S E E K I N G
I'm just getting used to being on my own.
• • •
"You okay, doll?" Is the first thing tumbling out of Calum's mouth; accompanied by a worried expression as he stands in Audra's doorway. She wasn't expecting him. But an Instagram picture of Mona in London, jogged his memory and had him over there the next day.
His question, however, is met with a warm embrace; one he doesn't hesitate to recieve.
"You okay?" He decides to ask again.
"Just... hold me for a second please?" She mumbles out.
"Anything you want." Because whatever she needed in that moment, he'd do his best to give it to her. And if she just wanted to be held, he'd do just that.
After a few moments, she sighs. "I'm okay. Still a little sad, but okay." Her voice is strained, and his ears pick up on it rather quickly.
"Why didn't you call me?" He pulls back to look at her.
"Wanted some time to mourn an empty house I guess." She tries to smile. "And I know you guys were busy finishing songs for the album and everything. Didn't wanna bother you for something frivolous."
"It isn't frivolous if you've been crying." He points out, and she doesn't seem to have the energy to object; especially when her red stained eyes gave her away. "Audr', I said if there's ever anything, you can call me." He reassures her. "Whether I'm in the studio, home, wherever...if you need me, you call me. Okay?"
"K..."
"Alright..." He rubs her back. "Have you eaten as yet?"
"Not since this morning." She sheds the blanket that was wrapped around her. "Didn't have much of an appetite since then I guess." She could see the slight surprise on his face at the statement. "Yeah, I know. Guess I was too sad to eat. I'll find something now though."
"Wait, I actually brought you something in case." He heads back to his car.
"Please tell me it's something with cheese. I've been craving cheese all week."
"You're in luck. It's a chicken avo melt. I picked it up from Panera on the way."
"Wow, I wonder who put you on those?" She says teasingly.
"Not you." He snorts. "I also brought someone along though." He reaches over to the passenger side; revealing the puppy in his hands. "You can tell Sebas his favorite doggo is back in town. That is if he's even awake." He jokes.
"About that." She starts. It only takes him a few seconds to read into the two words.
"No... She took Sebas?"
"I mean, it was her who brought him from the shelter. I guess it was only fair. I look at it like a little housewarming gift you know?"
"So you've really been home alone for two days?" He rests the items in his hands down; Duke taking the opportunity to scurry out of his hands too.
"I'm a big girl Cal. I've been alone before." She scoops up the small puppy that was at her feet in seconds. Still, there's an unsettled look on the tan boy's face. "Seriously, stop worrying."
"Literally, can't help it."
"Literally, you can. I'm fine. Maybe I needed those few days alone to get adjusted again."
"Adjusted to being alone?"
"Adjusted to not having them around twenty-four seven. It had become so commonplace to wake up and see or hear at least one of them. And the first night, not having that expectation felt... off. So yeah, maybe I just needed a sec to get used to that."
