𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 ♚ 𝐥.𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

35 - we're in philly

"Where the fuck are Lyla and Maria?"

Storming through the front door of Luke Hemmings' apartment, Calum has been in a grumpy mood all day. He could not track down the location of his two best friends and neither of them was answering their phones. His best result was wasting his day at an expensive apartment with his three other friends.

"Ashton? You always know everything, where are they?" Calum huffed, falling back onto the soft cushion of the massive sofa. Calum was in desperate need of advice from the only people to receive good advice from, and they were nowhere to be seen.

The brown-haired boy shrugged, for once Ashton Irwin did not know where or what Maria and Lyla were doing. "Ask Luke, maybe Lyla told him." He responded, turning his head to glance at the blond currently lost in thought and the New York skyline. "Luke," Ashton said reaching over to poke at his friend, "do you know where your girlfriend is?"

Michael snorted, he found joy in teasing Luke about his current relationship status. Luke always avoided the subject and mumbled a line of incoherent words in response. Then again, he was upset that no one bothered to turn to him considering he and Maria were sort of a thing.

Luke removed his stare from the city view, fixing his eyes on the red-haired boy sat on his sofa playing an intense game of Grand Theft Auto. "No." Luke blankly said, "I don't know where Lyla is. Have you guys tried calling her?" He added seeing as it was the most logical excuse and solution to figuring out where a person is.

"Yes," Calum scoffed, "I've called them about a hundred times!"

"Whoa," Ashton spoke, "what's up with you today?"

"Lyla and Maria have fallen off the face of the planet, and I need help with something that only they can help me with!" He whined, slouching down. The thing Calum so desperately needed assistance on wasn't as big as he made it out to be. He really needed girl advice, Calum Hood, was going on a date.

Now, if it were any other circumstance, he wouldn't care as much. However, Calum was going on a date with one of Lyla's friends, Wren. Yeah, the girl Lyla constantly fangirled about. Calum needed to know the basics, who Wren is and things to avoid talking about. But right when he needed Lyla the most, she disappeared and fell off the grid.

Calum figured he was overreacting, but this was a serious issue. He managed to get a date with a girl who was easy to talk to, a girl who Lyla already liked. From all the girls Calum had dated or 'talked' to, Lyla rarely enjoyed their company or as she said: 'didn't like their vibes'. And when Lyla Dearie decided she didn't like a person, it was more of a gut feeling and eighty percent of the time, correct.

"Why can't we help you?" Ashton questioned, if Calum – his best friend ­­– could not feel the need to tell him about the debacles or bumps in the road, then it must be something truly serious. "Are we not good enough?"

"No, it's not that." Calum sighed, "I just need Lyla's help with something."

Ashton studied the dark-haired boy, his eyes widening when the thought clicked in his head. Gasping, he jumped back slapping a hand over his mouth – a habit he picked up from Lyla over the last couple weeks.

"Who's the girl?" He said, "Who is she, and why are you keeping her secret?"

Michael's ears perked up, pausing the game in front of him to pay attention to the conversation he suddenly cared for. "There's a girl?" He spoke, placing the controller down onto the couch, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"I did not think it was important," Calum explained, "and this girl. She's one of Lyla's friends and I just needed her to pick up the fucking phone!" He huffed, groaning into a pillow.