Room 21 - Calum Hood Punk -

Different

- Elena's POV - 


It's so awkward at the table. No one is saying anything, which makes me regret my choice of letting Calum sit with us. "So, Elena, how long have you been here?" Calum asks, breaking the silence. I almost let out a sigh of relief that the tension has been lifted ever so slightly. "Just a couple of days," I answer, looking down at my lap. 
"Yeah, I'm her buddy. I look out of her, if any problems tend to pop up. Like now, for example," Ashton remarks. "I'm sorry, Ashton. I didn't quite understand that. I'm a problem?" Calum asks sarcastically. I can see he's trying to piss him off. "Yes, you are." Ashton replies, looking angry. 
"Well, Elena doesn't seem to think so." There's that smirk again. Almost like he enjoys the way he's bothering Ashton. 


"You're so full of yourself, you know that?" Ashton's voice raises a little, and a few people turn to look at what's going on. "I'm hurt, really hurt. I thought that we were friends!" Calum chuckles. 
"Shut up, Calum." Michael scoffs. 
"You're no fun!" Calum gives him a pout. 
"I'm going to fucking slap you in a minute!" Luke growls.
"That was a threat?" Calum practically laughs in Luke's face. I can feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment, feeling a bit nervous. "See? You're making Elena uncomfortable too! Just leave," Ashton says through gritted teeth.


Calum looks at me and sneers, "please." I don't know what to say or do.
"Just fucking go!" Ashton says angrily, clenching his fists.
"I can sit here if I want. After all, Elena said I could." Calum just scoffs.
"Elena, please." Ashton turns to look at me, and I look down.
"You know what, I'm done here. You seem pathetic anyway, don't know why I wasted time." Calum stands up after his remark. I just stare at him in shock, silent. "I don't have time for pathetic people," he adds, walking off.


I told you..." Ashton sighs.
"Yeah, you did..." I whisper, looking down again. "I'm going to take a nap... I need it." I get up.
"Elena, wait!" Michael calls after me as I walk out of the cafeteria. I head back to my room, closing the door. I lay on my bed, letting out a sigh. Pathetic. Why that word?


~


I grabbed the house phone, my hands shaking. I dialled the emergency services. "What service do you require?" A woman said. 
"P-police. Hurry!" I begged. I was put on hold until a man spoke through the phone,
"Police, what's your emergency?"
"I-I need help. M-my stepdad killed my mum, and he hurt me." I swallowed my tears, trying to make sure I would be able to speak clearly. "Hurt how? How old are you, Miss?" The concern was laced in his voice. "I-I'm 17. H-he r-raped m-me," I broke down in tears, unable to contain them any longer. Saying it out loud just made it more real. "Where is he now?" He asked. 
"He l-left the h-house!" I replied, my hands still shaking. 


"I will need your address, could you confirm please?" He spoke. I gave him what he needed, and then he said, "Police and Medics are on their way. I know you may want to stay with your mum, but I need you to find a place to hide just in case your stepdad returns before we get there. Once you can hear the sirens and you get your chance, I want you to run. Get yourself out of the house, okay?" He continued, "I'll be one of the officers coming, you're going to be alright." I hung up and did as I was told, crawling behind the bookcase in the hall. It felt like years had passed by the time I heard the front door swing open. "Elena! Get your ass here now, I want to repeat our little activity!" I heard him slur. I held back a sob, letting a tear slide down my cheek instead. 


He bumped past the bookcase and I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping he wouldn't look behind. I knew it wasn't likely, but there was still a chance. "Elena!" He screamed this time, making my knees feel like they would buckle any moment. I kept my whimpers in, not giving him even the slightest chance to hear me. He walked into the kitchen, and I could hear the fridge. He was going for another beer. Then I heard them. The sirens. I squeezed out, knocking some of the books onto the floor as I did so. "Elena?!" I could hear my stepdad's voice bellow from the kitchen and I panicked. His footsteps came racing out the kitchen, but I didn't look back. I swung the door open and began running down the path. I tripped and screamed when he grabbed my leg. "No! Let go, get off!" I kicked out, trying to release myself from his grasp. He started to drag me down the path, but the cars pulled out the front of the house and the officers came running. 


He threw me down, running inside and up the stairs. He was never getting away... "Elena? I'm Jerry, the one you spoke to on the phone," one of the officers said. I started bawling. "It's okay, you're safe now." Jerry soothed, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. I stood by the police car, the medics arriving shortly after. That's when I remembered mum. Oh, mum... Another tear slide down my cheek and I broke down like I did when I found her. They carried her body out on a stretcher, a sheet covering her. Jerry gave me a warm hug as I cried into his shirt. I was going to miss her so much... "GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" I heard my stepdad scream. He was being dragged out in cuffs, struggling under the officers' grasp. Then he spotted me, "ELENA!" 

He managed to pull himself free and started running towards me. Jerry and a few other officers tackled him, shoving him against the car. I was pressed against another car, frightened. They dragged him into the car he had been pressed against, and I heard him spit out, "you're pathetic! Just a pathetic little bitch! I'll be back for you! I'll finish you off like I did to your mum!" 
I sobbed into my hands. "It's okay, Elena. We're going to take you inside and pack your things. We'll  be speaking to Social Services about getting you somewhere safe to stay. He won't hurt you anymore," Jerry said reassuringly, taking me into my house. We went upstairs and started packing all my belongings. I walked into my mum's room and looked around while the officers took some of my bags. I sat on her bed, breathing in the smell of her perfume. 


I saw the necklace I bought for her and had to bite my lip to stop myself from crying again. I pick it up and put it on, holding it in my hand, smiling sadly. "Are you ready, Elena?" Jerry asked, appearing in the doorway. I looked at him and nodded, walking over towards the door. I looked back at her room, "I love you, mum..." 


~ 


"Elena? Wake up!" I feel myself being shaken gently, and hear Ashton calling out my name. I realise I'm crying and I wipe my tears, looking down. "Elena, are you okay?" Michael asks. 
"What? Yeah, just a bad dream," I lie. 
"But you were crying, 'oh mum', and screaming the word 'no'..." Luke points out, making me realise they heard more than I wanted. "It's fine, don't worry!" I smile at them, tightening my ponytail as I sit up. "Elena... You can tell us if you want to," Ashton whispers. 
"It's nothing. Nothing to tell, Ash," I reply, ignoring the help he's so clearly offering. I guess they'd support me, but I still don't know him very well, and it's the same with Luke and Michael. 


"Elena, we came to check on you. After what happened with that asshole earlier," Ashton says, changing the subject. "He was a dick to you. I'm sorry..." He apologises sadly. 
"Don't apologise, Ash. He chose to be that way, so he can fuck off." I laugh, picking up my art pad off the floor and putting it onto the cupboard next to my bed. "Hey Mike, I forgot! Check this out!" Ashton grabs my art pad. I laugh as Michael gasps, 
"DRAW ME!" 
"Fine!" I giggle, taking the pad and grabbing my pens. Whilst I draw, the rest of the boys have arm wrestles to pass time. 


"I'm done!" I announce. The boys all turn to face me.
"Let's see!" Michael claps excitedly. I present them with the pad, "OH MY GOD! YOU'RE SO GOOD!" The boys cover their faces with embarrassment while I laugh at him.
"Elena, I want to give you a challenge... Draw me plain and not punk!" Luke grins.
I sigh, "fine." He high fives Michael as I get to drawing. Again. Once I'm finished, Luke sits and waits for the reveal. "This is amazing!" He compliments, admiring the as I show the boys.
"You're really talented!" Ashton compliments.
"Thank you." I mumble, going bright red.


"Elena, you must have studied this in school." Michael says.
"Yeah, I did..." I smile sadly.
"Sorry if I've upset you!" Michael apologises.
"You didn't, I'm just remembering my school..." I laugh.
"Was it good?" Luke asks. I look down, silent. "Oh..." He whispers. It wasn't good. Nobody spoke to me, I was an outcast. Because I distanced myself. Because of my stepdad... "It's okay, I'm out of there now," I add. Luke gives me a hug,
"we're going to go and play some football with the others, lovely meeting you!"
"Yeah! Thanks for the drawings!" Michael grins too. They both leave, making it just me and Ashton.


"Elena, don't you have class in like, five minutes?" Ashton points out.
"What?" I frown, taking out my timetable. "Shit!" I gasp, realising I do. Ashton laughs and waves at me as I run down the hallway to reach Room 21. I get there just in time and sit in one of the spare seats. "Hello class!" Leia smiles at us all. "Today, we're going to be getting into partners and getting to know each other!" She announces. Everyone starts getting into their pairs and I look around for Nat, but I see she's already with someone. I look around for someone to work with and my eyes land on the only person without a partner. Him. He smiles at me, giving me a small wink and I want to scream, "WHY ARE YOU BEING SO CONFUSING?!" I take a seat next to him and sigh.


"Hi!" He says.
"Whatever." I snap, rolling my eyes.
"Hey, hey! What's all that about?" He frowns.
"You are such an idiot! You're nice one minute and the next you're calling me pathetic! Stop being confusing!" I hiss.
"How about we just start again?" He asks. I sigh and nod. "Hi, I'm Calum." He smiles, extending his arm out. Hi, I'm Elena." I giggle, shaking his hand.