"What's another night on Mars?

With friends like ours, anywhere is home..."

__
"What the fuck, Paige?" Chris chuckles, "Chill."

"Yeah, Calum's cool," says Tobe, dapping him up. "Please. Please tell me why you always hating?"

"We're just here to drop off the car," Royce turns before her sister can respond. And she growls through clenched teeth, "I've got your keys, remember?"

She squeezes Calum's hand, "Wanna wait for me right here? Guys," she turns to her brothers, "can you chill with Cal for a sec?"

The boys nod, only because Royce's questions are more of a request.

"I'll watch over him like an angel," Tobe pipes. "I'm friendly. He likes me."

And Calum cracks a smile. Honestly, if Tobe weren't one of Royce's siblings he wouldn't know what to do sometimes.

"Tobe's babysitter," Chris chuckles, and he turns to leave the kitchen. "I'm going back to bed."

Calum decides he really likes Tobe.

The kid is awesome for an underclassman. He's really smart and funny, and talks a lot of shit about his siblings, especially Paige...So, Calum gets comfortable quickly as he waits for Royce to return with the keys and they can go.

Because he's ready as hell to go.

Fuck waiting for this movie night. He's down to chill, now.

Unfortunately, he really doesn't know what to do with himself once Tobe leaves to "pee real quick, dude," leaving him to himself, by himself in the kitchen.

He really doesn't know what to do once he starts to hear the voices.

They're coming from the hall, the hall outside.

And they're soft -- barely above whispers -- so Calum has to strain a bit to hear the words being said. As the conversation gets heated, however, he doesn't have to strain all that hard.

Because those soft, heated words are about him.

"Y'know what, I knew you were into him."

"Oh my god, Paige, are we doing this now?"

"Why didn't you fucking tell me!? You should've told me, Pops!"

"Why? So you could be bitchy like you are now?"

"You know who he is, right? You know he and his friends do all types of shit that you shouldn't be anywhere near, right? Shit, Poppy! It's like, I'm trying to help you and you want to call me the bitch?"

"Yes! Yes, 'cause Calum isn't like that, Paige."

"Oh, please, Poppy! Spare me the 'you have to get to know him' bullshit! He's fucked up just like his trash friends--"

"God. You're so wrong it's ridiculous! Please, Paige can we just drop this? I'm like, actually begging you now."

"Begging? Begging like he and his friends do after school on dirty street corners?"

"Hey! Don't start. Do not. Money isn't everything, Paige."

"Says who?"

"Says me! Did you forget where Daddy came from? Where Chris and I came from?"

"Look," she hisses, "I just want the best for you, Pops--"

"Then let me make my own decisions, Paige! God," she cries. "You and Chris...you keep trying to protect me, but from what? I'm sixteen. I have to grow up sometime, don't I?"

"I don't want you to get hurt, Poppy! And guys like, like that can and will only hurt you."

"Well, FYI, Paige, I like him, okay? And there's nothing you can fucking do about it."

And Calum jumps backwards, away from the voices in the hall.

And, believe it or not, he's kind of smiling to himself.

Because despite everything, hearing Royce say those words makes him smile.

She defended him.

Like, in front of her sister, too. She stuck up for him in front of the one person he never ever thought she might stick up for him in front of, and that meant a lot to him. That meant that they didn't have to keep whatever they had going a secret. That meant that she was open to giving him a chance.

A real chance.

And he's smiling to himself, waiting for Tobe to come back when he stops, smile falling with the entrance of another Greene that isn't Tobe...or Royce.

Because it's Paige.

And she corners him in the kitchen.

"Hey, you."

He turns. "I do actually have a name, y'know:"

Paige snorts, walking towards him. Her arms are folded, eyes narrowed. "Oh, that's funny," she states. "You think your opinion actually matters."

Calum blinks. "What?"

"You think that you actually have a chance in hell with my sister. Well, lemme tell you Hood, you don't."

Calum blinks, shocked by her boldness. His mood shifts completely, his smile gone.

He regains composure quickly, as Paige leans against the island and sizes him up.

His fists clench as the words sink in.

You think that you actually have a chance in hell with my sister.

"Actually," he nods, "I do, and--"

"And?" Paige laughs. "Give me a break. This is real life, Hood. You think Royce is really gonna go for someone like you? You think she's not gonna finally come to her senses after this," she flicks her wrist dismissively, "this fling of yours is over?" She tuts. "Shows how little you know her. She's got more self-respect than that."

"No, the problem is you don't know Royce. You want her to be some copy of you and she's not. She's not caught up in labels or, or any of that other shit that doesn't matter. She's not shallow."

"And she's also not an idiot," Paige snaps. "You think she's gonna hang around you and your sex-crazed, druggie friends forever?"

His jaw clenches, and damn it he's trying to stay calm, but it's getting hard as hell. "You don't know me well enough to say something like that."

"Oh, please. I know enough."

"I--I care about Royce," he exclaims, and the sudden outburst even catches Paige off guard.

"What did you say?"

"I care about her," he continues. "And I'd fucking never let anything happen to her. Never. So--"

"So?" Paige laughs. "So, you're a bad boy with a reputation. And, what? What, you think you're in love? You think you love her? Grow up."

"I--" Calum shakes his head, cursing himself. "I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to," and Paige turns towards the sound of Royce's approaching footsteps. "And she may have feelings for you," she nods, "but they'll fade. You know why?"

Calum opens his mouth, but Paige doesn't give him the opportunity to respond.

"Because she'll look up and realize that you're never gonna go anywhere in life. You'll be nothing, and she'll finally see what I see--what we all see."

And Calum has, at this point, had enough.

"Thanks, Paige," he nods. "I look forward to proving you wrong."
___

"Sorry again about my sister."

"Royce," Calum laughs, "this is like, the fourth time you've apologized."

"I know," she replies, staring ahead as she drives her dad's Volvo towards...wherever is away from her house. "I just..." She frowns. "It just bothers me."

Me too, Calum almost says, but doesn't.

"Jesus...I'm sorry my sister's the devil."

"Royce," he grins, "You're not her."

"I know, just--"

"Royce," and he reaches out and grabs her hand. She stares at their intertwined fingers with surprise, watching as he rubs small circles along the back of her hand with his thumb. "Seriously. You're not Paige," he says. "That's why I like you. Not her."

"But, that's the thing," and he feels her tense. "I want everyone to like you. Remember dinner?" She wrinkles her nose and Calum can't help but smile at how adorable she looks.

"I remember."

"I just--"

"Well, so far Paige's the only one who hates me, right?"

"I mean," she sighs, "I'd assume so..."

"Awesome," Calum grins. "As long as I'm sitting between you and Tobe, I think I can make it."

There's a short laugh. "I mean--"

"Royce...Poppy..."

She groans.

He laughs, "Princess--"

She snorts. "Haven't heard that one in a while."

He squeezes her hand. "Got to keep spontaneity in the relationship, babe."

And Royce giggles. "Oh my god..."

"I know, I know. You really don't have to tell me how great I am. It's fine."

She only grins, shaking her head at him before turning to stare ahead.

She winds the car towards Lola's, through The Bluffs.

And Calum is kind of tired of The Bluffs, no offense. He's sick of people like Paige acting as if they knew him. He's sick of people judging him for his reputation alone.

"You okay?"

He turns. "Huh?"

"You're kinda squeezing the life out of my hand," she grins.

"Oh god, sorry..."

"It's fine," she replies. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I..." He lets out a sigh. "I'm fine."

"Y'know..." She hikes a brow, "I really really wish you'd stop lying to me."

He freezes, the sudden wave of nausea overcoming him at the thought of stealing drugs from Jesse Fisher.

He forces a smile. "I'm not lying."

"Yeah, right."

"I'm sparing you the truth," he frowns. "The whole, long, fucked up truth."

Royce gives his hand a gentle squeeze.

"You know who you sound like?"

"No...Who?"

"Christian," she says, "and Paige."

"Ha!" Calum laughs aloud. "Not possible."

"Then you're gonna have to stop keeping things from me to spare my feelings," she says. "Because that's what they do. All the time. And I hate it."

Calum chews at his lip. Would she prefer then to know about Snake? Or Emma and Michael and Jesse...?

He didn't think so.

"My mom's here."

The statement catches him off guard. They were just talking about him, and now Royce has brought up her family, again. "Your mom?" He asks. "Or your mom?"

Royce snorts, choking on a laugh. "Dina," she clarifies. "Her."

"Oh," Calum nods, and like always when Royce brings up her biological mother, he's got a billion extra questions to ask and can't seem to find the one that won't get Royce to shut down and stop talking.

"Yeah..." She chews on her lip. "She wants to come over, or something. I don't know. I don't really care."

"I mean..."

Her eyes flicker his way. "Yeah?"

"I mean..." And he lets out a sigh, "You know," he pauses again, "you know you can't keep running from her forever," and he smiles reassuringly at the sight of her little frown, "Right?"

"Doesn't mean I can't try."

"Royce..."

"I know, I know," she sighs. "It's just...God," she shakes her head, "it's just--"

"Hey," he begins at once. Today isn't the day to do this, not now.

"It's winter break," he continues, "We took a fucking AP Calc final this morning. Can we just--?"

"Yeah," Royce nods. "Yeah, you're right."

"Thanks, Poppy," he smiles as they squeeze each other's hands on the center console. "I..."

And Royce puts the car in park in front of a house that seems even bigger than Royce's.

Calum's mouth falls. "Is this--?"

"Lola's," she nods, turning into the culdesack and parking behind the familiar white Range Rover and Kennedy's Mercedes. "It's massive, isn't it?"

"Says you?"

She smacks her lips. "Whatever," she jokes. "Let's go. It looks like the girls are already inside."

"Oh. Em. Gee!" Calum claps his hands together, hopping from the car. "L.O.L. B.F.F. Movie night!"

Royce tosses her keys at him, rounding the car. "I literally can't stand you."

"Wow," he picks them up, scoffing. "I hope you know, you're never getting these back."

Royce folds her arms after ringing the doorbell. "Yeah," she rolls her eyes. "Okay, Hood."

Calum grins, "Sounds like someone doesn't believe me."

"You're right," she rings the bell again, smirking, "I don't."

"Alright," and he slides the keys down the front of his pants, thrusting against her -- she laughs aloud.

"Calum!"

"Come get 'em."

"No." She rings the bell again. And she laughs as he continues to hump her with her dad's keys in his pants. "Could you stop!"

"You don't want these," he humps her hard from behind, "back, do you?"

"Please," she scoffs, whirling around. "I could if I felt like sexual harassment charges."

"It's not harassment. More like, like a favor."

"Favor?" She rings a third time, falling into the door as he thrusts against her again. "Cal!"

"You don't want your keys."

"You're so extra."

"What, Royce? What?"

"Stop playin' games!"

"They're warm, now--"

"What's warm?"

And Calum and Royce both turn because Ashton's at the door, a toothpick between his teeth as he leans against the frame.

"You guys are weird," he grins. And he eyes Calum's awkward bulge in the front of his pants. "And you might wanna take care of that, mate," he winks. "Royce can help."

"That's what I said!"

"Shut up, you two," Royce grunts, pushing past Ashton and into the house.

"What? No hello, Royce?"

"Hey, Ash."

"Just hey?" He asks, closing the door behind them as Calum laughs, following behind Royce. "I thought we were better friends than that, Roycie."

"Wow," she halts at the edge of the foyer. "We're at nicknames now, Ash?"

"Yeah, babe," he winks. "And I heard Calum's got a couple to share."

"Hey! Hey, he's lying!" Calum exclaims as Royce shoots him a dangerous glare.

"Good-bye," she groans, following the voices into the kitchen.

____
Scary movie, or nah?" Lola asks as she flips through Netflix.

They're all in the basement, curled up in pillows and blankets with pizza and candy and her dog and wine bottles and snacks before the giant plasma television.

"How about, or nah," Kennedy says. "I fucking hate scary movies."

"Aww, babe," Luke coos. "You'll be safe in my arms."

"Luke, your arms are noodles."

"Stringy," Ashton adds, "like spaghetti."

"Pale, like you've got a Vitamin D deficiency."

"Weak, like Spongebob's."

"Hairy, like your pubes."

"Gross-!"

"Okay, c'mon," Luke exclaims, as the room grows loud again with laughter, "that's fucking great. Real fucking nice."

"Are they blonde?" Royce asks with a grin. "Like, are they they same color as your hair?"

Ashton chokes on the wine in his hand. "His pubes?"

She nods. "I'm just curious," she motions towards Calum, "'cause he's practically hairless."

"Royce!"

Ashton chokes again. "I'm going to die."

"Maybe you should ask Kennedy, then," Lola grins slyly, "if Luke won't tell you what color his pubes are."

Kennedy chokes, now. "I wouldn't know," and she grabs candy from Luke to throw at Lola's head. "So suck it, bitch!"

"I was kidding!"

Luke laughs. "Kennedy doesn't know," he replies, grabbing to pop the button on his jeans. "Look," and he pulls down his pants and his boxers a bit. "See? Blonde. Happy, now?"

Royce nods, satisfied as Calum stares at her. "Why did you want to see his pubes, again? 'Cause I'm offended," he says. "I think I should be offended."

Lola whistles. "Trouble in paradise?"

Royce flips her off and makes kissy faces at him. "You're the best, babe."

"That doesn't answer the question, Royce."

"I dare Kenn to lick your pubes."

"Ha ha," Kennedy snorts, "Funny, Ash."

"Good one!" Lola exclaims. "Fuck Netflix. Let's play Truth or Dare."

"Ha ha," Kennedy snorts again. "Funny, Lols."

"I wanna play," Royce nods. "I wanna see Kennedy lick Luke's weird pubes."

"Thanks, Royce! Make fun of me," Luke snaps. "We're no longer friends. That's fine."

She laughs, "I was kidding!"

"Sure. Go on. Yeah, make fun of me, 'cause I'm the most normal in the bunch of you freaks."

"I'm the most normal," says Lola. "So we can stop with the lies, Lucas."

"Ha!" He throws M&M's at her head. "Nice one."

"Ow! Fuck off."

"Yeah," snorts Royce from her seat besides her. "He's right. That's a lie."

"Don't try to be friends with me now, Royce!"

"Luke! Luke, I was joking!"

"Sure, Royce."

"Yeah, Royce you can't talk. You're definitely not normal either," Calum laughs.

She gasps. "Et tu?"

Lola snorts. "You wanted to see Luke's fucking pubic hair, you freak."

"Yeah," Calum crosses his arms, "and it's concerning me greatly."

"I literally only asked if it was blonde!"

"Lola's too mean to be normal," Kennedy interrupts. "So, that pretty much means she's not."

Ashton chokes again on the wine in his hand. "Fuck," he whines, "you made me stain my Metallica shirt!"

Luke throws more candy at her. "You're a fucking weirdo, Lola."

"Luke! Stop throwing candy at me!"

"Can we watch something not scary?" Kennedy exclaims from the floor besides Freddie. She's stroking his curly white hair, "Let's watch a kid's movie. Those are the best."

Royce sits up. "Like Home!"

"Like, no," Calum snorts. "I wanna see something scary."

Lola purses her lips. "Thank you! I'm not six, anymore."

"Guys," Royce exclaims, "I'm here for a cute, brown-skinned girl and her alien companion and cat friend trying to get the alien home! I'm here for that shit."

Kennedy raises her hand from the floor. "Same."

"Same," Calum nods, "I'm for it, too. Just not tonight."

"Fuck you, man."

"Don't pretend like you don't love it, babe."

Lola scrolls through the movies. "Let's watch The Conjuring."

"Seen it," Luke calls. "It's not that scary."

"How about Insidious? I'll watch it again."

"Nah," Ashton shakes his head, "that sucked."

"What about Paranormal Activity?"

"You got the last one?"

"Uh..." Lola shakes her head. "I don't think so..."

"Let's like, watch Scandal, or some shit," Kennedy calls. "Like, give me a show to binge watch."

"Actually," Ashton nods, "I'm with it."

"Yes," Royce nods. "Let's do it."

Lola shrugs. "Alright," and she tosses the remote to Luke. "I've gotta pee. You pick."

"We need more snacks, then," Royce announces, as she reaches for an empty bowl of popcorn. She nudges Calum, then, as Luke flips through tv shows on the gigantic movie screen and settles for something called 'Hemlock Grove.'

Royce grabs his hand. "Come with me," she says, and he nods silently, rising from his seat to follow behind her, bowl in hand, up the stairs and into the kitchen.

Calum jumps to sit upon the counter as Royce grabs for bags of microwaveable popcorn.

"I know I said this before, but this house," he looks around the gigantic kitchen, "It's fucking massive."

"Honestly," Royce nods.

"Like..." Calum blinks rapidly, "she's got a fucking movie theater downstairs, and--"

"And she's here by herself most of the time," Royce adds, watching as the first bag spins in the microwave. "So, there's always a catch."

"I don't know," Calum laughs, "I think I'd rather live here by myself than--"

"Than?" Royce shakes her head. "Than what?" She snorts, "You know, Lola used to sleep over at my place 'cause her parents were always gone. She'd bring her dog and everything. Her nanny used to drop her off."

"Rich kid problems."

Royce nods. "My family was hers. My mom and dad were hers, too. Still are, honestly."

Calum stares around at the gigantic room. "Where are her parents?" He implores.

"Umm, L.A. I think?"

"Really? Why?"

"Because they'd rather be there than Seattle, obviously," Lola states blandly, startling the two in the kitchen. "Because it's not like they have a daughter, right?"

"I don't--"

She waves him off. "It's fine," and she forces a tight-lipped smile. "I'm used to it," she sits up on the countertop beside him, motioning with her head towards the microwave. "Kettle corn, or--"

"Regular," Royce replies. "Want something else?"

"Ash asked for kettle corn," she grins, rolling her eyes with another snort. "I figured he'd told you before you left."

Royce shakes an empty box. "Tell him we're all out."

"You tell him," she laughs. "He'll cry if I do."

Calum coughs into his hand, "Doubt it."

Lola slaps him.

Royce laughs aloud.

Calum shoved Lola, "When are you gonna stop pretending like you aren't dating?"

She grins.

"Maybe when Royce explains why she wanted to see Luke's pubes."

___

sorry this took so long guys my computer broke again and i'm dying. it's so hard to write this shit on my phone.

buuuut TeaIsForTimi has a #fivedaychallenge going and i got tagged in it and so if you wanna read, check out my new story 'Cheap Thrills.' It'll be done in five days lol.

another night on mars || the maine