Oh, Calamity (Alex Gaskarth/ ATL fan-fic)

This is How We Do

Marina's POV:

I was exhausted, but not enough to be conned out of a fun night of legal drinking. We had finished up in New York, and had just got off the plane in London. My and Alex's bands were sharing a bus for this Euro tour, because the buses fit 14 people each, and it seemed like such a waste to have two buses. All our extra crew was on 5sos's bus.

Being eighteen, I can't legally drink in America. But in the UK, well, I can. And so can all the 5sos boys. I was glad I didn't have to dress up this time, like I normally do when going out. Pubs are pubs and everyone is casual. 

The rain pitter-pattered against the sidewalk. The city lights glared off the reflection of the water. I slipped on my Glamour Kills jacket and walked into the pub, holding Alex's hand. All of our friends followed.

I immediately sat at the bar, ordering an ale. Alex ordered the same. "Cheers." he clinked my glass.

"Cheers." I replied, taking a sip.

"I can't believe you guys dragged me out here. I could fall over or vomit at any second, and here you are, dragging me to a bar." Rian complained.

"Lighten up." Alex playfully whacked him.

"I agree. I have awful jet lag right now." I added.

"Well Colby and Luke seem to be having a great time." Alex peered over at them.

Rian and I popped our heads in the same direction. The two previously mentioned idiots were laughing over some shots. Well, anything to beat down the jet lag. I opened my mouth to speak again, but got a phone call. I slid my iphone and answered, without bothering to check the ID. "Hello?"

"Did you guys make it to England safely?" a woman asked.

"Yes, uh, who is this?" I asked. She sounded familiar, but I couldn't tell over the phone.

"This is your mother!" she angrily replied.

"Well sorry, it's not as if you ever call me." I said the first thing that ran through my head.

"Excuse me? I call you a lot more than your father does." 

"Not really. He calls every few days, and you only call every few months, when you need something." I informed.

"Oh please, I never ask you for anything." she huffed.

I stood up, walking to the bathroom. Alex really didn't need to hear this conversation. "Just last week, at my graduation, you asked me for fifty dollars to pay off the phone bill."

"I asked for you to lend it to me! I was gonna pay you back-"

"I don't know if you've noticed, but you already owe me three hundred dollars!"

"You spoiled brat! I was always paying for your shit when you lived here, so you can't slip me a little more money until I get over this heap?"

I boiled inside. "You're my mom! You're supposed to pay for your kid! You didn't even end up paying for me as soon as I turned sixteen, when I left! I know times are hard, but I don't make a lot of money and three hundred is my limit."

"You know, I was just calling to say hi and see how you were doing, but you spit in my face."

"I'm exhausted!" I tried explaining.

"No, you're just acting like a snarky bitch. This is why I never call." she hung up.

I was absolutely pissed, but sad at the same time. I looked at myself in the mirror. My own mother can't even talk to me without calling me a bitch. Had I changed? Was I still that respectful, humane person I was before? I was wiped. I knew if I tried to call mom back and apologize, she'd just hang up on me again. Was she crying? Did I make my mother cry? I felt like such a failure, to myself and to my mother. A tear escaped my eye and fell on the hard counter.