close as strangers | calum hood

nineteen

Calum

I knew I had to open the text. I was going to deal with the problem head on, instead of running from it. I grabbed my phone with shaky hands, and opened the text.

jade: you didn't text me, i just wanted to know if you're safe.

jade: i just got home from work, you get some rest <3

I sighed in relief. I was also surprised that she didn't text me, confronting me about the tweet that had gone viral quickly. This gave me an opportunity to bring it up to her before she had the chance to see the bad news.

cal: okay, love. if you're not going to sleep, can we talk quickly?

She replied almost immediately.

jade: i would, but i planned on an early morning.

cal: oh. okay. it's kinda important tho.

jade: you sure this can't wait?

cal: i wanna tell you now before you hear it from some other source

jade: okay...

cal: i went to the after party, and some papz took pics of me talking to this girl, and some tweets made it seem like i left the party with her. but i swear i didn't.

jade: papz?

cal: paparazzi

jade: ah

cal: yeah... i wanted to tell you that i didn't leave with her, and i'm not cheating or interested in any of that stuff

jade: lol cal, we're not even an official couple

cal: that doesn't mean i'm not loyal to you

jade: aw you simp

cal: lmao stop

cal: so you're not mad?

jade: no babe. thank you for telling me.

cal: okay love. you can sleep now. thanks for hearing me out

jade: get some rest. love you.

cal: i love you

[read 04:16]

I sighed and laid back into the cushions and pillows behind me. I was so relieved that the situation was now dealt with, and she was very understanding. The girl at the club kept saying that Jaden was lucky to have me, but I was lucky to have Jaden.

-

Jaden

It was the next day, and I had woken up early to begin the customer sculpture order. I wanted to use white sandstone for a modern appeal, so I had used old contacts that I knew from my art program to aid in getting my hands on sandstone blocks for sculptures.

I took out my sketchbook and opened it to the page where I had designed the sculpture. Since it was for a garden, I planned for the sculpture to be of two butterflies, one on top of the other. I could imagine it vividly as I stared at my block of white sandstone.

With no time to spare, I grabbed my sculpting tools and began my work. I was lucky that is order came when it did, because now I had something to put all my mind and energy into. Instead of focusing on the fact that the boys left, and everything felt empty. Briefly, I looked up at my empty art studio. I was glad that I was able to make money off of my art, but the empty look of my garage gave me an uneasy feeling. Almost as if this void represented something bigger.