Everything but a quitter

CALLUM:

" Hey I'm home " I yell as I step into the house that evening after school. I close the door gently and turn to climb the stairs when I see the monster running towards me with full force, causing me trip and fall.

" Cody !! " He pounces on me and starts licking my face from my left cheek to my right cheek. I giggle as I try to hold him back.

" Oh look who is excited to see you " Mum says as she comes out of the kitchen with a plate of homemade sandwich and a can of coca cola.

Immediately he sights her or the food in her hands rather he runs off to her where she has taken a seat on the arm chair.

" Hey mum " I say and stand up from the floor with a smile on my face.

" Cally " She states and I walk over to her to peck her cheek. Cody just keeps running around wagging his tail. I can never get tired of it, that dog is never tired and it actually makes me feel that's how my life is.

" How was school baby ? " She asks me while munching on her chips

" It was eventful " I say with a grin. She looks at me oddly and smiles at me.

" Go on and freshen up will you. You stink of tachos " She says

" I didn't ..." I was about to say I didn't have tachos today until someone's ear lowers. Cody how dare you?.

" He had tachos " Mum confirmed my theory with a laugh.

" I'm never letting you lick my face again " I say and grab my bag before walking up the stairs.

" Where is Lori and Grandma ? " I ask as I got to the top of the stairs.

" They went to get grocerys together " Mum says and smiles. " Grandma is making her chicken soup this night " Mum adds

" Yes!.really?  " I ask and jump in happiness " but wait who is sick ? " I ask again. Grandma only makes that when one of us is sick.

" Are you sick mum ? " I ask worriedly.

" It took you long to ask " She says still smiling.

" I'm sorry. I will quickly take my bath and be back " I say and hurry back up the stairs to my room but at the same time being very careful not to fall.

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" Bring the plates Cally " Grandma says from the dinner table. I pick four plates and rush to her from the kitchen.

" Take your seat Cal " Lori, my second mum says and I beam at her before sitting next to mum with Cody down beside my feet. He doesn't back off someone that easily.

We all take our seats and then say our prayers. We always prayed before every meal we had because grandma says it's a blessing to be able to eat with people you love.

" Pass the salt will you Cal " Mum says and I pass her the salt.

" Thanks " she mutters and Lori touches her forehead to check how she is feeling now. They both hold hold their gazes and smile sweetly at each other. I'm so jealous of their love. I wish I get that kind of love too.

" You are not eating darling " Grandma says bringing me out of my trance.

" I am " I say with a smile.

" So how was school ? " She asks.

" Anyone hit on you yet ? " Lori asks and I growl playfully at her.

" Mum " I whine.

" I'm just joking Cal " Lori says and I nod.

" School was like it always is. I went to the meeting, was with Shawn and do you know that Miss Brahms will get married soon " I say and clap as I remember

" Really your really hot principal ? " Mum asks even though she knows. She just said it to make Lori jealous.

" Yes my really really hot principal " I played along with a grin.

" I don't find her hot " Lori says silently causing all of us to chuckle.

" Stop teasing your mother will ya ? " Grandma scolds and I wave my hand up to say I surrender.

" So as I was saying. She tried that dating app you suggested mum " I say to Lori.

It's confusing sometimes when I call mum they both reply but I know how to make arrangements.

" So she found love " Lori says " awwn so cute. Maybe you should try the app too " She adds

" There will be no need for that " I say in a very happy tone

" Why ? " Mum asks while Lori gasps.

" You found it ? " She asks but it's more like a statement.

" I found love mum " I say softly and grin.

" Oh my baby. When are you bringing him home " Grandma asks.

" They are not even dating yet " Mum says to Grandma. " I doubt if she has even spoken to him " Mum adds.

" I trust Cal, she would have. Right ? " Lori asks.

" You said you trust me mum " I say and laugh.

" I do " Lori says.

" I have I have. His name is Liam " I say.

" Oh he sounds like british " mum says curtly and I blush and wink.

" Oh wait shut up he is British ? " Lori yells almost deafening our ear drums..

My mum don't act like causal mums. They just have to act like high school kids. One time when the kids in high school were using abbreviations to talk like 'ttyl' 'brb' and all other shits. Then I got home one day and mum was like ' hey pybotcacoh '. Wtf I was like huh?. She then said ' put your bag on the couch and come over here '. I was like mum you are a disgrace to social media and it's true, she was a disgrace to social media.

Lori on the other hand knows all what we know. She is just like a teenager and she is twenty eight. She is the most beautiful person I have seen, no offense mummy but Lori is just too pretty , you know the kind of pretty you see in magazines and stuffs. She is the social plug in the family and I'm lucky to have her as my step mum.

" Yes he is british " I say and smile again.

" Oh talk about young love " grandma says and everyone chuckles.

" Oh yes how about Tasha and Jayden? " Lori asks " are they finally together ? " She adds

" Nope they are just too blind to see that they are so right for each other " I say with a frown.

" But at least Savvy is in love " I state.

" With that teacher? " Mum asks

" Yep, the one and only Mr Salvatore " I say with a grin.

" Well they can't get arrested since he is just twenty and she is eighteen. It's supposed to be legal plus he left your school two years ago " mum says while I nod.

" And now there is Liam " Lori says and winks at me. I blush and try to hide my face. About to look for a comment when we get interrupted by the door opening with a bang. I'm not surprised because I already know who it is.

" What's up bitches !! " The sound of Jayden's voice makes us all turn our heads to meet my three crazy friends. I had even forgotten that we had agreed to meet this afternoon earlier at lunch.

" I always tell you to knock " mum says to Jay who just smiles innocently and flashes her one of his trademark grins. I roll my eyes because she falls for it each time.

" Sorry but I just love making grand entrances " he says " oh chicken soup " he says as he sights the soup before sitting at the dinner table. " Hi Grandma patty " he greets as he kisses her cheek. Grandma blushes and then pulls his cheeks in greeting.

" Chicken soup " he says with a pout.

Grandma chuckles before going into the kitchen.

" Dork " Tasha says as she rolls her eyes before taking a seat too at the table, she drops her bag on the floor before smiling at both my mums. Told you she wasn't very nice

" Hi Mrs and Mrs Dove " Savvy says as she walks in last and takes her seat too at the table, just beside Lori. She taps away on her phone.

" Hi my friends that ignored my existence " I say and they all give me puppy dog eyes.

" Callum come in here " Grandma calls for me from the kitchen, I guess to serve my friends. Grandma has always been a good fan of Jay Tasha and Savvy because she says they all remind her of her of the friends she had while growing up. But seriously have you met them, they are bunch of weirdos.

" Coming grandma " I say before making my way to the kitchen.

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" So operation get Liam to like you " Savvy says as we settle down in my bedroom after having food with my family. Grandma is in her room sleeping I guess. Mum and Lori are probably watching a reality show on TV so here we are, the kids all in one room plotting devious schemes.

" Maybe. " I say and then chew on my nail. I try to picture his face again in the beanie he was wearing as I stared at the ceiling of my room. And when we touched hands, I felt the sparks. I wonder if he feels the same way.

" It's not right for you to cheat in every game  we play Jay " Tasha says to Jay with a scrowl

Here we go again

" Well I didn't tell you to not pay attention. Why is it so hard for you to accept defeat. You lost and I won " He says back with a smirk.

" Say that again and I will make sure you never have kids " she says with a glare and I fight the urge to chuckle as I stare at Jay's expression

" Okay okay enough. Can't you two go a day without fighting. " Savvy says as she sits up to look at them.

" Well that's true, you guys fight so much that sometimes I think you guys are secretly dating " I say and smirk. Then wink at Savvy so she gets what I'm trying to do.

" Or are you ? " Savvy adds smirking too.

In 5

4

3

2

" Eww " Tasha says scrunching up her nose in disgust. And 1

" Yeah never " Jay mutters and both of them move like five feet apart from each other causing I and Savvy to laugh. Works every time.

" So how do you plan to get him to like you ? " Tasha asks me

" Why ? " I ask.

" Well you saw him at lunch. He doesn't look like one who talks much or makes friends or even does anything. " She continues.

" Well you will just have to see about that " I say and smile.

Well do I have a plan?

No

Is that crazy?

Yes

" You are clueless aren't you ? " Jay asks me.

" Yep I am. " I say and sign

" Do you need us to at least befriend him ? " He asks and the rest of them nod in affirmation.

" I don't know. Maybe " I say

" Well you have four more days to get him to talk much this week then and the Cally we know doesn't quit. Or does she ? " Savvy asks.

The Cally you know has never fallen in love too.

" No she doesn't quit " I say

" Tomorrow we are gonna show Liam Scott just what Dove Callum is made of " I add and grin.