After All • Calum Hood (Sequel to ISTTY)

25

I really hate to wake up so early, I feel like a walking zombie. Maddy was pretty nostalgic and Madeleine was pretty stressed, dressing up Wyatt while he was still asleep made him wake up moody. After helping Maddy with her luggage, we all got into the car, the ride to the airport was silent, it was still nighttime and we were sleepy... Hungry too. I needed a coffee and a cigarette, or sex.

We arrive to the airport and Maddy went to check in, everything was pretty quick. We decided to go to the food court that was on the airport because we were really hungry, we bought breakfast and sit down to eat, Wyatt was sleeping -again- on his stroller. I wish I could be on Wyatt's foot right now

—What a coinciden -we hear a voice that caught our attention-

—Hi Joseph. How, how are you? -Maddy greets him uncomfortably-

—Good, I've been good -he wouldn't take his eyes off Madeleine and I wouldn't take my eyes off him- Can I sit with you? I'm alone in this airport and it's kinda boring

—No -I answer harshly for them-

—Why you're always so grumpy, fella? Is the sex that bad? -he mocks-

I need to calm down even though I kind of want to just throw my fists at him. I decided to ignore that comment thanks to Madeleine's glance, she was basically begging me to stay calm. I sighed and saw her, there she understood I wasn't going to do or say anything, just for her

—Why do you behave that way? I really don't understand -Maddy asks- really, I'm ashamed to call you my friend when you have that kind of actions

—Madeleine knows why I behave like this. She knows

I turn to see Mad, she just ignores her comment. At this point I can feel my hands beginning to shake. What Madeleine knew? Why she decided to ignore the comment? I feel like a nervous & anger wreck. I stand up from the table, leaving them alone without explanation, I can feel their on me but I don't really care, If I kept myself there for 15 more minutes I'd explode. I walk to a store where they sell the typical travel stuff, bought two boxes of cigarettes and then I walk to a cafeteria to order the strongest coffee they have, after that, I left the food court. I needed to smoke and release tension. What did Madeleine do? Why would he behave that way with her and she let him? Plus, he said she knew why... And she ignored it. God, I feel like I'm about to explode, I start to smoke the cigarettes as if they were aire and I drank the coffee as if it was a shot. I swear that if it wasn't for the fact that Wyatt was here too, I'd have left the place already. I take my phone out to distract myself but it doesn't seem to be working at all. After 40 long minutes I go back to the food court knowing I won't find Joseph there, I was more calmed. I'll wait for Maddy to leave so Madeleine can give me an explanation because she really owed me one, on my way there I prepare myself mentally to be more calmed than usual, but when I got there I find out Joseph was still there and Madeleine seemed to be fine with it. When she saw me, her expression changed from normal to worried, and that's when I lost it

—Calum -she murmured watching me, but I never landed my eyes on her-

I sincerely don't know if Joseph's looking at me. I feel my whole body heavy, my eyelids were tired. My body on the inside, was a mixture of anxiety, anger, betrayal, confusion, nervousness... Even though on the outside I seemed calmed, as if I didn't cared about what was going on around me when it was actually the opposite. My eyes landed on Wyatt, who was already waking up, my first reaction was to take him out of the stroller and rock him a little bit, focusing my whole attention on him, then I turned to see Madeleine & Joseph, both were expressionless lookin at me, I put Wyatt back on his stroller and began to walk away, taking him with me without saying a word, but they didn't say anything either. The further away I'm the more I think Madeleine's not even bothered on calling me or coming with us. We were already far from them and just one question came to my mind: why she didn't stood up?

—Let's get us out of here,son

I start to walk to the parking lot looking for my car, I take Wyatt out of the stroller and put him into his car seat to put the stroller back in the trunk. It was sunrising already, I go into my car and start driving with nowhere to go, my judgment is clouded. I check on Wyatt every time that I can. After 15 minutes of driving nowhere I decided to go to Ashton's, I call him as soon as I'm parked out his house

"Calum? What's wrong?" He answers the phone, his voice showed that I woke him up

"You're home, right?"

"Yeah...?"

"I'm parked outside your house. Can you open the door?"

He answered with "I'm coming" and in less than 3 minutes I saw him opening the door. I turn off the engine and go grab Wyatt and his diaper bag. Ashton's face showed nothing but concern and I'm sure my expression didn't help at all

—Wyatt? -he asks confused, tilting his head to a side- come in

—Thanks, mate -I say before letting out a sigh, walking to the couch. I put the diapers bag beside me and sit with Wyatt on my legs-