Never to Forever || Calum Hood

four

Calum's POV

*1 month later*

I was packing up my stuff in last period anxious for school to finally end. I made sure I had all my text and notebooks in my bag. Along with all the snacks I was going to give to Charlotte. Charlotte had already begun tutoring me, but Mali took my keys to the house as some sort of prank. Charlotte said it was okay to go to her house. She seemed nervous and scared when we agreed to going to her house for the first time.

The bell rang excusing us, so I waited by the school doors. After waiting a few minutes, I saw Charlotte walking out the doors. I made my way beside her.

"Hi Charlotte." I awkwardly greeted.

"Oh, hey Calum." She replied.

"So, um, where's your car?" I asked as we walked towards the parking lot.

"I used to walk before we started driving your car to your house." She answered. I nodded and followed her.

+

During the walk, I could tell she was getting tired and I could hear her faintly wheezing.

"Are you okay?" I asked, stifling a laugh.

Charlotte nodded, "Yeah, I'm just not used to walking anymore and I'm just a little hungry."

"Well, if you think I'm gonna carry you, you're thinking wrong." I told her in a serious tone.

"I wasn't going to ask Calum," She said rolling her eyes, "You really think I would?"

"Well most girls do." I mumbled under my breath.

We continued to walk for what felt like forever until we reached her house. Charlotte unlocked the door but didn't open it. "Before we go in I have some rules. Don't make too much noise, don't touch anything, and don't ask me about anything okay? Keep your mouth shut and hands to yourself got it?"

"Got it." I nodded.

She opened the door revealing her small house. We walked in and the smell of alcohol filled the air. There were many beer bottles and cans laying on the floor and some even on the table.

"Ignore those," Charlotte said, "Let's just go to my room."

I followed her down the hall and into her room. So many questions flooded my mind, that I wanted answers to. I wanted to know why there were so many alcoholic beverages everywhere in her house. I wanted to know why her house seemed so quiet and the atmosphere felt so sad. I wanted to know why she told me not to ask questions. But how could I keep all my thoughts in my head?

"Hey Charlotte, are your parents alcoholics?" I blurted.

She shot her eyes towards me, "I told you not to ask me anything didn't I?"

"Yeah but-"

"Yeah but shut up." Charlotte snapped, "Just take out your books then we'll start. Maybe we can talk later okay?"

I nodded and followed behind her. When we entered her room, it was clean, it wasn't like earlier in the living room. The smell of vanilla filled the room and there was no beer bottles.

Charlotte closed her door and she took out her books.

"Calum, get your books out." I heard her say.

I took out my books and started flipping to the page 125. She started writing the equations  down on the paper when something slammed downstairs. She quickly stood up and started hiding the food I gave her in her drawer.

"Be right back." She muttered, going downstairs.

"Charlotte! What the heck have you done to this place!? It's a fucking mess. Don't you know to clean up already? You're a fucking idiot!" I heard someone shout.

"Those aren't even my fucking bottles! Jesus freaking Christ. I don't drink like you guys, I don't waste my time getting wasted and going out like-"

Charlotte was cut of by a loud crashing noise. Moments later Charlotte opened the door.

"Are you okay?" I asked, in a worried tone. She looked at me and nodded, wiping her tears.

"Are you sure?"

"Mind your own business." She muttered, "I'll tutor you tomorrow." She added.

"Okay. Sorry." I replied, putting all my stuff together in my backpack and made my way to her door.

"Wait!" She called, I turn around and she was opening her window.

"My parents are still downstairs." She whispered.

"I'm gonna fall." I groaned.

"No you're not! I tried this before, just make sure not to grab the small branches." She explained.

"Fine. My house tomorrow?" I questioned.

"Yeah. Your house tomorrow." She weakly smiled.

+

I woke up by the sound of my phone ringing. I groaned and checked the time, it was already 9 in the morning. School started 30 minutes ago. I stood up and changed into my drop dead shirt, a sweater and my black ripped skinny jeans.

I grabbed a granola bar and my keys and made my way to my car. I started the engine and drove off.

In a matter of minutes, I arrived at school and parked my car improperly. I know today was gonna be a good day.

I ran to my first class, but no one was there except for Mrs. Jacobs, a few students and Charlotte.

"Where's everybody?" I questioned, furrowing my eyebrows together.

"What do you mean? It's only 8:10 in the morning, Calum." Mrs. Jacobs answered. 

"No. It's like 9:15 in the morning." I replied.

"Calum, are you high or something?" Alyssa laughed.

I shook my head and checked the time on my phone. But instead, there was a message from Mali.

From Mali: 2 points for me and 0 point for you :--)

To Mali: that's not fair!!

I made my way to my seat and Charlotte was eating the Mini Oreos I gave to her. "We're going out for dinner tonight." I told her.

She started choking on the Oreo, making me chuckle. "Do you need water, love?" I asked.

She nodded. I handed her my water bottle and she started chugging on it.

"So.. Are you done?" I asked.

"Yeah." She replied.

"We're going out for dinner?" She questioned. I nodded.

"What time?"

"Maybe around 6?" I answered her, taking out my homework and passing it to Mrs. Jacobs.

+

A/N: hey it's Ria and jaylyn! So here's another update! So we're going to do a question of the chapter thingy and you guys have to answer it lol and whoever answers gets a line from our next chapter.

question of the day:
what do you think will happen during the date?

thanks for reading! Hope you like it! Much love, ria and jaylyn x