Long Way Home

ten

It was quiet.

Wren and I felt like we were drifting, I was a weird feeling and i didn't know how to explain but i just didn't feel as though we were as close as we used to be. 

The past three weeks had been so lonely, just me and my thoughts, Wren was always at uni and she left for LA two nights ago. Calum and I tried to stay in touch but by the time it was morning for him, I was tried and asleep.

I didn't do much throughout the days, I saw lots of post on instagram of all my uni friends start their internships at the hospitals they were so ecstatic about, I tried looking for jobs but apparently nobody wanted to hire me- which was fine. 

It was also definitely taking a toll on me, it made me notice more things about myself, i was slowly falling out of love with myself, the person who i spent years trying to love.

I was exhausted, I couldn't keep doing this to myself, i missed my friends. So i packed my bags and told Luke that i was flying over, making him promise me not to tell Calum i was coming. 

--

After a long tiring 18 hour flight I got off the plane, rubbing my tired eyes I sent a quick message to Luke telling him i had arrived. Looking through the swarm of people i smiled as i saw him and Sierra standing in a corner with discuses on, I let out a soft laugh before hugging them both tightly.

"I missed you guys" I mumbled as Luke gave me a quick squeeze. "We all missed you" He gave me a small smile as we walked to his car, Luke being the gentleman he is took my bags and packed them in his car. 

"You kind of came at the right time, were all having a barbecue at Cals, its just the gang and one of my friends grace" Sierra told me from the front seat, i hummed in reply as i looked outside, i just wanted to nap. As we got to his house I smiled softly as brought my bags inside, Luke took them upstairs as Sierra lead me into the kitchen.

"You'll love her, shes so sweet" She told me as she handed me a bottle of water, not wanting to drink any kind of alcohol. "I cant wait, i just hope this week doesn't go fast, i miss my friends" I told her truthfully,  Luke walked into the kitchen, kissing sierras head before leading us outside, My eyes immediately searched for Cal. 

I was greeted with Cal and Grace in his arms, i bit my lip gently as i watched him lean down to whisper something in her ear- into which she laughed at. "Carter!" I heard Mikey yell, Calum instantly looked up, meeting my eyes. I turned around to hug Mike "when did you get here?" i could smell the rum on his breath. "literally twenty minutes ago, how drunk are you?" I laughed and wrapped my arms around crystal. "Very" She confirmed for me, i pulled away and gave a soft smile to wren.

"Luke do you mind showing me the bathroom?" I asked just as i saw cal walk towards me, i was too tired to fight over whatever he had to say. "of course, c'mon" I followed him upstairs, "I didn't even know cal and grace had anything going on, don't overthink this carter" I nodded and thanked him before closing the door, splashing my face with cold water i caught my breath, why did i feel so angry over this? its not like we were dating, he could do what he wanted. 

I dried my hands and opened the door, only to be greeted with Calum. "I didnt know you were coming" he spoke, his voice raspy, I nodded and pressed my lips into a thin line. "Yeah- I wanted to surprise you, thats all" I looked at him, fighting the urge to pull him into a hug.

"you shouldn't have come Carter" I frowned looking at him, I fiddled with my fingers and nodded slowly.

"may i ask why?" he nodded and took a step back, "you didn't call for three weeks, you ignored me, you never even bothered to have a decent conversation like a human being, its not that hard to pick up your goddamn phone!" Calum yelled, i flinched at his words. 

"I did cal, i tried, but you also ignored me too-" i was cut short "Calum, my name is Calum not Cal" i sighed and opened my mouth to speak before getting interrupted by grace. "Cal- lets go downstairs, they're serving the food." 

I waited a few moments before walking outside again, as i opened the door everything went quiet, i gave a soft smile, taking a seat on the stairs as the chairs around the table were full. "Carter, pull up a chair, don't worry theres room" Ashton told me, shifting in his seat. "Ashton, dont- it'll be crowded" Grace spoke, he mouthed a sorry to me.

"Carter, theres some patties and sausages here if you want one" Mikey told me, showing my the plate of meat, I nodded and cleared my throat. "Mikey i don't eat meat, remember?" I looked to were grace sat, beside calum. that should be me.

"Another reason why you shouldn't of come, unprepared for your stay" Calum laughed out as he took a swing of his beer, I nodded slowly and just sat there with petunia, i didn't know what to say or do- i had never been to LA before. "Calum, stop- what the fuck is going on? what did Carter do, because you've been acting like a jerk since she got here" Ashton exclaimed, everyone know was looking between the two. "none of your business ashton" He mumbled, got up before lighting the cigarette between his lips. "go back to playing happy couple with Wren."

I watch the whole scene in front of me unfold, what the actual fuck? what happened in those three weeks?

Whispering a soft sorry to wren she gave me a reassuring smile before talking with Ash and Mike again. Crystal and Sierra both shot a sad smile to me as they sat with their boyfriends.

It was weird that this is what happened with family dinners and now with my friends, my thoughts were stopped as i heard squealing "Finally! thought you would've never asked her Ashton! took you long enough to ask her to be your girlfriend." My eyes connected with Calums, i smiled for her before getting up, i walked back inside and then out the front door, i didn't know where i was going but anywhere was better then there. 

___

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sadish chapter for my sadish mood. 

Calums an ass >:(

this was the fastest ive ever written a chapter before,whooo.

also thank you all  sm for 600 reads! this book has only been out for two weeks! how exciting