"And my bank roll got a big dip..."
__

Calum knew this was going to be a shitty day when he slipped into Ashton's car that next morning hungover as fuck.

"You fucked, too?"

Calum only nods, closing his eyes and pulling his hood over his head. The light hurts. He's got a headache. The world sucks.

"Here," says Ashton, handing him a cup of McDonald's coffee. He's got his own in his hand, another for his friend. "Thought you might be."

Calum takes the coffee gratefully as Ashton pulls from his driveway. He sips, allowing the hot liquid to burn his throat and work its magic and maybe, possibly take away the pounding and discomfort fucking up his whole morning.

"Watch Luke not even show up, today."

Ash snorts, eyes on the road. "Watch me sleep all day in my car."

__

"Whoa," Kennedy begins, as Luke makes his way towards her and Royce outside their Calc classroom. "What the hell happened to you, Luke?"

He only shakes his head. He's got his hood on over a snapback and a pair of aviators over his eyes.

"Don't wanna talk about it."

Kennedy is frowning.

"You guys went to a party last night," Royce asks, folding her arms, "Didn't you?"

Luke pauses. "Yeah."

"What? You did?"

Luke winces at the noise.

Kennedy turns to her. "How'd you know?"

Royce freezes momentarily.

"Butt dial," she shrugs innocently. And she turns to stare pointedly at Luke. "Your friend called me last night. Sounds like you guys had a good time, huh?"

"Wouldn't actually call it a 'good time,'" he says. "But, I heaved my guts this morning," he adds. "And last night, so I'd say that was a shit ton of fun."

Royce shakes her head, chuckling.

She wouldn't be surprised if Calum didn't show up, today.

So, when he does shuffle sluggishly into the classroom ten minutes into the period, Royce is more than a little surprised.

"Hey..." She whispers, as the lesson continues, despite the glare Sister Mary Magdalene has shot him from the whiteboard.

He nods. "Hey...." He slips into his seat beside her. "What'd I miss?"

"Test next week," she sighs. "After that, we review for finals."

And he curses softly, nodding anyway. "Fuck."

Royce looks from the board to her notes. "Y'alright?"

Calum reaches for his things.

Their voices are barely above a whisper.

"I mean..."

"'Cause I called you last night," she says.

Calum can remember exactly when Royce called him and his brows pinch. "I know," he replies. "My phone died."

She nods.

"I'm sorry."

She turns to him. "It's okay," she grins, looking up from her notes. "Just wanted to make  sure you were okay, y'know?"

And Calum curses himself mentally for lying to her again, especially because Royce was only trying to help him out of a shit situation.

He hadn't meant to lie.

Well, he kind of did.

Mostly, he did, but he was starting to feel worse each time he withheld from her the truth. He was starting to feel like he was fucking up her trust in him, or something.

But, each time Calum thought these thoughts, he reminds himself that he's not Royce Greene's boyfriend, and she isn't his girlfriend, and they're only having sex.

He doesn't even want a fucking girlfriend.

Because, what? Why would he want to answer to some chick? Why would he want to give up parties and his friends and going out?

They're only having sex.

They are only having sex.

But, he keeps his hood up anyway, because he doesn't want Royce to see his hickies.

__

At lunch, Royce can't find Calum so she sits with her friends at the table she used to sit at a lot more than she does, now: with the cheerleaders and athletes.

She stabs at her salad and listens absentmindedly to Kennedy attempt to convince Lola to go camping as everyone else seems to talk about the only thing anyone had been talking about lately, and that was Jesse's season-end party.

And, speak of the devil, Jesse brings over his lunch, sitting on top of the table across from Jesy and Jade and Paige at the same table as Lola and Kennedy and Royce.

"You guys coming?"

And the girls are all nodding as Jesse turns pointedly to Royce, the only noticeably silent girl before him.

"Are you coming, Royce?"

She looks up from her salad.

She hadn't been listening.

"Huh?"

Jesse laughs along with the older girls.

"Earth to Royce," Jesy grins.

"What're you over there thinking about, Royce?"

Calum.

She doesn't say this, but the answer is, Calum.

"Nothing," she replies. "I'm just really tired."

Jade laughs. "When aren't you?"

But, the truth is, Royce had stayed up last night waiting for him to call or text her back, 'cause even when he was just texting to bother her, he still never just ended the conversation without either of them battling for the last laugh.

And his texts had kind of concerned her. Sure, she knew he was a partier, and yeah, while it was weird to her that anyone'd be out partying on a Wednesday night, this was Calum she was talking about and none of those things phased her anymore.

What did phase her - unfortunately; dammit - was the fact that Calum looked kind of out of it and worried and guilty in class and she was bothered - unfortunately; goddammit - that he was worried and guilty and out of it possibly because of something that had to do with her.

"Can I invite a friend?"

Jesse turns, taking his attention from Royce and placing it upon Kennedy, now.

He shrugs. "Sure. Who, Kenn?"

"I mean, he goes here."

Jesse laughs. "Then, m'pretty sure he's already invited."

Kennedy lifts a brow. "Really?" She asks. "'Cause he told me he wasn't..."

"Oooh," Paige grins. "It's a boy?"

Jade grins, too. "S'it a boyfriend, Kennedy?"

Jesse rolls his eyes. "Who is it, Kennedy?"

"Luke," she says. "Luke Hemmings."

Lola chokes on her water.

Royce officially checks into the conversation.

Paige wrinkles her nose. "Eew."

"Yeah, eew," adds Jesy with a frown and a hair-flip. "Why'd you want him to come?"

She shrugs. "We're friends."

"Okay, new question then," continues Paige. "Why're you friends with Luke Hemmings?"

"C'mon," interjects Lola. "Leave her alone. He's probably not-"

"Not what?" Jade interjects. "Not a low-life stoner freak?"

And Jesse shakes his head, patting Kennedy's exposed arm. "Aw, sweet little Kenn," he grins. "I keep forgetting you're new."

Jesy laughs. "That's not how things work here."

"Luke Hemmings is not the type of guy we associate with."

Jade nods. "And neither should you."

___
It's after school when the girls are headed to practice that Paige corners her younger sister in the locker room.

"I've got a favor to ask."

Royce groans, rolling her head around on her neck. "Oh god, Paige..."

"Double date with me," she says. "Please, Pops? Zayn asked me out, and--"

"What?" Royce turns. "He did?" And now, she's excited for her sister. "Way to go, Paige! You fucking did it."

Paige grins wider. "I know, I know, and I've got really good news, too."

"About what?"

"You," Paige laughs. "Zayn's really really good mates with Liam and--"

Royce's heart sinks. "And?"

"And, they want to double, Royce," Paige snorts. "Isn't that great?"

"Uh..." She sighs. "Um, okay."

Paige drums her fingernails upon her arm. "Why don't you sound excited?"

"I am," Royce exclaims, forcing a smile that Paige doesn't buy.

Royce shakes her head quickly. "So," she says, "what day are we going out?"

___

Calum: Wyd this weekend?

Royce's fingers linger upon the keyboard.

She's just come from practice and she's back in the locker room, changing with the rest of the girls.

She grabs her phone.

Princess: Umm...

Her phone buzzes.

Calum: You should coem over

Calum: *come

He sends a devil face emoji.

Calum: **cum

Royce rolls her eyes.

Princess: I'M DONE WITH YOU THAT IS IT

He texts back immediately.

Calum: :)

And she replies.

Princess: Gross

And now, so does he.

Calum: sorry about ditching you at lunch

Calum: I was sleeping

(He took a nap in Ashton's car. He also really didn't want Royce to see his hickies.)

Princess: lol

Princess: I know how important your sleep is

She laughs, pressing 'Send.'

Calum: haha

Calum: I can make it up to you

Calum: this weekend

Calum: if you want

Calum: :)

Royce pauses.

Then, she types.

Princess: And I can't

Princess: depending on the day

Princess: Sorry :(

And Royce puts her phone down, only so she can finish changing.

As she pulls her hoodie over her head and slips into her pants, her phone buzzes in her bag.

Calum: What???

Calum: You've got other plans?

When Royce sees these texts, she feels the pang of instant guilt.

Princess: Yeah...

Princess: I kind of have a date

Calum reads these words and curses out loud.

"What the actual fuck?"

She's got a date?

A date?

With who?

He's pursing his lips, a bad taste in his mouth.

No.

No, he doesn't want to know who she's going out with.

He types back, have fun princess, and Royce can feel the shade in that text from across the school in the girl's locker rooms.

He quickly receives a new text.

Princess: are you mad?

Again, Calum stares at his screen.

Mad?

Fuck yes, he was mad, and he was really mad because he really had no right to be.

He texts her back.

Calum: it's your life

He's pissed.

That much, Royce can tell.

"What the hell, Royce," Lola laughs, as she notes her friend hurrying to change and throw on clothes and pack up her gym bag. "Where the hell're you hurrying off to?"

"To meet a friend," she says hurriedly, slipping on her coat and running a hand through her hair and making sure she looks at least presentable so she can go find Calum and talk this out.

Because, Royce realizes, as she hurries from the locker room and power walks down the halls, even if he won't admit it, and even if he may act like he doesn't care, Royce does.

Royce, despite everything, cares about Calum Hood.

And she finds him in front of his open locker and thanks her lucky stars that the hallway is empty.

He's alone.

"Calum," she exclaims, and he turns instantly.

He catches her eye and frowns deeper. "What do you want, Royce?"

She holds up her phone. "To talk to you."

He snorts. "About what?"

"Umm," she pauses, stopping in front of him to read his last text, "how about, 'it's your life.' How about we start there?"

He clenches his jaw. "What's there to talk about?"

Royce shakes her head, laughing. "Are you mad? You're mad because I have a date?"

He slams his locker closed and steps towards her. "I don't give a fuck who you date, Royce."

Royce stares back at him, matching his glare. "Then, why're you pissed, then?"

He scoffs, turning away. "I'm not pissed."

"Yeah," she smirks. "You are."

"Fuck off, I'm not."

"Then why're you frowning, then?"

"I'm--" His scowl deepens, and Royce laughs. "Seriously Royce, why don't you fuck off?"

"Why don't you tell me that it's bothering you Liam asked me out?"

Air seeps from his lungs. "Liam?" He exclaims. "That's the prick you're going out with? That idiot, Liam Payne!?"

Royce lifts a brow. "I mean...yeah?"

"Typical! I forgot you only liked meat-heads with trust funds!"

"I thought it didn't matter who I dated, Calum!"

He turns angrily. She had him there. "Whatever."

Now, Royce side-steps in front of him. "Why don't you just admit it, Calum?"

He snorts. "Admit what, Royce?"

"That you care," she says. "If you don't want me to go out with him, then-"

"Then, what?" He asks. "You won't go?"

"I mean..." And Royce shrugs, the word, 'No,' on the tip of her tongue before Calum shakes his head.

"That's what I thought," he snaps.

"Calum, what?"

"You know what, why does it matter anyway?" He exclaims. "We only have sex, right?" He yells, and he doesn't know why he's yelling or why he's upset or why this matters so much to him that the girl he fucks occasionally is going out on a date with someone else. "It's just sex, isn't it?"

Royce places her hands on her hips, never breaking eye contact. "And can you honestly say that that hasn't changed for you?"

"What hasn't changed?"

"This," she says, and she looks down at her phone. "I don't know...Us."

"What about us?"

She laughs, exasperated. "That," she throws up her hands, "I dunno--Like, we aren't just a little more than fuck buddies? Not even now?"

And Calum stares her down, regretting the lie as it leaves his lips. "No."

And Royce lets out a bitter laugh. She blinks rapidly, because she almost doesn't believe him. "Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine!" He snaps, angry now at her and himself. "Have fun with your rich boyfriend."

"Whatever," she shakes her head. "Fuck you."

"What?" He snaps bitterly. "I fucked some girl last night. It's just sex, right?"

Royce's eyes widen in shock. "What?"

"Yeah," he shrugs, and her look of pure, doe-eyed shock has made his chest hurt more than her decision to fuck around with that dipshit, Liam. "Go on your fucking date, then."

She grits her teeth. "Why can't you just admit that you're upset?"

"What does it matter?" He snaps, staring into her eyes. "I'm not your type, right Royce? You've made it perfectly clear that your sister hates me. I'm just your ticket to a 4.0."

Royce's eyes are wide. "Where's this coming from?"

"Where's this coming from!?" He throws his head back. "Don't play dumb, Royce; you're smarter than that," he hisses. "You and I know that I could never be a guy you'd like," he says, admitting the truth more to himself than her. "So, don't pretend that you like me. You don't like me," he says again.

And Calum watches as Royce's brows pinch, that same unreadable expression flashing across her face that showed up in his bathroom when he was working for his goodbye kiss.

He pauses, faltering for words because she says nothing.

She only looks away.

"You don't like me," he says, stepping closer.

And closer.

"...Right, Royce?"

His heart is beating heavily in his chest.

"Right?"

And now, Royce's eyes are flashing.

She's furious and hurt and mostly hurt, but to Calum, her anger masks that hurt.

To him, she's simply furious.

"You know what? Go find another girl to fuck," she grits, before she turns on her heel and stalks away.

Calum doesn't even try to call out to her.

He knows she won't even turn around.

Why should she?

Why the fuck should she?
__

Calum knew this would be a shitty day.

He knew he should have stayed home.

He probably should've skipped all day and slept with Ash in his car.

He probably should have just stayed home.

He probably shouldn't have lied to Royce.

Fuck Royce.

No, he fucked up.

But fuck her 'cause she was going on a date?

No, but he should've been honest.

He should've told her he didn't want her to go out with Payne.

Did she like him?

She couldn't. She doesn't.

Royce Greene doesn't like him because she could never like him.

Fuck Royce.

Fuck.

"Cal? You good, mate?"

He looks up. "Yeah? Why?"

"You look sick," Ash laughs, rubbing his eyes as he pulls in front of his house. "You look like you're gonna like, puke or something."

Calum grabs for his bag. "Oh."

"Still fucked from last night?"

Calum opens the passenger side door. "Yeah," he nods, jumping from the car. "Yeah, I am."

__

gif of jesse aka colton haynes.

Happy new yearrrrrr!!!!!

about the money || ti ft. young thug