C a l l i e
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I was just sitting on the couch, lounging in comfy sweats and a hoodie, when I got the call. My phone buzzed next to me, and I picked it up, looking at Mum's photo on the screen. I swipe the green button and answer. "Hello?"

"Hey sweetie," my mom greeted, her voice sounding slightly nasally, like she had been crying.

"Mom, are you okay?"

(sorry short POV)

L u k e
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When I got back, I stalked into the house, and I heard mumbling coming from the hallway. I started towards the sound, peeking my head into Callie's room. She was balled up into a ball in the corner, rocking back and forth. My eyebrows knit together.

"Callie?" I murmur, taking a step into her dark-ish room. She had grey walls.

"Don't look at me," she muttered, still hiding her face. I could hear a faint sniffle. I approached her, sitting down next to her.

"Callie, what happened to you?"

"I don't wanna talk about it." Sniffle.

"But Callie, this doesn't feel right."

She slowly lifted her head, which was red and swollen. She leaned down and set her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her. "So are you going to tell me or not?"

"Oh, Luke. My parents are divorced."

My eyebrows raise, and I hug her close. She snuggled into my chest, as she always does. She is such a sweet person, and she can be fragile at times, so I have to be easy, as if I don't want to break her.

I lift her head so it's resting on my shoulder. She shifted, and I could feel her breath fanning on my neck. "Luke," she muttered into the silence, "Thanks."

I smiled to myself and patted her back. Her breathing started to slow, and I could hear it in the silence.

"Luke?" She says again, and I lift her chin, locking eyes with her. "Um, I.. I like a guy. And.. Well, I'm sure he doesn't like me back."

"Hm," I ponder for a second. "Who is this guy?"

"I'd rather keep that information to myself."

"Oh?"

"Yes." She pulls her head away and nuzzles my neck. I sigh.

"Well, all I can say for that is be straightforward and tell him what you think of him."

"Oh. You know, you're good at giving advice for a guy."

"Well- Hey! What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what it's supposed to mean."

"You're not being very clear, Callie."

"I know." I could feel her smiling against my neck.

"Hey, is Callie okay?" The voice startles both of us, but Callie keeps her face nestled in my neck. I sigh, and Calum comes and sits next to us, pushing Callie into my lap while I glare at him.

"I am now," I hear her muffled voice answer. I redden and tighten my arms around her.

I didn't want to let her go.

C a l l i e
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Luke had me nestled in his arms. I was sprawled out across his lap, and for once he didn't care. I didn't care either, and I never will. He made me feel better, at least for now. It was getting dark out, and we were gonna have to get up at some point. I felt numb inside, aside from the buzz I feel in my chest when Luke touches me. Calum was sitting next to us, swatting Luke's arm away repeatedly while he rubbed my back.

I had pretended to be asleep while Luke told the parts of the story that he knew, stopping occasionally to pat my back.

"Ah, my ass is hurting," Luke grumbled, and I stirred, frowning at him. "We can get up, I guess," I suggest, and he shakes his head.

"No."

"How come? I'm sure you're hungry," I stated. He smiled at me.

"This is about you," he said, leaning in slightly, but getting elbowed by Calum. "And I don't get these chances very often," I thought I heard him murmur. I went to ask him, but he shushed me, so I snuggled back into his chest.

"Well, I'm gonna go grab some Chinese, you want anything?" Calum breaks our moment in the silence. I look up at Luke, and he raises his eyebrows, as if to ask, what do you want?

"Just.. Surprise me," I mutter, random tears starting to well up. I quickly bury my face in Luke's shirt, and he tightens his arms around me, making me feel secure. Calum gets up and walks out the door, shutting it quietly.

We sat in the silence for a long time, until Luke broke it. "Well, how about we go downstairs?"

I groaned. I was numb, but I knew the pain would come eventually. I wanted to stay upstairs forever, drowning in my tears. He slid his arms under me, picking me up bridal style and leaving my beloved room, starting down the stairs. He sat down on the couch carefully, laying me gently across his lap.

After a while, Luke flips through the channels, trying to get me to show interest in the TV. He sighed and gave up when it did nothing.

"Well, tomorrow is Christmas Eve," he pointed out, a hopeful smile plastered on his face. I shoved my face into the pillow next to him and stretched.

"Oh, don't remind me," I groan. He scoffs. "It's Christmas, Callie! I've never seen you this pessimistic around Christmastime. I know what happened is rough, but lighten up, okay?"

"Don't remind me." My voice was muffled. "And I'll try."

He sighed. 

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Later that night, after we'd eaten, we were all watching tv, and as usual, I was sprawled across Luke's lap, trying to pay attention to the Christmas movie. It was some Charlie Brown movie that Calum and Michael were engrossed in.

"Luke?" Michael asked from the recliner in the corner. When Luke glanced at him, he continued. "Can you turn the volume up?"

"Damn it, Michael, the remote is right next to you," Luke answered, clearly agitated, since Michael had been asking questions like that the entire movie. I almost smiled, but with the hopeful look Luke gave me, I realized I wasn't feeling it, and I shifted my eyes back to the tv, thinking about Mother.

Dad had been drinking again, she had told me, and he had done some things he didn't mean at the time. Mother realized she couldn't deal with it anymore, and stomped out, demanding a divorce. They had always seemed like a happy couple. What happened to them?

The sound of the clock chiming broke me from my thoughts. I looked up, and the clock read midnight. I sighed and stood, stretching.

"Callie, where are you going? The movie isn't over yet!"

I turned to Michael and smiled apologetically. "I'm just not feeling it today."

"Aw, first Ashton, now Callie? I thought you were the cool one, Callie!" Calum chimed in, and Luke's pleading eyes told me to stay and entertain Calum and Michael a little longer. I shook my head and started down the hallway. I didn't even bother changing. I slid into bed, and the second I tucked the comforter around my body, the tears started to roll.

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Sorry guys I was in the mourning process. But I'm back now, and better than ever. I hope u enjoy the story I've wanted to update in forever.