What Used To Be

Chapter 1

Skylar's P.O.V:

I am sitting with my friends around the fireplace as we roast marshmallows together. Ashton and Piper sit together, laughing and cuddling. Luke sits with Hannah on his lap as they give each other occasional kisses, their bright blue eyes matching each other's and looking amazing around the illuminating fire. I sit next to Calum, talking and laughing but one soul is still missing. However, I know he would love to be here if he could.

"Are you going to eat that?" Calum asks, pulling me back into reality. "Because, if you're not then I would love to have it."

"Here." I giggle, giving him the golden brown marshmallow stuck to the end of my stick.

He chucks it into his mouth with a grin on his face as the music continues in the background. The boys' album just came out a few weeks ago but we haven't been able to give a proper celebration until now.

"What's bothering you, Sky?" Calum asks, placing a hand on my knee in a comforting manner.

I don't speak. I just rest my head on his shoulder and he instantly knows what's wrong. He wraps his arms around me as I let a tear run down my cheek.

"Just being here reminds of him. This is where we sat together when we first met, Cal. Everything I do just reminds me of him."

*Flashback*

I was walking home from school, taking my usual root through the forest walkway. The wind was blowing and my music could barely be heard. As I turned the corner, a tall figure caught my eye. However, I ignored it and kept walking.

A couple minutes later, I saw a boy moving through the trees, a deep voice singing at the top of his lungs.

"Guys these days." I sighed with a giggle.

The boy came closer, slowly catching up to me.

"Excuse me?" He asked for my attention.

I looked up at him expectantly as we continued to walk. He was wearing light blue, denim jeans, and a white tee-shirt, a black jersey with a checked inside, and a pair of simple black and white vans.

"Yes?" I finally asked, knowing he wasn't going to ask me anything until I spoke.

He looked me up and down as well, then pulled something out of his pocket. He didn't seem to say anything else; just kept looking from me to the piece of paper and back.

"Can I help you?" I asked, stopping in my tracks to face him.

"Michael Clifford." He said, offering out his hand for me to shake.

I took his hand into my grip, shaking it swiftly before letting go.

"Is this you?" He asked, turning the piece of paper around to reveal a photo of me with my best friend, Calum Hood.

"Yes." I said, furrowing my eyebrows. "Where did you get that from?"

"Calum gave it to me. He said to come and find you." What? Why couldn't Calum just call?

"Why is that?" I asked, starting to walk again.

"Because I need to give you this." I stopped in my tracks for the second time this afternoon, turning to face the boy with the dark blonde hair.

He held up a small, white package with the words 'For Skyler' written on it. I examined it a little closer and made out that their must have been a C.D inside.

"Why couldn't he give me this?" I asked, snatching it away from Michael.

"Because he's at soccer practice but he wanted you to listen to this at the time you were born. He said it would make it more special." Michael replied.

Yes, this day was my birthday. I hung out with Calum as much as I could while being at school. I guess he knew if he gave me the C.D earlier in the day, I would have tried to play it.

"Thank you." I smile lightly. "Would you like to listen to it with me?"

"Um... Only if you want me to." Michael insisted.

"Yeah, come on." I said, pulling him over to a little picnic spot around the corner.

As I placed the C.D into the disk drive, excitement filled the air. I played the audio file and instantly heard a guitar strumming. Soon enough, Calum's angel-like voice started to sing and I was instantly mesmerised.

*Flashback Ends*