What Used To Be

Chapter 4

Skylar's P.O.V:

I wake up to the sound of whispers and phones taking pictures. Looking around I see four pairs of eyes on Calum and I. Calum's still sleeping, his arms still wrapped tightly around me.

"Can I help you?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.

"How come you two slept up here?" Piper asks.

"And how come you and Calum look like you're an item?" Hannah asks, a smirk on her face.

"What? We're not." I retort. "Calum's my best friend! There's nothing going on here. I swear!"

"That's not what it looks like right now." Luke laughs.

"Oh, go away." I giggle, slapping Luke's arm. "I couldn't sleep last night so Calum took me up here so we could talk."

"Yeah, talk." Luke mocks. "I can't imagine how much of that went on."

As he spoke, my face started to drop. Michael's the one I love. I mean, I love Calum too but he's my best friend. Nothing more.

"Luke, shut it." Ashton warns. "Sorry about him, Sky."

"It's okay." I say, faking a smile.

I've just got to remember, I'm not the only one who's been hurt by Michael passing. Everyone in this room has been hurt as well. And all of Michael's family and other friends. He was a very well-known and loved boy. So many people cared for him. So many people loved him. I loved him when I met him. He was a funny, playful guy who never failed to make anyone laugh. I still love him and I don't think I'll ever stop.

"Go and get dressed." Hannah tells me. "We're going out for breakfast."

"Okay." I reply, moving out of Calum's grip.

I walk down to the basement to find my bag. Pulling out my clothes, I start to change. I put on a pair of black, lace underwear and a matching bra. Chucking my pyjamas into my duffle bag, I take out a pair of black bum shorts and quickly pull them on. As I look through my bag, I can't seem to find my white 'Rolling Stones' shirt. I keep searching but I can't find it.

"Sky, are you rea-" Calum cuts himself off when he sees me in only shorts and a bra. "Oh, sorry. I didn't realise you were getting changed."

I grab the shirt I wore to bed (which was Michael's) and lazily throw it over my body. I don't think Calum cares to see me in my bra. He's seen me in a bikini. That's no different. Plus, we get changed in front of each other most of the time. Unless we are completely naked.

"That's alright." I laugh. "I just can't find my Stones top. I've been looking for it everywhere."

"Oh, I haven't seen it." He says, walking over to his bag.

He pulls out a pair of dark blue, denim skinny jeans and a mustard yellow muscle tee. Stripping his shirt off, he reveals his rock hard abs before pulling his muscle tee over them.

"So, are you feeling better?" He asks me, pulling his skinny jeans over his jockeys.

"Yeah, I'm feeling okay." I reply. "I think I just need a distraction."

"Don't worry. We're going to be a great distraction." Cal laughs.

"I'm sure you will be."

~

We walk into the small café and take a seat in a booth by the window. Luke, Hannah and Calum all sit on one side of the booth, leaving Ashton, Piper and I to sit on the other side.

"What are we ordering?" Ashton asks, picking up a menu.

"Pancakes!" We all shout in unison, making us all laugh humorously.

"Pancakes it is then." Ash chuckles.

This just reminds me of the time we all went out for breakfast on Calum's birthday.

*Flashback*

It had been three weeks since Michael took me out to the movie theatre for our little date. Calum and I started to hang out with Michael a lot more, becoming closer and closer. It was just Michael and I hanging out the day before Calum's birthday. He was turning sixteen and I wanted to do something special to celebrate. So, Michael and I planned a whole day of activities (with the help of Joy) to make it as special as we could. When the morning of Calum's birthday came around, Michael and I met outside Calum's house.

"Hey, Skylar." He said reasonably quietly.

"Hey, Michael." I replied. "Let's go and get this boy out of bed. He'll still be asleep."

"I want to be asleep right now. It's so early!" Michael complained.

"It's half past nine. Get over it." I laughed, walking towards the door.

Joy let us in and we followed her to the kitchen. She gave us a chocolate cake with candles and decorations all over it, then led us to Calum's room. Taking out the camera, she turned it on just as Mali-Koa walked in to help.

"On go." I whispered. "One. Two. Three. Go!"

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Calum. Happy birthday to you!" We sang, throwing confetti at the boy and blowing noise-makers in his ears.

"Happy birthday, Cal. Now we're the same age." I said, placing the cake in front of him and giving him a hug.

"Thanks, everybody!" He said, slightly pouting at my comment before blowing out the candles.

We had the best day ever! We all went swimming at the beach, had a little picnic and then went back to the Hood's house to have dinner. I miss the old days.

*Flashback Ends*

"Sky. Sky, are you listening?" Hannah asks.

"What?" I blurt out. "Uh... I mean... What?"

Everyone just giggles before Ashton speaks. "We're going to the beach after this. Are you in?"

"Uh... Yeah, sure. Why not?" I say, smiling faintly.

Luke drops Hannah home since it's on the way to his house. Ashton and Piper disappear to Piper's house to grab some stuff and, since Ashton lives down the road from Piper, he walks home to get his togs. Calum and I stop by my house so I can grab my bikini and a sundress, then walk to Calum's so he can get some stuff.