21. Cal

Chapter Song: Lost- Blake Rose

7 years ago

"Dude what the fuck," Mason gave Ty a pointed look. Liam looked annoyed but didn't say anything. Ty just sat there with a smug expression. He was annoying when he got like this. Not to mention rude.

I muttered something about being back as I got up. I casually made my way downstairs to the basement. I thought it was the coolest thing that the Parkers had a basement. I wished we had one.

I gently tapped on the door before slightly opening it. "Is it okay if I come in?" I asked softly tugging at my lip.

I didn't know why I was nervous coming down here. I'd talked to her plenty of times alone. But I guess I never actually came downstairs specifically for her. I mean we didn't hang out much together anymore, but that didn't make it weird. Right?

I'd still consider her a close friend. Hell, I'd even call her one of my best friends still. Even though we didn't hang out as much as we used to I know if I needed Ken she'd be there.

"Yeah, uh come in," she fidgeted with the end of her blanket. I left the door open as she pulled the blanket closer to her.

My eyes glazed around her room landing on the wall to my left. It had floor to ceiling bookshelves. They were filled. She even had started a stack on the floor next to it. It was her own personal library. A safe haven away from the pool.

"Ah, the infamous wall of book," I smiled. That's what we always called it. Sometimes we teased her about all her books, but I thought it was cute. I liked that about her.

Those were her two favorite things. Swimming and reading. If you wanted to add a third it'd probably be coffee.

"So to what do I owe this pleasure, Callum?" She smirked as if giving me a challenge. She also used my full name which nobody really does. I think she did it just to be a brat, but I kind of liked the way she said it.

"Well, Miss Kennedy Lee." I paused letting out a low breath. "I just wanted to see how you were doing after the whole Tyler comment." I tried to search her face for any possible reason of doubt but found nothing.

"Nothing I can't handle." She brushed of the question like it was a piece of lint.

"It's okay maybe I stepped over the line," I raised my hands surrendering. We normally didn't talk about stuff like this so it was unfamiliar territory.

"Hey." She looked at me. "Are you going to Riley's back-to-school party this weekend?"

I knew she would. It was her best friend. It was her equivalent to my Liam. They were joint at the hip. We even called her the fourth Parker sibling at times.

She also knew how to throw some epic parties. None of us really threw them because she had that area covered. She also had a big enough house for it.

"Of course why wouldn't I?" She sounded insulted. This was not a good idea. I should retreat and just go back upstairs now.

"I don't know I just wasn't sure if you had plans or anything." I kicked the toe of my converse into the carpet. I shouldn't have even tried. This wasn't the right time.

"I think Riley would die and come back from the grave to kill me for not being there." She joked. I looked at her and there was something in her eye. The way she looked was as if she was holding out a peace offering. I would gladly take that.

"Honestly she just might." I couldn't hold back my laughter. It wouldn't surprise me if Riley did.

"If you do happen to be there come find me. I'd like to hang out for a bit, that is if Riley hasn't killed you first."

I gave her a small smile. It was an offer. It didn't have to mean anything. But the offer was there in the open for her to take. What she did with it was up to her.

"I'll think about it, Callum." She teased.

"Alright, alright." I sighed dramatically turning to leave. As I got to the doorway she called me back.

She tossed me the headphones i let her borrow earlier. I had honestly forgotten about them.

"Thanks."

"Thanks for letting me borrow them."

"I'll see you Friday." I pointed at her using the headphones.

I know I'd see her tomorrow. We had class together, but we both knew that. Whereas if I said I'd see her Friday I made it a point to see her at the party. We might actually hang out together one-on-one. Liam would throw a fit.

Friday couldn't come soon enough.

"Where'd you go?" Liam asked as I walked back to join the guys.

"To check on your sister since no one else would?" I sat next to Mason and threw my headphones back into my bag.

"Don't tell me you're going soft on KP," Mason groaned. "At least not in front of you know who." He pointed to Liam and I chuckled.

"You guys know you're not allowed to hookup with her."

"Nobody said anything about hooking up with Parker, Liam." I rolled my eyes. "All I did was ask how she was doing. It's called being polite."

"Did you ask her out?"

"What? No, I-"

"You're blushing dude," Ty laughed.

"So you do like her!" Liam exclaimed.

"This is getting good," Mason whispered.

"I didn't say I liked her," I practically yelled.

"You didn't have to raise your voice," Ty stated. He was biting back laughter. That ass hat.

He knew exactly how I felt. Im sure they all did. But I didn't need the damn interrogation or drama. Liam said she was off limits, it wasn't like I asked her on a date.

"I told her I'd see her at Riley's party this weekend. Okay? Is that what you guys wanted to know?" They laughed. "Pricks."

"This is going to end so bad you know that right?" Liam asked me. It was a genuine question. "She doesn't really get into relationships."

"She's gone on plenty of dates," Ty offered.

"She did hang out with one of Nolan's friends at one point."

"But nothing happened," Mason assured Liam. He was getting worked up. It would be kind of funny if it wasn't partially my fault.

"It's not a date!" They we're giving me a headache. I rubbed the spot between my brows trying to release some tension. I should have just said I needed to shit or something. This was too much.

"But you asked a question in a sense of wanting to spend time with her."

"Specifically only her," Mason added.

"Dude whose side are you on?" I whispered to him. He gave me a shrug. You had to be fucking kidding me.

"You act like I haven't hung out with her before."

"Not by yourself. Yeah you've talked to her alone," Liam started. "Don't think I didn't see the way you two were looking at each other when we came back from camp."

"Oh yeah, the googly eyes," Mason commented throwing out some jazz hands.

"Seriously Mace," I gave him the side eye.

"I'm just saying you could get any girl you wanted and I wish it wasn't my sister."

"I don't want her!"

"Let's make it interesting then," Ty grinned. He had that look on his face that told me I was going to regret things.

"What?" Liam asked.

"If Calligan here says he doesn't have feelings for KP, then he should have no trouble with his dare. You have to get her to date you," he eyed me mischievously.

I was the only one of us who didn't get their dare yet. We'd been playing in secret more low key now since last year. Ty knew I was good at this game and wouldn't back down. But this made me hesitant.

"No."

"No!" Liam yelled. "Absolutely not."

"Oh shit," Mason acted surprised.

We all knew Ty would have thought of something like this. He likes to fuck around with Parker too much. I think it's because she can match his sass.

"This is Kenny were talking about Ty. She has feelings."

"And she's my sister."

"So you're going to turn it down then? And accept defeat?" He pursed his lips. That asshole. "You're the one that said you didn't have feelings for her."

I mean he didn't say she needs to fall in love with me or have feelings for me. I could just take her on one date and be done. Win.

But on the other hand, I think I started to have feelings for her. Or at least there could be something there. This could be my excuse to get close to her just to see how I feel. To see if she feels anything for me.

Because in reality she might not even like me. She might not consider it since we're friends. Also that I'm her brother's best friend and that might complicate things. I don't know.

There was something about her I was drawn to. I felt like she felt the same way, but neither of us ever acted on it. This might be the only chance.

"Deal."

"Cal are you fucking kidding me!"

"Liam you can't keep Kennedy under a rock. She has choices too. She might not even like him," Ty sat there crossing his arms.

Liam was red in the face. If he punched me right now I wouldn't blame him. Hell, I should probably just offer it right now. I knew I should have said no, but something was telling me just to do it. If she didn't like me I could say this is why I tried it.

We sat in silence for a solid twenty minutes. That's how long it took for Liam to process whatever the hell was going on in his brain.

"You have to tell her the moment she agrees to date you." Liam stared at me. "And I don't want to hear anything about this again. This is your shit to deal with. If you break her though, Cal. That's it."

I gave him a nod.

I'd tell her. I also wasn't going to treat this like a dare. Because they were right she does have feelings. I didn't want to hurt them. I just wanted to explore them. Test the waters.

This gave me that little nudge. Because if she didn't like me then it was for the dare. But on the off chance that it wasn't, it could be something more.

I was just hoping that my idiocy would lead me to something good. If not, well , it was my fault for agreeing. But here's hoping.

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I woke up today and wrote the final chapters. I think I'm going to post them for you tonight! Because I just want you all to read them, and I hope you love them. ❤️