5sos Shorts

"Small Comforts" c.h.

'Is that Calum Hood?' I thought to myself, trying to get a better look at the slumped over figure ahead of me that sat on the curb. It was a silly question, considering his parents were my neighbors, but it had been a long time since I'd seen him around.

"Calum?" I questioned out loud, walking a bit faster to get to him. I felt almost... excited? His head snapped up and he gave me a small grin. I grinned right back and settled down on the curb with him.

"Hey Darcy," he greeted, turning his attention to the asphalt shyly.

"What are you doing back here?" I asked him in wonder. "Sorry, that might have come out more negatively than I intended! I'm just surprised to see you here."

"I get it. It's been awhile, hasn't it?" He spoke thoughtfully. I nodded in agreement, then spotted a bottle sitting on the opposite side of him that I was on.

"Been drinking some?" I asked.

He nodded with a shrug, picking up the bottle and offering it to me. I took the bottle despite being underage and took a swig before handing it back. He looked at the neck of the bottle and stared at the spot my plum lipstick had painted before pointedly drinking from the bottle and planting his lips directly where mine had been.

I felt my heart flutter and heat rush to my cheeks. I thanked my Greek ancestry for my olive skin that masked my blush and turned my gaze to the street. The sun was setting and the street lamps had started flickering on, their constant hum serving as a comforting substitute to the would-be slightly awkward silence.

"I didn't make you uncomfortable just now, did I?" Calum asked me and I shook my head no.

"Not in a bad way, at least," I assured him. He flashed me a lopsided smirk. He was two years older than me and we'd been neighbors growing up until he moved out of his parent's house. I had always thought he was so cool. I'd viewed him as wild and dangerous, with his tattoos and rebellious friends.

"You've always been bold, Darcy. That's for damn sure," he chuckled at my response. I huffed.

"I'm just confident enough to do and pursue what I want," I reasoned, stretching my arms up before placing my palms on the ground slightly behind me as support so I could lean back.

"I know."

"So what brings you home?" I asked him curiously, changing the subject from me to him.

"I thought it was time to reconcile some family problems," he answered.

"How'd it go?" I wondered, watching him. He held up the whiskey bottle as his silent answer to my question and took another drink from it.

"I hate this, you know? My family has been so fucked up these past years since my dad died and I got caught in the crossfire and it's fucked me up," Calum told me with a frown. He was staring heatedly into the distance and clutched the bottle of whiskey tightly. I furrowed my brows, looking around the dark street to find we were alone and with a sigh I scooted closer to him on the curb.

"I have to admit that answer was a lot heavier than I thought it would be," I spoke with an awkward chuckle. "Are you okay?"

He shot me a look.

"Okay, yeah. Stupid question," I acknowledged, nodding and silently cursing myself for not being able to come up with anything better than 'are you okay?'

"I'm just so afraid but all I can do is smile and shrug and keep pretending that my life isn't falling apart," Calum choked, clutching the bottle more tightly. I eyed it nervously.

"I'm gonna go ahead and take this," I told him as I pried the bottle from his grip and set it on the ground on my other side.

"Sorry for dumping this on you," Calum murmured. I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and rested my head in the crook of his neck.

"You're fine, Cal. You're the strongest person I know but I don't think you realize you need to share your burden sometimes. Letting somebody else help you carry the weight of your problems is not a sign of weakness," I spoke firmly.

"Thanks Darcy," Calum whispered. I smiled as he wrapped his arm around my waist to pull me closer. I cherished the time I had with him and kissed his neck as if it were his cheek. I wasn't trying to seduce him nor he me. I just wanted to give him whatever small comfort I could before we returned to reality.

I was barely sixteen. Calum would turn eighteen in two weeks and it would be another two years before I saw him again.

AN: okay so this is an actually short Calum short. UNDER 2K WORDS. UNDER 1K WORDS. IMAGINE THAT. lol. Nah, but comment and vote, I love seeing my readers active and communicating with me :)

MoiraDarling27