Long Way Home

fifteen

[ mention of drugs & death ]

I missed everyone, it had been two weeks by myself and i honestly wasn't doing okay, i tried getting back in-contact with my old friends but no one really wanted anything to do with me. It was hard to have conversations with Cal or wren, well anyone over in la. The guys were working on their new album non stop, wren had released her first demo so it was also hard to talk with her.

I spent most nights drunk and alone, I miss cal a lot, i had thought about moving over but i couldn't, not yet anyway- i was unemployed, i was using all my savings to live- it wasn't ideal.

It was Wednesday night and I sat on the couch with a bag of chips, watching twilight, with my bottle of vodka, looking at my phone i smiled as is saw wrens face pop up on my screen, grabbing my blanket i walked out onto the balcony, answering it.

"Heya" I smiled, setting my phone up as i grabbed the joint that i had previously rolled. "Hey, i just thought id call you before i went into the studio, everyones here and we all miss you" she moved the camera around, i frowned as i didn't see cal. "Hey guys, i miss you all too! but wheres cal?" i asked, taking a sip from my cup, "oh cals out, he'll call you later- he told me to tell you" i nodded and smiled, after a quick chat i sighed and connected my phone to the speakers, playing my frank ocean playlist.

i locked my phone, lighting the joint i placed it between my lips and inhaled. Humming to the songs that played, man i wish someone sang to me like frank, an angel.

I sat in the same spot for another ten minutes before finally getting up, giggling at my silly thoughts i was already feeling the effect, laying back down I rubbed my heavy eyes, laughing at nothing.

Hearing the locks on my door unlock i frowned and looked towards the front door, not expecting anyone I grabbed the closest thing to me which was a plastic spoon, I was slightly terrified ad this didn't help with the fact i was high.

"Carter?" Calum stood in front of me, closing the door behind him as he moved his bag inside, i dropped the spoon and smiled widely before hugging him tightly. "Cal pal is here!" i kissed his cheek softly before he placed me back on my feet, "whatre you doing here?" i was ecstatic,  cupping his cheeks gently, feeling like this was all a dream.

"I missed you, the guys saw how miserable i was so they forced me to come" Cal rested his hands on my hips, squeezing them gently. I giggled softly "the word miserable is a funny word, kind of like eyebrows, thats a funny word to say to" i snorted and smiled widely up at my boyfriend.

"Carter, are you high?" He asked, his eyebrows raised, i places my hands on his chest nodding softly. "maybee just a little teeny tiny bit" i moved my thumb and pointer finger slightly apart to show him. Cal laughed softly and kissed me softly, "what am i gonna do without you?" he shook his head and guided me to the couch, "be miserable?" he laughed, holding his arms out, me immediately cuddling into him.

Pausing the music so i could listen to him I closed my eyes as he played with my hair, "aren't you guys really busy with recording?" i mumbled, he nodded and kissed my head "dont worry about it, we figured shit out" i nodded, lacing my fingers with his as i pulled the blanket over us.

"i got lonely, well, i mean i am lonely, and i thought about moving to la, i mean how exciting is that? it could kinda be like i'm running from my problems" I whispered, resting my head on cals shoulder as he looked down at me. "Move over with us, baby- please come" he mumbled, rubbing my back softly, i bit my lip and sighed. "can we talk about this tomorrow, i kind of wanna shower now" he nodded and kissed my head.

"Can i come with?"  Cal chuckled, winking at me, i laughed and nodded, grabbing his hand i pulled him to the bathroom.

I was slowly coming off my high and i was slightly disappointed, i sighed as i laid in bed with cal, i was playing with his curls, i smiled to myself and kissed his cheek, him gently humming a song in my ear. "Im kinda glad you fell asleep on me when we first met" Calum spoke, breaking the silence, i raised my eyebrow and snorted, "that was so embracing, i probably drooled on you- i have a habit of doing it" he shook his head and laughed, tangling out feet together. "oh you did" i gasped and hit his chest, "don't lie."

"When are you leaving, cal?" I moved slightly so i could look at him properly, he frowned and placed once og his hands on my cheek, "Babe- i just got here, lets not talk about me leaving, but i do leave in two days, i'm sorry i couldn't have made it longer." I nodded and smiled slightly.

"You're here, thats all that matters."

--

Waking up, i scared myself because i had forgotten cal was here, rubbing my eyes i let out a slight groan, curling into his side more, pulling more of the blanket around me. "good morning carr." Cal spoke, his morning voice doing things to me. "No, i don't approve of this" I sighed, he laughed and wrapped his arms around me. "wait how did you evem get in last night?" I laughed, "Wren gave me her keys, she forgot to leave heres here" I nodded and pulled the blanket over my head.

"C'mon lets go make some breakfast" I let out a dramatic groan as i got up, cal pulled out a jumper from his bag but i quickly snatched it from his hands before slipping it over my head, "you're too sloww" i said in a sing-song voice, getting to the kitchen i poured us both a cup of coffee, "why dont we go out to eat, and then we can talk about la and me" I suggested, cal shrugged and looked through my fridge, "we can go out for lunch instead, let me make you brekky" I nodded and sat on the bench, watching as he made food.

"Okay, so- if you moved to LA, we could help you get a job- i mean you have a lot of medical experience you could always be one of the medics that help out at the shows?" Cal spoke, eating his toast, i nodded, it could be a possibility but what if i got hurt by one of his fans?

"I think, i'm gonna do it- i'm much more happier with you guys and lifes short y'know? i can figure it all out over in 'merica" i shrugged, looking to him all smiley, he shot up out of his seat and hugged my tightly, i laughed as he kissed all over my face. "yay! now i can finally get some-" i smacked his arm and scrunched my face up. "stop, theres children around."

Lunch we went to a little cafe next to the beach, cal decided he'd go see his family for an hour or two while i went home to pack, i just wasn't entirely ready to meet his family. As i packed the last few boxes i came across photos of my mom and brother, i sighed and sat down looking through them.

I wiped my tears, the pictures being way to much to handle for me i closed the book as i saw cal take a seat in front of me, "Hey, you're okay, its okay, im here" He comforted, pulling me onto his lap i cried harder, never really having someone to cry too besides wren, "i miss them cal" i cried, wiping my eyes to get rid of the tears as much as i could.

"I know baby, i know and just remember- they're always here, they're always with you" He whispered, rubbing my back slowly, i nodded and  sniffled, looking at him with a soft smile, "I wanna show you something" I muttered, closing my eyes as he placed his hands on my cheeks.

--

I lead Calum through the pathway, holding his hand tightly making sure i didn't loose him. I stopped walking as i looked at the two stone heads, that had my mom and brothers names on them.

"Mum, Xavier, meet my boyfriend Calum" I smiled, sitting down on the grass beside them, i smiled as cal introduced himself, telling them a little bit about himself, i hummed and leaned my head on his shoulder.

We spent at least an hour talking, deciding it was time to go home, we organised to send me boxes over to his house, i sat outside with cal as he had a smoke, i looked at the cigarette with a frown, we spoke about the small things, what pissed him off and what made him happy, i was learning more about him each day. Calum had made me feel happiness like no other.

And it was only the beginning.

__

[ not edited ]

this was a short chapter?  but i kinda liked it,
im happy shes moving to la too, hate seeing my two bbys apart, ooof.
anyways- i guess this could be like a filler [?] chapter,
but two chapters in one night, whooo,,
thank you for 800 reads 🥺