"Here I go, scream my lungs out and try to get to you..."
___

By the time Calum leaves that night, Royce hasn't left his side since she's done dishes.

"What'd my sister say to you?" She demands.

"What?" Calum shakes his head, waiting with her outside for his Lyft to show up. "Nothing."

"Are you su—?"

"Royce," he laughs, "I'd tell you if she did, okay?"

Lies.

But this one, Calum thought, wouldn't hurt.

And he really weighed his options, too.

Calum knew exactly the fuck Paige said, but he knew how well Royce was doing tonight—she's gotten through an entire dinner with Dina—and he didn't want to blow all her calm and good karma by instigating a fight between her and her sister.

The thought of Royce fighting Paige on his behalf kind of made him smile, though.

But he wasn't going to share that information, either.

He gets to school the next day and...and, it's quiet. It's quiet like the school got when finals and senior acceptances to colleges all came out. It was quiet like no one even paid Calum any mind as he walked from the bus stop up to campus. It was quiet like there was something going on...and that was unnerving in itself.

But, he swallows this thought because he's looking for Royce.

And he catches sight of her, pulling her books from her locker.

She's alone, which is weird, because usually Kennedy and Lola would be swarming her, asking a billion questions, wondering what the fuck has been going on with her because that's what girls did, he thinks.

Honestly, though, Calum thinks, he's just happy to see her at school.

He didn't realize until this moment how he'd grown so used to seeing her every day—and it was more than him just seeing her; it was like his day became dependent on Royce. She was that variable of change for him—she had become a key factor to his happiness at this place. And, for the past few weeks, it was as if everything had shifted; thrown completely off-balance as things weren't necessarily right between them.

He was glad that all of that had changed.

He was more than glad to see things go back to normal.

It's funny, really, that he had been trying so hard to avoid her. At the beginning of this year, if you'd asked him about Royce Greene he would have had very little to say. He had been so intent on never interacting with the Royce Greene who cheered and lived a life so different from his.

At least, that's what he thought before, wasn't it?

Getting to know this girl—truly getting to know her—had honestly been the highlight of an otherwise sucky year.

He walks up on her, startling her as he leans heavily against Kennedy's locker. "Boo."

She jumps, grinning at the sight of him. "Hey, you."

"Hey, you," he replies, leaning towards her and dropping a kiss on her cheek. "The fuck is it so quiet today?"

"How 'bout...who gives a shit?"

"Spoken like a true cheerleader."

"Ha--!" She snorts. "If I even am one at this point. That's probably what everyone's talking about," she sighs, "The team's supposed to deliberate this week."

"C'mon, babe," he sighs. "Positivity, man. Positivity."

"I..." Royce sighs again, "I know, but..."

"But?"

"Honestly," she throws up her hands, "I don't fucking know at this point."

"Paige is your sister. She's not gonna kick you off the team, Royce."

"But Jesy and Jade and those other bitches don't give a shit. And I threw a drink in Jesy's face..." she deadpans as he laughs aloud.

"Wish I could've been there for that."

"...I doubt they're gonna promote me after that one. Besides," she continues, "they see me hanging out with you and your friends and Zayn sometimes and they probably think I don't want to cheer anymore."

"Your sister knows that's not true."

"Y'sure about that?" She laughs. "She isn't exactly your number one fan, y'know?"

"But, she's yours..."

Royce snorts. "Sure, Cal."

"..and she's Zayn's, right? I doubt she'd--"

"Be that big of a bitch?" Royce interjects. "'Cause, lately? I'm not too sure."

"Royce, Royce, Royce," he reaches for her, pulling her into a hug, "If you can get through a family dinner, I'm pretty sure there's nothing you can't take on."

"So, lately you've been amazing and supportive and I don't think I know what to do with this amazingness and support."

He laughs aloud. "I'm fuckin' great, man. The greatest. Been trying to tell you."

"Eew, stop being coupley and cute."

"Seriously. It's gross."

"But," Calum frowns, tapping his lips as both Lola and Kennedy approach with Luke, "I thought both of you were fucking my friends, so...?" He points his eyes to the sky, making Royce laugh out loud. "What's gross, again?"

"Hey!" Kennedy exclaims, "That's only Lola!"

"Kenn!"

"Please," Calum snorts, pointing to her hand in Luke's, "You two are like, an item now, don't lie to me."

"You said fucking," Luke clarifies. "We are wholesomely dating."

"You did, in fact, say fucking. In fact," Kennedy taps her chin, "the words you used were, "fucking my friends," she grins. "That is, in fact, not me."

"That is," Luke nods, "in fact..."

And he points to Lola.

Royce and Calum scream at Lola at the very same time, "You hooked up?"

"Tell the whole fucking school why don't you?" She hisses . And she shoves Calum away from the lockers; Luke cracks up.

"Wait, wait," Royce giggles, "Did I call this shit or what?"

Calum reaches out for a high-five. "You did, though. You did."

"I just wanna know," Royce grins mischievously, high-fiving him back, "when?"

"Excuse you?" Lola begins, "We're not about to talk about me when you've been practically M.I.A. for the past week."

"Heh..."

"Yeah," Lola shakes her head, "What's been up? Where the fuck have you been? It's like, Calum hasn't even known shit each time we ask about you..."

"Seriously, Royce," Kennedy begins, "that's not even an exaggeration, and you know how extra Lola can be."

"Okay, wow," Lola rolls her bright eyes to the ceiling, "I kind of can't handle a roast today, thanks."

"Look, guys," Calum interjects, "it's not...she hasn't been ignoring you, it's just--"

"I've needed to get my life together," she sighs. And she smiles up at her boyfriend, "But, I don't mind giving you the rundown, because you're right...I have been missing in action."

"Um, at break?" Lola suggests.

Royce nods. "It'll be storytime."

"It's about time, Missy," Kennedy begins, "'Cause you've got some s'plaining to do."

___

"Let me get this straight," Lola squints, "You know that girl; the drug-dealer's daughter; that chick? The blonde--?"

"Emma," nods Royce, only a few hours later.

"'Cause your biological mom and her dad were in the same rehab facility?"

Royce nods again.

Both Lola and Kennedy are both uncharacteristically quiet.

"Shit..."

It's the passing period between their free and lunch, and Royce stands, leaning against the lockers with her girls and her boys and...she talks.

She tells them almost everything transpiring over the course of the past few days; from Zayn and skipping classes and catharting to Dina and Emma and The Diner. She tells them about Calum helping her find closure and all of the crying she'd done. She updates Lola and Kennedy, who didn't know anything about these relationships and she fills in the pieces for Luke and Ashton and Michael, who knew bits and pieces of this story, but didn't know the full extent of her history and her family and the outcomes transpiring since.

And it's a lot, but it comes easily this time. For the most part, she's been able to find some sort of silver lining. For the most part, she didn't mind sharing with this group the things going on in her family.

Growth--this was definitely personal growth, because Royce's personal life and her life at school truly did not mix.

Until now.

"I know this isn't any of my business..." Kennedy begins quietly, "but you could've told us," she smiles sadly. "Like, you don't have to keep shit like this to yourself, Royce."

"We're your best friends," Lola tuts. "I don't give a shit who your mom is or what the fuck happened in the past."

"We love you," adds Kenn, and Royce starts to swell with emotion--She didn't exactly know what her friends would say to all of this, but she sure wasn't expecting all of this.

And she blinks in shock as Kennedy throws her arms around her shoulders, squeezing her into a hug.

"You were the first friend I made here, Royce," she murmurs, squeezing her tight to her chest. "You're the sweetest and the prettiest and the reason I signed up to cheer," she continues softly.

"You're like, always there when I need you," adds Lola, as she joins in on this group hug, and there are two dark heads of hair now in Royce's face. "And I'll--we're always gonna be there, too. Okay?"

"And if you don't know by now that you're the only reason I don't skip class with, well, with them," she jerks a thumb over her shoulder at Ashton and Luke and Calum and Michael, "then I don't know what to tell you."

"Thanks, Kenn," Luke mutters. "Love you too, babe."

"Shh, shh," Calum begins, grinning as the girls hug it out and Royce's eyes fill with water, "They're having a moment."

"Thanks," Royce squeaks, allowing herself to be squished

"Seriously, though," begins Lola, pulling back and placing both hands on her shoulders, "Don't ice us out. Let us help."

"Mom is right," Kennedy grins. "Let us help," she cocks her head sideways, "Please?"

And Royce can't believe that she's close to tears again, but she is.

Shit.

She nods, grinning, wiping at her eyes and sniffing a little bit. "Okay," she nods. "I won't."

"Promise?"

"You'd better fucking promise."

"I promise," she nods, laughing now--welcoming this laughter, too, because she couldn't deal with all of the emotions and the crying she'd done lately. She was running out of fucking tears.

And that's when the boys must start feeling excluded or some shit because now they're being obnoxious and jumping around them and clapping and being total shitheads.

"Yay, promises!"

"Yay! Yay! Friendship!"

"Yay, Lola hooked up with Ash!"

"Yes! Lola hooked up with me!"

"Oh my god," Lola's face is beet red. "You guys are seriously the worst, why do I even know you?"

"Yay, Lola knows us!"

"Yay, Lola's my best friend!"

"Yay, Lola's in love with me!"

"Ashton..." Lola rolls her eyes but she's still red and Royce is laughing so hard now she can't catch her breath. "You're the--"

"Best," he opens his arms to her, "I know, babe. I know."

"You guys," Royce laughs alongside the boys, "are my favorites."

"Of course," Ashton laughs. "Of course we are."

"So...?" Royce raises an eyebrow as she points between him and Lola, "When did y'all hook up?"

Blood rushes to both of their faces.

Ashton giggles nervously, "So..."

"How 'bout we don't...?" Lola says, clearing her throat. "Let's just--"

"Wait, Royce?"

They're literally saved by Michael, who looks to Royce with a concerned expression. She was definitely the least close with him, but he did give her much-needed information when she'd asked for it.

And he was cool with Tobe, her baby brother, her favorite. That wasn't something she could just forget.

"Yeah?"

"You, uh...?" He rubs the back of his neck, "You talk to Emma lately?'

She shakes her head. "Not really." And she raises a brow. "Why?"

"Yeah" Calum interjects, stepping behind her, "Why?"

"'Cause," Michael begins, "she's trying to go to this fucking party, this one Jesse's throwing, and--"

Royce's nose wrinkles. "For what?"

"To rob him."

"What?"

"Okay, we don't actually know what the fuck she wants," Ashton interjects, "But, knowing Emma, it's got to be bad."

"Like, she thinks life is a movie with Jason Statham."

"Or like, The Rock."

"She's gonna Ocean's 11 his ass."

Royce shakes her head, "Those are poor examples, but I think I get it."

"She literally wants to stage a heist," Luke states. "Or murder him. And I'm a hundred percent not here for it."

Royce blinks. "For what?"

"To get back at him," Michael says, "'Cause his dad's the reason hers is locked up."

And Royce nods with knowing. "Lemme talk to her."

Michael perks, "Can you?" He asks, and Royce remembers that night, that night at that party. It seemed so long ago in her mind, but she clearly remembers Michael with Emma--they were arguing back and forth but...there was more there than an argument. They were friends, and by the looks of things now, Michael might have cared about this girl more than he wished to let on.

And it makes her think of this past year with Calum. Like, sometimes the most unlikely people show up in your life and help, even when you don't think they can, make it better.

Maybe she and Emma had more in common than she even knew.

"Yeah," she nods, because if Kennedy and Lola could be happy with Calum's friends, then who was to say that Emma couldn't be either? "I can."

And the thought hits her at once.

"Hey, guys?"

Everyone turns to her.

Calum wraps his arms around her shoulders. "What's up, princess?"

"I think it might be time for us to camp."

And Kennedy throws her head backward and yells, "Yaaaaaasssss."

__

"I thought you hated camping."

"I do," Royce replies as Calum swings their hands between them. "But, I owe Emma one, and--"

"Okay, first of all, how do you owe Emma anything?" He asks, ignoring the stares of their peers. It's the end of the day, it's loud again in the hallways, and he and Royce are giving people things to talk about.

They're dating?

...or is this like, a joke?

Calum, actually, didn't care what people were saying. Actually. Today had been a pretty good day.

"She helped a lot lately," she replies as they stop at her locker. "With my mom, especially," she grins, "even with you."

"That...can't make sense."

Royce laughs, "Well, it's the truth and she needs this," Royce replies. "Just like you like to tell me I run from my problems? Well, so does she."

"You two are not the same, Royce."

"Okay, no," she laughs, "but we have similar...traits, I guess?" She scrunches her nose.

He taps it.

"Hey!"

"That was adorable," he replies. "And you're not like Emma, so stop saying it."

"Okay, but we've got similar habits, maybe," she pauses, grabbing her books from her locker, "Both of us had parents with drug addictions," she whispers, "We've bonded."

"Ugh," Calum groans dramatically, "but if you like her I've got to see her..."

"Your friend Michael likes her. But," Royce nods, "I do think she could use a friend."

"She should stop being such a little shit, then," he mutters.

"Okay..." Royce nods, "True, but--"

"But?" Calum laughs. "There's a but, Royce?"

She laughs aloud, "No," she shakes her head, closing her locker and hefting her bag over her shoulder. "No but's."

"Didn't think so," and he kisses her forehead. "Call me later."

She nods, grinning.

And then she pouts, "Help me with math tomorrow, please?"

He bites his lip, "Yeah," he nods, grinning. "Of course."

"Yay," she giggles, and he only shakes his head.

"Bye, Princess."

"Bye, Cal."

And Calum is still smiling to himself, as he grabs things out of his own locker. Royce truly never failed to amuse him, and he jumps, startled from his own thoughts and good mood when there's a loud slam besides him.

He looks up and leaning against the lockers beside him is none other than Paige.

It's Paige Greene.

It's his girlfriend's older sister.

Calum's mouth opens and closes.

"I said we needed to talk."

Calum shakes his head. He's so surprised by this moment that he hasn't even found the words yet. He doesn't even know what the hell he's going to say.

Paige rolls her eyes. "It's about Royce."

"Look," Calum begins, because now all of a sudden she's mentioned Royce and he had been having a good day, "if you're still waiting on me to fuck up with her, you can keep waiting."

"Believe it or not," she shakes her head, "that wasn't what I wanted to say to you."

"Yeah?" He raises a challenging eyebrow.

"Yeah," she snaps back, "so shut up before I change my mind."

"I didn't ask you to come over here."

"But I have, haven't I?"

He slams his locker, walking away, "And you think everyone gives a fuck about your opinion."

"How'd you do it?" She calls. "How the fuck did you get Royce to see Dina?"

He stops, frowning. That was not at all what he expected her to say and looks around, grateful that the hallway is empty.

"What?"

"You're the only one who's ever been able to get Royce in the same room as Dina since our parents got married and I've been trying to get her to see her for years," she sucks on her teeth, rolling her eyes to the sky, "Like I haven't been here trying to get her to work things out with her mom but somehow I always end up looking like I don't give a shit and that's not true..."

Paige frowns, almost like she didn't really mean to say all that...especially not to him.

She shakes her head, "And I want to know how you did it."

"I--" The true answer to her question was long and complicated, and he knew not to tell her the truth.

Calum shrugs. "I dunno, really."

"You're lying."

He shrugs again. "Maybe."

Paige stares at him, long and hard, and Calum is about to speak because he really didn't have time in his day to be harassed.

"Th--thank you."

He blinks again, frowning, floored. "What?"

She turns, "Thank you."

And Calum stands there, waiting for her to say something negative or tell him what a fuck-up he is or threaten his life if he touches her sister, and so when the threats don't come or the hateful comments don't come and Paige leaves her statement at 'thank you,' Calum blinks.

Thank you.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done with Paige Greene?"

She rolls her eyes, chuckling.

And that light falls from her eyes and she glares at him like she typically does.

"Fuck up with her and--"

"And you'll kill me," he nods. "I know, Paige."

"As long as you know," she sniffs before she turns and walks away.

And Calum almost leaves it at that. That was a fairly positive interaction for someone who hated him, and Calum almost lets that be it and go his own way and mind his own fucking business but then...

"Hey, Paige!"

She stops, groaning as she spins on her heel down the hall, "What, loser?"

"She doesn't..." He sucks on his teeth, "She doesn't hate you, y'know. Royce, I mean. She's just..." And Calum can see Paige's expression change and soften.

He shrugs, "She's just waiting for you to stop being such a bitch."

___

Who made this manip because it's so cute?

Comments and votes are appreciated lol :)

only one || yellowcard