So tell me when it kicks in...

Sgt. Callum Moore | 25 | US Army

[callummoore]

mia--riley​:

“A dollar, huh? Big spender over here.” Mia picks up the glass again and empties it this time, the girl licking her lips to catch any stray alcohol from slipping down to her chin before she indicates the glass. “I’m down for a challenge though. But we should probably make it a little more interesting, right? I bet I could out drink you. I’ll even pay for you to have the good stuff as well.” Finger running over the rim of her now empty glass, the brunette looks at him, waiting for him to give an answer. 

“Come on, I need some fun and something to distract me from a stupid, perfect, asshole face coming to mind every five seconds. And it seems liked you could use the same thing. We can help each other out by making this a faster process.”

.

“I try. You know. I really do. Gotta treat a lady real nice.” He took another swig of his beer. Alcohol seemed to have become his best friend since coming back home. His mother didn’t appreciate it, and he knew it pissed his father off even more. Coming home shitfaced at an ungodly hour was probably going to get him cussed out or slapped around, but at this rate, it hadn’t really mattered.

“You know what? You’re on. If this gets me the good stuff and a way not to go home tonight, then it sounds like a great idea. So what are the rules and what are we drinking? Just so you know, I can drink anything. Drank some of the nastiest shit overseas, so I can handle just about anything.” He looked to Fran, “Looks like you’re in for a good night, Fran.” The woman gave him an unappreciative side eye, before shaking her head and moving to the other end of the bar.

[callummoore]

☏ (Willow)

He had been contemplating all morning whether or not he wanted to do this. He had picked up the phone several times; even went so far as to dial her number, but quickly erased it before he could hit the call button. Was this the right thing to do? He was going to do it. Callum was going to tell Willow how he felt about her.

Once again dialing in the number, he took a deep breath and then called. Please don’t pick up. Please don’t pick up. Please don’t pick- Hearing her voicemail come on sent a wave of relief over him, but at the sound of the beep, the young soldier panicked:

“Uh...”

He kicked himself, scrunching his face in disgust as he could feel himself chickening out,

“Hey, Willow. It’s Cal. Just calling to see how you’re doing...”

He pulled the phone away and mouthed the word FUCK at his loss of courage,

“So I was thinking of grabbing a six pack tonight, if you wanted to join me. Might head to the lake, so I don’t have to hear my parents bitching. But yeah. Text or call if you decide you want to come. I’ll probably head over there around 6:30 or 7. Hope to see you. I mean-”

Before he could correct what he had just said, the voicemail ended. His face, though nobody was around, was tinged red with embarrassment. And if she did decided to go, would she question him about what he had said? At this rate he really didn’t know, and as much as he had wanted her company, he was now sort of hoping she wouldn’t show up. Then again, maybe he still was. After all, the heart wants what the heart wants, right?

[callummoore]

willow-harrington‌:

A small smile passes over her lips, fleeting, as he basically tells her not to lose her kindness. It was a nice compliment and good to know that he didn’t mind her random hugging and slight touches of comfort so that she didn’t feel bad trying to get a little closer to him. It was just nice to have someone who she wasn’t uncomfortable showing a little affection to after losing almost everyone she had cared about. Once the topic came back to his father though she felt her lips narrow into thin strips as she pursed them together, and she found herself staying quiet so she didn’t egg on the agitation towards the other man, especially considering she didn’t know him all that well in the first place; just the stories she’d heard from Callum and Justin over the years.

“I know, and it doesn’t matter if you’re one of my girlfriends. I don’t talk about it much to them anyway..in fact, you’re probably one of the only ones in my life who really knows what I’m going through.” And it was true. Daisy has had her fair share of heartbreak with Jack and some of her friends were divorced but she didn’t know anyone else who had lost their soulmate in a way that meant they were never going to be there to even annoy you anymore. Nobody knew what it was like to lose the one person you thought would be yours for the rest of your life. But Callum knew what it was like to lose a best friend and it was close enough for her to feel that connection to him forever.

Willow was about to continue but he had started talking again, that small genuine smile that seemed to be reserved just for him started to tug at the corners of her mouth as his voice rose for the older women to hear. She didn’t want to look like she was laughing at them but she couldn’t help the amusement she was getting from the situation. “They don’t usually buy much anyway. I think they just show up to get the dirt…and by that I mean gossip, not soil. So I guess I should be thanking you.”

Life hadn’t been what Callum had expected it to be, especially being back home, but knowing he had a friendship with Willow was going to make things a little more bearable. And he promised himself right there, that when he thought she could handle it, he would tell her the story of how Justin lost his life, but even for him it was still too raw. Instead, he decided humor was the best medicine for her and the best way to hopefully mask his PTSD. With Willow, alcohol, and his new FWB, the man figured he would be able to sustain some kind of life for the time being, at least until it decided to catch up with him.

“You know, they just don’t have anything exciting going on in their boring little lives. Who wouldn’t want the tea, as all the hip kids are calling it, especially when it involves someone as handsome as myself?” He grinned. But he was on a mission; flowers for the other important lady in his life...his mom, “So, what would you recommend in terms of flowers for that special woman in my life? My mom, that is. I thought I’d surprise her, since you know Mother’s Day is upon us again.” He glanced around the shop, not knowing the first thing about flowers.

Letting Willow guide him, he picked out what she had recommended, “You’re the best, Willow Harrington. I’ll be back in soon.” Grabbing the multicolored bouquet, he leaned forward and gave his friend a kiss on the forehead, before laying down cash on the counter and walking out of the shop. It had been good seeing Willow. Even though he knew her heart was torn into pieces, she looked good; like she was hanging in there, and knowing that Daisy was back in town comforted Callum. Willow needed someone who wasn’t a bad influence or fucked up, and right now, Callum couldn’t fully be that person for her, but he would watch out for her and be there when she needed him.

[callummoore]

willow-harrington:

“Guess I haven’t grown out of my ‘too close for comfort’ phase.” She gives him an awkward smile with a shrug of her left shoulder. But her smile faded as he continued with his sort of explanation of why she hadn’t heard he was even back in town. Callum’s dad had always been a bit of a jerk to him and she;d always hated hearing the stories of his misfortunes at home and if there was one person she would choose to take out of this town it would have been Callum’s father. “You’re not a screw up.” With a sigh she reaches out and subconsciously gives his hand a gentle touch. “Your father is just…excuse my language, but he’s a dick and we all know it.” 

At least Callum was being honest with his answer to her. Whenever the question of how she was doing came up the blonde usually shrugged it off and said she was doing fine…just fine. It was the easy way to go, making it so that she didn’t have to face her issues head on, and sometimes she even believed it herself. But here he was being blunt and facing the issues he had with humor. It was something she admired about the army vet. It was something she was extremely jealous of as well. “You know you never have to lie to me.” It was a quiet statement she made as she brought a hand up to rub her arm…..quiet and ironic considering she was planning on doing just that with him.

“I’m..I’m doing okay.” Biting her bottom lip, she looks up at him again. Why she was lying to him she had no idea. If anyone would understand it would be the man standing in front of her. Sighing, she shakes her head softly. “Okay, so that’s a lie. I’m basically ignoring all of my problems and hiding away in this store every day so that I don’t have to feel the things that I’ve been denying feeling since the funeral. My sister shows up out of the blue with an eight year old kid I’ve never met. And I’m pretty sure I’ve become a sad, bitter, old woman at the age of twenty-five. So there’s that.”

  There was something that Callum had always loved and respected about Willow. And there had always been a small flame for her barely flickering in the background of his life, but enough to make a difference. Enough to make him genuinely care for the woman, especially when he saw his best friend (and her husband) get blown apart by a bomb some child had been brainwashed to set by the enemy of the US. Not only had Callum lost his brother that day, but he watched a child lose his life, because some coward of a man was too fucking selfish to give up his own life for the cause, and instead, had decided he should remain balls deep in some rando woman fulfilling a virgin fetish he was more than likely harboring, “Never grow out of it. This world is harsh enough as it is, and to lose that would be a tragedy.” He didn’t want to tell her how cold the world really was. She had been through enough in her own personal life to need not know what life was really like on the outside of the town they lived it.

Returning a soft smile to her, when he felt her rub his arm, Callum cleared his throat before speaking up once more, “And you’re right. My dad is a dick. He’d make the perfect mayor of Dickville. I might just have to buy him an honorary plaque and key to hang up in his office.” The man knew that word would probably get back to his father via the old gossipy hens still nosing in his and Willow’s business. He remembered their faces from church and knew that they provided the inside scoop to all the congregation when something or someone big stirred up trouble in the town. Willow’s sister had probably been the hot topic of current Sundays, but now that Callum was around, her name would float away into oblivion and former army boy would make it in the local gossip column.

As he continued to side-eye the women, he listened to Willow explain herself. He was glad he was someone she felt comfortable enough to trust. She never needed to lie around him, “I’m grateful you feel comfortable enough to just be honest with me. Never think you have to lie. I may not be one of your girlfriends or your sister, but I’m here, okay? I’ll give it to you straight, if you can give it to me straight.” Just as she had done previously, he reached out his own hand and gave her shoulder a caring squeeze, “Of course, I can’t guarantee this will stay between us, since there are some rather nosy hens pecking around in your flower shop. They must be looking for a grub to choke down.” His voice was much louder than it had been, and it sent the ladies scurrying out the door showing their distaste as they left.

Callum lowered his hand and grinned at successfully removing the problem in a non-violent way, “I think I just might have caused you to lose some business, but you don’t want their money. They’re just trying to get all up in your business, so they have something to talk about at church on Sunday, besides just me.”

[callummoore]

mia--riley:

Mia couldn’t help but snort at his comment, a really unladylike but amused snort, and the brunette shook her head at the male sitting a few chairs away from her. The man wasn’t unattractive so it was hard to believe that he found a girl’s attention so surprising, something she tried to convey in the look of disbelief she was giving him at that very moment. “Oh, am I going to see your nose starting to grow in just a minute, real boy? Cause I’m pretty sure you’re reaction to me talking to you is super dishonest.” 

Her smile grows as Fran pours her another tumbler of whiskey and she takes a small sip before thanking the lady. Smirk aimed at the man, she cocks her head slightly. “Mi misery es su misery, kind sir. You’d think a person would be pretty proud of someone who almost lost their life defending their country. But then again assholes come in many forms.”

His question struck a nerve as her mind goes back to Noah, smile fading with another sip of the poison that was supposed to be making her feel better, Mia licks her lips softly before shrugging her shoulders. “Oh, you know. Perfect boys burrowing their way into your head when you want nothing more than them to fuck off and leave you the hell alone. I’m punishing my body for betraying me.”

“Ouch.” Her comment might have stung, if he wasn’t already on the verge of being drunk. “I mean, if you want to sit here and watch to see if it grows, be my guest, but I can tell you now, you’re gonna get pretty damn bored waiting. I bet you a dollar, you’ll drink yourself under the table before it happens.” He was a betting man, especially when he knew he would win.

He noticed what she was having, “Ah, the good stuff. And yeah, they do, including fathers, who just can’t appreciate the sacrifices his only son made. But hey, what can you do?” He took hold of the drink Fran had brought him and took a sip. “Actually. Strike that. I’ll tell you what you can do...You can drink yourself drunk, and after hearing your boy troubles, it sounds like you’re up a similar creek without a paddle.” Callum raised his bottle to toast the situation the two were currently in.

[bind-my-wanderingheart]

Visit Original Link

Kicking My Heels (Piano Version) - Tyler Hilton

Can’t stop listening, I’m obsessed. 

[callummoore]

mia--riley:

Sighing, Mia leaned her forehead against the grubby counter of Fran’s as her mind raced. There was one thing she hated more than anything else and that was the fact that she couldn’t get Noah Walker out of her head. It wasn’t often that someone could burrow their way into her thoughts like this but the kid had somehow done just that. She had thought that the alcohol of a seedy bar would clear her mind but it was just making things worse.

Hearing the new voice muttering about his father, the slightly drunk girl scoffed and lifted her head. “Dad’s…always a ray of sunshine, right? Didn’t mean to overhear but maybe it’ll make you feel better to know that you’re not alone on the horrible father front…or maybe not.” She picked up the glass in front of her and downed the rest of the whiskey in it. “Why were you medically discharged?”

He didn’t expect to hear a voice reply back to him, and the look of shock on his face said it all, “Wow, Fran. Someone actually noticed me! I’m a real boy!” He took another drink, before turning his attention to the woman sitting next to him. 

“Actually...it kind of does. That and knowing that I can now share my misery of lonely drinking with a pretty girl like yourself. Fran, another for the lady who noticed I exist. And I’ll...well, you know what I want.”

His attention back on the brunette, Callum sighed, “Long story short. There was a bomb. I was near that bomb. And now I’m here.” He didn’t know this woman. Didn’t know her demeanor or anything about her. She seemed nice, but talking about the war wasn’t something Callum was comfortable with, “Might I ask what brings you here to Fran’s? Don’t think I’ve ever seen you before, and trust me, I’d remember a face like that.”

[callummoore]

willow-harrington:

Conflicting emotions bubbled up inside of her when Callum spoke. Heartache, relief, affection, embarrassment…it was all swirling around inside of her at once and the blonde was overwhelmed. Despite all of that though she gave the man a strained smile before moving forward and taking him into her arms. Maybe it wasn’t appropriate but she felt like hugging him could somehow bring in a whole new connection to the man she had lost not long ago; an entirely selfish thought that left her feeling ashamed.

Pulling away, her eyes met his, the blue orbs sparkling with un-shed tears that she somehow kept at bay. “God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to invade your personal space I just….it’s really good to see you is all. I haven’t heard much about how you were doing since I stopped receiving…well, letters from him.” Clearing her throat, her hand came up to rub the back of her neck as her she turned to look at the gossiping women. She had every mind to throw them out of the store with the way they were gawking at the two, totally unashamed.

“How have you been?” She bit her lip when she looked back at him, the nerves and awkwardness filling her once again. As much as she loved seeing him Callum just reminded her so much of Justin that it hurt. “I tune them out usually so I don’t know the latest gossip.” Willow was unabashed in the way she gestured to the old ladies, speaking loud enough for it to be certain that they heard her. She heard shuffling as the women scrambled to move away from them and rolled her eyes at Callum.

He hadn’t expected the hug, but it was nice. The only person that had really hugged him since he had returned home had been his mom. He loved her hugs. Cherished them more than he did before he had left. In fact, Callum cherished a lot of things more than he had in the past. Facing death did that to you. Made you more grateful for the people and things around you, even if you didn’t always show it with all the other fucked up shit floating around in your brain.

“Wow...Didn’t expect a hug, but, uh, thanks.” His smile remained as he awkwardly straightened out the wrinkled t-shirt he had been wearing for the past two days. “And, yeah, Dad’s not too much of a bragger since his only fuck up...sorry, screw up of a son returned home on discharge.” Willow was an old friend and someone he was comfortable around. But the army had made him question his manners often. Plus, it didn’t help that the two old biddies glaring holes through him made him feel even more awkward.

Letting his eyes shift between them and Willow, Callum forced back the lump that was forming in his throat, “I mean do you want me to lie and say I’ve been great? It’d be the easier answer, but we both know that complicated is my middle name.” He laughed. His sense of humor was still intact, just a little drier than before. After all, with all the things he had seen, not much seemed to phase him anymore, unless it was war related. That’s where things really seemed to get interesting, and not in a good way. “What about you? How’ve you been doing? Word on the street is that Daisy’s back home? What’s that been like?”

[callummoore]

willow-harrington:

Shopping trips these days were the bain of Willow’s existence. Not only did she have to force that fake smile of hers constantly to please the older customers of her shop but she also had to listen to the rumors flying around about her as she shopped. The people of her neighborhood had become quite the chatty cathy’s lately and couldn’t keep the Harrington name out of their mouths. Between Willow keeping to herself, the mysterious single flower girl becoming her name, and her sister showing up out of the blue with a child the old biddies had been enjoying themselves quite a bit lately at her expense.

She had been trying to ignore the shrill voices trying to be hush while examining the produce when something caught her attention. ‘I hear he was medically discharged’ ‘He doesn’t look like he’s hurt does he?’ They were definitely onto a new subject and Willow couldn’t help but raise her head to take a look. It came as a shock to her when she recognized the face. “Callum?” The name came from her lips before she could stop herself. The blonde almost felt like hiding when the older women turned in her direction but instead she just gave them a small smile before moving towards her husbands best friend. “Callum Moore?”

He hadn’t been back for too long. In fact, most of the time since he had been back, he had been spending his time hidden away at home or drinking away his sorrows. Daytime had become a thing of the past, well, up until today. Mother’s Day had come and gone, and Callum had felt horrible for not getting his mom anything or celebrating her the way he should have, but she had forgave him. His dad, on the other hand, not so much. In the old man’s eyes Callum was becoming disrespectful, and Mother’s Day was just the cherry on top to light the fuse of yet another argument between both of the Moore men. It also was the excuse that Callum needed to finally see the light of day.

Flowers had always been something he knew his mom enjoyed, and he knew just the place to get them. Willow had always had the best selection in town. However, Callum knew that even going there would be tough considering the woman who owned the shop had been his best friend’s wife. The best friend he just happened to watch die in an IED Explosion while on his last tour. But the funny thing about life was, that no matter how much you wanted it to stop, it just kept going on its own.

Stepping into the store, the young former soldier nodded to the old women who had already started gossiping as soon as he walked in. Ignoring them as best he could, he let his eyes scan the room full of roses, daisies, and other various flowers until he heard an old familiar voice speak his name. And just like that, he felt his mouth go dry and his cheeks grow red. She had spotted him and there was no way avoiding her now. 

Turning to face Willow, he let a soft, but sad smile fall over his scarred features, “Hey Willow...How ya been...”

[callummoore]

Since returning home, Callum had found himself frequenting Fran’s East Side Tavern. It was smokey, rundown, and probably the worst place the former army sergeant could be, but it was no more dangerous than being in the middle of a convoy overseas, “Hey, Fran...” He didn’t even have to say it. The old woman behind the bar just knew.

Checking his phone, Callum rubbed his eyes seeing what he had expected to see; no new notifications or missed calls from his father, “Guess being medically discharged from the army is the equivalent to being dishonorably discharged in my father’s eyes. Gee, thanks Dad!” Sighing, he scooped the fresh beer up in his hand and took a drink.

[callummoore]

[aestheticallypleasingcelebs]

[callummoore]

aestheticallypleasingcelebs:

Miles Teller