Not Fine at All (Luke Hemmings a.u.)

Chapter 1

*18 months later*

(LUCEY'S POV)

I shuddered forcefully and pulled my knees up onto the bench so I could wrap my arms around them. Heavy sobs wracked my petite frame and I shivered despite the thickly humid summer air. It was pouring down rain and I was soaked clear to the bone as I huddled under the near useless shelter of the bus stop roof, not knowing what to do next. I knew very well that I couldn't stay here for long, as Matt would be home soon to find me missing, so I fumbled around searching for my phone.

I had managed to stuff what I could of some clothes and toiletries into a small string backpack before I'd left, so it was under a stained gray hoodie evoking too many undesirable memories that I found what I was looking for. Between the rain and the steaming tears, it was hard to see the screen well enough to scroll through my contacts, trying futilely to find a person who might consider answering. I had cut so many ties with even the people I cared about when I had left late last February that I feared no one would bother so much as to even listen to a voicemail associated with my name.

After letting out another anguished whimper at the realization that I was hopeless, my eyes landed and the one person who I knew I could count on. I chuckled coldly at the overwhelming irony of the situation, almost refusing to let myself contemplate the idea of crawling back after what I had done. My excuse for leaving had been stupid and irrational and I wouldn't blame them for never wanting to speak to me again, let alone help me out of a situation that I clearly got into all on my own, one that I even sought after. Maybe I shouldn't even bother calling...

Thunder cracked threateningly somewhere in the distance, suddenly and effortlessly convincing me to be brave and dial the number that I used to know like the back of my hand, praying to every deity I could think of that someone took mercy and answered. I didn't want to think about what I might do if they didn't. I was truly at the end of my rope.

The phone rang three times and I almost hung up as I began to cry again at my stupidity for actually thinking this would work, for thinking that I was even worth acknowledging.

But then a tired sounding voice picked up.

"Hello? Who is this? Whoever you are, you should really get a watch. Do you not realize that it's three o'clock in the morning right now and most normal people are asleep?"

His groggy voice comforted me briefly and I let out a quick breath of relief and smirked weakly at his never-failing sass. It wasn't until he cleared his throat impatiently that I remembered that I had yet to respond. Mustering all of my courage and crossing my fingers that he wouldn't hang up at the mere sound of my pathetic voice, I whispered out my answer.

"Calum?"

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CALUM'S POV

"Luce, is that you?"

I asked the question already knowing the answer. I wouldn't mistake that voice for anything, not after everything we had been through. Not after I had become accquainted with the way it sounded when she laughed, when she joked, when she cursed. When she said goodbye.

Yet I had never heard it sound like this before, so fragile that I was almost afraid I wouldn't hear her reply.

"Yeah, Cal, it's me. I'm so sorry that I'm calling like this out of nowhere, but-," I could hear her swallow before continuing. "I'm in a lot of trouble and I need your help. Can you come and get me? I know you have no reason to believe me or even to consider -"

"Of course I can! Where are you?" I cut her off without a second thought.

Any other time I might have hung up or even told her to piss off. After what she had done, she was right to assume that I wouldn't believe her. But there was something alarming about this call. She sounded so scared that my heart reluctantly ached for her and I knew I couldn't just blow this off. Then again, she had always had that effect on us.

"I'm at the bus stop downtown on the corner of Bleaker and Mercer. You know? Right across the street from that awful bistro we used to go to," she said hoarsely, as if holding back tears.

I nodded at the memory before remembering that she couldn't see me. I cleared my throat quietly before answering.

"Okay. Just hold tight, babe. I'll be there in about seven minutes," I said reassuringly, checking the clock on my nightstand as I jumped out of bed and began tugging on some clothes.

"Calum, it's a twenty minute drive. Probably longer in this weather." I could almost see her roll her green eyes.

"Don't underestimate me, Lucey Liles. I'm on my way."

And with that, I hung up the phone and ran out the door to my car without a second thought.