Change // c.h.

chapter 01

The cool spring wind ruffles my hair as I walk up the path to my grandparents' house.  Even though it's 9 in the morning, I just got out of work.  I have a very cliché job as a barista at Starbucks, and I enjoy it, despite the fact that I have to be at work at 4:30 most mornings.  But it is close to my grandparents' house, so I can't complain much.

Yes, I'm twenty and living with my grandparents.  My parents moved to America when I turned eighteen, and I didn't want to leave my home in Australia, so I moved in with my mother's parents.  They are very nice people, and I love living with them.  It means I don't have to pay extra for a dorm at school, too.

Despite the rather cheery afternoon, I really don’t want to go outside.  So I don’t.  Kicking off my shoes at the door, I throw my stuff on the couch and instead turn on the TV.  Not really sure what to watch, I just flip through the channels quickly, seeing if anything seems worth watching.

Suddenly something catches my eye.  I catch a brief glance of a guy who looks strangely familiar.  So I return to that channel.

It’s an interview of a band.  And not just any band, but a band from Australia called 5 Seconds of Summer.  My breath catches, and I know I should change the channel but I can’t.

The camera is panning through the channel, zooming in to get close-ups of the four boys in the band.  Luke Hemmings, a tall, blond dude with a lip piercing.  Ashton Irwin, the muscular one with a bandana around his hair who’s obviously the drummer, guessing from his constant fidgeting and tapping on his legs.  Michael Clifford, a boy with neon green hair and a perpetual smirk glued to his face.  And next to him sat a darker-skinned, dark-haired boy who’s laughing his head off, who looks Asian, but I know he isn’t.  Calum Hood, the bassist in the band.

And my ex-best friend.  Of all the interviews to be watching…

Against my better judgment, I continue to watch the interview, keeping my eyes glued as much as possible to Calum.  The band is talking about their upcoming album that’s coming out this summer.

I haven’t spoken with Calum since Year 12 in school, when he was in Year 11.  He was always a year behind me, and he was always my best friend.  I knew that he dropped out of school that same year to chase his dreams with his band.  I’ve seen him, sure, in pictures and videos, in magazines and newspapers, but not face-to-face.   

Not that I want to.  He hurt me, and I don’t miss him at all.  He said he loved me, and when I didn’t share his feelings, he ended our friendship.  After that, we didn’t say anything more than “Hi,” “Bye,” and “Have a nice day.”  I don't think he's ever gotten over that.

Everything was fine with our friendship, until his feelings got in the way.  That completely changed our friendship.  Not for the better.  It was a change that took a long time to get used to.

But honestly, now I’m over it, and could care less if we ever met again.  That’s not gonna change, I think.  Me being over you.

I sit back against the couch and pay attention to the interview.  What I hear surprises me.

“So, Mr. Hood,” the interviewer says, “it’s been said that you had a friend in secondary school back in Australia that you haven’t seen in quite a long time.”

Calum nods.  “Yeah, she was my best friend.  Her name was Jordan.”

I gasp quietly.  He still remembers me!  I shouldn’t be surprised at that, but I am.  But I've tried so hard to forget him.  Why wouldn't he just forget about me?

“And do you ever wish that you could see her again?”

I hold my breath awaiting Calum’s response. 

“I do.  Even though I haven’t seen her for a while, I still miss her.  And I’m going to see her again, someday, somehow.”

Well, I don't ever want to see him again, and if I can help it, I won't.  I grab the remote and shut the TV off, upset that he would say such a thing.  After all, he’s the one who said we shouldn’t be friends.  Oh yeah, Calum?  It’s your fault we’re not friends anymore.  You changed that.  

 And just remember, some things never change.