Close As Strangers // C.H.

Chapter 3:

Brooke's POV

Love is complicated sometimes. Any relationship has their ups and downs, some more than others.

They say time is supposed to heal all wounds caused by love. They sometimes forget to mention how long has to pass to completely heal.

--

Being in Los Angeles for about a week, and spending it going to every place I went before with Calum hasn't seemed to help at all. Memories suck to be honest.

Calum and I have become closer, and we are slowly entering into a relationship again. All that we have done is hold hands because of our chaperone.

Max will barely give us a minute to be alone together, but I understand where he is coming from. I appreciate it though.

There are a few situations where I am not quite sure what to do and I look to Max for help.

I haven't just been spending time with Calum, I have been bonding with my brother a lot lately.

It's so weird how some of my childhood memories are slowly coming back. I can't remember anything really from being a teenager though.

I mainly regain the few memories that I have, while I'm asleep. They come back to me in something like a dream every other night.

Max has been consulting to a therapist to try to help me, but I don't really like the idea of going to see a therapist. It could help me remember quicker, but I don't know.

Max and Calum have been trying to talk me into going. It's starting to wear on me and I'm getting ready to give in. One problem, the therapist that I will see is back home.

I'm scared to go home. Max and I rarely talk about home or our parents, really only mom. He hasn't told be anything about our dad and that kind of worries me.

Max was talking about maybe going home in a few days and I couldn't be more nervous.

My gazing out the window and thoughts are interrupted when I feel someone sit down beside me.

"Hey love," Calum says gaining my attention.

"Hi," I simply answer.

"You look so bored. Do you want to get out of here for a little bit?"

It's almost sunset so I nod and hope we can get out of this house for a little bit.

"What do you want to do?" He asks.

"Um... I don't know. Maybe we could go get a drink or something."

Calum smiles, "I know just the place."

"I think you are getting back to your old self quicker than you realize," I look at him confused for him to continue.

"It was always hard for you to pass on a drink." I nod in understanding and giving him a small smile.

"I'm just gonna go grab my phone." I tell him and walk to my room.

"Where are you taking her?" I hear Max ask Calum. I wait a minute to hear what they say again before walking back into the living room.

"We're just going out for a few drinks."

"A few drinks? She doesn't need any alcohol Calum," Max argues.

"She wants one and it's not like she is going to get wasted Max."

"You two never have a few, you have more that your limit."

I can't take their back and forth anymore. I have been hearing them talk about me like I'm not here ever since I was in the hospital.

"It's a few drinks like Calum said, Max."

Max turns his attention to me, "You haven't had any in a couple weeks and it wouldn't hurt for you to not have any a little bit longer Brooke."

"I'm not a child, I can go get a drink if I want."

"Actually no you can't. Your not legal yet," Max reminds me.

Crap, I actually forgot that I was only 18 about to turn 19. Calum is only 19 so how would we get drinks anyway.

"Max, you know certain clubs and bars don't care about age." Max turns back to Calum.

"I'm going no matter what you say Max," I stand up to him, surprising myself, and grabbing Calum's hand pulling him out the door.

--

It doesn't take too long for Calum to drive us to what looks like a small bar near a night club. Hopefully we are just going to the bar and not the club.

Before I get a chance to open my door, Calum has already started to open it. I give him a smile which he returns and grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers.

"Stay close to me in here, okay? Last time we went to a club, someone else grabbed you and I can't let that happen again." Calum explains.

"Okay, thanks."

There is only a few people in the small place, with only two older men sitting at the bar. I notice a group of what looks like college guys in the back corner at a booth.

Calum gives my hand a squeeze causing my attention goes back to him. We take a seat on the end of the bar away from everyone else.

The bartender makes his way down to us, he looks to be maybe a college student as well. He has blonde shaggy hair and blue eyes, muscular like Calum.

He gives us a small smile, "What can I get for you?"

The words just slip from my tongue, "I'll take a Bloody Mary please."

Calum smiles before making his order that I didn't catch, I'm still trying to think how did I know what I wanted off the bat like that.

"See you do remember simple stuff," Calum tells me.

"I can't wait until I remember everything." I mumble as the bartender brings us our drinks.

"You just have to be patient. I... I wanted to ask you something..."

After finishing our drinks, I look up at Calum. He looks so nervous scratching the back of his neck.

He looks down so I take one of his hands in both of mine to help ease his nerves. I rub the pad of my thumb over his knuckles.

"I was going to ask you in a better way, but if I don't ask now I might not get the nerve to do it again. Brooke, I was wondering if you wanted to... maybe go out on a date with me?" He glances up at me to find me smiling at him.

"Of course Calum." He smiles back at me and I lean over to give him a kiss on the cheek. I notice he lets out a breath and relaxes after I pull back.

"Let's get us another drink, ya?" I ask Calum, he nods and waves over the bartender again.

--

Thanks so much for reading. Vote and comment your thoughts.

Hopefully update again a week from today.