After All • Calum Hood (Sequel to ISTTY)

46

Another show beyond incredible, but I really wish my family would be here to appreciate what we do, from my mom to Wyatt, I don't know how to explain it but now it's different, on the first tours I was a teenager living a rockstar life, I enjoyed being alone and the independence that I had, but now I feel like I need my family.

At the end, we ended up going to a club, Ashton insisted so much that I eventually gave in. While I'm drinking my rum y moving along the music's rhythm, I wanted to be laying down on my hotel room instead of being here, I wanted to talk to Mad more, I missed her like crazy—I use to write Mali too, I asked her not to leave Mad alone at our flat, to convince her to stay in her flat, the thought of them being alone at our flat gave me anxiety, I didn't know anyone else in that building because I keep on travelling or recording so it's been tough for me to make friends -I'm not that social though- and since Madeleine gave birth to Wyatt she completely forgets about her phone, she checks it like every three hours

—You're not in the party mood -Ashton tries to shout over the music for me to understand-

—I'm sleepy -I admit and we both chuckle, he offered me a sip of his beer but I put up my rum, letting him know that I already had my munitions-

Today it was just Ashton and I, that's why I ended up coming here, Michael & Crystal, Sierra & Luke did something else, some couple date or something, I didn't wanted Ashton to feel left out. I look up to Ash again, seeing him with the same three women that apparently, seem to be friends with one and other, he tried to make me feel comfortable and join their conversation but I'm too shy to even talk that much so I would just laugh or answer a couple things. Truth is I'm way too tired, I didn't wanted to be here and I missed my family, so I wasn't in the mood of partying hard, but I proposed myself to wait for another hour in order for Ashton to enjoy more, I wave my hand at him, letting him know I was stepping out for a moment, he nodded and I walked away, I needed and wanted fresh air, I don't know if the fact that I have a family now changes it all but getting wasted all nights at bars after shows doesn't make sense like it used to do, it's not my thing anymore.

I step outside, the cold breeze hits my skin making me shiver, there were some people on the queue to get into the club, I grab a cigarette from the pack on my back pocket, put it on my mouth and light it up, inhaling the smoke. I grab my phone as well to pass the time and check it, the most probable thing is that Mad is asleep right now, but I still text her

"What are you doing? I miss you and I love you. I wish I could be laying down next to you, holding you close"

"Fuck, I miss you"

I wander through another apps wishing Madeleine would answer me, suddenly a red haired girl walks to me, I stare at her and she smiles

—Hello -she says politely-

—Hi -I answer-

—I'm sorry to bother you but I don't have fire -she points her cigarette and that's when I understand why she came to me- would you... light it up for me?

—Of course -I chuckle and grab my lighter, lighting up her cigarette, she nods and smile before taking a draw-

—And what are you doing here alone? -she says before exhaling the smoke-

—The same as you -I answer amusingly-

—Well, if you consider yourself a nobody -she shrugs- but I'm not alone now, unlike you, you were alone before I walked here -she backfires me-

—I really don't want to be here, I want to be at home -I say while stepping on the cigarette, lighting up another for me-

—Do you live too far from here? -the emerald eyes of the red haired girl were being lighted by the moon, I notice on her forearm a wolf tattoo with a wood as background-