when I wake up (calum hood a.u.)

chapter 7

"Fuck, Ash, the kid can't even get the fucking chord right." Michael whispered to Ashton as Calum desperately tried to pluck the right string to make the song flow. He had been shown the sheet music about five minutes prior.

"Fuck off, Mikey." Ashton murmured back, trying out his drums with the beat.

Michael sighed in annoyance. What was with this random boyfriend of Ashton's bitch sister? He had literally grabbed three minutes ago because he said he played bass. Last time Michael checked, just playing an instrument didn't mean you were talented.

"I thought you knew this song." Michael sniped.

Calum gave him a pained expression. "I do, just not on the bass."

Luke sort of knew the Calum's parts for American Idiot, because he had started playing them in the absence of a bassist, but if this kid was with his future girlfriend, he wanted nothing to do with him. And he sure as fuck didn't want to help him.

An awkward silence passed as Calum strummed yet another chord.

"Shall we try again?" Ashton asked, half-annoyed and half-patient.

Luke bit his lip ring and started singing the opening lyrics. It was kind of ironic, since all of them were Australian. They could be Australian idiots, sure, but not American idiots.

Luke ignored this thought and focused on his guitar.

They continued, sounding less rough than they did before. Calum missed a small section, which drove Michael to stop playing and yell at him.

"You fucking need to clean up, kid!"

Calum continued playing, as did Ash and Luke.

"I said-"

"I heard what you said! I'm not deaf, fucktard!" Calum quit playing, and looked at Michael. His face was that pinkish, rage-filled hue that Cal had seen when he was insulted by Aubrey.

Michael was on fire. "Why can't you play the right fucking chord!"

"I don't know!" Calum shouted back, "MAYBE BECAUSE I LEARNED THE SONG EIGHT MINUTES AGO! HAVE SOME FUCKING PATIENCE!" He almost lunged at Michael, but Ashton caught him before he could.

"I'm not a fuc-" Michael started.

"Hey!" Ashton screamed, drowning out Luke, who, for some reason, was still playing and singing into an imaginary microphone, and Michael's protestations.

All musical and yelling activity ceased.

"Mikey, I'm with Calum. Give him some time." Calum fought the urge to beam. It was the first time someone had called him by name in this godforsaken band practice.

"You know what?" Ashton stated calmly, releasing only of one of Calum's shoulders, "I think we need some time to cool down. Go upstairs, get some food. Cal, you can chill with Aubrey, if you want."

Calum closed his eyes, nodded, and put his bass on the floor near the case, as did Luke and Micjael with their instruments. Ashton let Michael go first (so the combustive duo wouldn't kill each other if given a chance), and then he did. Luke was still there.

Calum turned to the blond boy near him.

"You coming?"

Luke jerked his thumb in the direction of the bathroom. "I'm gonna pee."

Calum gave him a small nod and made his way upstairs. Luke waited for him to close the door before rooting around in Calum's bass case.

If this kid was fooling around with his girl, he was going to have to know shit about him.

Something green caught his eye. He picked it up. Some sort of pamphlet.

Handling Your Urges

Addiction Help 101

"Holy fuck." Luke murmured. Did he had some dirt on this kid.

ooh fuck

-erin