The Space Between a Rock and a Hard Place- 5SOS

Chapter Three

Missing You- The Vamps

The ride was uncomfortably silent. Unusually silent. But it was late, and even with the tension, I was struggling to keep my eyes open as we drove in peace through the LA streets.

"We're here," I hear Calum say as he rests his hand on my shoulder. I must have fallen asleep then. He pulls his hand away and turns off the car.

"Wait, are those tattoos?" I ask, in shock.

"Yeah, uhm, I've got a couple now... you didn't notice?"

"I haven't seen you in months!" I pause, "Cal, I love them."

"Thanks, these-- they're my parent's initials," he responds, holding out his hands for me to get a closer look. The tattoos look so beautiful on him, it's like they're meant to be there. I brush across the ink with my thumb, feeling just his skin.

"Yep, they're real," I say with a light laugh, smiling at Calum's new marks. Even in the dark car, I could tell he was getting shy now, retracting his hands from mine and rubbing the back of his neck. His hair was a bit longer now too and it was starting to get curly. They've all changed, just a little bit, now that I'm not always by their side.

We sat in silence for a bit, the rest of the boys still on their way, and us unsure what to talk about. Why did everything just feel different now?

"Uhm, Av?"

I stopped fidgeting with the bottom of my leather jacket and looked back at a very nervous Calum.

"I missed you, Av," he finally spat out, "I didn't realize how hard it was going to be. This first tour, traveling all the time, leaving my friends and family behind. I mean, the boys are like my brothers-- but you, and Mali, and mom and dad--"

"Hey, I missed you too, Cal,"

"How was graduation? That was about a month ago, right?"

"Yeah... yeah, it was. I wish you were there, but you've got big and successful plans already. I'm proud of you-- like so proud, you have no idea. I'm so glad I met you guys when I did, and then Mike, and watching you guys get this far from where you started. I'm so proud of all of you."

Suddenly, I flinch at an aggressive knock on the window behind me. Calum just laughs as I whip my head around to see Luke pressed against the glass, Ashton, and Michael coming up behind him.

We step out of the car to the banter from the other carload, "Cal! Ash nearly got us all killed! Who let him drive today?!" Michael shouts across the driveway towards us. Calum just shakes his head at Mike's energy and heads towards the house.

I follow Cal up, Michael still shouting at all of us, clearly still riding on the concert high... and also just a little too excited to eat something.

Calum's family had left directly after the concert, and therefore we were greeted at the door by Mali and the aroma of pizza already baking in the nearby kitchen of Calum's home.

"Oh, hello boys- oh! Aviana! I haven't seen you in so long either!" Calum's mom exclaimed upon us entering the main room.

"Hi Mali, hi Joy," I said, overwhelmed with the social interaction I hadn't had in a while. We all sat down on the couches lining the pristine and beautiful living room. I wedged myself between the edge of the couch and Luke, with Mike on his other side, and Ashton, Calum, and Mali sat on the couch positioned at a ninety-degree angle from us.

"Okay, tell me about the tour!" Mali says eagerly, leaning forward towards the boys and me while clasping her hands together. Like me, she also hadn't seen the boys since they went on tour. She was radiating the energy that was draining out of most of the boys by now.

But still, each of the boys shared their stories, misfortunes, and laughed together at the memories and inside jokes that had occurred while away. Mali and I sat and listened intently, even when we had no idea what the boys were talking about. We were all together again, and it was so nice to have this moment.

Cal's parents brought out the pizza, and I swear Mike ate like half of it, but those boys were definitely hungry, they hadn't eaten in hours. So much for the neat living room, oh well.

It was nearing two in the morning now, and things were quieter. Mali was snuggled up to her younger brother, Ashton and Mike leaning against the sides of the couches they were on, and I leaned my head against Luke fighting to keep my eyes open. Every once in a while, words were exchanged, but we were all so tired and yet too lazy to even get up to go to bed. We battled with exhaustion but lost-- all drifting off to sleep, piled together on Cal's couches.

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