The first person I tried calling was Luke. He didn't answer, and that made me cry a little bit harder. I was walking around aimlessly, continuously calling Luke, texting him between calls. I don't know why he wasn't answering, but after awhile I gave up.
I went through the contacts on my phone, continuously wiping my eyes so I could see the screen without it looking completely warped under tears.
For some reason, I went to Calum's contact. I remember Luke gave it to me, incase I really needed it.
I tried to even out my breathing before calling him, hoping he would pick up. If not, there was always Michael, but he was either asleep, or had his god damned gaming head set on.
I stood underneath a lamp post, clutching my sweater to my body. It was cold out, so even though all I had was the sweater, I was happy I brought it.
I pressed small telephone beside Calum's name and held it to my ear, wiping my eyes again as I waited.
Two rings exactly until he answered, and I could hear that he was moving around a lot, "Hey," He spoke into the phone, settling down. I responded with a quiet "Hi." and waited for him to say something.
"Are you alright?"
"No, where's Luke?"
Calum hesitated for a moment before speaking up again, quieter, "The hospital, visiting Liz. I talked to him before he left about an hour ago, he might be there for awhile."
That made sense. He told me he was going to visit her after I got home. I wasn't thinking.
I sighed, glancing around the empty street, starting to feel the chill of cold reaching my fingertips and any exposed skin. "Do you think," I paused, sniffling again, from the cold and from the quick and harsh outburst from not even minutes before, "Do you think you can come pick me up? I just, I can't go home right now."
"Oh," Calum hesitated, waiting a few seconds before speaking again, "Yeah, I guess. Where are you?"
I looked at the sign across the street, then read it out to him. A little while later, we both hung up and I waited in the cold.
**
It was weird being in Calum's house, without Luke or Michael to be there with me. I don't think I ever expected myself to ever actually feel the need to come to Calum's.
When we got back to his house, I was beginning to think my skin was going blue. I was still only in my sweater and it had gotten colder while waiting for him to pick me up by the street.
"If you don't mind me asking," Calum said quietly while we walked through the front door, "Why couldn't you go back home?"
I bit my lip, glancing at him through the corner of my eye. "I got in a fight with my Mom," I mumbled, turning to him, "I tried calling Luke a few times, but.."
"Oh, I see." He nodded, then walked past me. "Are you tired? If you are, I have a guest room. Luke used to stay in there sometimes. I think he might actually still have some clothes in there."
I wasn't all that tired, but I feel like getting some sleep would help clear my head. I nodded at him, glad with the fact that Calum had said Luke might have have left some clothes behind. I only wondered why he slept in there in the first place.
Calum smiled at me then nodded his head toward the hall, then began walking down it. I followed him quickly, only to be led to the room I assumed I would be sleeping in.
He opened the door, moving a little out of the way so I could see. There was a small dresser beside the bed with a lamp. There was nothing besides that.
"If there are clothes left, they will probably be in there," Calum said, biting his lip and stepping out of the room, "If you need anything, I'll probably be in my room beside this one."
After he left, I walked into the room. It was cold, but not as cold as outside. The window was open a little so it made sense for it to be as cold as it was. The first thing I did after closing the door was walk to the mini dresser and opening it. Inside the first drawer was a small amount of clothes. Sweatpants, jeans, and three shirts along with a pair of boxers. I smiled, quietly giggling at the design on them. These were most definitely Lukes.
I changed into one of the shirts and the sweatpants, sighing contently at the warmth. They smelled like Luke still and I wondered how long they had went unworn and stuffed inside the dresser.
The house was silent and I assumed Calum was in his room. I didn't want to bother him, so I quickly and quietly made my way out of the room and down the hall, to the kitchen. I knew parts of Calum's house a little, having been here more than once, I had remembered where things were.
I opened up multiple cupboards, in attempt to find a cup. My throat felt dry and I felt like I had a headache, so I just wanted a drink to help a little. I don't really think it would help, actually.
After finding them (and struggling to reach them, having been on a shelf a bit too high for me), I filled it with water and leant against the counters as I drank it. I didn't know what to do, I just glanced around the kitchen for a few minutes, sighing loudly and yawning occasionally.
One thing that caught my eye specifically was the cupboard on the floor that was open. I could see into it, and it looked like there were a few bottles. Before walking towards it, I looked out into the hall to make sure Calum wasn't coming, then I gripped the handle and opened it completely. There were more than half-empty bottles. In one corner, there were small pill-like tablets in a smaller bottle, something the doctor would give you. Which, that's exactly what it was.
I stared into the cupboard for a little while, curious about the pills and other things that occupied it. It wasn't completely odd for people to have small alcohol cupboards, I knew that my Mom had one. It made a little more sense to me now that Luke was drunk at Calum's a small while ago, though, with the decent stash Calum had in his kitchen, but that didn't help me with why he needed it all.
I stood up and shut the cabinet before setting my cup in the sink and leaving the kitchen to go back to the room I was staying in. As I began walking down the hall, Calum's door opened and he came out.
He seemed to have hesitated in his steps when he saw me, but he cleared his throat and smiled.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"Didn't try. I was about to, though. I got thirsty."
Calum nodded and stuffed his hands in his pockets. We stared at each other for a few seconds before he spoke up again.
"Luke should be home soon, if you wanted to still try and get ahold of him." He spoke quickly, looking past me into the kitchen before making eye contact again, "Only if you want, though."
I shrugged. Luke would text me back, with the amount of texts I sent him and all the missed calls.
"I think.. I think I'll be okay." I said quietly, running a hand through my hair with a sigh. He almost looked upset for a second but then he nodded and walked past me.
Calum seemed a little bit shaky, his voice wavered when he talked just then and he fidgeted with his fingers; a lot. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried, I cared about Calum because I knew he and Luke were close. I saw him as a brother, just like I did to Michael, even if we didn't talk much.
Tomorrow morning, I'll confront him about it maybe. I'll ask casually, just incase they're just there for when he has friends over. I know I shouldn't be worried, but for some reason, I felt that I had to be.
//
um hello !! i don't like this chapter much but it is actually so important later on i think so i mean ??
i'm updating late but i have reasons !! i was busy friday & the next day (yesterday) i went to a different city all day to go to a concert!! it was mayday parade/tonight alive/major league/pvris and it was GREAT
so i hope u all are havin a good day and if not then i am srry maybe something good will happen u kno
i hope u all liked this chapter !! calum wht r u up 2
ALRIGHT goodbye i LOVE you all
- liblob
