metanoia - 5SOS

cinq

brynn

When I got up this morning, no texts were waiting. No Calum, and No Xander. Thought it was kind of strange. As per usual, my mom was gone. Did she go on a vacation, and did I just no get the memo? So I had to get drive from Michael, again.

"Hey." I breathed. I was running late and sprinted out of my house.

"Are you okay?" Michael looked at me, raising an eyebrow.

"Fine, just pay attention to the road." I laughed as I pulled my phone out. Still nothing. We didn't talk about much the whole car ride. I was really tired this morning, and so was Michael. We did stop for bagels though, and might have been 12 minutes late to school.

.

After photography, I was heading to physics when I heard a commotion in the hallway. Like someone was screaming. I turn the corner to find Tarin and Calum. She was holding the small gold pendent, I helped Calum pick out.

"I love it!", Tarin screamed in absolute excitement. Calum look relieved that she liked it.

"Look it has your initials on the back.", he smiles as he turns it on its back. Tarin's face instantly changed expressions, and her hands balled into fists.

"This says TB, my initials are TR." The color from his face instantly drained leaving him a pale color. He turned it to face him, Calum couldn't believe it just by the look of him.

"Who the hell is TB? Is she the reason you can't even remember our anniversary." Tarin dramatically grabbed her books from her locker, and slammed the metal door.

"Tarin, what? Of course not." Calum pleaded, as he held her hand back. She pulled her hand back, "Why are you lying to me? It's obvious this was meant for someone else."

Throwing the hunk of gold at his chest, "Fuck you. Give TB a ride home today." Tarin yelled as she stomped away. Calum stood there in defeat, and when he looked up we made eye contact. I quickly turned my head downwards and walked away.

.

When I got to lunch, Calum was already at the table. I cheerfully set down my plate, and sat in front of him. But when I got a glance at his loopy face, I remembered what happened this morning.

"Are you okay?" Trying to keep it causal, and not make him too upset. I took a sip from my water bottle.

"I can't believe she thought I cheated. Do I look like someone who would do that?" He was messing with the food in front of him with a spork. Which was distracting me from his words.

"No, of course not." I assured him but I don't think he was buying into it. "She'll come around." I smiled at him, trying to lighten the mood. I couldn't take the silent tension, so I was very great when Luke walked up.

"Dude, you're never gonna believe-" Luke stopped mid sentence, and looked up at me with his eyebrows furrowed. I mouthed, Tarin. He rolled his eyes, and tried to get something out of Calum. He wouldn't say anything.

"Calum." I said in hopes to get a reaction. He looked up at me, as he didn't with Luke. Luke looked at me annoyed, I could get a reaction out of Calum and he couldn't.

"Give it time." Is all I said, since I only called him to show I could get s reaction. Calum then just stood up and walked away.

"Way to go." Luke sighed sarcastically.

"Do you ever shut up?" I mumbled, low key hoping he didn't hear that.

"Nope." He chuckled meanly, as he took a bite from his sandwich. disgusting.

.

"Can you believe he would cheat on me? Like he isn't going to find anyone better! Someone who will love him like I do, that will kis-" Tarin was just going on, and on in Algebra.

"Tarin, he didn't cheat. I was there when he got it." I spilled, cutting her off any further. Trying to focus on the packet that was due at the end of class, in front for me.

"Wait, you helped him get it?" She said in disbelief, and I just nodded. Couldn't tell if she thought of it as a bad thing or a good thing? Who knows, knowing Tarin.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Calum." I froze, as Tarin's words totally caught me off guard.

"Well as friends yea. Plus he was just clueless on what to get you. I was just helping." I defended my position, just making sure she didn't get the wrong idea. She just rolled her eyes, moving away from the conversation.

.

I had to talk to Ms. Crumbs after class, which took me about 10 minutes. When I walked out, Calum was sitting on a bench next to the door. "Need a ride?" He asked simply and I nodded.

As we walked out of the building and too his car, I brought up the lunch incident, "Why did you leave during lunch?" I questioned being careful too not overstep boundaries.

"I don't know." He explained terribly.

"You didn't seem to care when you got in a fight the other day, what's happened?" I asked worriedly, and got into his car. Calum got into the drivers seat, slamming the door a little louder then needed.

He let out a loud sigh, "I'm just tired of it. I'm trying." Calum leaned on the steering wheel, being careful not to set off the horn. Something called me to reach out to him, grab his hand something. I didn't.

"I talked to her today." I mumbled. In a sense, I didn't want to tell him about it. He looked up from the steering wheel, "Are we okay?"

"I think she just needs a day." I explained, but he looked at me confused.

"No, are we okay?"

"Of course, why wouldn't we be?" I laughed nervously, and trying to lighten the mood.

"I don't know. Let's just talk about something else." I didn't drag on the conversation, just let him change the subject. We talked about nonsense till we got to my house, "That's Xander's car." I said in disbelief.

Calum

It was a red mustang, a girl car in my opinion. And as if on cue, that's was when a tall guy walked out. "Xander!" , Brynn screamed and jumping out of my car. They did this weird run and hug with a spin at the end. disgusting. I started the engine again, and was about to pull away.

"Xander, theirs someone I want you to meet." Brynn giggled, and motioned for me. I shook my head and tried to think of some excuse.

"I should really go talk to Tarin." I yelled, and saw her smile start to shrink. But she just nodded, and I drove away.

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