I kept mine to his chest. He bit his bottom lip, taking in the metal ring in between his teeth as he contemplated his next words.

"You know Gwen, you never answered my question from before," he spoke and I cocked my head in confusion.

"What question?" I asked, looking up at him as he smirked.

"If you would be my girlfriend," he specified.

I felt my heart implode from within my chest cavity at the mention of the word girlfriend. There was a part of me that deemed it a bad idea; that the risk of getting seriously hurt was so high. But yet at the same time, there was a part of me that was willing to take that risk. I always grew up believing that God worked in wonderful, mysterious ways and there was this vigorous gravitational pull that was luring me towards Calum.

Thoughts about the dark-haired, tattooed boy who was rude, frustrating and pretentious somehow managed to take up half my brain. Normally it'd be easy for me to evade these type of people but Calum, he was a different story-- he was a different book altogether; written in some sacred language, with invisible ink. But God, did he make me feel emotions I didn't know existed. It was scary, but not enough to make me hide.

"Babe, say something," Calum whispered. He hooked a finger under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. He licked his plump lips, swiping his thumb across my bangs before tucking in a loose strand behind my ear. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine before re-hooking a finger beneath my chin. I gulped and closed my eyes and I'm pretty sure I was shaking in my shoes. But it wasn't from the slight chill in the air either; this was all Calum. The effect he had on me was prodigious and I didn't ever want to let that effect disappear.

Calum's lips ghosted over mine as he softly rubbed a thumb on my bottom lip. He left a delicate kiss on my top lip; a kiss so tender that I could barely physically feel, but internally, I felt like I could explode into tiny fragments of the sun and rainbow.

"You're still not saying anything," he mumbled as his warm breath fanned against my skin. His lips were so very close, yet so very far away and it made my knees want to buckle in desperation for him.

"Just kiss me," I breathed, and without hesitation he did.

Calum broke the separation between us, and brought his lips to mine. It was slow, compassionate yet held notes of utter desire as his lips worked against mine. He held my face with his hands, my own finding their way behind his neck. I could feel the cool lip ring against my lips, adding a whole new sensation that I couldn't describe in words. With heavy breaths, Calum broke away from the kiss ever so slightly, placing a quick peck before letting his parted lips surround my top one.

I kept my eyes shut, trying to wrap my brain around it; trying to collect everything about this moment so I could save it forever. The way his lips molded with mine so flawlessly; the way his thumbs softly caressed my cheeks; the way my heart was thumping into overdrive; the way my stomach plummeted as he softly nibbled my bottom lip; the way kisses were yearning yet tamed and God did I never want to forget it.

"You're mine," Calum declared against my lips.

He left another kiss, just like the very first. Tender, nimble and leaving me wanting so much more. He placed a kiss at the top of my nose, before putting some distance between our faces. His hands ran up my arms, placing his fingers in the spaces between mine as I continued to rest my hands against the warm skin of his neck. I smiled, nodding my head before I broadcasted my own declaration:

"I'm yours."

//

Ohmygosh! AKASHDAJISFHSHEH! They finally kissed! And sealed the deal! Calwen/Gwelum is officially a thing! Feels! <33

Hope you all liked this chapter and are enjoying this story so far! Please don't forget to comment, to vote and to share this story will all your friends!! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all are having a wonderful 2015 so far!