Silence » a.i

3.9

"Who here knows how to cook?" I questioned, looking around the kitchen full of boys. No one raised their hand. "That's what I thought."

My parents were coming over for dinner tonight and I had no idea what the hell I was doing. Calum would have to go give Jeremy the potion to let him leave, so he wouldn't be much help for cooking anyway. I was pretty positive the only thing Michael knew how to work was a microwave, and I didn't think Luke could even make ice if he wanted to. So maybe my best bet was Ashton. Unfortunately, he wasn't here at the moment. We didn't know where he went, but he left this morning and wasn't back.

"You're stressing way too much about this." Luke chuckled.

"I promised my mom we'd make dinner this time." I whined.

"Order out?" Michael suggested with a shrug.

"We can't do that! It's my-"

"Taken care of," Calum said casually, slipping his phone in his pocket. "My mom's lasagna will be done in a couple hours. One of the guys can pick it up later."

I stared wide-eyed at Calum, "Why didn't you say something before? We even went out and bought extra food to make!"

He shrugged, "No one asked."

I groaned, letting my head fall against the counter. I felt a hand on my back, and Michael saying, "You need to breath, Cooper."

"I'm dead, Clifford." I shot back.

"She's so sassy now, I don't get it." Luke commented.

-

I got the door for my parents and Jeremy. I was hugged by all three of them, the sibling hug earning odd looks from my parents. We led them to the dining room where Michael and I had set the table. Luke volunteered to flash to the Hood house to grab dinner and the potion, as well as one for Michael to eat since Ashton wasn't here to cover for us. While he was gone, Michael and I set the table and everything.

"How've you been?" my mom wondered as she scooped herself some lasagna.

"Fine," I shrugged. "It's like living at home but minus the family."

"How's that uh, boyfriend of yours?" my dad wondered and I tried not to choke on my food. I forgot they didn't know about Ashton and I.

"He wasn't my boyfriend then and he isn't now." I told him.

Jeremy leaned over and whispered something. My dad nodded in response.

"So who are you dating?" he wondered.

"Nobody, dad," I said, rolling my eyes. "A boy and a girl can just be friends."

"It's complicated, dad," Jeremy sighed. "Dating isn't how it was when you were young."

My dad stopped chewing and looked at Jeremy, "Excuse you."

"That's where she gets the sass from." Luke nodded, earning a kick.

Calum's phone went off and he excused himself into the living room. I continued to try and direct the conversation away from Ashton and Il. Calum returned a few minutes later, looking slightly pale.

"What?" I asked, looking over at him.

Calum reached into his pocket, taking out a tube. He emptied what looked like white ashes into his hand before blowing it in my parents' faces. Their heads hit the table as if they were put to sleep.

"What the hell?" Jeremy gasped.

"My mom called," he said quickly, "she said Ashton stopped by and then left."

"So?" I shrugged.

He swallowed hard. "But Mali's gone too."