11: dirty little secret - all-american rejects [i put patty's cover on the side bc as it is are the shit and I couldn't find the original idk]

[also cal and luke on the side bc why not]

= [unedited]

©alum

After Cas, Michael and Ashton left, mum really started having a go at me. She screamed at how irresponsible it was to invite people [and by people I'm pretty sure she meant Michael] into the house without her permission. I tuned out for most of her ranting, though.

"Calum, are you even listening to me?" she snapped, tapping me lightly on the head.

"Yes, mother," I sighed.

"Don't take that tone with me, young man, I've had it up to here with your ridiculous antics! Can't you just stay out of trouble just once, and save me some stress?"

I breathed heavily, but I knew I was going to explode. "Me?! All I did was invite a friend in because she got locked out for the night! It's not my fault tweedledum and tweedledee got drunk and wanted to stop here, is it? They're my friends, mum, and there's nothing you can do about it! And it's not like you're not to blame, you kicked dad out, you stayed out all night again, and you're the one that's gone and got a boyfriend without telling me!"

"I had my reasons, Calum!" she shrieked. "And all you had to do was turn them down, it's not hard!"

She grabbed her coat and bag and began putting her shoes on.

"Fine! Go off to your little boyfriend, see if I care," I said, my voice cracking.

She sighed. "Calum, I thought you'd be more mature about this. He's not my boyfriend, I've just been on a few dates with him. How do you know about all this, anyway?"

"Luke," I mumbled, feeling bad for dropping him in it.

She inhaled sharply. "I see. I'm going to go out for a while and when I come back I want you to be in a better mood. I can't do this anymore calum, we argue like a married couple and you're my son. I expected more from you." She shook her head slowly and walked out.

I slid down the wall and sat in a ball, all curled up. Mum stuck her head round the door.
"Oh, and you're grounded for three weeks."

Great.

=

Of course I didn't listen to my mum about being grounded so I rang Luke and told him to meet me at the skate park in 20 minutes. I grabbed my skateboard from in the garage [I don't use it much but I still know how to board; I mean, who doesn't?] and began riding to the skatepark.

I though a lot, whilst I was pushing the board rhythmically and making sure I kept my balance. I thought about how hot Cassidy was for a while, which I didn't like thinking about because I knew she'd never date me, she seemed more interested in Michael or Ashton or even Luke. I was just the dorky boy that knocked a load of weights over at her dad's boxing club. I thought about whatever was going on between Luke and Michael, but then my mind slowly went back to Cas.

I hadn't known her very long but because I knew of her it felt like I had. I sighed, running my fingers through my hair and pulling my headphones and phone out of my pocket. I still hadn't called dad, which I knew mum was going to be annoyed about. They seem to be getting on okay at the moment. They still don't really speak, but she hasn't bitched about him in a while.

I arrived at the park and Luke was sitting on his board in the middle of one of the ramps.

"Lucas?" I yelled, but he didn't turn around. "Luke!"

I skated over and he turned to face me. His face sill had some bruises on it, but they were highlighted because he was crying.

"Luke, what's wrong?" I stuttered. I'm not very good in awkward situations like these.

"Everything," he said, slurring his words a little. He was drunk, just my luck.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" I asked, sitting down beside him.

"I want michael," he whispered, almost inaudibly. "Please, I just want Michael."

"Okay," I said slowly, switching off my music and opening the contacts app on my phone. "Here, do you want to ring him?"

"I have his number," Luke snapped, standing up and wobbling slightly. "I can't. He's mad at me and... I don't know, I just can't."

"For goodness sake!" I yelled, slamming my skateboard down beside Luke, making him jump. "You're both being so damn secretive and it's annoying the fuck out of me! Just tell me what's wrong! For fuck sake! You're my best friends!"

"Calum," Luke whimpered, and he began crying again, but I couldn't stop.

I curled up in a little ball, struggling to breathe. I was so close to passing out, so I threw my phone to luke. "Call someone, dipshit," I wheezed.

"Who?!"

"I don't know," I tried to yell, but the fact I was struggling to breathe stopped me. "Cassidy! Ring Cassidy!"

I don't know why I told him to ring Cassidy. Perhaps because we both knew her and there wasn't anything shady going on between her and Luke. Also maybe the fact I had a little crush on her. But let's not mention that.

She arrived ten minutes later, breathless and panting. "Calum! Are you okay?"

I'd managed to breathe again and was now sitting in the middle of the skatepark, beside luke, shivering. It wasn't cold, I don't know why I was shivering. What do I know? Fuck all.

"Yeah," I said quietly, standing up.

"Luke sounded scared in the phone, so I rushed over. Are you sure you're okay?" She eyed me suspiciously.

"He's not," Luke giggled.

"I can see that," she rolled her eyes at Luke. "Are you drunk?"

Luke ducked his head, embarrassed. "My brother said it helps, so I stole a bottle of vodka from the cupboard and I've skipped school- oh my God I've skipped! I'm gonna be in trouble," he began crying yet again. "Calum, I'm gonna get grounded."

"It's your own fault," I pointed out.

"Come on, Luke, let's get you home," Cassidy said, pulling him up. "Do you know where he lives?"

I nodded. "Yeah. It's kind of my fault he's out, I asked him to meet me here, so I'll take him back."

"Well I'm out now. You may as well hang with me once we've taken him home," she pointed out.

We walked to Luke's house, not bothering to ride or board because we would've been going at different paces, and luke blubbered on about his drunken thoughts. But the time we'd arrived at his house he was crying again, because he'd forgotten he had maths homework. Luke was not a fun drunk, at all. Cassidy knocked on the door whilst I struggled to keep luke upright.

Jack answered in his joggers, his hair messy and bags under his eyes. "What the fuck do you want?"

"Your brother's drunk," I said simply, shoving Luke into the house. Jack cursed, grabbing Luke by the collar and shoving him into the chair that was by the door.

"Well," he looked at us expectantly. "Are you two coming in or not?"

I sighed and trudged into the Hemmings' house, Cassidy following closely behind.

"Wow," she whispered. "This house is enormous!"

"I know," I whispered back. I was secretly happy she found it big, because that must mean she doesn't live in a giant house or anything.

"I'm gonna put Luke to bed," Jack sighed. "I'm sorry he got shit-faced and you had to look after him. It's kind of my fault, I thought it would be funny to see him drunk. But then he left and- look, thanks for bringing him back. I owe you one."

I nodded and we walked out of the house. I turned to Cassidy. "What do you want to do now?"

Cassidy sighed. "You're gonna tell me exactly what happened before. You had a panic attack, didn't you?"

It was silent for a few moments. "I-I don't know," I confessed.

She nodded, and pulled me into a hug. I smelled the familiar strawberry shampoo, and it made me feel safe. Cassidy makes me feel safe, which is ridiculous considering I barely know her. Why is everything so confusing?

=

Ok ok I was bored I'm home from school bc I'm ill and I wanted to write something

I think this is still on hold, I'm not sure, ok? I'm leaving the on hold chapter up, I don't wanna higher anyone's expectations or anything

Not checked, loads of typos idk I'm ill I have like flu or some shit