505 days ~ irwin

415 days before

I'm trying to make these chapters like 1500 words + each so soz if it sounds like it's being dragged on

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Calum

We still weren't allowed to talk to each other, it made me a little uneasy and unwilling, but hopefully this will pass by quick enough. I zoned out for so long I didn't catch myself, and of course Michael -three lockers down- couldn't be bothered to tell me to snap out of it. I wonder if he knows he can say something to me, just not a lot. Most of the past couple hours was just occasional glares, or standing up straight in hopes of avoiding the others eyes.

"Hello, Calum Hood." A voice crept from one ear, to the other. I jumped in shock, I snapped out of it a little to abruptly. "Whoa, calm down its just me."

"Bug off, Lucas." I breathed. I didn't bother yelling, or even putting effort in my tone. I was just tired.

"Does everyone suddenly hate me here?" He threw his arms in the air, like spaghetti noodles. If only he was less good looking, his self esteem would be average and he would see what everyone else sees: an egotistical cheating, lying bastard.

I looked at him like I look like the opposing football team on the field. Nothing but raw meat that's about to be devoured. "What now?" I rolled my eyes, slowly, but fast enough to notice.

"I need your help." He leaned his shoulder on the locker door. School has been out for 6 minutes now, but nobody was moving from the walls. Since we're not allowed to talk in class, after class makes up for it.

"With?" My eyes read "just spit it out bastard so I can leave and go to the coffee shop!" But my energy was limited and my tolerance was at an ultimate low.

"I think I know who pranked Mr. Waters." He pulled in closer to me, like he was confessing a murder or something.

My eyes widen, but not that much because my swollen eyes restricted me from moving much. "Shit" I thought "he knows." I thought again. As long as I can just convince him not to tell. "And what's your lead?" I asked, but I already know the answer. I knew that if I worked with him I could steer him farther from the truth, so it couldn't be traced back to us.

"I think that bitch- sorry, beautiful brunette Brinley did it." He whispered in short breaths.

That was an excessive amount of alliteration, I thought. "Oh yeah? And what makes you think that?" I tried not to sound like I believed him, but truth was, I do believe him, because I know she did. But it was't just her.

"Because she's Brinley?" He spoke like it was a line in the bible that everyone should know. "She causes a mess everywhere she goes?" He would not let go of that tone.

"So? Doesn't mean it was her? Could be those potheads that leave and smoke weed at lunch. Or the badass kids that wear all black with those leather jackets." Took me a second to realize that we were those kids.. I tried to lead him off the trail. But I know Luke, and I know he won't budge. He's Luke. 

He furrowed his brows as he walked beside me, I tried to walk a little bit faster so he wouldn't be able to read my expressions, because he was always good at reading people.

"Are you covering her?" He whispered. 

At least he had the decency to whisper.

"What? God, no." I lied. 

"You know something I don't." He said as he tried to catch up to me. 

I still kept on my tracks, walking a tiny bit faster than him, but not enough for him to notice. I held the fence, shaking off the wet bright green grass from my black chucks. These shoes are already so beat up, I probably should treat them with some decency. I pretended like I didn't hear him, but in reality I was too tired to deal with his shit right now.

"That why she wasn't here today?" He still furrowed his brows. Annoyingly, might I add. 

I was waiting for him to point that out. If he still cared about her, even a little bit, he would've kept tabs with her and known that she wasn't at home either. She didn't even come home. And I had to lie to her parents and tell them that she stayed at mine, and made up another lie saying that her phone died and she passed out right away. They asked if it was because she was too drunk to come home. And I laughed and said "Well, you know your daughter." They laughed as well, but I hope that she's not in heaps of trouble when she comes home, well, if she comes home. She fucking owes me. 

"Probably skipping, at the diner, smoking, at the treehouse, fucking Ashton. I don't really care kid." I loved having the upper privilege in calling him "kid." I know how much he hates it, but there's nothing he can do about it if he keeps being a cunt like this everyday. 

"Someone isn't in the mood." He smirked. That stupid smirk that he uses on girls to hookup with him. But he knows that he could just walk up to any girl and say "Hi! I'm Luke Hemmings, wanna fuck?" And in two seconds she would have her clothes off. This is why we kicked him from the group. Now he hangs out with some bigshots, you know? The allstar football players. I mean, I play too, but at least I know my spot. 

We finally reached the parking lot. I should've took the short way, but I couldn't think because Luke's idiotic talk was distracting me. I squinted my eyes a little, looking over for my small black car. My eyes widen as I laid my eyes upon my black beauty of a car. It was beaten, and not so new. But hey, it worked? For the most part, I mean. 

"Listen, kid-" I scoffed at myself. I love me. "-I gotta get going. I have this psychology project that was due yesterday." I fake smiled, pretending I was sad that the conversation was over. 

"Hey, could I bum a ride home, mate?" He shouted as I was already backing away towards my car. 

I raced ahead, pretending that I didn't hear his question as he kept repeating himself behind me, "Hey! Cal!" I ran faster and faster with every word. His voice started to get quieter and quieter. I smirked at myself, go cal.

I unlocked my car, and sat in. Sighing. Long fucking day, despite the fact I was sitting all day anyways. I paused, I usually do before starting my car. I don't exactly like to go home right away. I took my phone from my back pocket. The screen was already lit, messages after messages was filling the screen. I couldn't scroll down without another message being sent. It was the group chat. Everyone was freaking out because they haven't seen Brinley since she left to go get that paint. 

"Did she get caught?" Riley sent.

"I think she got arrested..." Michael said.

"Maybe she's just playing another game of hers." Ashton added. 

I wasn't panicking so much like the others. I find that when I do, it's always for nothing. Last time I did, it was in the summer. Brinley stopped answering my text messages after a little bit of her freaking out, and turns out she was just having a pillow fight with Ashton. Yeah. I was so worried that I drove to her house. It was quite awkward to walk into. Anyhow, I know for a fact that this is a joke. A game of hers, like Ashton said. Even Ashton knows. I can't imagine him not worrying about her. That's all he does, that's the only reason why he hasn't moved, because he wouldn't want to worry about two things: school and his girlfriend who he wishes was his real girlfriend. 

I'm not worried. I know she will show up. She is, in fact, Brinley no-middle-name-for-some-reason Reynolds. She does what she wants and when she wants. She'll come about soon. 

Right?