Negative Space (Calum Hood A.U.)

Chapter 4 - Press Pause

Calum's POV

*pop*

Confettis everywhere and I mean everywhere. Ashton spent way too much on party poppers and there are like only five people in here. Literally, it was just June, me, Luke, him, and Malia.

This was supposed to be a going away party for the four of us in the basement of Ashton's house. We're all leaving him here and that's kind of sad.

Maybe he did get in NYU, that's why he's acting this way? He's not just telling us. I mean, he doesn't look upset.

"This is too much, really. Thank you, Ash. We're all going to miss you." June heartily stated and giving him a hug.

"Why are you going to miss me when I'll be literally one building away from you?!" Wait, what?

There it is.

"What? What do you mean? Are you moving to New York?!" June exclaimed.

Ashton nodded in response, "Not only that, but I'll be going to NYU with you. I'm a Music major like Calum!"

"We were never informed that you applied to NYU!" June exclaimed and all of us seconded. Well, technically, he did mention it to me before and by the look on Luke's face, he wasn't at all surprised so I assume he already knows.

That leaves with only June and Malia not knowing.

"It was supposed to be a surprise, of course I wouldn't tell you!" June pouted.

"That is great to hear, man. Are you flying with us?" It is really great. At least now, nobody's left behind.

"No, my flight's the day after yours but we'll see each other around campus, and maybe I'll have a class with you Cal." Did I forget to tell you I'm a double major? I'll be taking Business and Music, I can study to help my dad and still do what I love. At the same time, I will also play soccer for the university.

Luke pouted and crossed his arms, "Fine, you three go to the same university. I'm fine. I'll be fine."

"You can just visit you know?"

"I'm like 4 hours away, are you serious?!" Cornell is that far from NYU. Poor Luke.

"Actually.." We turned to see where that voice came from. It was from Malia. We almost forgot she was there and that's actually the person left behind among us.

She'll be going back home to Minesotta and that's the farthest from all of us, alone. Texas is farther but at least the couple has each other.

"Ya'll are sensitive! Malia is going back alone to Minnesota yet ya'll keep talking about New York." June suddenly monologued which got all of us taken aback, not because she talked, but because she talked with a southern accent.

We all stared at her and in obvious reasons, she became conscious. I mean, who wouldn't? "Don't do that ever again, please?" Luke spoke.

"I was doing a Minnesotan accent!" She defended. Where in the world is that a Minnesotan accent?

Malia doesn't have a Minnesotan accent, that's what intrigued me. Didn't she live there long enough to catch their accent? Maybe she didn't.

"Babe, that's not a Minnesotan accent. That's more like a southern one, Texan maybe." I corrected her and this time, all eyes were on me. Did I say something wrong? I doubt that. I'm never wrong.

I turned to look at June and she was blushing like a tomato. That was when I realized the reason why they were staring at me. I just called June 'babe.'

"Habit." I shrugged and they nodded in understanding but I know they're not buying it.

There was an awkward silence after that.