noelle invited calum to her house so they could speak privately.

it was weird meeting him in person. he was much taller and puppy-like. he didn't at all look like the type to bully someone with michael, but who was she to judge?

when the pair reached her front door, he stopped her before she could unlock it.

"aren't your parents going to be mad with you bringing some random boy home?" he asked worriedly.

she smiled lightly and shook her head, "don't worry, they're out with my brother. i think."

calum paled slightly and she held back a chuckle as she swung open the door and led him into the - empty - apartment.

the pair sat on the couch together and simply stared, wondering where to begin.

"so," she said. "why are you here calum? you have to be far from home."

"i overheard luke talking to his friend ashton," he admitted. "they were talking about what happened with his family in brooklyn and you and this place. i just had to let you know that he was okay. he loves you."

so luke was in brooklyn. his hometown, she assumed. the place where all his pain resided.

"wait, what happened to his family?" she inquired.

when calum's mouth glued shut, she knew what he was going to say before he said it.

"i'm sorry, i can't tell you. it's not my place."

slightly irritated, noelle laughed bitterly. "if that's all you had to say, why come here physically? a phone call would've sufficed."

"i just..." he sucked in a breath. "i can't take back the pain michael and i caused him. i can't make him unfeel that, but i thought that at least i'd help him regain the tiny bit of happiness he does have. you."

noelle smiled at the naive boy in front of her. he had good intentions, yes, however he didn't quite get why luke did the things he did.

calum was a good guy. an amazing guy that was willing to do seemingly everything to earn forgiveness for his wrongdoings. noelle had to respect him for that. he'd gone all the way from brooklyn just to tell her about luke so she could stop worrying.

if she were being honest, she would say that calum reminded her - if even a little bit - of the person she once was. noelle found herself memorizing every aspect of him just in case she needed a reminder of the girl who had once seen the world as a rainbow instead of a black and white film.

calum was bright and he was willing to do whatever it took to make people happy.

it'd been far too long since noelle had been that way.

"thank you," she grabbed his hand softly. "for everything. it means so much to me."

he squeezed her tiny hand in response. "luke deserves someone like you in his life. to make him realize what a great person he is. i'm just sorry i wasn't there to support him in the first place."

"he'll forgive you," noelle assured him. "he will. that's what he does. it's what he's doing back at brooklyn. he's forgiving himself and everyone around him."

then they sat in silence, relishing in the comfort of the two joined hands and lives that had both been touched by the same person.

the boy who was once happy.

the boy who once felt the sweet taste of freedom.

the boy who had that all taken away from him.

the boy who left an eternal imprint on everyone he met but didn't realize it.

too lost in their thoughts, the two failed to hear the door creak open as three people filed inside, expecting to see their daughter/sister alone. when they didn't - seeing her with a boy no less - they couldn't believe their eyes.

"who's this?"

noelle's dad's voice caused the two to let go of each other's hands and shoot to their feet, facing the three devereaux's with wide eyes.

"i thought you guys would be gone longer," noelle muttered.

"i'll repeat that," her dad boomed. "who is this?"

"hi, sir. i'm calum hood," he introduced sheepishly, offering his hand. when her dad didn't take it, he dropped it to his side heavily.

"would you like to stay for dinner?" noelle's mom finally spoke, venom hidden in her tone.

"i really shouldn't," calum said politely.

"yeah, mom. he has to get back to his aunt's house and-" noelle's lame excuse was cut off.

"i won't take no for an answer," her mother spat. "don't be shy, calum."

the boy next to noelle simply nodded, looking like he'd seen a ghost, and the teenage girl could only groan and bury her face in her hands.

it was going to be a long night.

-

"calum," her dad piped up after a long stretch of silence. "where are you from?"

they were currently sitting at the dinner table, the two teens awkwardly picking at their food while the two adults stared them down angrily. kaiden was completely aware of the tension in the room, but ignored it as he ate his food hungrily.

"brooklyn," calum responded as stable as possible, so as to not hint at his fear.

"far way from home, aren't you?" mrs. devereaux added spitefully.

"hey," noelle began, but surprisingly, calum stopped her.

"it's fine, elle," he assured her as she raised an eyebrow at the sudden nickname. "actually, yeah. i am far from home. i'm visiting my family."

"is that so? because my daughter doesn't look related to you," her father said with fake inquisition.

"dad!" noelle finally burst. "he's my friend, alright? just cool it with the third degree!"

"i will not 'cool it'!" he yelled back. "he was touching you inappropriately and i don't like it!"

"oh my god, calum was holding my hand," she retorted. "he was being supportive, unlike some people i know."

"and what's that supposed to mean?"

"isn't it obvious? you and mom have been up my ass for no reason and i'm sick of it! it's been all about being perfect and what college i'm going to! you never ask about me because you care! you ask about me because you want to control me; and i've never been more disgusted in my life."

the entire room went silent and noelle was out of breath from her speech, her shoulders heaving up and down. her parents looked horrified and her little brother looked like he was about to cry and calum looked up at her in sympathy and suddenly she couldn't take it.

"excuse me," she muttered, rushing out of the room and heading into her own, locking the door before heading up the fire escape to the roof.

-

when calum finally found noelle (after picking the lock to her door, which was not easy, mind you), he simply let her have a moment.

she was sitting on the ledge of the roof, staring out at the city. her long hair blew out behind her and it was like a painting. he almost didn't disturb her. almost.

"there you are," calum sat next to her on the ledge and she allowed him to. "your door has a hard lock."

"you picked my lock?" she looked at him with slight amusement  and that was when he saw that they were semi-bloodshot. like she'd been crying.

instead of commenting on it, calum shrugged. "you seemed pretty upset."

"yeah, well," she blew out some air. "it needed to be said."

a part of her felt bad. noelle hated blowing up on people, especially her parents, but she was just so done with everything. luke had left, her parents acted like they didn't give a shit, and then they proceed to act rudely towards someone who did. she had bottled up too much.

"i don't blame you," he chuckled. "i'm guessing they don't know about luke?"

"are you kidding? they'd have a heart attack if they knew i was talking to a boy. god forbid, a suicidal boy. they're ridiculous."

the boy beside her simply laughed slightly. she glanced at him and found that he was already looking at her, a small grin on his face.

"you're feisty, you know that?" he teased.

she finally let her anger drop as she giggled at him. "that's all you got form that rant? i'm feisty?"

"well, i mean, i have nothing else to say. you're right about everything. no offense, but your parents don't look like the accepting type."

"agreed," she huffed. "sorry you had to go through that. it was horrid."

he pulled his lips into an upside down smile. "i've been through worse. well, not really, but if you believe it, i'll stick with it."

"totally, calum," noelle nudged him with her elbow. "when do you go back?"

"probably tomorrow," he rubbed the back of his neck. "i expected this to take a few days, but i guess i was wrong."

the brunette girl fell silent. she wouldn't really ever say it aloud, but calum's company helped get her mind off of luke. the atmosphere felt lighter. she wasn't just alone with her thoughts. she finally had someone to confide in after so long.

but don't get her wrong, she missed luke endlessly, calum or no calum. it just felt good to have another presence around. still, even he would leave and she would be alone again.

it was a never ending cycle and she was beginning to think she'd never get out.

+

WHAT? DID MARTI JUST UPDATE TWO STORIES IN ONE (kINDA) DAY? I THINK SHE DID. HELL YEAHHHH. LOL. IF YOU LIGHTWEIGHT SHIP NALUM AFTER THIS CHAPTER I DONT BLAME YOU I DO TOO. LOL JKJK LUKELLE FOR LYFE YO. FOR LYFE.

ANYWAYS i have nothing to say so yeah. here we go.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: what are your thoughts on the amnesia video?

personally, i LOVED IT. i don't mind that it wasn't too sad, it kinda felt like a 'reminiscing on the days before she left' kinda thing and they were adorable so i was satisfied!!!xx