No Shame

Eighteen

Lockdown had been the best and worst thing to happen to Calum. The worst for obvious reasons, reasons so evident he couldn't ignore them as he set up his living room to celebrate the release of the bands fourth album alone. Each of his bandmates confined to their own homes only minutes away, but unnaturally far from his side in this experience. It was weird, more than weird really, to not be hugging his best friends and celebrating together the monumental moment of their albums release. But with a global pandemic raging out of control quickly, this was their best plan, and only option.

On the other hand, lockdown had given him an even more watertight excuse to ignore every single one of CiCi's twelve million calls. She'd called everyday since the article and video had dropped about her escapades at that Malibu party. Calum understood that they had quite clearly said they were just having fun, and in truth he had little to be angry about, they had not made themselves exclusive. But the flaunting of her other men online had hurt more than he cared to admit. It seemed to be part of her he thought she was moving on from, and then it hit him without warning and he didn't know how to handle the emotions it caused. So he's ignored her, avoided her, and kept to himself. Lockdown had helped him with that, no one around but Roy to nag on him for how he is feeling or what he plans to do about CiCi.

"Ready for tonight?" Roy asks as he wanders into the room to see Calum setting up candles, the vinyl sitting on the player ready to go.

"Ya. It's going to be weird, but I'm excited to have the fans hear the record and experience these songs. I hope they love it."

"They will. They always do. Plus, I've heard the album, it's got some really amazing songs." He smiles.

"Thanks, Roy, it's just weird since I'm not with the others." Calum shrugs, settling himself onto the floor with a couple white claws and his phone, 75% charged should get him through the live.

A facetime call suddenly appears at the top of his screen, a smile splitting his face as he answers to see his three bandmates' faces appear on his screen.

"We did it boys!" Ashton yells out as the call connects four ways.

"I hate this." Calum chuckles candidly, "I want to be with all of you right now."

"We all do, Cal, but we are going to make the best of it." Luke chuckles, "So how are we doing this live?"

"I'll start it and add in, Cal? We can switch out who we are live with at different points during the live?" Ashton suggests. "So make sure you've got access to the band account and your own in case it's your turn to take over on the band account live."

"I mean, that's probably the best idea. We can switch out who's on the live every few songs or something." Michael nods.

"Sounds like a plan. It will probably go wrong somewhere but we can figure that out when it does." Calum chuckles.

"I'm proud of you boys, of us. I wouldn't want to be in any other band. I love you all, and let's go share this with our fans." Ashton grins excitedly.

"Love you guys! Congrats on the album to each of you." Luke adds.

"Love you boys. I can't wait until we can celebrate together in a few weeks or months, or whenever it happens." Calum smiles.

"Well, I'll see all of you on the live, and talk to a couple of you probably. Congrats boys, let's go celebrate and share it with the fans. Love you all." Michael adds before their short call is ended.

Settling back against the couch from his chosen place on the floor he waits for Ashton to jump on the live, smiling as his friend starts talking to the fans. Chucking as Ashton can't figure out how to add him in, he settles his head back, smiling as Duke cuddles into his lap as the album plays through his house. Reading through comments of love and excitement for each song on the live chat as they listen through, frowning instantly as Wildflower begins and a comment catches his eye.

CiCi: My favorite song!

Rolling his eyes he chuckles as a text comes across the top of the screen, Michael asking if Ashton plans to run the whole listening party or if someone who knows how to add someone else in will get a chance.

Pushing CiCi's comment out of his mind, Calum shifts into a better position as Ashton tells everyone he will be taking over the live. Switching to the band account as Ashton finishes, starting up the new live himself. Adding Michael quickly as they dive into the music again, interacting more than Ashton did with the chat and the fans.

Michael switches out with Luke after Lover of Mine, he and Calum finishing out the album, High really striking Calum as Luke reacts to it emotionally, the song also bringing CiCi back to the forefront of his own mind, a quite somber tone to end the album on. But with a little banter and goodbye's the live ends. The album is out there for the fans to have and critics to decemate.

Cleaning up his little set up quickly, Calum wanders towards his room with Duke on his heels, getting comfortable in bed before jumping online to see what the fans are saying about the album and the live. His blood turning cold as an instagram post is being shared all over his timeline..

***

CiCi

Liked by britbrat, and 329,483 others.
CiCi: GO stream CALM. My baby daddy and his band killed it with this album. 👶🏼💋

"What the fuck?" Calum's jaw slacks, his mouth instantly drying. Suddenly very nervous of the calls he had been dodging for the last few weeks. She had insisted that they were fine the few times it had happened without a condom, but maybe she was lying? Was it all part of her plan? Was she trying to get pregnant by him... was this all some game to trap him in for the long run..?

"Um, Calum?" Roy wanders into the room without knocking, shock written across his face as he looks up from his phone.

"I know." Calum sighs, climbing back out of bed, this cannot wait.

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