Between a Rock and a Hard Place // c.h.

18 - Puzzle Pieces

One night, I decided to open my window, and that I needed a shower. I estimated it had been a week since I had closed down, so I needed to shower, if not for the sake of hygiene, because I was starting to smell horrid. I showered in complete silence, not even crying, just staring into space and feeling absolutely nothing. When I stepped out of the shower, I put on the shirt Cal had bought me, despite the bitterly sweet memories that came with it, along with some old sweatpants. I got properly clean, when I was done it would've been hard to see a problem with me, other than the black circles under my eyes, which were caused by a tiredness that couldn't be cured with sleep. I was tired of life, and no amount of sleep could change that. My irises were pink, almost red. They'd been bloodshot for a while though, it almost seemed normal. When I exited my bathroom, I trudged into my room, ready to return to my bed. I yelped when I saw him standing there, in the middle of the dark room, a worried expression on his face. "Luke?" My voice scratched with tension, I hadn't talked at all in days. He looked at me, relief finding its way onto his face.

"Cara, where the hell have you been?" Anger didn't fill his voice, more of a panic. "I-Calum has been so worried about you!" He ran up to me and threw his strong arms around me, pulling me in tightly, holding me like he was worried I'd slip away. I didn't hug back, I could barely process what was happening. He looked at me, biting his lip ring. "Calum's been a wreck Cara, he's started smoking more, and when we're not at concerts performing all he does is mope around in sweats. What the hell?" He asked, hugging me tightly again. "He called you multiple times every day, and us boys helped too. We assumed you were ignoring us, but after a week..." Sadness filled his eyes. "We weren't sure you were alive."

When I finally recovered from my shock at seeing Luke in the first place, I spoke carefully. "Where's Calum?" An unrecognizable expression spread across Luke's face, then he answered me. Slight tension filled his voice.

"He's in Seattle, we're all supposed to be." He admitted. "I've got an express flight back in thirty minutes, and you're coming with me." He grabbed a duffel bag from my closet, quickly stuffing clothes into it. "So pack what you need." I started to object, but the thought of seeing Calum again was enough for me to keep my mouth shut. I silently ran up to my kitchen, writing a note for my parents.

Went on a last second trip. Super important. I'm ok, I swear.
Love you, Cara.

My mom would freak. 'After they find out why I've went they won't care if I come home.' I shuddered, knowing they'd be furious. But I was going, regardless. My parents barely noticed me when I was home, surely it wouldn't be different if I was gone. If I didn't go then I could lose Cal forever, and I wasn't about to lose him. I refused to go through the pain again. I took $300 from a secret stash I kept in one of the cupboards in our kitchen. I'd had the money for a while, saving it since I was ten. I'd wanted to use it to go on an adventure, and this definitely qualified as an adventure. I ran down to my room, where Luke had grabbed everything else I would need. He ran up the stairs past me, carrying the bag with my stuff in it. I followed him as closely as I could, shutting and locking the door to my house behind me.

The drive to the airport wasn't very long, but it was long enough for me to realize the intensity of the situation I had placed myself in. I was going to another state, just for Calum. Did he know I was going, and if he did would he still want me to come? I only hoped, looking at the person in the drivers seat. Luke drove like a maniac, but the expression on his face was calm as ever. He immersed himself in his driving, so I was surprised when he spoke up. "You really love him." It didn't sound like a question, but I still answered it.

"Yes." I nodded. Luke sighed, his eyes focusing on the road ahead of us. We were almost to the airport.

"Then I guess there's nothing I can do." He murmured quietly. I assumed he hadn't intended for me to hear, but I did. 'What does that mean?' I asked myself. Luke pulled up into the airport, swiftly grabbing my stuff and walking so fast I had to sprint to follow. Almost no time passed and we were on a plane. Fans had screamed his name at the airport, looking at me disgustedly. I couldn't even imagine the rumors that would be spreading. I tried my best to ignore the glares, eventually finding my way on the plane. I sat in the small, uncomfortable seat next to the isle, Luke dropping next to me. I thought about asking him about his words earlier, but he had headphones in and dozed off almost immediately. So instead, I looked at him. When I had been new in the fandom, Luke had been my favorite. He was the lead singer, the front man, the heart-throb. But here he was, just a normal boy. He was only nineteen, he'd be turning twenty in a couple months. When he was asleep there was no difference between him and many other nineteen-year-olds. His hair was brushed down, his lip ring black. As much as I loved Calum, Luke was beautiful, there was no denying it. The scruff on his face was meant to make him look older, but he was still Luke to me. He was still the boy from Hemmo1996, just older.  It still amazed me how less than a month ago I'd been fangirling over the boys, hoping they'd notice me at one of their concerts, and maybe take a picture with me, but now I was here. I was on a plane with Luke Hemmings to go see Calum Hood, to tell him I loved him. It amazed me how much had changed.