All of my 5sos work

How Times Have Changed: II

"Sweetheart! Welcome home!" My mum charged to me as I dropped my bag on the floor, completely exhausted and forgetting how home felt, how it smelt and how welcoming it was. "What is this?!" She pointed to my nose ring and I quickly changed the topic. 

"Oh is that dinner I can smell?" I walked away and heard her sigh before following me through as I eagerly searched the fridge for something to eat. Eventually settling on a carrot since all the chocolate had been swiped whilst I was gone.

Mum busied herself with dinner whilst I sat on the counter, not having been home for just over a year. I love travelling don't get me wrong, it's just sometimes I got homesick, especially when I started out hence why I came home last year for Christmas. "So, how long you back for?" She asked as she lent against the opposite counter.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Not sure yet, a month or so maybe? I just want to chill at home for a bit. Let you mother me for a bit longer." She brought me into yet another tight hug as I jumped down from the counter.

"How's erm," Mum began to busy herself with dinner, chopping vegetables and kept her back to me as she spoke. "Jason." I squirmed at the mention of his name and the long silence caught her attention.

"I wouldn't know." I bluntly stated as I bit into my carrot, wanting to move away from this topic of conversation.

"How about you go see Jamie?" Mum suggested as she dried her hands off, "Last time you saw her was the funeral, I'm sure she'll be happy to see you." I finished munching on my carrot and took a quick look at the time, "Dinner will be about 45 minutes, you have time." With that I grabbed my phone and headed back out of the house again.

I found myself following the same route I walked every week, through the freezing winter days or damp 'summer' time. Whenever I arrived I'd always be greeted by various customers, one that stood out in particular even now, but Calum is long gone. Listening to my friends radio when I was in Berlin I heard an interview about a band called 5 Seconds of Summer, part of me thought it must've been some mere coincidence, but my instincts were right. My saturday pick me up had made it in the world.

As I approached the shop a chill went down my spine, seeing how after all of this, after seeing so much of the world I find myself back to where it all started. Opening the door I was welcomed by the smell of coffee and fresh pastries, it was fairly empty so I went to the counter and awaited to be served. "I'll be with you in just a sec!" I caught a glimpse from the back, remembering the days when Craig would show me how to make croissants or a tray of muffins,

Sometimes I think about Craig, how I miss him mainly. But also how he pushed me to do more than I thought I was capable. He always told me to get out there, he was the one who encouraged me to leave at the right time. He picked up the broken pastries I couldn't do when my favourite customer had disappeared without a trace or even a goodbye.

A face that had matured was in front of me and her hand quickly covered her mouth as she let out a small gasp. "Hey Jamie," I smiled trying to fight back tears. I came back from Tokyo for Craig's funeral, with Craig being the only living member Jamie had I acted as a moral support to her, my whole family did. Yet after a month or so she convinced me to leave, she wanted me to continue living rather than dwelling. No matter how much I wanted her to come with me she had a different ambition, she wanted to continue the cafe in her dad's legacy.

She quickly made her way around the counter and embraced me in a bone crushing hug. I let tears fall freely as we swayed whilst keeping tight hold of each other. As she pulled her arms away she wiped her face and took a shaky breath. "This is crazy." She joked motioning to my appearance. "I mean, look at you." Jamie nudged my shoulder and I looked myself over, forgetting that I had changed from the quiet waitress in a small town cafe. "You look better than ever before Y/n, I couldn't be more proud." She placed her hand over her chest and then patted my shoulder before making her way back around the counter.