Wish You Were Here

Part 30: 12 Through 15 / / All Alone

                                                                                 *Calum's POV*

I'm going mad. I've been rushing the boys around all morning, never once stopping until we reached the gate for our flight.

It's the most excruciating flight I've ever been on, and it's only a short four hours. I've been on much longer flights that took entire days, but I've never needed to get somewhere so badly. It's like time slowed down.

I've never been so panicked in my life. There hasn't been a single thought on my mind since my phone rang other than getting to her as fast as I can. I almost feel bad for Michael for ending up next to me on the flight. We've just taken off, my leg is shaking, my fingers drumming constantly on my knee.

"It's going to be okay, Cal." I snap my head over to him, trying to focus on his attempt to comfort me. I want to be angry with him, but I still haven't been able to tell them the details so I can't blame him.

"I promised her. I said I'd never let him hurt her again."

He nods slowly, his face flooded with a look of sympathy.

"It's not your fault. You and I both know she won't want you to blame yourself." His face is completely serious.

He's right, it'll upset her if I blame myself, but I can't help it. I couldn't protect her because I wasn't there. I can't get the thought of what he did to her out of my head. It makes me fucking sick and I can't even imagine how she feels.

Before I get a chance to stop them, the tears welling in my eyes begin to run down my face. A supportive hand is placed on my shoulder as I sniffle and allow myself to break for her.

"Get what you can out now. She needs you to be strong for her, Calum."

I'm not sure when the hell Mike became the level headed one, but there's no reason to question it now. He puts the armrest up and slings his arm over my shoulder. Smiling at me softly, his eyes glazing over slightly. I cry into my best friend's shoulder and listen to him fight back his own sniffling.

I know he loves her too, all of the boys do in their own way. I didn't have to beg, or plead, or even state my case really. I told them something awful happened to Cass and they all started packing without a single question.

— — —

After what felt like the longest flight of my life, and the longest baggage claim wait we made it to the van. Ash told me that Rachel was able to get Cass to come here to LA and wait at the house. I'm so fucking glad because if I had to drive two more hours to see her I'd go insane. I watch out the window as familiar landscapes pass us by, tapping my leg faster as I know we are getting closer.

Nobody dared to say a word during the car ride. I think we're all different levels of scared and anxious, none of us knowing what to say or do. I unbuckled my seat belt the second we turned onto the familiar street. I sat in the front so that I could jump out first, and that's exactly what I did.

As soon as the van was in park I threw my door open, not bothering with my luggage at all. I ran to the garage and punched the code in with shaking hands.

I walked through the garage and into the door that leads to the kitchen. It was empty, but I could hear noise coming from the living room and ran without a second thought.

They both looked up at the sound of my footsteps bounding down the wood floor. I met her eyes for a split second, and all I could see was redness and pain. I ran right to where she sat on the couch and immediately picked her up and held her as tightly as I could. I sat myself down and placed her on my lap, her arms thrown around my neck as I felt her start to cry.