"Has he got enough money to spend...?"
__
"Can I take your car?"

"Huh?"

"Can I take your car, today? I have a final."

"Uh..."

And Royce rolls her eyes, watching again as Paige's eyes droop close; her sister drifting off to sleep.

"Paige!"

"What!? Huh?" She sits up, rubbing her eyes, hair all over the place. "What, Pops?"

"Can I take the car?" She asks again. "I've got Calc--"

"Yeah, yeah," Paige sighs, laying back down in bed. She pulls her covers up to her shoulders, eyelids heavy. "But I'm going to Zayn's this afternoon, so--"

"So, I'll be back," Royce grins. "I got it, I got it. Thanks, Paigey," she whispers, before closing her sister's bedroom door and tiptoeing down the stairs.

It's seven-thirty AM the morning of her last final, and Chris, Tobe and Paige are all sleeping in because none of them have a math final to fucking take.

It's all her.

So she gets to take the Audi this morning.

She tiptoes down the steps, grabbing her bag and shoving the notes she'd left from the night prior, after she'd come home from Lola's, into the tote. She's got her long hair braided in two today, the platts falling over her shoulders upon her PINK hoodie. She's in jeans and Uggs today, because it's her last final and the school allowed free dress during finals week.

She can smell coffee from the kitchen.

"Morning, Daddy."

Her dad turns, grinning. "Mornin' Royce," and he motions towards the coffee pot, "Thought you might want some coffee before your last final."

She grins, allowing her dad, still in his pajamas, to wrap her up in a hug. 

"Want me to test you?" He asks, pulling away with a smile. "Need help going over some last-minute notes?"

"I think I'll pass," Royce replies, reaching for the coffee and a tumbler, "Literally and figuratively."

"That's my girl."

"Thanks, Daddy."

As close as Royce was to Theresa, she was still a daddy's girl. And a big one.

But, still...

"You're not gonna want to hear this, but--"

Royce lifts a brow. She stirs her coffee, "But?"

"But," her father begins, "Dina reached out to me and--"

Royce groans loudly, pursing her lips. "Good bye."

"Royce," her dad's voice is stern. "She wants to do something for you guys -- the four of you, actually -- but, mainly you and Chris."

"For what?"

"For the holidays, Royce. It's winter. It's Christmas. When's the last time she's seen you, let alone for the holidays?"

"Exactly," she snaps. "I can count the Christmases she's spent with me on one hand, Daddy. You can't miss what you've never had."

____

"Almost done?" Calum mouths to Royce. She's sat across from him, at one of those folding tables in the gym. Everyone's been spaced a student apart to minimize the possibilities of cheating.

She locks eyes with him and nods.

"Last page," she whispers, and Calum grins, shooting her a thumbs up before he rises from the table.  He ignores the looks their peers are giving him -- those angry glares both frustrated and curious as to why he's talking, and to Royce of all people.

But, Calum isn't thinking about all that today. Honestly, he's fucking happy as hell. He's done. Finals are over, and Royce is nearly finished too so he can ask if she wants to go out once she's finished. Knowing Royce, she'd double check her work after she was done, so he had some time to kill before he figured they'd leave campus.

He turns in his paper, and Sister Mary Magdalene eyes him curiously as she takes his test from his fingers.

"Have a good break, Mr. Hood," she says.

"You do the same," he replies, eyebrows furrowed. "Merry Christmas."

Her lips are pursed slightly. "Merry Christmas."

And Calum thinks, "What the fuck's her problem?" before he hefts his backpack over his shoulder and exits the gym.

His friends are done.

Well, Luke and Mikey are. Ash is still in the gym with Royce and Lola and Kennedy.

Calum debates whether or not he should just wait for them outside. It was like, nine and he was hungry. Maybe breakfast? Maybe the girls would be down. Maybe he could convince them to drive to his side of town. Maybe they could take them away from The Bluffs for once.

His phone buzzes as his footsteps take him down the hall.

Luke: done?

He texts him back.

Calum: Yeah.

So, then, does Luke.

Luke: At the lockers

So, that's where Calum goes. And he meets Luke and Michael in front of their lockers.

And there's Jesse...and his friends, too.

Calum walks in on the middle of a conversation.

"--well, boys," Jesse grins, Liam and that Harry kid flanking his other sides, "Looks like we did it. One half of junior year down, am I right?"

Michael scowls. "Don't think anyone asked you."

"Don't forget," he interrupts, pointing between the three of them, "I'm throwing my annual Christmas party to celebrate," he pats Michael's cheek roughly, "Wouldn't want you to miss it."

"Dude--!"

And Luke grabs Michael, keeping him from lunging at Jesse. "Since when do we get an invite to that uppity shit?" He sneers. "Didn't think daddy let you invite anyone who didn't live in The Bluffs."

"Hey, it's Christmas," he replies, arms outstretched. "Don't be such a Scrooge. I fucking love giving to the less-fortunate."

"You piece of--"

"So let's put aside those nasty differences, 'ey Mike? Water under the bridge, and whatnot," Jesse shrugs, "You can come," he sneers, "just leave the sewer rat at home."

"You're the only animal I know, you stupid bitch."

"Oh, then maybe I wasn't clear," Jesse replies. And he leans closer, "Leave Emma in the piss-soaked streets you found her in, capiche?"

Michael matches his glare. "One day, you're gonna eat those words."

"Yeah?" Jesse smirks. "Today's obviously not that fucking day."

And about five minutes later, Ashton joins them in the hall.

"Holy shit..." Ashton exclaims happily. "Dudes...We're fucking done!"

"Good," Michael nods at Ash. "You're here."

And Ashton looks between them. "I mean, I know you can't live without me, but..." He runs a hand through his hair, "you're kind of creeping me out."

Luke snorts. "That's 'cause Michael's creepy."

"Fuck you, Luke," Michael scowls. "This is why I don't come to you for help."

Ashton folds his arms. "What the fuck're you talking about, Mikey?"

"I need a favor."

"What happened to not coming to me for help?"

"Luke, I'm gonna kill you, I swear to god--"

"Do it. Can't ask me for help if I'm dead, right?"

Michael rubs his temples. "Shut the fuck up, Luke."

"Can we focus for like, five seconds?" Calum scowls. "Who needs this favor, you?" He asks, "Or Snake?"

"Last favor," Michael says. "This's his last favor, I promise."

And Calum snorts. "Figures."

"Look, I promised Snake I'd--"

"You promised Snake, Mike. This has got nothing to do with us."

"Pretty much."

"Yeah, I'm--" Luke runs a hand across his face, "I'm so done, dude."

Michael sours instantly, "What the fuck? What the actual fuck? You're my mates. You've suddenly forgotten we're in this together?"

"Last time I checked," Calum laughs bitterly, "your license didn't get suspended, mate."

"And we aren't friends with Emma."

Luke rolls his eyes. "Like you didn't already know that."

And like that, Calum gets a new text. And Calum can see that it's also been sent to both Ashton and Luke. 

Unknown: Hey. It's Lola. Movie night at my place tonight@8. Wanna come?

"Look," Michael begins again, and Calum pockets his phone, "I promised Snake I'd take care of Emma, and I'm gonna do it--"

"So?" Luke demands. He's kind of over Michael's shit. "So, what do you need us for?"

"Yeah," Calum sighs, shaking his head, "I don't know what you need, but anything Emma related doesn't sound good."

Ashton nods. "I already can't drive. My mom's already pissed..." He sucks hard on his teeth, "She already thinks I'm a fuck up, I can't keep..."

"I'm out," Luke says. "I'm not. I can't."

"Yeah," Ashton nods. "Not this time, Mike."

And Michael turns, facing Calum, now. "Well?" He demands, blue eyes icy. "What about you, then? Are you with them, or are you actually gonna be a real friend and help me?"

And Calum shakes his head. He barely knew what this favor was and already he felt like he needed to sit it out. Emma? Snake? Since the beginning, he knew it wasn't smart to be messing around with drug dealers, but their daughters, too?

"I can't," he says, because not only would his mom kill him if he got sent to jail, but Royce'd move on and she'd probably start dating someone else...someone like Liam. "I," he turns away, staring across the hall, "I can't do it, mate."

And Michael nods. "Wow," he grits, tongue in cheek, "Wow. So nice to know my best friends don't give a shit. Real fucking nice."

"Dude," Luke calls, his voice echoing in the empty hallway, "Enough. Like, seriously, Mike. This isn't about friendship. If you were our friends, you wouldn't have dragged us into whatever the fuck you got into with Emma!"

Michael shoves him. "Oh yeah?"

Luke staggers back, glaring. "Yeah," he replies, shoving him harder.

And Michael trips and falls, the sound of his body hitting the metal lockers reverberating loudly--Calum bets Royce can hear it all the way in the gym.

"You--You fucking prick--"

"Screw you, Mike. You know what?" He hefts his bag on his shoulder, "find me when you wanna pull your head from Emma's ass and be our friend again."

And he walks away.

Calum and Ashton follow.

"Hey. Hey!" Michael calls after them.

And Calum pulls his phone out again, about to text Royce and to text Lola back, when Michael says the only six words that get him to pause.

"Don't you have bail to pay?"

The boys slow.

"Don't you have Kenn to pay back?"

They stop.

"The payout is well worth it."

Calum whirls around, "Did you forget that we're already doing fucking community service?" he exclaims. "My fucking Saturdays are already spent picking up trash on a highway and," he purses his lips, "I can't fucking drive. For like, six more months!"

Ashton throws up his arms. "You forget, I'm not actually trying to go to jail, mate."

"Jesse's got a stash," Michael says. "And Emma wants -- no," he shakes his head, "she really fucking needs it.

"And she doesn't even want to smoke it," Michael continues. "She'll let us do whatever the fuck we want with it, once we've got it."

"Got it?" Ashton scoffs. "What is this, The Town?"

Calum shakes his head, "Yeah, Mike...What the hell're you saying?"

Ashton steps forward, "Am I gonna have to like, actually steal from Jesse Fisher?"

"Technically," Michael shrugs, "yes."

"Fucking--"

"And lemme guess," Luke rolls his eyes and stares angrily at the ceiling, "we've got to be the dumb fucks to do it."

Calum laughs. "You're out of your fucking mind."

___

"What about that movie night?"

Royce turns, her steps slowing in the hall.

"Hey," she grins, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I thought you were with the boys?"

"I was," Calum says, frowning at the memory. It was winter break. Things were supposed to be good. He was supposed to be stress-free with no school, not stressed out with plans of committing a crime...Holy shit, this was gonna end so badly...

But, Kennedy did actually pay for them to get out of jail. He did actually need to pay her back.

But, like this?

No way.

He hadn't said yes and he hadn't said no. He just...God, this was...this wasn't...

No.

No way.

Fuck.

"Yeah?" Royce cocks her head, staring quizzically up at him. "You alright?"

"Fine," he replies.

"You're sure?"

And he nods as Royce continues to stare at him. He wishes she'd stop, honestly. He didn't want to talk about it. Not now. Not with her.

"Okay..." She replies slowly. "Were you waiting on the boys, or--?"

"Nope."

"You sure--?"

"Yeah, I ditched them," he grins, catching up to her to throw his arm around her shoulder. And he quickly changes the subject, "You headed to Lola's?"

She shakes her head. "I gotta go home first," she shakes Paige's keys. "Somebody needs the car."

"So...?"

"So, my mom's gonna let me take hers," she nods. "I just have to switch."

Calum nods, "You need a car, babe."

She hums, stutter stepping to rise to her toes and kiss his cheek. 

Calum flushes. "Is that a yes?"

"That's a yes," she giggles, poking his cheek. And she continues to grin, smiling up at him, "You're adorable when you blush."

"C'mon," he groans as Royce only laughs harder.  "Guys don't blush, Royce."

"So," Royce nods, "what does that make you?"

He pulls away. "Oh my god..."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," she grins, bursting into laughter again. "Come back, Cal!"

He shakes his head, watching as she has to jog to catch up to his long stride.

"What, Poppy?" He smirks. "I can't hear you."

"Shut up, Calum."

"What? You're fast. You ran track. You cheer."

She chokes. "I hate you," she says, and before he can respond to this, she's grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the white Audi. "Now, c'mon before I change my mind about this ride."

"You wouldn't."

She wouldn't.

But, still.

And she gets into the car and plugs up her phone to the speakers.

"Hey," she begins, "remember Simple Plan?"

Calum gasps, "Do I know Simple Plan?" He scoffs. "Of fucking course I do. Of course I know Simple Plan."

"You're honestly so extra," she laughs. "I can't stand you."

He grins, smiling with a scrunched nose.

Royce rolls her eyes, trying not to smile as "I'm Just a Kid," plays through the car speakers. 

I'm just a kid
And life is a nightmare
I'm just a kid
I know that it's not fair
Nobody cares
'Cause I'm alone and the world is
Having more fun than me
Tonight...

And Calum lets out a little sigh because his life really is a nightmare and it really really is fucking unfair as hell.

Seriously, this wasn't Ocean's Eleven. He and his friends weren't professional anything. They were kids. He was seventeen. He liked math...most times, and playing the bass. He wasn't a conman and he wasn't about to rob someone, just because Emma said so...

"Hey, Cal?"

He jumps in his seat. "Yeah?"

"Are you alright?"

"I mean," he shakes his head, "theoretically..."

"Theoretically?"

"Yeah," he nods, "because I got in here expecting to listen to Yellowcard and you switched it up. I'm surprised.  Theoretically."

Royce laughs. "What can I say, I'm spontaneous," and she eyes him through her long lashes, "even though I know you're not alright," she replies. "Theoretically."

"I mean--"

"It's fine," she waves him off. "I get it. You don't have to talk about it."

"I..." He falters. "Thanks."

She smiles, and her smile somehow makes him feel both better and worse.

He should tell her.

He should.

Should he?

Yeah. Yeah, he should tell her.

And Calum's thoughts keep him from fully paying attention to the ride. They're parked outside of Royce's house when he finally opens his mouth to speak.

"Royce, I--"

"Wanna come chill?" She asks suddenly.

"I--" He blinks. "What?"

"I mean, I know it's kind of awkward, 'cause, y'know, my mom knows and all but we can hang out in the living room. Y'know, and watch tv and stuff for a while...?"

Calum grins. "You're cute when you're nervous."

"I'm not--" And Royce can only sigh, giggling softly as Calum lifts a brow, "Way to use my words against me."

He takes her hand and squeezes. "Yeah," he nods. "Y'know, to answer your question. We can chill...if your parents won't kill me..."

"My dad doesn't even know," she says. "That's kind of why my mom wants you over for dinner."

He salutes her. "Got it," and he pushes open the door, "Well," he motions towards her house, "let's go."

And Royce grins, taking his hand again and leading him to the house. She takes him to the back, entering through the kitchen door.

"I've been here before."

She snorts, pulling out her key. "That you have."

And Royce walks right into the kitchen.

And to her surprise, into Tobe, Christian and Paige.

They're standing around the counter, all three of them

"How's the final, Royce?" Asks Chris.

Tobe nods. "What's up, Cal?"

And Paige wrinkles her nose. "What the hell are you doing here?"

__
ready for movie night? I am :)

normani is honestly gorgeoussss. heart eyes <3

comment and vote.

xx

m.o.n.e.y. || the 1975