Troubled Souls // 5SOS

XV ∞ Fracture

• Calum •

Therapy is rather uneventful today. I spend the entire time staring out the window, so I'm not very responsive during today's discussion. To be honest, I don't think I could tell you what we talked about.

The day is picturesque. The sun is shining brightly, there isn't a single cloud in the sky, and there's a gentle breeze blowing that keeps it from being too overwhelmingly hot. It makes me realize that I haven't actually done anything particularly summery since school ended. Other than going to the bonfire at Michael's, all I've really done is go to therapy and sit in my room.

Beth and Michael walk out of therapy right in front of me, hands intertwined. I guess their date must've gone well. Beth turns to look at the group of us that's gathered in the hallway right outside the therapy room, tugging a black hair tie off of her wrist and pulling her blonde hair back into a high ponytail.

"It's a really nice day," she says, stating the obvious. "We should go to the beach."

"The beach?" Jade asks in reply. "I didn't exactly bring anything I could go swimming in ... "

Beth shakes her head, the ponytail swinging back and forth. "We don't have to go swimming," she replies. "I mean, you could if you really wanted to, but I just thought it would be fun to walk on the shore. You know, enjoy the nice weather."

"Sounds like fun," Ashton says, flashing his usual grin. "I'll come along."

"Well, if he's going, I guess I have to go," Jade adds, sarcastically drawing out the sentence to make it sound like going to the beach on a nice day is a chore for her. "We're kind of a package deal."

"Sorry to inconvenience you by inviting you along, Jade," Beth replies with a smirk, copying Jade's sarcastic tone. She turns to me. "Calum, you coming?"

"Well, I might have to check my schedule, but I think I can make it," I reply, and Beth rolls her eyes.

"God, why am I even friends with you sarcastic assholes?" She laughs. She glances up at Michael. "You're coming, aren't you?" Michael nods enthusiastically in reply, making Beth smile. "See? Michael's nice to me."

"'Cause he's your boyfriend," Jade mumbles, causing Beth to give her a slap on the arm. "What? It's true!"

Luke is the last one out of the therapy room. He slips his phone into the pocket of his skinny jeans and looks up at all of us. "Wait, what's going on?" He asks.

"We're going to the beach since it's such a nice day," Beth replies. She and Luke have been getting on a lot better since Ashton's cancer scare. "We're not going swimming or anything, we're just gonna walk around. Are you coming?"

A glint of surprises flashes in Luke's blue eyes. "Y-You guys want me to come with you?" He asks.

"Of course!" Ashton interjects. "Why wouldn't we want you to come with?"

The edge of Luke's mouth tilts upwards in a little smile. I can't even think of the last time I saw Luke smiling, to be perfectly honest. He looks down at his black Vans and tugs at one of the rubber bracelets on his arm. "Yeah," he replies. "Yeah, sure, I'll come with."

"Awesome!" Beth replies with a grin. "Okay, who's gonna drive? 'Cause I don't actually have my car."

Jade and I both drove ourselves to therapy, so we end up splitting the group into our two cars. Ashton and Luke go with her and Michael and Beth come with me. No matter what we do, it seems like Luke and I are always third-wheeling. If only Luke was a girl ...