Reaction || Malum ||

1

Solitude. I often long for solitude. The ability to escape the world and be on my own. Saturdays are my days of solitude. My parents are gone with the sun and I'm left home alone with our housekeeper, Rose. She's been with our family since I was 5 years old and she's helped me grow up. Rose is practically my grandmother.

But this Saturday, Rose and I had another person to spend the day with, Calum. Even though he doesn't talk, and has hardly left his room all day. Not that I would notice much anyway because I've been in the library for the better part of the afternoon.

I was in the middle of a really good book but my stomach is starting to growl with hunger. I figured a break was overdue so I left behind my fortress of books to go find a snack. The one thing I hated most about my house was the amount of stairs. My room was practically an attic but my dad had the house build that way so I could have my own escape but as I got older I realized it was so I didn't crash their expensive parties with their rich friends.

I swear sometimes I felt like I was just a huge burden on my parents lives. It's okay they weren't around much anyway. After I walked the endless stairs I finally reached the kitchen. Rose was stirring something at the stove and humming softly. I made my way to the fridge for a bottle of water and she noticed me.

"Michael dear, I was beginning to worry about you being trapped up in that library all day." She said in her soft English accent. She was from Britain but moved to Australia on a whim to escape a midlife crisis, that's why she has been here pretty much my whole life.

"Death by reading, I wouldn't mind going that way." I teased and she laughed softly. She sat a bowl of popcorn in front of me to munch on.

"That other lad hasn't left his room all day." She said and I shrugged.

"He doesn't talk much." I said.

"And you don't ever stop talking, except when you're up there with your nose in a book or some video game." She teased and I gave her a look.

"Yeah yeah Rosie." I said and took a handful of popcorn.

"When do you leave for that music trip?" She asked and continued to work on dinner.

"In three weeks." I responded through a mouthful of food earning a scolding look.

"And how long does it last?" She asked.

"2 weeks, gosh Rose what is this twenty questions?" I joked and she reached over to smack my arm. I rubbed the now sore spot and continued to eat the popcorn.

"Dinner will be ready any second now, can you go tell Calum?" She asked and I groaned.

"Do I have to?" I whined and earned another glare from Rose.

"Do you want another smack?" She raised her hand into the air and I hopped off the stool and took off up the stairs.

I had no idea what to say to Calum or if he would even come down for dinner but I learned to follow Rose's orders. I walked to the small room that was across from mine but paused before knocking. The sound of a guitar flowed from the other side of the door. It sounded unlike any melody I had heard before so I figured it was an original song. I pressed my ear to the door and continued to listen. It sounded so good, I was nearly jealous.

Just as I was about to knock the music stopped and the door swung open. Calum's face had no emotion what so ever except for the fact he looked exhausted. His dark hair was hidden under a beanie and he had on sweats and a sweatshirt on.

"Hey mate I was just coming to get you for dinner." I said and Calum continued to stare at me. He blinked a few times then took off past me and down the hallway. I rolled my eyes and took off after him.

Rose had two plates of food served up at the breakfast counter when we came down the stairs. It smelt amazing, per usual and my stomach growled again. We ate in near silence until Rose tried to make conversation with Calum.

"Calum dear do you like ice cream?" Rose asked and Calum looked at her with wide eyes. He nodded with a small smile.

"Are you making sundaes again?" I asked in hopes.

"Yes Mikey, now you boys go pick out a movie and I'll bring them to you in a little while." She said, grabbing our empty plates and taking them to the sink. I tapped Calum's shoulder and ushered him to follow me into our huge entertainment room.

Calum's eyes went wide and the amount of video game consoles and game tables, he looked like a child at Christmas. His brown eyes scanned the room and the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile that wasn't forced.

"Do you play video games?" I asked and Calum nodded enthusiastically. "Great" I said and popped in Halo. Calum was good at this game and kicked my ass the whole time. Rose entered with ice cream and we paused the game to eat the delicious treat.

Again we were in silence but I decided to make conversation with the overly shy lad. My parents had filled me in on some details about how his dad wasn't around anymore and his mom had to go to America on business so Calum needed somewhere to stay.

"So are you from Sydney?" I asked and Calum nodded with a mouthful of ice cream.

"Why don't you talk?" I asked and he dropped his head to look at the floor, finally answering me in a shrug.

"Why did your parents leave you with us?" I asked and this must've touched a soft spot because Calum got up to leave the room, leaving his bowl on the table. I stood up and followed him through our huge house.

"Calum wait! I didn't mean to make you mad!" I reached out to grab his shoulder but he shoved me backwards. I stumbled a little but I recovered and continued to follow Calum until his bedroom door was slammed in my face.

I sighed and walked back down the stairs to find Rose. She was still in the kitchen but this time she was washing up pots and pans. I climbed up on the stool and rested my head against the counter with a sigh.

"Give him time Michael, he'll come around." Rose's soft voice assured.

"I was just trying to ask him about himself and he stormed off." I grumbled.

"Sometimes actions speak louder than words my dear." She offered ad continued to wash up.

Actions do speak louder than words and Calum seemed scared all the time and he refused to speak. But his reaction to my question was a bit odd. With action there is reaction. I just wondered what it was that caused Calum to act like that.

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First chapter...

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Calum is just scared

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Until I update again :)