Keeping Real - Ashton Irwin

Chapter 11

Calum drove himself home and when I climbed into the back seat he looked questioningly at me. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Usually you're so bubbly and I thought you would have a million questions about my mom!"

I sighed. I so badly wanted to tell him that his mother was a phsyco but some part of me-perhaps the very large part of me that valued my own life-wanted to keep my little encounter to myself.

"Just tired, Cal," I told him. "That workout was killer." I smiled slightly and punched his arm lightly. He giggled, swallowing my excuse like it was a glass of milk.

"See you Monday, loser!" He called out from his front porch. I grinned and pulled out of his driveway, glad to be in the driver's seat of my car once again.

Once home I called out, checking to see if anyone was home. Luke grunted from the living room and I heaved my gym bag off my shoulder and onto the staircase.

Entering into the living room I saw my brother sprawled on the couch, his long legs taking up more space than normal humans' legs did. He was watching Season 3 of How I Met Your Mother, and I didn't intend to miss out.

After I had shoved enough of Luke's body off of the couch to make room for myself, I stayed huddled in my little couch corner for the rest of the night.

I was glad to forget yet another drama in my life over Ted's sensational issues with his butterfly tramp stamp, and no one laughed harder than Luke when Slaps-giving came around.

But when the season came to an end, no one cried harder than me. Not over Stella, but over Barney and Ted. I loved the two of them and my feels were too much too handle.

After the last episode, I looked over to see Luke fast asleep, snoring only slightly. I grinned, loving that I had my own bro back. I burrowed further into my couch corner and fell asleep too.

-

Sunday morning rolled around lazily, and Luke and I woke up late, it was almost 1 when I extended my legs and stumbled upstairs to take a shower.

Although How I Met Your Mother temporarily eased my conscience about Calum and his mom, it wasn't long before thoughts about how to tell him riddled my brain.

As I toweled off and threw on a clean pair of sweatpants I debated telling him at all. Maybe it would be fine if I let the whole thing slide. She wasn't my responsibility, after all. Though as hard as I tried to convince myself otherwise, I knew that Calum needed to be told.

I traipsed down the steps and into the kitchen. Luke was nursing a cup of coffee, he had donned his favorite Santa Cruz shirt. He smiled crookedly at me. "Mornin."

I nodded at him and grabbed a banana off the counter. "Did Mom say when she's gonna be home?" I asked. She had told us after my student trial that she was on a business trip.

"Yeah she's supposed to get back on Tuesday morning, I think," he answered. "Good news! I have been ungrounded!" He announced happily. "I'm actually gonna go hang with that kid Michael. He invited me over to his house."

I was surprised. Luke, although he was semi-popular, did not usually have friends that he hung out with, only the party scene.

I smiled. "Cool. Ill probably just chill here. Do some homework or call up Leilani and go shopping. I've been keeping my eye on a Fall Out Boy shirt for a while."

"Sweet. Hey, grab me a Green Day shirt will you? I think something ate my old one." I snorted. "Whatever. But you'll owe me!"

He made his way out of the kitchen and yelled at me from the living room, "No way! I saved your ass the other night from Mr. Kae! It's a twin's honor rule that you have to pay me back for it!"