Getting Through It (mgc)

Three

Three days. It may have been simply three days, but with two friends on the outs it felt like weeks. Calum was being stubborn and reluctant to talk about it. I understood to an extent, Cal definitely needed space, but honestly, Roxie was a wreck.

However, Calum was finally coming to see me and we were going to talk. I was determined to make him listen to me and hear what he needed. I wasn't going to let him go on tour with this hovering in his head.

When the doorbell rang, I ran down the stairs to meet him. As I popped the door open my heart fell. I didn't think that I had ever seen Calum look this bad. Almost like he hadn't been sleeping. I sighed and shut the door behind me.

"C'mon, lets go for a walk." I looped my arm with his and tugged him off the porch.

"Couldn't we talk in the house?" His voice even sounded rough and I flinched, but shook my head.

"We could, but I figured a walk would be good for the both of us. Heck, we can walk to the ice cream shop and I'll get us something - my treat." I offered him a light smile and poked his cheek. He rolled his  eyes, but he was already less tense.

"Okay, so what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Cal, I think you already know the answer to that. What happened?" I kept my voice soft as we matched our steps together. He took in a deep breath, but it was rather shaky.

"I don't know. I - I thought it was what she wanted. It sounded like what she wanted . . . then I just left. I know she's been wanting to talk to me, but I wasn't sure about it. I feel like an idiot." He bit his lip and wiped his eyes roughly.

"You're not an idiot. This entire situation is a large misunderstanding."

"How is she doing?" It was my turn to bite my lip. I took a deep breath.

"She's not great. She feels like this is entirely her fault. She's sorry if she upset you." Calum looked at me as if I was crazy and pulled us both to a stop.

"She shouldn't feel that way. I'm such an idiot."

"Calum Thomas Hood for the last time you are not an idiot," he opened his mouth, but I held my hand up to stop him, "You only made a pretty idiotic decision. You simply have to talk to her and actually let her tell you everything this time."

He was quiet and I began walking again, tugging him along. We had at least another block until the ice cream shop. I figured I'd let him mull everything over in peace. It helped that today was a pretty nice day. I glanced at him every now and then to make sure he was doing okay.

When we made it to the ice cream shop he held the door open for me and ushered me inside. We placed our orders and grabbed a table. I waited for him to say something, unsure if he was still processing things or not.

"Do you think she still wants to talk to me?"

"Of course! She just wants a chance to explain herself before we leave. She's terrified of not getting that chance." Our names were called and he held a hand up before rushing to grab them. He handed me my cup before continuing, barely in his own seat.

"Can you help me understand what was going through her head before I try and talk to her?"

"Sure, what do you want to know?" I took a quick bite and watched him play with his own.

"What is she worried about the most?" I swallowed hard and tried to figure out how to phrase my next sentence.

"She felt like she would be keeping you from things when we leave for tour. She knows that you would never cheat on her or anything, but I think the fact that she won't actually be there with you is what bothers her the most."