Chapter 4
Rayla enters the fast food centre expecting Callum to be there before her like he always does. But he doesn’t. Well there’s a first time for everything, right? Maybe it’s the first time he’ll actually show up late. But even after 20 minutes, he doesn’t show up. She checks her phone to see if he had texted her but he didn’t. She texts him instead asking when he’ll come or if he’ll come. Another 30 minutes pass but he doesn’t show up, reply, or answer any of her calls. She just assumes he left his phone in his apartment but she was starting to get a bit worried.
Another hour passes, and she feels really bored working without his company. Perhaps she now understood how boring it used to be for Callum when he used to work alone… Just then, Callum enters the centre and in a bit of a hurry. He opens his counter and starts taking orders.
He looks at Rayla who was staring at him and says, “Hey Rayla. Sorry I’m late. My friend Claudia got into a bit of trouble so I was helping her.”
Claudia? Who was Claudia? His girlfriend? Why hasn’t he mentioned her before? But they’ve only known each other for a week or two so maybe the topic was never brought up.
“Rayla?” he asks.
“Oh, um, it’s alright.” Alright? Of course she wasn’t alright. She was so worried.
He smiles and continues his work.
After their shift was over, Rayla says, “You know… I was kinda worried about you. I texted you and called you many times. Why didn’t you pick up?”
She was worried about… him? “I… um, I was in a hurry this morning so I forgot my phone at my apartment. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“No, that’s alright. I’m glad you’re fine.”
He gives her a nervous smile.
They were in the tram now. Callum was staring out the window.
“So… who’s Claudia?”
“Oh, she’s a friend.”
“Okay.” But was she his girlfriend?
“She’s really nice. Awesome, actually. I should introduce you both someday.”
Rayla didn’t know why but Callum calling Claudia, whoever she was, ‘really nice’ and ‘awesome’ made her feel a bit jealous.
“Yeah…” she pauses for a few moments and asks, “Is she… your girlfriend or something?”
He quickly says, “What? Caudia? N- no. We’re just friends.”
“Oh… okay.” Rayla felt a lot better after hearing that. But why did that matter so much to her?
“She has a boyfriend. His name is Terry. He’s an earthblood elf.”
Rayla nods.
“Me and Claudia have been friends since we were born because our fathers are best friends.” Getting up, he says, “That’s our stop.”
They reach the apartment lane.
“Rayla, wait. How about… you come over to my house today for dinner? If that’s okay with you.” Callum asks.
Rayla was actually very tired today. She was sweating and needed a cold shower but Callum was so generous and she didn’t want to make him feel bad. And in truth, she also wants to spend time with him.
“Um, sure!”
“Great!”
— — —
The apartment was really small. Not so different from hers but of course, tidier. A small counter for the kitchen, a bed, a desk at the corner and a bathroom.
“Looks… cozy.”
“Yeah. It’s perfect. So far I’ve not faced any issues living here. And the rent is very reasonable.”
“Good.”
“Yes. Take a seat.” he says, pointing at the bed. “Make yourself at home.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course. Would you like anything? Tea, coffee?”
“I don’t have a habit of drinking tea and I don’t drink coffee in the evening so, water would be fine.”
“Hm, how about some lemonade?”
“Oh, yes please.”
He opens up his tiny fridge and brings the lemonade. There was only enough for one person though. He pours some in a glass and gives it to her.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to keep thanking me, you know?”
“Fine.” She glances at him and says, “Why didn’t you take some for yourself?”
“I’m not thirsty.”
“Don’t lie. I saw you throw the container away.”
“Take some from mine.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“You’re too kind, you know that?”
“Um… Is that not a good thing?”
“Of course it is! I was just telling you. You’re one of the kindest and most generous people I’ve ever met.”
He felt incredibly happy to hear her say that. Rayla herself was the kindest and most helping people he’s met and being complimented by her… it felt… great.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Rayla smiles.
“Okay, I’m gonna take a shower. Help yourself with anything from the fridge and make yourself at home.” he says, smiling.
Rayla nods. She watches him enter the bathroom and close the door. He really trusted her, huh?
She gets up and starts pacing around the room and finds a picture of him and his family on his desk. She was a bit surprised to see that he and his brother had no resemblance at all but thought it wouldn’t be really nice to ask. Just then, the bell rings. She decides to open it and finds a tall guy with blond hair wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He scans Rayla top to bottom and looks at the door number, probably to check if he came to the right apartment.
“Um, hi.”
He gives a slight grin and says, “Hello.” Whispering, he asks, “Are you the one who ordered the AK-47s?”
Rayla goes to absolute shock. “What?! I- I think you’re mistaken.”
“The person who ordered them said his name was Callum. Or is this the wrong flat?” he says. He looked like he was trying to control his laughter for some reason but that didn’t matter to Rayla.
“No, that can’t be!” she says, worriedly. Was Callum part of a group of criminals or something?
Just then, Callum comes out of his shower, his hair still wet. He looks at both of them.
“Callum! What- what is this? Is he telling the truth?” she asks, pointing at the blond man.
And just as she says that, the blond man bursts into laughter.
Callum gives him a serious look and says, “Soren, don’t tell me you pulled one of your stupid pranks again.”
Rayla glances at Soren and then back to Callum. “Wait, you’re friends?”
Soren looks at her and says, “Yes,” Still laughing, he says, “But I’m guessing I didn’t make a very good first impression…”
Rayla clenches her fists and gives him the most serious look ever.
He looks at Callum and says, “So, you see she opened the door and she clearly didn’t know who I was so I just played a prank saying that you ordered a bunch of AK-47’s.”
“Soren, what the fuck? Why do you always have to mess with me like that? We already have a 2-week friendship but imagine I brought her to my house the first day we met. She would’ve packed her things and ran away!”
Rayla couldn’t help but smile at that.
“I am so not gonna forgive you. Wait until I tell Mr. Spellman about this.”
“No wait! Don’t tell my father! I’m sorry. I thought it was funny…”
Rayla says, “Really? You call that funny? I sure am new to humans and their sense of humor but this is just… too much.”
“We’re not all like that. Only some.” Callum says, side eyeing Soren.