Room 21 - Calum Hood Punk -

Tears

- Elena's POV -


We come out of town with about 10 bags between us. We did a lot of shopping for each other... When we get home, I grab my house key and unlock the front door. We take our bags upstairs and I decide to sort through mine now, because I know I'll be too lazy to do it later. I empty the contents on the floor. I bought a lot of stuff... I put all my newly bought things away and sit on my bed, sighing. It's past 12:00, and the boys are all out again, because they decided to go to the gym. I don't know what to do with my time. I've gotten a real interest in singing. I often sing along to songs on the TV and the radio, but I do it when I'm alone. It would be way too embarrassing if the boys heard me; I'm not the best singer in the world... A thought comes into my mind, but it's interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. I run downstairs, opening the door. "Hello, Elena!" Jerry smiles.


"Jerry? What are you doing here?" I smile back.
"I just need to speak to you!" He says.
"Come on in!" I let him walk through the door and close it behind me.
"How are you doing? You appear to be doing quite well for yourself!" He tells me.
"I'm doing great! I live with some friends from the home, they're brilliant," I reply. "How did you even know where to find me?" I laugh.
"I'm a police officer, Elena, we can find anyone! I just had to contact the home and ask where they last saw you. Then it was a simple job of finding any database of you working anywhere and your file came up at the Starbucks in town, so I asked to see your profile and it had your address!" He explains.


"Well you've found me!" I smile. "Would you like a drink or something to eat?" I offer.
"No, thank you. I've got to get back to the station after I'm done here. I've just got to give you some things that we went back and got from your house." He says. House? Oh... The place of nightmares and evil. "Okay!" I sit and watch him get out a portfolio and a bag.
"We found a number of things, and we figured you may want them," he hands me the portfolio and plastic bag. "I don't want to disturb, so I'll be going. I hope you don't mind me dropping by!" He apologises. "Not at all! Thank you." I open the door to let him leave and close it behind me. What stuff could he possibly have found?.. I walk up to my room, closing the door quietly and sit cross-legged on the floor. The first thing I pull out is my song book. I used to write a lot of songs, but I stopped after my my stepdad told me I wasn't good at it. He always made me feel so small. I place it on my bed. The next thing is my photo album. I put that to the side.


My old art pad is the next thing that I take out of the portfolio. The rest of the portfolio is some of the drawings I had on my walls. I move onto the bag Jerry gave me. The first thing I pull out is my camera and charger. I forgot I had this... I put that down on my bedside cabinet, taking the next thing out of the bag; the photo frame that I was going to fill with pictures of me and my mum, me and my dad, my proper family. I can't do that anymore, because my parents are dead... I blink back the tears brimming in my eyes, putting the frame under my bed. I realise there's nothing else, so I sit on my bed. I wonder what I can do now? Then I remember the idea I had. And what Jerry brought me has made it even easier... I grab my key and leave the house, making sure to lock the door. I walk around until I find the shop I've been looking for. I smile, pushing the door and walking inside. "Hello, Miss! Can I help you?" A shop assistant asks.
"Yes, you can!" I smile. Here goes nothing...


*


"Thank you so much!" I thank the worker, walking out of the doors. I want to get home straight away, so I can do this thing straight way. I speed walk, which makes me look stupid, but I couldn't care less. Once I'm home, I use my key to unlock the door, as the boys still aren't back from the gym. I run straight up to my room and push my door, not bothering to close it properly. I sit at my desk and put my newly bought item down, unzipping it's case. I take out the thing that I just went out and bought, smiling at it. I pick up my song book and start writing a song. I try out some of the chords first, just to make sure I can still play. The second I play the first chord, I'm able to play the whole song. It's like I never even stopped playing.


I start singing the new song that I wrote. It's about Calum, if I'm honest. I just wish he'd be here right now... The sound of the front door opening snaps me out of my thoughts. I need to hide the guitar, because I know for fact that the boys will want me to play for them. I jump out of my chair and put the guitar back in its case, putting it into my wardrobe, right at the back. I tuck my song book under my pillow. "Elena?" I hear Ashton's voice. I come out of my room and run downstairs. "Hey guys!" I smile.
"What did you do when we were gone then?" Michael asks, ruffling my hair.
"The police officer that brought me to the home in the first place came 'round." I say. It's not a lie, it's just not the full story. "What was he doing here?" Luke frowns.
"He was just bringing some things from my old house." I answer.


"Anything nice?" Ashton asks.
"Just drawings." I shrug.
"Cool! Do you fancy going outside with us? We're gonna play some football." Ashton offers.
"As much as I love football, I think I'll just chill in my room." I pass the offer, giving him a smile.
"Okay. If you need us, just come and see us!" He ruffles my hair too. I hate when they do that... I go back up the stairs and into my room, closing the door behind me. This is gonna be hard, but I should do it. I sit on the floor, grabbing the photo album. I go through and I feel the tears brimming in my eyes. They were all taken before my dad died; before my life was ruined. I was happy then; I had friends and my parents...


The tears start slipping down my cheeks and I bury my face into my sleeve, letting muffled sobs escape my lips. I miss my mum and dad so much... I miss my friends, my old life. I miss how I felt before my stepdad came around. I can hear the boys outside, Luke cheering about scoring a goal. They're my family now, but I just wish my old family could be here too. They all would've gotten on really well. My head hurts from the crying, so I start massaging my forehead with my hands. It soothes some of the pain, but my head still hurts a little. I mentally sigh, getting up and going into the bathroom. I close the door behind me and turn the lock, looking for the painkillers. I find them and take one, instantly feeling some of the pain ease away. I look a mess, my makeup is a mess. I decide to take off all my makeup. Once I've done that, I stare at my reflection. I don't look like I've been crying, so I decide to go downstairs.


When I reach the bottom of the stairs, Ashton bumps into me. "Sorry!" I laugh.
"It's alright! Are you okay?" He asks, frowning. I could swear I didn't look like I'd been crying.
"Yeah!" I smile, my heart beating fast. Please don't know I'm lying...
"Okay, just checking! Do you fancy watching a film? I know it's getting late and stuff, but if you wanna; we're watching Mean Girls!" He grins. Mean Girls?! Oh my god.  
"No thanks! I'm pretty tired, so I'm just gonna go to bed." I smile, kindly declining his offer.
"Okay! Night, Elena!" He gives me a quick hug. I turn and go back up the stairs again. I am actually tired, so I'm hoping I'll be happier tomorrow if I sleep. Once I'm in my room, I close the door and find a comfier outfit, crawling into bed. It's already beginning to get dark outside, meaning Ashton was right about it getting late. As soon as I turn onto my side, I feel my eyes drooping. I close them and surely but slowly, I fall asleep... 


"Calum!" I shout, seeing the boy I love so very much walking across the street. I shout his name again as he reaches the other side. He has headphones in. If I scream one more time, he might hear me. I start crossing the road, "CALUM!" I scream as loud as I can and he whips around. The boys are all screaming at me, but I can't hear what they're saying, because the sound of a car horn overpowers them. I only get a short second to look to my left, the vehicle coming in contact with my side. I'm thrown in the air and I hit the floor, unconscious... 


I sit up, screaming Calum's name, tears streaming down my face. "Elena, it's okay! You're okay," Ashton is sitting next to me. I throw my arms around him, crying into his shoulder. "What happened? You were screaming Calum's name over and over again!" He panics.
"I-I had a dream where I saw C-Calum crossing the road, but he couldn't hear m-me! I had to sc-ream it louder, b-but I was in the road, s-so I got hit by a car, a-and the l-last thing I saw before being h-hit, was Calum running to m-me! It seemed so re-eal!" I sob. Ashton rocks me back and forth, holding me tightly. "It was just a dream, Elena, it was just a dream..." He soothes, rubbing my back. We stay like that for about 10 minutes, until I calm down. "Thanks for comforting me Ash... I don't know what I'd do without you." I smile weakly.


"No need to thank me, Elena! You're my sister; I'll always be here for you!" He smiles back. "Try and get some rest, okay?" He says, getting up.
"Okay... Thanks again." I reply.
"It's okay!" Ashton grins, walking out of my room. "Goodnight!" He adds as he closes the door. I sigh, checking the time on my phone; 5:52am. It's technically morning now. For people with weird sleeping patterns anyway... I can't exactly go back to sleep now, I'm wide awake. I get up and grab an outfit. Once I'm changed, I do my hair and put on some makeup, then I quietly leave my room to go downstairs. I manage to get downstairs without making any noise, so I grab my shoes and slip them on, leaving the house. It's surprisingly warm, so I don't bother bringing a jacket with me. I know exactly where I'm going; Starbucks.


When I reach the coffee shop, the open sign is just being put on the door. Perfectly timed. I push the door and breathe in the lovely smell. "Hello, Elena, you're an early riser today!" I smile at Kara. "I don't even know how you do this every day!" I laugh, walking over to the counter.
"I don't either! What can I get for you?" She giggles.
"My usual, please! Throw a piece of carrot cake in there too!" I grin.
"Sure! So what has you up this early then anyway?" Kara asks. Think of a lie.
"I wasn't able to sleep properly. I've been having odd sleeping patterns for a few days now." What? Weird sleeping patterns? Surely she's never going to believe something so stupid. "I feel ya!" She laughs. Thank god.
"Thanks!" I smile as she hands me my drink and cake.


"Mind if I sit with you until someone else comes in? Business is usually super slow at this time." She smiles. "Of course you can!" I laugh. Kara takes a seat opposite me. "So; got your eyes on anyone?" I wink. Moment of truth; does she like Ashton?
"Well... Kinda!" She blushes.
"Spill!" I giggle.
"Promise you won't say anything?" She asks.
"Promise!" I nod.
"Okay... I kind of have a bit of a crush on Ashton?" She admits, covering her face in her hands.
"This is great!" I clap excitedly. She looks at me with a confused frown.
"How is it? Ashton's gonna have a girlfriend, he's cute enough," she groans.


"Okay! He never made me promise anything, so; Ashton likes you too!" I squeal.
"What?! H-he does??" She gasps. I nod happily. "Wow... I-I can't believe it!" She says in shock.
"I'm glad you told me, he thinks you don't like him," I giggle. Kara sits there blushing like crazy. My phone starts vibrating in my back pocket and I pull it out to see Ashton's caller ID. "I better be going home." I say, getting up from my chair.
"Okay! Thanks for keeping me company!" Kara smiles.
"Any time! Thanks for being my friend when I first joined." I smile back. It's true. Kara and I are really close, and she chose to be my friend, even when she didn't have to. "I'm glad I decided to be!" She hugs me quickly before rushing to serve a customer.


I make my way back home. I check the time on my phone; 6:47am. I haven't been gone for long, so Ashton must've stayed awake after he left my room. Now I feel bad... When I get home, I open the front door and all the boys are there, hugging me tightly. "Guys! What's going on?" I frown, pulling away. "We were so worried about you!" Michael hugs me again quickly.
"Yeah! Ashton came and told us about your nightmare... We were worried something had happened to you when you weren't in your room!" Luke hugs me quickly too.
"I thought you were gonna try and go back to sleep!" Ashton frowns.
"I couldn't, I was wide awake..." I admit.
"So then where'd you go?" He asks. Plan time...
"To Starbucks!" I smirk. He freezes.


"What did you do?!" He gasps.
"Spoke to Kara..." I giggle, still smirking.
"What did you say, Elena?!" He asks with wide eyes.
"Just that you like her but thought she didn't like you back!" I say quickly.
"What?!" He shrieks.
"Ask her out, you might be surprised! Bye!" I ramble, racing up the stairs. 
"Elena, get back here!" Ashton screams in panic, racing up after me. I try to barricade my door shut, but I'm too slow. "Elena, what did she say to you?" He pants. How is out of breath when he goes to the gym?! "I was sworn to secrecy! But ask her out, you'll be surprised!" I repeat. He looks like he's thinking for a few seconds. "Okay, I'll think about it..." He answers cautiously.
"YAY!" I squeal, clapping my hands. Let's hope they end up getting together now...