"Where to?" The driver asked once Mhina closed the door shut.

"The hotel about six blocks away." Calum said, hoping his vague directions were enough for the driver. The man nodded and put the car in drive.

Neither of the two said anything, mostly just Calum staring at the beautiful girl that sat beside him, glistening under the city lights that shined through the window. He just wanted to wrap her in his arms and tell her how beautiful she was to him. But he knew the consequences in doing that.

Tonight wasn't about talking because if he talked then he'd start thinking and if he started thinking then he'd know he'd needed to stop.

Tonight was about actions and due to his actions, it was far too late to think about thinking.

They came to a stop and Calum glanced out the window to make sure they were at the right place.

"Hotel. Six blocks away." The cab driver said as he put the car in park. Calum thanked him and handed him the fare before opening the back door.

Mhina once again took his hand and followed behind as he lead them into the hotel.

The elevator ride was just like the cab ride, silent...yet not awkward. It was more of an anxiety rush. Mhina didn't know what was going to go down. She just knew it felt good to be with him so she followed along.

When they made it to their floor, Calum snuck an arm around her waist and lead her to an open door.

"Calum, this isn't--" Mhina couldn't finish her sentence because Calum's lips crashed on hers, causing her to stumble a bit but he tightened his grip. He wouldn't dare let her fall.

He wouldn't dare let the beautiful girl slip away.

Not right now at least.

Calum didn't care nor was he worried about whose room he may be in. He just knew it was empty and he was too impatient to bring her to his room. 

He guided them to the Queen sized bed in the middle of the front area. His lips didn't leave hers as he turned them and backed the girl into the end of the bed.

"Lay down." His deep voice instructed, causing the girl to hum in satisfaction. She had to hold back from screaming from the sound of his low-register tone. And the accent only made it worse (better). She followed his instruction and gently fell back on the well made bed.

Calum hovered over the girl, holding himself up with his elbows. His eyes roamed Mhina's beautiful dark skin, which contrasted with the white sheets. But, once you made it to her neck, her white dress blended with the milky covers.

This bothered him because he loved the opposite of colors and this stupid piece of fabric was blocking his full view.

So...

"Can I take this off of you?"

The sound of a gavel broke his mini flashback, bringing him back to reality. His eyes unclouded themselves to the courtroom he sat in.

In the row before his sat Ashton, Luke and Mike. To his left, Nicole. The row before his bandmates, Mama Joy, Mhina, and some lady in a pencil skirt.

The three women stood with huge smiles on their faces, the lady in the pencil skirt extending a hand out to his mum.

His bandmates got to their feet with the same expression, reaching to take the two women, because it'd be awkward if they hugged the business lady they obviously didn't know, into a hug.

The brown boy felt his heart skip a beat from the weight of reality falling on his chest.

The smiles.

The handshake.

He knew what it meant.

A shake to his arm caught his attention and he knew it had to be Nikki. He turned to face the girl.

"Did you hear me?" She asked, wrinkling her brows in confusion since she's been talking to him for about a whole minute.

Calum closed his eyes and shook his head to snap out of it, now able to hear the audio of the room.

"Uh, no. I kind of spaced out." He admitted, looking in the direction of a closing briefcase. It was all too surreal. The boy saw with his own eyes the adoption being completed but hearing it was probably even worse.

The chatter between the pencil skirt lady and his mum, both of their smiles lighting up the room. His mates crowding around Mhina and asking her how she felt. The judge and bailiff sharing a joke before heading to his office in the back.

It was all too much.

It all happened at once and he knew it'll happen...but he didn't know it would feel the way it felt.

"I asked if you wanted to go congratulate your sister?" Nikki said, adding emphasis on the word 'sister' on purpose. The boy beside her didn't answer right away. Instead, he brought his attention to his sister for a brief moment.

Mhina seemed a bit off but a smile remained on her face as she held a conversation with Ashton.

Calum could tell it wasn't genuine because he's seen her genuinely smile and it didn't look like the one she was wearing.

It wasn't forced, either. She was happy and he could tell. But something was missing.

Or maybe he was just tripping and needed to stop sulking and go be happy, too.

"Yeah. Let's go." Calum replied, standing from the wooden bench and making his way to the rest of the crowd.

"Yes, this is perfect. My two babies! Let's get a picture." Mama Joy exclaimed, waving a hand at the others to clear the way for her two children, grabbing her phone from her purse.

Both Calum and Mhina's eyes almost fell from the socket from the way they shot open. They glanced over at each other then opened their mouths to decline a photo but their mom shook her head.

"Don't kill Mama's vibe. You two get close so I can get this picture and post it on Facebook, now!" She gave them stern look which only lasted a second since she smiled right after. "I'll do a countdown. 5,4,3-" She began, holding her phone in one hand and counting the numbers down with her other hand.

Calum and Mhina let off a few 'uh's' and looked at each other awkwardly before finally getting it together. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, sort of forcing her into him, and she put her own around his waist.

"Aw, Facebook is going to eat you two up." Ashton joked, bringing laughter among everyone who surrounded them, the pencil skirt lady included.

Mhina felt like her skin was burning as she remained under Calum's arm due to the various shots her new mom was taking. She felt the fake smile she put on fading as the seconds passed.

She wasn't happy.

She was angry.

And who she had this anger for was keeping her warm under his arm.

Calum, on the other hand, felt like a junkie who just got their fix. Her touch was just as addicting as drugs. It's like his body naturally had this want for her skin.

It was weird and down right wrong but he couldn't help it.

Only problem was he couldn't have that feeling. This couldn't be his reality anymore. He couldn't feel this way.

"Alright now Cal, lean your head atop of hers--"

"I think that's enough, mum" The boy quickly separated from his sister and flashed a smile Joy's way. He didn't want to seem suspicious to all the eyes in the room.

"Yeah. I think that's enough for a long time." Mhina added lowly, hoping her mum wasn't in earshot. But somebody was and that somebody furrowed their brows at her.

His mother pouted and sighed as she locked the phone and placed it in her pocket.

"Vibe has been killed. Who's hungry?" Mama Joy asked, smiling up at everyone, then playfully narrowing her eyes at her two children.

"I'm down for some food."

"Me two."

"Well, really I can take a beer." Michael answered honestly, sighing since he hasn't had a cold one in a few days. Luke smacked his arm and Joy shook her head at the boy.

"This ain't Australia. It's America, Mikey. And in America, you're under age." She patted his head as she passed the grunting boy, signaling them to walk out.

Mhina tried to catch up with Ashton, who was now a few feet away from her but Calum grabbed her wrist.

"I heard what you said." He stated, releasing her arm when she jerked back. "When are you going to get over this?"

Mhina scoffed, a dry chuckle following as she nodded in disbelief. 

"Wow, you really are something, huh, Calum?" The brown skinned girl asked rhetorically. She couldn't believe the audacity of the boy. He had the nerve to ask of she was going to just 'get over it'. As if it's that easy.

Before he could open his mouth to answer, she continued.

"I'll get over it when you go back in time and erase everything that happened that night," She stepped closer to him, eyes staring holes into his own. "I'll get over it when I can stop playing flashbacks in my head at random times," Another step closer. Calum swallowed and clenched his jaw. "I'll get over it when you tell me that you're over it." She jabbed him in the chest with her index, finishing her explanation with a bang.

Calum felt like she stabbed him in the chest, her words struck hard and it had one target, he felt, his heart. It was meant to hit where it hurt and it did just that.

He was speechless as she turned around, surprisingly coming face to face with Ashton.

She jumped, throwing on a smile to pretend she was just shook. He looked in between them then threw a smile on, himself.

"Everything alright? We looked back and you two were gone. Kinda hoped you didn't off each other." Ashton said, a weak chuckle escaping his lips and capturing Calum's ear.

Mhina giggled, a genuine one because her thoughts moved to actually 'offing' her new brother.

"No. Just a little...brother/sister talk," Mhina turned slightly to Calum, sizing him before smiling at his way. "Ain't that right, C?" She asked and Calum almost fell over in laughter. Instead he short chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah, mate. We just had a little talk is all." He felt like rolling his eyes having to explain anything to Ashton. But he didn't want to risk anything so he let his pride aside and played along.

"Alright, well let's get some grub, Ms. Hood." Ashton said, looking over at Cal, and maybe even sizing him up, then throwing an arm over Mhina's shoulder.

The Maori boy frowned at his gesture, finding it a bit odd. But low key nervous to why he may be looking at him like that.

"You coming, bro?" The dark skinned girl, turned in under Ashton's arm, causing the golden boy to turn with her. Calum couldn't help but short chuckle from the smirk on her lips.

She loved pushing his buttons. Especially now that she's angry with him.

Once again, Calum caught his friend give him a unit, a hint of suspicion dancing in his eyes. He furrowed his brows at Ashton as he answered the girl.

"Yeah, I'll be right behind you guys."

Ashton nodded, the expression still on his face as he smiled down at the girl then back at his mate.

"Alright. Just don't be too far behind, mate. Hate for you to get lost." He said, causing Calum raise his brows. Ashton threw a smile his way before turning him and Mhina and headed out the wooden double doors.

Calum sighed and rolled his eyes then stuffed his hands into his front pockets and started out the courtroom.

So yall think my boy Ash know a thing or two???? *eyes emoji* I guess we gon have to see. I just wanted to clarify that this story has a few more chapters before it's done so yeah but anyway I appreciate the reads and such but it'll be awesome if yall SMASHED THAT STAR and comment because it keeps me going :] so with that said, thank you all and ttyl :]