A/N: Day 22, proposal. Because why would I do what you expect?

Chapter Summary: Rayla & Callum are no strangers to the concept of love, but have they really given it much thought? Another late night studying session, another day of learning new things. College AU.

Word Count: 2,047

Proposals

Another late studying session. Another night filled with junk sweets and blissful silence. Callum was focused on his latest lit paper, completely devoted to finishing his essay before they called it a night. Rayla reminded him that he had time, but Callum wanted it out of the way as soon as possible. Rayla didn't exactly have anything to study for per se, but was rather going over some of her Philosophy notes. She claimed that it was a thing she did regularly, but Callum teased that she was just wanted an excuse to spend time at his dorm.

Not that he was complaining of course.

Callum's learned to love the jock's presence a lot more over their time together. Her taste in art nearly matched his, as well as her intellect and understanding. Her taste in food kinda paralleled his at times, her disliking of Coffee Crisps and consistent need to badger American cuisine sold her stance on it multiple times. And her taste in music? It was actually really nice. She always had a soft spot for the classics, The Beatles, The Eagles, ABBA, Bee Gees, and all those lovely revolutionary artists. But of course, she also had a knack for the modern pop artists.

Callum never really indulged with the modern pop, or rather, never really bothered to listen to anyone religiously. But that didn't mean he was uncultured.

"Ya didn't know who Owl City was," Rayla had remarked.

Callum rolled his eyes. "Okay, but like, they're one hit wonders."

A breathy gasp erupted from the girl laid out on his bed. He turned around and found her staring at him, appalled. "Callum, Callum, Callum," she shook her disappointedly. "Ya poor uncultured swine."

The artist rolled his eyes and returned to his paper. He had thought the argument died then and there, until Rayla spoke again.

"Ya do know other artists… right?" she asked.

Callum snorted. "Yes, Rayla, I do in fact, know other artists."

"Okay, but like… aside from Taylor Swift," she brushed off. "Like, it's hard to not know her." She thoughtfully rose up from her spot and sat cross legged atop his bed. "Oh! Ya know Drake right? Kinda hard not to with all those memes of him—"

"Yes, I know Drake," he uninterestedly replied.

Rayla pursed her lips as she stared at the boy with skepticism. "Oh! How 'bout I play one of my playlists? Ya can tell me the name of the artist!"

He lifted his head and turned back at her. "Do I win anything out of this?"

"If ya know more than five," Rayla explained, "Ya'll prove that ya do know artists!"

He frowned.

"Okay, fine, I'll buy ya a whole pack of Coffee Crisps." A smile crept upon her lips as she threw him a pointed finger. "And if ya can guess the name of the song, I'll throw in a Kit-Kat."

He thoughtfully considered the deal. "Make the bonuses some of your Scottish chocolates and you have a deal."

Rayla pouted. "Fine."

And of course, as things usual with the two, their focus from their schoolwork diminished and was quickly replaced with a new task. But even then, the new task hadn't even lasted as long as Rayla would've hoped. The first song played, and with an eager smile, she watched as Callum closed his eyes and delved into deep thought.

It's a beautiful night

We're looking for something dumb to do

Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you

"Marry You!" Callum shouted. "Bruno Mars. I like this one."

Rayla rolled her eyes. "Well that was easy."

Well, I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go

No one will know

"I always found this one real catchy," he said as he began swaying his head. Rayla snickered at his grooving, "It's got a nice tune to sing along to."

Rayla nodded. "Yeah, I like a lot of Bruno Mars' old stuff."

Callum agreed, "Same. This and Just The Way You Are, are my favourites by him."

And we'll go, go, go, go, go

If you're ready, like I'm ready

A smirk grew on his lips. "You ever watch those proposal videos?"

Rayla's eyes lit up as she excitedly nodded her head. "Yeah! With all those people doing flash mobs or singing?" she clarified with a grin. When Callum nodded, the joy spread all around as she released a content sigh. "Man, those are so cute to watch! Especially the flash mobs."

"Yeah, the pre-chorus and chorus makes for a good dance," Callum pointed out, "There's a nice flow of rhythm and with the lyrics too."

Rayla's brows raised. "Do ya dance?" she inquired with an excited tone.

Callum laughed as he shook his head. "No, no, god no, I can't dance. My uh, little brother dances. He's done a lot of Bruno Mars songs."

"Oooh, cute, does he have a YouTube? I'll like, comment, and subscribe," she teased, shaking her phone at him. She began to flip through her device, as if she was attempting to find the next song.

Callum rolled his eyes. He wasn't going to say yes, because that was a topic for another time.

I'll go get a ring, let the choir bells sing, like ooh

So what you wanna do?

"Have you ever thought about proposing?" he suddenly asked.

It seemed like by accident, but the song had suddenly paused. Rayla's head shot up from her phone as she wore wide eyes. "Wh-What?" she sputtered, red in the face.

"I mean, like, the way everyone does those videos," he explained. He had no idea what happened, but he wasn't going to question it. She might've just seen something on her phone. "Like, there are couples out there who're comfortable posting that out for the world and even having the public see this, grand spectacle of their love. But, there are also people who prefer nice and quiet scenery. Low key, and personal."

Rayla slowly nodded, her face now mellowing as she smiled. "Right, right. I mean. Yeah, I get ya." She released a strained laugh. "I uh, I dunno, I haven't really given it much thought."

Callum quirked his brows. "Seriously? Don't little girls usually dream about that sorta thing?" He quickly raised his hands once he met her stern glare. "Not that I'm stereotyping. It's just… I, nah I got nothing. Sorry."

Rayla chuckled. "It's fine, don't worry 'bout it," she waved off. "And besides, how can I worry or concern myself with things like that when I was off learning how to play football."

Callum chewed his lip. "Right, yeah…" he frowned. "Well, you ever give it a thought?"

She shrugged. "Nah, can't say that I have."

He raised a brow. "Seriously? You've never thought about that special moment? How one day, your significant other will just… wow you?" he stated in a dramatic undertone, waving his hands with pizazz.

She snorted as she shook her head, much to Callum's disappointment. "Nope. 'Fraid not."

He sighed. "Does that just mean you don't really care? Like, about how they would propose or proposals in general?"

Rayla pondered the question as she tilted her head. "Uhh, I dunno," she answered. "Like, I'm not opposed to the idea. But, making a spectacle? All eyes on me? I'm not sure if I'd want that as my scenery for a proposal."

Callum chuckled. "Funny, the start Quarterback of the Katolis Football team, doesn't want the attention?"

She frowned at him.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding, I know," he assured her. "But, proposals are meant to be spectacles. It's basically someone's way of saying, 'Hey, I wanna get hitched, but allow me to show you how much you mean to me,'" he explained with a complacent smile.

Rayla raised a brow. "Never thought ya'd say that." As he looked at her in confusion, she elaborated, "I mean like, I always thought ya'd be the type of person to say it's not one gesture that tells the deed. But, y'know, everythin' they do for you?" she inquired with a knowing smirk. "Like, why would ya need to profess so much of your love for one day, shouldn't ya already be doing that?"

Callum laughed. "Well, sure, but proposals are special." He leaned over as he excitedly said, "I remember how my dad proposed to my mom. It was just a regular family dinner, us coming over to his place," he motioned his hands about, "and then, he just filled the table with all of my mum's favourite things. Her favourite desserts, dinner meals, sides, and her favourite drink. He also got me some fresh summer fruits too—"

"And boy do ya love those fresh summer fruits," Rayla chimed in.

"Exactly," Callum pointed at her. "I think at the time, Dad knew he had to get on my good graces to if he was gonna propose to my mom, but I like that he made the night mostly about her. He played her favourite Bee Gee's song—"

"How Deep is Your Love?"

"Lucky guess."

"By the taste ya have, it was a fair shot."

"Anyways, he played it and they danced in his living room," he swayed his body, mimicking the emotions and moves he'd seen that day. "And then, he did his fancy little twirl, and slid away from her with style, then got down on one knee." Callum proudly smirked, "Since then, I knew he'd be a cool dad."

Rayla chortled as she threw her head back. "Ya're such a doofus."

He shrugged. "It was romantic. Even though it wasn't public, it was still a spectacle. At least for my mum and I."

"Well what 'bout ya," she gestured to him.

"Huh?"

"How would ya propose to your special friend?"

He chuckled. "Never thought about it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, well, it depends on who I'm with. What they like, what they want, if they'd even want to get married—" he scoffed. "I'm not gonna plan out something big and grand, when I don't know who it's for."

Rayla nodded. "Makes sense."

"But I've thought about how someone would propose to me."

She raised her brow. "Really?"

Callum looked at her with an amused face. "Yes, because guys can get proposed to, too."

"No, no, I know!" Rayla hastily said. "I just… tell me," she smiled, looking at him with an earnest attention.

He sighed. "I always thought, it'd be in an art gallery of some sort. Doesn't have to be the Louvre, but like, as long as there are dozens of paintings surrounding me, and-and, maybe, All My Loving is playing in the background somewhere?" he laughed. "I don't know… like… I know it's not exactly a proposal song but, I always felt like it'd fit the moment. Just as they look me in the eye," he closed his and sighed as he envisioned the scene. Like he had dozens of times before. "And spout off something poetic about love or whatever. Then, they drop on one knee. And it's easy as that." His eyes peeled open and found Rayla staring at him gobsmacked.

He cleared his throat as he fought off his blush. "I-I mean, it-it was just a thought… like… nothing crazy," he laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "I-I know, it sounds—"

"Beautiful Callum," Rayla cut him off. "Like always, what ya said was beautiful," she smiled at him. She scooted over to the edge of the bed and placed her hand on his knee. "I think it's real sweet. Romantic. It's very… ya."

He smiled at her. He hadn't even realized the song was playing again. When did she hit play? He was too busy smiling at her, he didn't he bother thinking about it much. "Thanks Ray."

"Whoever ties ya down later on," she slyly said, "better wow ya like that."

"Fingers crossed," he chuckled, raising his intertwined fingers at her.

With a laugh, she turned back to her notes and looked down. She hoped to God he couldn't see her rising blush or her dumb grin, that she couldn't fight off. It was a stupid thought. Just something that flashed her mind for the briefest of moments.

Who cares baby, I think I wanna marry you

It didn't mean anything.

A/N: I wasn't originally gonna make this a College AU, because I thought I did a lot of them at this point (with the promise of more to come this month) and well, I wasn't really sure whether or not to do one more. But I realized that you all really like the AU, so I might as well give it to ya.

Review Responses:

SassySapphire: When you're as behind as I am on the ship month, you gotta pick up the pace! Glad you liked it!

Griff-FanFic1933: Thanks so much! The Aged Up cheese was a dumb joke I thought of literally days after I saw the prompt. I'm glad the message of the "Hurt" chapter sat well with you. I had fun writing it too!

Prophet21: And I am glad you stuck around! Thanks for the support!

Next prompt is Marriage. No twist this time. I swear.

Until next time,

- Bleh