Something Great

Chapter 14

Interviewer: So, guys: we know you probably get asked this every time you turn around, but we want to hear it straight from you. Who are your celebrity crushes?

Michael: Well, I've still got a thing for Ariana Grande.

Luke: I've had a crush on Hayley Williams for the longest time, but she's got a boyfriend so...

Interviewer: Ohhhh.

Luke: [sheepishly] Yeah.

Ashton: I have a crush Hayley Williams too, haha!

Interviewer: What about you, Calum?

Calum: Uh... Actually, Luke and I just found this new band. They're called To the Stars; they just finished up touring with Paramore--

Ashton: Oh yeah! You showed me them.

Calum: Yeah. They're an all-girl band, and they're pretty hot....

Interviewer: OoooOooh. Come now, you must have a favorite?

Calum: Uhm...

Ashton: Ava's really hot-- The drummer.

Michael & Luke: [laughing] Yeah.

Calum: I... I actually think the guitarist is really cute. Ralley's her name. Ralley Daniels.

-

Calum and Ralley were laying sprawled out across her bedroom floor, listening to music and asking each other anything that came to their minds. It wasn't the most interesting thing to be doing on a Thursday night, but they didn't feel like going out.

"What's your favorite kind of sandwich?" Ralley asked, staring up at the fan as Echosmith played softly in the background.

"Cheeseburger," Calum answered immediately. Ralley chuckled. "But if we're talking regular lunch meat, then.... Turkey."

Ralley smiled and snuggled further under Calum's arm.

"Your turn."

"Okayyyyy," Calum trailed off, his fingers dancing on the skin of Ralley's shoulder. "What was high school like for you," he finally asked, turning his head to look at her.

"Christ," Ralley muttered, reaching up to cover her face with her hands.

"That bad," Calum asked jokingly.

"Worse." She paused for a moment, preparing herself to share the old memories. She hadn't talked about them in a long time.

"My brother, Jasper, was one of the popular sports guys. Stereotypical jock, you know? Everybody knew him, everybody loved him. He played football and basketball and ran track. He won Homecoming King his senior year and had a fair share of girlfriends throughout his high school career. He also had a lot of friends: some were jocks, some weren't...

"The minute I stepped into that high school as a freshman, I was known as Jasper Daniels' little sister. I was teased by the upperclassmen, yet I was untouchable. If anyone laid a hand on me, they'd have to face Jasper and the majority of the football team. However, lots of Jaz's football friends were the ones most likely to lay a hand on me. You know how high school boys are... It's all about conquest. I was a challenge since Jaz was my brother, and the rep that would come with being the first to fuck little Ralley Daniels was.. godly." She spat the last word like venom.

"Ral?" Cal questioned cautiously. He tried to get her to look at him, but her gaze was set, and she was staring at the ceiling with a steely hatred in her eyes.