Calum Hood's cousin

•5•

"BUT WHAT IF I LIKE BAD, WHAT IF I LIKE LUKE!"
(Pic above is Angie)

"Elle, I'm sorry. But I think your going a little too fast with the situation. How can you like Luke? You just met the guy. You haven't been on any dates. And he's a bad guy. I told you" Calum explains calmly.

"It can take away to love someone Cal. I've known him for several days. And, today was kind of a date" I say confidently.

"Really? Listen" he says and grabs his phone. He dials a phone number and puts it on speaker. He motions for me to be quiet. I oblige and stay quiet.

"Hello?" Luke's voice rings on the other end. I look at Calum and he looks at me with an 'I'm sorry' look.

"Hey Luke. It's Calum"

"Oh hey Cal. What's up?"

"Nothing much. What's up with you?"

"Just hanging out with that girl from yesterday. Her name is Angie. She's pretty cool. I think I'm going to ask her out on a date" Luke whispers the last part.

"But weren't you just with my cousin?"

"Yeah. She's cool too. But Angie, there is something about her mate. I don't know....." A tear falls down my cheek but I quickly wipe it away. I have gone a month without crying. I'm not going to start now because of a stupid boy.

"Okay mate. I have to go. Elle's just about here. Bye"

"See ya"

Calum hangs up.

"I'm so sorry Elle. This is terrible" Calum says. I nod.

"Hey. Well. I've got to go. I just need some time to think" I tell Calum, my voice cracking at the end. He nods. I hug him and leave. How could I be so stupid?! That night, I cry myself to sleep. Wondering, what did she have that I didn't? Why am I not good enough?

•Next Day•

I woke up and looked in the mirror. Gross. I looked like a mess. My eyes were red and puffy with tear streaks going down my cheeks. My hair was sticking everywhere and was all tangled. I went into the bathroom and slowly brushed out my hair. It hurt. A lot. I cleaned my face and then put on a blue tank top with a jean jacket and some light blue jean shorts. I put on some mascara and lip gloss. Not going to do much today. Just going to Calum's place to watch band practice. It's Monday, but the boys dropped out of school of course and I had an early graduation back in New York. I wanted to graduate there so I did. Now I don't have to go to school anymore. Yay. But I have to start looking for collages if I go to one. I was thinking an online one. So that I don't have to leave home and it will all be on my laptop. So it would be like doing school work in my room in sweat pants and a sweatshirt eating Cheetos. What a life that would be. If only it wee that easy. I've been looking for online schools since graduation. None that are easy to get into. But none that are impossible. At least not for me. But I want to major in music, art, and medical. I haven't found any of the schools that have that. I might have to end up going to a real college. I don't know.....

I grab my phone and walk to Calum's place. I would drive but....mom took the car. She has work. When I get there, I knock on the door. Calum answers the door and let's me in.

"Let's just forget yesterday never happened..." He says. I nod, not wanting to bring to mind that day. Luke used me. Calum was right. I'm so stupid.

"So we have band practice in an hour....what do you want to do until then?" He asks.

"Karaoke!" I scream. He chuckles and nods. Calum has a game room in the basement. That's where we usually go after band practice but I want to sing karaoke. The last time I did it was with my dad and well...he's gone now.