lock & key » c.h

six

"When's the last time you visited mom and dad?" Calum heard to his left. He was grabbing his morning coffee, trying to rid the dark bags from under his eyes even if he knew it was futile.

The bitter coffee burned his tongue, jerking the cup away from his mouth as he turned to meet who was talking to him. Mali-Koa was stationed at the doorway, leaned against the eve, her arms crossed over her chest and long hair flowing over one shoulder.

"Fucking hell, Mali," Calum swore, licking his lips. "Warn a guy."

Mali chuckled softly. She had arrived the day before, on a small break from her college studies. Calum didn't get to see her often, seeing as she was away at college, but when his parents died, he distanced himself from her.

She just reminded him too much of them.

"Answer the question," Mali pressed, leaving her post at the door to join Calum at the counter. They were the only two in the house, their Aunt and Uncle having already left for work. She leaned forward on her elbows, eyes locked on him.

Calum stared into her chocolate eyes. They were much like his, but hers held more flecks of gold in them, more like their mothers. He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked away from her.

"I don't know the last time I visited them," Calum answered truthfully. He knew exactly where their graves were in the cemetery, but he just couldn't bring himself to go and see them. He felt like there was too much pressure, even if he'd be the only one out there with them.

"Cal," Mali-Koa almost cooed. She stood up straight again, her eyes softening. "You need to go see them."

"And when's the last time you saw them, huh?" Calum asked, his anger flaring inside him. He was almost surprising himself – he hadn't felt emotion like this for a few weeks. Ever since he had talked it out with her, everything was starting to feel better, normal. "If I recall correctly, you moved away. So don't act like I'm the only one who hasn't visited them."

Calum was panicking. He set his coffee cup down, fleeing from the kitchen. He grabbed his keys from where they hung beside the front door and then he was outside, bounding down the porch steps towards his car.

He didn't know why these feelings were creeping up inside him, like they were laying dormant for too long and now they were exploding. He stuck the key in the ignition, revving the car to life before he was speeding off.

The blurring around him as he drove seemed to calm him, ease his rage. He tried to take deep breaths like his therapist told him to do. They had gotten a new one after the incident with his first one, and it had been working a lot better.

He had given Calum his personal phone number in case of emergency, whether it be he couldn't control his anger or something else. The number was sitting in his contacts, unused. Calum knew that he should probably call, just to hear his voice in his ear and calm himself down.

But he knew only one person could do that right now.

He knew it was early, and her parents were probably still home, but he couldn't care less. He pulled up beside the curb, throwing the car into park before his feet were slapping against the sidewalk. His steps stuttered when the front door opened, her mother stepping out onto the front porch.

"Oh, Calum?" She asked, when her eyes finally settled on him. "What are you doing here so early?" She asked, situating her bag higher up on her shoulder. She was dressed nicely in a black pencil skirt with a plum blouse. Calum couldn't remember what her job was, but she usually was gone most of the day.