Everyone turned to the nervous boy with green eyes, awaiting for him to open his envelope.

"Wait, we're not going to discuss Luke's?" He asked, pointing to the open letter on the table in front of Luke.

"Like, maybe who that could possibly be?" Mama Joy added, glancing around at the rest of the group.

They all kind of looked at each other, not knowing whether to tell her or not.

It's one thing for this to be done behind her back. But it's a whole other thing trying to explain everything to her.

Soon, the rest of the group, excluding Joy, turned their attention to Calum.

He sighed.

"I uh...let's just read the letters for now. And then when it gets to your turn, I'm sure you'll find out by then." Calum explained, hoping she'd just go along with his idea.

But she wasn't really feeling it and neither was another in the room.

"What? Why? You got something to do with these letters or something?" Ashton asked, sizing the brown boy across from him.

Calum furrowed his bushy pair on his forehead and shook his head.

"How does that make any sense?"

"I don't know but it's funny how you just know the answers to everything."

"Dude, I don't! I'm just the guy who found these letters."

"Seems a bit more fishy than that." Ashton snorted, rolling his eyes at Calum.

Mama Joy spoke up before the brown boy could say anything further.

"Okay, that's enough you two. Look, let's just continue." The older woman sighed.

Calum looked away from the golden haired boy and smiled small at his mom.

"So, we'll wait to explain anything?" Her son asked, once again hoping she'd agree.

He wasn't prepared to tell her everything and he's sure that it'll all be explained as the letters are read.

Surprisingly, the older woman trusted her son, nodding in agreement and sitting back in her chair.

"But if this ends up being some little game then I'm kicking all of your butts." Joy said with a straight face. The group let off a small chuckle but it quickly faded away as Mike ripped open his envelope.

All eyes fell on the boy once again and it made his ears flare up.

Clearly, he wasn't so fond of everyone just watching him, the air so dead that you could hear a pen drop.

Not only that, but he was anxious to see what was in the letter.

He counted the seconds down quietly in his head, unfolding the piece of paper, then finally unveiling the letters printed on the page.

11:51 pm

a night after the calamity.

Dear, Rockstar, also known as 'Michael Clifford, I'm not sure what to say to you...kind of similar to my previous letters.

I'll probably start light before going heavy, as I did previously.

The first time I ever heard you play your guitar was the first day I arrived at the Hood residence.

As Michael paused, taking a quick glance at a shocked Joy across from him.

You were idly playing but it sounded like chords from a Green Day song.

And then there's the time you played 'Long Way Home' for the first time in front of me.

That's when I realized you had one other talent...singing.

Your voice had so much passion but you sung it at ease. How that's possible...I'm not too sure but I was hooked.

To think, that was ONLY practice.

Everyday I sat in that garage, I looked forward to hearing you blow me away, whether with your shredding fingers or your powerful voice.

Or maybe it's your happy-all-the-time attitude?

I've never met a lad who could be so giddy at the crack of dawn

It'd be ashame for someone to wipe that grin off your face

And sadly, I've seen it happen

The once smile that sported your lips was now at a flatline, dead and gone for the moment

I never thought I'd see the day

But I sat at the head of the table when it occured

And for that...for stealing our smile, truly I say to you, I apologize deeply

But hopefully with all that happened, you'll still grace the stage with your talented fingers and crowd-worthy voice, wearing that same grin that you wear so well

"Signed, The One You Blew Away." Michael ended the note with a small smile, just like Luke, being moved to tears.

He didn't think no one really appreciated his voice.

But just as he was about to speak on his thoughts, Mama Joy had some 'thoughtful' words of her own.

"What the--what's going on, here?! Is that," Joy paused, her emotions switching from shock to concern. She glanced over at her son, who already had his eyes on her. "--that's Mhina, isn't it?"

"I thought you wanted to wait--"

The older woman gave Calum a daring look, warning him that if he continued with his words then she would be on him like white on rice.

"Calum Thomas, don't even."

The brown boy sighed, not uttering another word. He knew better.

"Now, tell me what's going on?! Why is Mhina sending letters?" Joy asked with furrowed brows. She glanced around at the group, losing her patience slowly as every second went by with them remaining silent.

Calum spoke up. "Mom, I promise everything with be answered if we just continue."

"Are you kidding me, Thomas?! I waited and now I want answers!"

"And I guarentee that answer, mum. All it takes is a few more letters..." Calum explained, lying through his teeth.

He had no idea what will be revealed in the rest of the letters but he had a feeling it would bring clarity.

But he noticed a pattern in them each. First, an introduction of how she met them each and what she liked about them, then, what happened the previous night, how they played a role in it, and finally, an apology of some sort.

And when he really thought about it...maybe he wasn't prepared for what rested on the papers of the rest of the letters.

But, he just knew he wasn't ready to explain everything yet.

Mama Joy gave him one last look, her eyes stayed on him for a few seconds until she sighed and moved them to Nikki.

"Fine. I guess that means you're up next, Nicole." Joy said to the latina girl.

Calum bit his bottom lip, turning his head, along with the others, feeling a wave of nerves take him into an undertow.

Why?

Because from where he sat, he could see the bright red writing popping from the paper.

In that moment, he realized that he was indeed not ready for what was about to unfold.

OKAY SO WAS THAT LETTER TO MIKE CUTE OR WHAT?!?!

AND NOW WE ON TO NIKKI'S LETTER OH LORDT

Well, hopefully this short chapter didn't disappoint! From here on, it's be pretty short only because it's them reading their letters.

So yeah, once again, I hope you enjoyed it!

If you did, click that ☆ and comment a thing or two :》

Love yall and ttyl ♡