Tally Tale 卌 [DISCONTINUED]

Eight

(Idek how I found such a perfect photo I didn't even try. I was just scrolling)

(And syke I lied. I'll put in the extra detail when I feel like it

I want to put Dan and Phil in this since their fandom is also destroying my life but like

Phil will have to be like 37 oh god)

"Ashton." A voice coos softly in my ear, a low hum to ease me out of my sleepy daze. "Time to wake up."

"Fuck off." I groan, pulling the blankets closer, letting them rest over my face.

"Ashton, that is no way to speak to your brother." The boy huffs.

"Harry, he's tired." Another low voice chuckles from somewhere afar.

"I don't care, he needs to wake up."

"Give me minute." I grumble. Taking a deep breath, I throw the covers off of me and roll off the bed in one go, landing in a heap on the ground.

Ow.

"Agh light." I grunt, squinting. A blurry hand holds the fuzzy image that I recognize as glasses in front of my face. I grunt out a noise of gratitude, taking them and putting them on, nearly stabbing my right ear accidentally. I sit up, blinking tiredly at the guest room.

Calum leans against the white door frame with his arms crossed over his grey sweatshirt, covering the dark blue bold lettering. His black sweatpants cover his legs that cross at the ankles. Calum smirks down at me, despite looking a little bit sad behind his eyes.

I wanted to ask why he looks glum but I decide against it. He would probably only answer when we're alone, if he answered at all.

Harry is beside me, holding a hand out to help me up. He wears a black button up and blue jeans. His hair is slightly styled to have a swoop to the side. I grip his hand as he pulls me up.

"I have school, Ashton. I wanted to say goodbye before I left." Harry explains. "Mali and Calum are staying the day with you, okay?"

"Alright." I nod. "Have fun."

Harry snorts, already on his way out the door.

"Hey Harry?" I call before he leaves the room. He pivots to face me. "Don't even react to them, okay?"

Harry nods with a smile smile. "Bye Ash. Bye Cal." He says, waving.

"Bye." Calum and I say in unison. We watch him leave, letting a moment of silence pass between us. I sit back on the bed, rubbing my face tiredly.

"Calum?" I ask hesitantly, looking up at him. He hums in response, scanning his black painted nails. "Come here."

Calum slowly walks over to the bed, sitting beside me. He looks down at his lap.

"What's wrong?" I question softly. Calum doesn't respond for a few moments.

"I had another nightmare." Calum whispers shakily. "I left your room maybe half an hour after you fell asleep. I slept on a small air-mattress in Harry's room. I fell asleep but then my nightmare happened."

"What happened in your nightmare?" I ask softly.

"I can't tell you." Calum says, shaking his head. "It's too risky."

"This damn amnesia." I mutter. Silence creates a tension in the room. Calum rubs his finger under his left eye, the one closest to me, sniffling.

"You know, if you didn't have amnesia, we would probably never have spoken to each other again." Calum mumbles. "You would make sure of it."

"Was it was really that bad?"

"It was far worse than you can imagine." Calum replies, tilting his head up to look me in the eye. "One or both of us would have probably died in the next few months."

X•X•X•X

"All we can have for breakfast is cereal." Mali says as Calum and I sit at the table. Mali flips through the newspaper, her bed hair tucked behind her head as she scans the pages. She flicks a quick glance at me and lowers the newspaper to be under the table. "Cal, you have to go out today."

"But Mali..." Calum whines.

"I know you hate it but it must be done." Mali says sternly. "It's your turn, anyway."

"When should I go?" Calum sighs defeatedly.

"Around 8, I would think." Mali shrugs, scrunching her face up a little. "Maybe 9."

I don't dare ask why Calum has to go out. It must be something specific if he has a time to 'go out'. It's more than just 'going out' in the way they siblings said it. Even if I did ask, I probably wouldn't get an answer.

"Did you sleep well?" Mali asks me as I sit down, pouring the milk in my cereal.

"I couldn't fall asleep at first. I got Calum to sing to me." I shrug. "It did the trick."

"How did you come up with the idea to ask Calum to sing?" She questions, intrigued.

"It was the first thing I thought of."

"Oh." Mali hums. "What song did you sing, Cal?"

"Invisible." Calum mutters. Mali's expression softens.

"Oh, Cal." She sighs. "Why do you deserve this?"

"I'm fine, Mali." Calum grumbles.

"Calum-"

"I'm fine." Calum repeats, his voice stronger, a light growl tracing the edges of it.

I silently take a bite of the stale cereal, staring at the wooden table intently.

What the hell is going on here?