Calum.

83

Hazel

Calum and I went back to his house. I know he was still in shock seeing the damage his mom caused. "Cal, you okay?" He nodded his head, and went to grab a beer from the fridge.  "I know this isn't easy for you, but you can tell me anything." All he could do was nod his head.

We kept Mali in the loop and she said wasn't going to show up today because she "Couldn't handle it".  It was a fair statement. "I think I know what I can do to help for now." I immediately texted Luke. He was really supportive, and I knew Calum needed his friend.  "Help is on the way." I smiled and set my phone down on the counter, which was apparently also damaged somehow.

I kept trying to get Calum to talk to me, because it's not healthy for him to bottle everything up.  The door swing itself open, revealing Luke. "Whoah what do we have here? And what did I miss?" Luke came just in time to help us try cleaning as best as possible, through the damage.  "My mom came back, and trashed the place. Pretty much..." Calum sighed and I could tell he was stressed out. "When was all of this?" Luke  grabbed a beer  from the fridge. "Last night." I chimed in. "But I was with you last night...?" Luke seemed confused at the timeline of events. "Had to have happened some time after I left, and during our practice yesterday." Calum clarified the timeline of events for Luke, who was just shocked. "Jesus Christ almighty. Was she with your stepdad?" Calum shook his head no. "I don't think so. Mali would've said something if he was. She was here when it happened." Calum grabbed the completely shattered television, and he took it outside.

Luke grabbed the microwave and I began working with the curtains. "Thank you for coming to help us Luke, we really appreciate it." I thanked Luke on his way out. The microwave had also been smashed where the door was, and it seemed to no longer close. Luke walked back in with empty arms. "No problem, I owe it to you." This was Luke's reminder of when I helped him clean up that party he set me up at. We continued to clean, and all the broken stuff was taken out and gone. The remaining stuff stayed in place, a lot had to be replaced.

"Cal, have you thought about pressing charges?" I began tying a garbage bag, which Calum then took from me and headed towards the door. "I'm not too sure honestly." Calum disappeared with the garbage, and returned with Mali, who I guess decided to come back. "Hey Hazel, hey Luke!" Mali waved at both myself and Luke and set her bag down on the couch before plopping down. "Are you thinking of pressing charges?" Calum asked his sister, and she turned to face him. "I honestly don't know if we should. I mean if she goes to jail, then what? That's our mom...at least it'll keep her off the drugs."

"She's on drugs now?" Luke questioned. Mali nodded her head. "She was upset because she said all she had was the drugs. She even looks different..." Mali used air quotes when she was talking about her mom. "How'd she look different?" Calum asked her. "You can visibly see it in her face and eyes Calum. It's better you weren't here to see that." Mali shook her head and got up, making her way into the kitchen. "Hazel,  what do you think I should do?" I turned to face Calum, and he crunched his eyebrows together a little. "Honestly, I think I would. I know my relationship with my mom is completely different than what you have with yours, but for this, I'd press charges. Calum, honey, she destroyed the home that you and your sister practically built together..." I had to find the right words. "Calum, I know things were hard for you at one point..." I stopped for a second before going on, I didn't want anything to come off wrong. "But you turned this into a home that makes you feel comfortable, and safe, and something that you can come to at the end of the day."

"She might be just exactly right Calum." Mali walked in with a steaming cup of tea. Luke held his head in his hands. "What about you?" What would you do?" Mali gestured toward Luke. "Honestly, as much as it's a good idea to, not only for the drug thing, but especially because she destroyed your stuff, pressing charges is something I'd do." I don't think that is actually something Luke would do. He didn't seem like the type to handle family problems like that, I would figured he would be the type to shut down. "So it's settled, we're pressing charges?" Mali questioned.

Luke stayed for a while longer, and left when the repair men came to fix the door. The whole project didn't seem too tough for them, and it didn't last long either. Mali began creating a list of everything that needed to be replaced. Microwave, television, dishes, curtain rods, lamps, etc. So much was damaged or destroyed completely. Had to have been meth. "Hazel, would you come shopping with me later?" Mali never liked shopping completely by herself, and I get it, it just isn't fun. "Of course, I'd love to." I smiled at Mali, and she went upstairs to her room. Calum was sleeping on the couch, right next to me. I grabbed a blanket and covered him with it. I heard a ding on my phone and seen I had gotten a message from Luke.

"Hey, do you think Calum seems to be okay?" Mentally I replied, but the more I thought about it, Luke had a point. "I'm not too sure honestly. He seemed off since yesterday night after everything happened. I do really thank you for helping though, it would've been a lot harder and longer if it was just us." Sent and delivered. Calum was still sleeping soundly, warm and cozy looking. Once again my phone went ding. "No worries, you don't have to thank me." and another one right after that, "You helped me once remember?" and of course I remembered. "Yes Luke, I remember lol"

Mali came downstairs wearing leggings, and a hoodie, with her purse now around her body. "You ready?" and I was. At this point, Mali and Calum had a car, but it wasn't something they used very often. Both Calum, and Mali preferred to walk, and honestly so did I. Either that or Mali's girlfriend, Shanna, did a lot of the driving. To be fair, we had a lot to shop for, and we could not walk carrying all that stuff.