Selfish Appetite [5 Seconds of Summer]

[22]

"Sometimes we create our own heartbreak through expectation."

- -

Sloan

A year.

What is a year?

Three hundred and sixty-five days.
Twelve months.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes.

You can have your whole life change within this time frame-or not at all.

Sometimes, time slips through our fingers, dissolving into the past before we even notice. Only when it's too late do we realize what we've lost.

Too late to make up for lost time.
Too late to fix things.
Too late to find yourself.

Time brings pressure. Time brings age. Time brings fear. And yet, time also brings love, growth, patience, and redemption.

Time means everything.
And yet, it's what people take for granted the most.

"Happy birthday!" I wrap my arms around Ally, holding on just a second longer than necessary, wanting to etch this moment into my memory.

"How do you feel?" I ask as I pull away.

"Twenty-five." she quips, her eyes twinkling. "I feel good." she laughs, light and carefree. "Feels like we were just here yesterday, celebrating me turning twenty-four."

I smile at the memory, warmth pooling in my chest.

"I still feel like I'm seventeen." she muses, echoing something she told me and Mina a year ago. A sentiment we all seem to share, no matter how many birthdays pass.

She leads me toward our booth, weaving through the dimly lit bar, where the hum of conversations blends with the low thrum of music. The air carries the scent of aged whiskey and the faint trace of someone's perfume.

I glance around and immediately notice that everyone is here-except Luke.

Seriously, does this man have something against birthday celebrations?

He skipped mine, ignored Mina's a couple of weeks ago, and now he's missing Ally's too. Though, to be fair, during my birthday, our friendship wasn't at its finest.

Not that it is now, but I refuse to dwell on that.

Ally asks what I want to drink before disappearing toward the bar, insisting on covering the first round.

I slide into the booth beside Calum. His presence is easy, familiar. Without hesitation, he leans in and presses a brief kiss to my temple.

Michael raises an eyebrow. "You two are like an old married couple."

I let out a short laugh, but there's an awkwardness to it. Before I can respond, Calum nudges my shoulder playfully. "He doesn't get us." he murmurs.

I nod, even though, ironically, it was Michael who once told me that a no-strings-attached arrangement with Calum might be a good idea.

"Oh, we get you." Michael smirks knowingly.

I chuckle under my breath.

Ally returns, carefully setting a tray of drinks on the table. "Where's Luke?" she asks, scanning the group. "Is he even coming? I need a headcount, people." she throws her hands up dramatically.

"He didn't tell you?" Ed chimes in, raising an eyebrow. "He's out of town. With a girl."

Ally frowns. "No, he didn't mention that. He texted me happy birthday earlier but failed to include that he's ditching yet another party."