The boy next door (Calum Hood fic)

Chapter 25

A light touch shaking me awake, and a soft voice saying,"Come on Sarah, we're leaving in an hour to go to the bus station. " I turned to my side, away from my mom and tried to plan out my steps exactly before we departed so I could leave for the end of the school year trip. My eyes grew wide, as I forgot to pack the night before. I turned in a hurry and my mom still sat there and placed a hand on me then saying,"Its okay sweetheart, I packed some of your things," She began walking out of my room. "But you're going to have to finish. Now hurry up because you don't have much time. "

I turned and stared at my clock, 7:00. The buses were leaving at 8:30 so I had enough time. I stumbled out of bed, and grabbed a duffle bad inside my closet. I quickly started filling it with random shirts, jeans, shorts, and a bathing suit. Along with the toiletries, and underwear my mom had already set for me. I stopped for a moment. I placed one hand on the wall, and one on my head that was now being overthrown by a throbbing pain. Some darkness started clouding at the rounded edge of my eyes, and a slight ring came to my ears. I pulled myself together, and took another glance at the clock. 7:40. Now I should have enough time to dress myself, which I knew wouldn't take long, as I never tried my best to impress anybody. Especially since we were going camping. I rushed myself, and pulled on a simple pair of shorts, and a purple v neck shirt. I combed out my knotted hair, and tried to pamper my face the slightest bit, before re stuffing it in my bag.

I was in the middle of turning, and I noticed a boy in the window of the house next to mine. I didn't notice the corners of my mouth rising, as I watched him scout his room. I was just glad to see his face. Everything about him was so admirable. My eyes seem to peer even more into his scene, and everything just seemed to radiate around him. He takes a glimpse at me, and I turn away, blushing ever so slightly. But I felt a warming smile peer over his face too.

The little glimpse I took at him managed to get me thinking more deep into thought about him, and how much I love him. Our friendship is something many find desirable. But, my thoughts quickly came to a stop as I remembered the dark cloud that peered over our desirable friendship. Sometimes I think it is true when people say that nothing lasts forever, and nothing stays the same. Those words angered me, because we have the option to make it that way. I was zoned out, and unfocused until I heard my mom yell my name from downstairs.

Duffle bag slung on one shoulder, and my backpack on the other. I walked downstairs to meet my mom guiding me over to my breakfast. I took a giant swig of orange juice, and stuffed my mouth with the eggs and toast. Satisfied, I went back upstairs to brush the lingering taste of food in my mouth. Taking one last look in the mirror, I headed outside the door, where my mother sat in the car waiting for me.

Inside the car, I plugged my ears in with my earphones and played my music. The beats of an arctic monkeys song filled my ears, and my mom pulled out of our drive way. I took a good last look, at me and Calum's almost identical looking houses. I overlook his figure and heed my eyes at him stepping out of his house, with his hair looking even more lush than the last time. His body also, seemed to be looking more toned. I start to feel sorrowful within. But, I also feel fulfilled. They were two powerful emotions, let alone different. So it perplexed me.

The cars tires were coming to a stop, and they made a crackling sound against the ground covered in little grey pebbles. I saw the swarm of kids, and felt my palms beginning to moisten as my eyes searched for a familiar dark haired girl, and bright green eyed boy. I stopped searching once I saw the two, giggling like hyenas. The compatible personalities made me smitten, and stunned on how much they made each other smile. It was quite adorable. I was greeted with stretching smiles, and giggly toned voices.

I chatted away with the two, after I had waved my mom off. Soon enough, more familiar faces showed up. Shortly after I had arrived, Calum arrived. He mostly just looked down at the pavement, and studied the buses that were lined up, and humid air that was flowing through the atmosphere. Michael and Luke showed up together, laughing as they were messing around with their luggage.

It was time for us to board, and I flew into a panic as I did not intend to sit next to anyone. My only option was really Michael. I knew things were fine between me and Luke. But, I just can't help feel sometimes like he might have something against me. Calum, wants to avoid me, and I want to avoid him as much as we didn't want to. These barriers were making it hard to act around, and socialize.

"Hey- Michael do you want to sit together?" I said for some reason my heart beating fast for an answer.

"Yeah, sure." He chuckled a bit and put an arm around me as he saw I was a bit nervous in asking him.

I threw my luggage in the compartment under, and took a last breath of fresh air before I entered the closed in area. I walked down the aisle, trailing behind Michael, and we sat in the pair of seats in front of Luke and Calum, but behind Rose and Ashton.

"Do you want window seat?" Michael offered up.

"Sure," I always chose the window seat. And, before I sat down me and Calum's eyes locked on for a second. I guess it must've sparked up the old memories of our old family trips we took together. I usually say in the window seat anyways. I think it's the closest thing I get to being outside, while I'm stuck in a bus with sweaty teenagers, claustrophobic and road sick.

I look outside, seeing the mirage of trees and blue sky with a humid air surrounding it. I turn my head and take a peak through the crack between the seats in front of me, and I see Ashton taking Roses glasses off of her face. He looked down at her sleeping face and smiled, it was heart warming. He then lay his head on top of hers, and it made me realize how badly I wanted something like that. Never did I ever think this was going to happen one day for Rose. And I loved that it did. I mimic the actions and lay my head on Michael's shoulder. He didn't seem to mind, as he fell asleep on top of mine too. The whole trip, was exhausting. We seemed to be in the compacted bus for hours, but I think that's only cause all of my surroundings were unknown and unfamiliar.

Just as the bus started to pull in, my stomach seemed to disagree with all the actions. God. I don't want to throw up. I felt all the signs, but I pushed it aside with all my force. The new air caught my breath, and I felt much better once I was out. I took a deep breath, and looked at the scene around me. The ground, dry and gritty. The trees, still and only slightly swayed when a light breeze passed by. The woods seeming endless.

I grabbed my dusted looking duffle bag, and turned to Rose. I found Ashton by her side, helping her with her bag. She thanked him, and he gave her a smile that seemed to have a lot of meaning behind it, before making his way to where the boys were getting separated into their groups.

"Alright everybody listen up!" Jess, the annoyingly cheerful girl that somehow managed to volunteer for everything spoke up. "We're dividing you into your cabins, now we tried to put you in the same cabin as the person you wrote down. So please bare with me," As the names rolled off her tongue, I tried to remain a steady heartbeat. The truth was I was desperate to be placed with Rose. I knew she was too.

"Cabin three!" My heart etched up a bit, as me and Rose's name hadn't been called yet. "Rose, Melanie, Ally, Julie, Lauren, Sarah, Helena, Diana, Violet, Claire, Samantha, and Courtney." The majority of the names she read off I knew weren't so fond of me, and neither was I. Part of me was relieved I was with Rose, the other half terrified of what these girls had in store for me.

Pulling, and dragging my bag to the wooden cabin. Once we reached it, me and Rose picked the bunk beds farthest away from everyone else. To my luck, Melanie, and her friend Helena thought it was necessary to pick the beds next to me and Rose's. We glared at each other, and ignored the eyes already looking at us.

The rest of the day just consisted of us eating, and getting to know the campsite better. I showered, and it was curfew for us to go to bed. I flashed my light down to my feet to guide my path back to my cabin, and slowly crept into the bottom bunk I had picked.

My vision was hazy, and I was dreadfully tired. But all I could hear, were muffled voices inside the cabin. It didn't sound too well.