Locker 30 ➳ A Calum Hood fanfiction (Rewriting chapters)

VI

Not a big fan of change myself.

It was hard to adjust to  living with Melissa and Vic for the next few weeks.

They we're so different to my parents. They are always there, and every time I look at Melissa I see my mother.

It was awfully uncomfortable... Mostly because I used to be around them a lot when I was younger before they moved . I was extremely close to... my cousin before she passed so being in the place she lived a couple of months ago was strange to say the least.

They still had the room set up the way she left it. It was as if she's only left for a while to hang out with her friends. It's like they were waiting for her come back.

Walking passed her room everyday to get to the one I was staying in took a toll on me more than I thought it would. I eventually had to close her door. My Aunt just smiled at me and put a hand on my shoulder. " It doesn't help to close the door, it might makes thing better for a while but the pain never leaves. Take it from me."

Like I said. Awfully uncomfortable. I know she's trying to help. They miss her more than anyone could fathom. I just don't deal with my feelings the same way they do.

"Alex! you weren't on the bus this morning!" Michael runs over to me while the others follow behind him. "You're like a puppy, do you know that?" He smiles and hugs me, " You didn't answer my question." I smile and hug him back " I'm staying with my Aunt and Uncle for the next few weeks. They drop me off since they live closer." Calum and Luke eventually catch up and greet me as well. The bell rings and everyone goes their separate ways.

" So Alex are you ready for the quiz in music today?" Calum smiles as he falls into step next to me. " Yeah, I guess I'm ready. I'm just struggling a bit with the intervals between triads, other than that I'm sorted." We walk into the classroom and take our seats. " Wait for me after class, alright?"

—

"Hey Alex, did you forget what I said a few moments ago?" I turn around to see Calum running up to me. " Oh, uh sorry, I was just lost in thought." He nods and throws his arm around my shoulder, I look at him confused, " You okay there, Hood?" He laughs and squeezes me. " I'm fine, but it looked like you weren't so..." I stop and look at him, "So you're trying to comfort me?" He shrugs and removes his arm from my shoulder. Hooking his thumbs on the straps of his backpack.

"Hey, I didn't say I didn't like it." I scratch the back of my neck as I speed up my pace, trying to duck out of the awkward situation that I put myself into. I turn down the next hallway and up the stairs to my next class, Biology. I look down as I walk to my desk, sitting next to Amy close to the back of the class. "Ugh, Amy I am such an idiot." She looks over at me and frowns. "Yeah, well what's new?" I laugh, shoving her away. " No but this time I believe that I accidentally flirted with Calum." She almost chocked, being overly dramatic, as always. "You did what?" I look at her, waiting for her actual reaction. " Well , what did he say?" I take my books out of my  backpack and try not to look at her in the eyes. " I walked away before I could see his reaction, because I'm an awkward little shit. Honestly I think the only guy I'm not awkward around is Michael."

"Say awkward one more time."

"Oh shut up." 

--

"Lunch time!" Michael shouts as soon as he spots us outside. "Do you ever shut up?" I laugh as he flips me off and sits down next to me against a tree. "Do you ever pay attention long enough to realize that I won't." This time it was my turn to flip him off. 

"So what are we going to do on this fine Friday night?" Amy asks looking up from her lunch. "We could go to the fair?" Michael suggests as he grabs one of my nuggets and stuffs it into his mouth. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Calum almost glaring at Michael as he puts his head on my shoulder, but I choose to write it off. I'm probably imagining things. "Yeah, that sounds good." Luke agrees. "I'll invite Ashton for you Amy so that you guys can get all lovey dovey." That's when a chunk of cheese hit him right between the eyes. 

"Embrace your death day, Hemmings. But I greatly appreciate the sentiment." Michael shifts and pushes himself up to sit up straight. "Calum, you've been awfully quiet." I couldn't help but feel like Michael was testing him in  some sort of way. " I'll be there. I uh gotta go I need to set up a few things for Mr. Johnson in my next class." He gets up and starts making his way toward the building. " Hey! Wait up I'll come with you." I zip up my lunch bag as I get up, jogging to catch up with him.

"Can I talk to you?" I say quietly as I fall into step next to him. "Yeah, what do you want to talk about?" I look at him. "I'm sorry about being so abrupt earlier today. It seemed like it made you uncomfortable." He frowns and looks back at me slowing down his pace. " You didn't even stay long enough to see my reaction, how do you know I was uncomfortable?" He kind of snaps at me , staring at me waiting for my reply. "I'm sorry." I once again try to walk away feeling as though I've said enough. He grabs my wrist, softly turning me around. " Why do you keep walking away?" I shrug trying to look anywhere but him, " I just feel like I make everything weird." He laughs and starts walking toward his next class, letting go of my wrist. " You don't. Listen I've really gotta go I'll see you tonight." He smiles and turns around walking away.

" I'll see you tonight."