redefine | calum hood

twenty five

Twenty Five

Maddie

"If you need me just come and get me," Calum said as he put the covers and duvet over me. "I would rather you come and get me than not sleep at all, you have a big day tomorrow,"

"I think I'll be ok," I reassured him with a small smile.

"Alright, goodnight," he kissed my forehead, then left the room, turning off the light. I laid down and covered myself with the blanket, closing my eyes, but couldn't fall asleep. I huffed and turned on my side, staring at the wall trying to clear my mind, but it didn't work.

The dark room terrified me. Anytime I started to fall asleep the thought of losing control over my body came over me, and being alone didn't help. I didn't have the reassuring feeling of someone next to me, promising me that they would protect me. I could get drugged again, like multiple times. Anytime I would sleep at the hotels, my brothers would drug me if they hadn't already. And being in this room alone only reminded me of it more.

After trying to sleep for ten minutes, I had freaked out to the point where I knew I wouldn't sleep if I didn't get someone. I pulled myself out of bed and saw that everyone's rooms where empty, meaning they were all downstairs. I didn't want to go down and interrupt, but I needed to sleep and I was tired. Calum made sure I was up all day, and it was awful. I was so tired, as usual. According to Aria though, that was normal. That made me feel a lot better, knowing that what I was feeling was completely normal and expected.

As embarrassing as it was, I went downstairs where all of them were sitting around. They were going through paperwork, signing different things with Elizabeth. I remembered they were supposed to do that a while ago, but I got sick and Calum didn't feel comfortable making a lot of changes at the moment. That made me feel guilty, but Calum reassured me it was alright. I still felt bad about it though.

When I made it down the steps, Calum noticed my presence and sent me a small smile, "Hey bubs," he lightly smiled, using a new nickname he thought of recently. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked and I shook my head. "Alright, I'll finish signing the papers and we'll go up," he sent me a smile and I nodded, leaning against the railing.

"I'll go up with her, Cal," Luke offered, standing up. "And then we can switch when you're done,"

"That alright, Mad?" Calum asked and I nodded. Luke smiled and walked over, taking my hand then going upstairs with me. I didn't go to my room, but I went to Calum's and laid down with Luke following.

"I get scared alone," I mumbled.

"That's understandable and perfectly alright," he told me.

"I wish I didn't, but Aria said we'll work towards me being able to sleep in my room,"

"Good, that's a good goal," he smiled. "We're all here to help as well,"

"I'm nervous about school too,"

"You'll have so much fun, and I want to hear all about it," he told me. "It'll be a great change of scenery," he said and I nodded. "Did you like it today?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Then tomorrow will also be good," he said and I nodded. I let him hug me as I rested against his chest, feeling myself drifting in and out of sleep. I wanted to stay awake for Calum, but I was also exhausted. I kept yawning and feeling my eyes getting heavier as Luke traced shapes on my back. I knew he was doing it to make me more tired, and it worked. I was way too tired to argue it though, so I just focused on trying to stay awake. Sadly, that was a losing battle and I ended up falling asleep.