7: anthem part 2 - blink 182

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{ew i wrote this but it was ick so I wrote it again and I've decided to keep luke and Michael's secret a secret for a bit longer bc I'm evil trololololol}

©alum

"He acts like one, too," Michael chuckled, and I heard an indignant 'hey!' in the background. "You busy?"

"No, mum's out till late but I'm grounded. Why?"

"Good, we're coming round," Michael said, before hanging up.

I was happy that Michael could come round. I was happy I'd finally be able to meet Ashton. I ate my soup (leaving mum just enough to have when she got back) and for the first time in a while I didn't want to destroy anything. I hoped she wouldn't be back too soon because Michael had a lot of explaining to do.

He didn't bother to knock, he just kind of sauntered through the door with a boy who I presumed to be Ashton trailing behind. He grabbed my shoulders and sent the spoon I was holding flying through the air and it landed in the sink. I almost hit Michael but he was laughing so hard and laughter is contagious. I ended up congratulating him instead.

After I got over my laughing fit, i turned to Michael. "Care to tell me what the fuck's happened between you and Luke?"

"Nope," Michael shook his head. "That's his job. He's really fucked everything up this time."

"I'm Ashton," Ashton said suddenly. "You're Calum."

"I know," I said, grinning. "It's nice to finally meet you, I guess. Are you two dating or something?"

Michael started spluttering. "Does he look gay to you?"

"Don't judge a book by its cover," I shrugged, guessing that meant no. "So you're straight?"

Ashton shrugged. "Yeah. I went out with a boy once but it didn't work out. I like girls."

I nodded, wondering how this turned into a conversation about sexuality. Opening the cupboard, Michael brought out the biscuit tin and helped himself to some biscuits. My mobile started ringing and Ashton passed it to me, seeing as he was nearer to it.

"Y'ello?"

"Calum." My mum's voice spoke down the phone.

"Mother," I mimicked.

"Calum," she repeated. "I'm staying over at a work friend's house, okay? You'll be okay by yourself?"

"I'm not four, mum," I shrugged. I leant over to Mikey and grabbed a couple of biscuits. "I can look after myself."

"Okay," she coughed a little down the phone. "Please don't blast your music too loud, Mrs Green does not like All Time Low, contrary to what you may think. And just because she's old, doesn't mean she's deaf."

"Whatevs, mum," I rolled my eyes and went to hang up. "Love you."

"Calum," mum was starting to freak me out now. She never called me by my name, it was usually embarrassing pet names like 'honey' and 'sweetypie'. "When I come home, I want you to have an open mind, okay? I've heard it helps a lot with anger."

"Yeah, bye mum," I muttered and slammed the phone down.

I had a feeling mum was going to tell me something when she got home, and her news was never good. So I didn't listen to her. I put my All Time Low CD in the player and turned it up full blast. Michael lit a cigarette and we all shared the last packet of biscuits. Ashton's pretty cool.

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Michael agreed to carry on coming round so long as I didn't tell Luke about where he was. I was fine with this for the moment because Luke was grounded for the whole fight thing so I hadn't seen him. It was going to become more awkward when I did start seeing him again. I don't like lying to my friends.

Michael and Ashton payed me visits at the most obscene times. They hung with some girl at the skate park at ungodly hours of the night, then dropped by mine for some food and went home again. I leaned that Ashton had a brother and a sister and lived with him mum, like me. They all love Michael and Michael and Ashton are never there anyway so him couch surfing hasn't made much of a difference. Michael's parents know where he is so they don't have to worry.

I don't think Michael's parents are too bothered about him 'running away' because he was always a bit of a disappointment to them. They are quite snooty and Michael is exactly the sort of person they turn their nose up at. He's never fitted in with his family so they mostly left him alone and let him do his own thing. They also don't like the fact he's bisexual which is stupid. They're pretty stupid people.

Saying that, Michael's never made anything easy for them. He never tried at parties and always managed to make them look stupid. He's stubborn and he doesn't like his parents. I don think that will ever change.

Michael and Ashton didn't talk much about the girl the skated with until one day I saw her cycling away when I opened the door to let them inside. She was called Cassidy, she was homeschooled like me. She was pretty but neither of them liked her in 'that way'. She liked 80's music.

"We always invite her over but she never comes," Michael shrugged and took a drag of his cigarette. "She goes home."

"She doesn't want to intrude," Ashton shrugged, playing with his fingers.

"She doesn't want to go into a random stranger's house probably," I laughed.

She sounded nice. I was glad Michael had other friends now, not just me and Ashton and I suppose Luke but I'm not sure about that. Luke was officially a 'free man' the day after my first boxing session and we were going out for ice cream to celebrate. He told me to order a waffle cone because I always give my cone to him and that's what he prefers. The waffle cones are 20p extra, though.

The things I do for my friends.

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My mum had begun regularly staying at her friend's house and leaving me alone, something which I obviously didn't have a problem with because it meant I saw more of Ashton and Michael. She never actually told me anything the night she told me to keep an open mind. I actually think she forgot about our conversation.

But tonight, for the first time in ages, my mum was at home with me. This was because I had my dreaded boxing class tomorrow so she was making sure I had my 'full eight hours sleep'. Eight hours doesn't seem like enough sleep to me.

I'd watched some soap with her that she liked and she made me a hot dog with mustard and ketchup. I went upstairs afterwards and started playing my guitar. I sung the Phineas and Ferb theme song because I love that show so much. I don't care if it's for kids, I love it.

My mum's always pressuring me to play 'actual music' but I prefer to play stupid songs. The first thing I properly taught myself to play was the spongebob theme tune and me and Luke performed it on one guitar in the school talent show in year 9. We came third.

I heard a knock at the door so I looked out of my window and saw Michael and Ashton standing around. I ran downstairs and flew past my mum to answer the door before her.

"Mum's home," I panted, opening the door.

"Ok. Adios!" Michael turned and walked away. He doesn't like my mum much. Scratch that, he doesn't like adults in general. I'm sure he'd like my dad if he met him though, because everyone likes my dad.

My mind wandered and I realised I hadn't called dad in ages. I grabbed the home phone from the stand and dialled his number, which I knew off by heart. It rung a few times before an unfamiliar voice answered.

"Hello?" It was a girl.

"Hello? Is my dad in?" I asked, feeling shy all of a sudden.

"Calum? It's Mali!" The girl said excitedly. "I'm so glad you called, I've been wanting to speak to you and mum for ages!"

"I call every week," I told her, confused. "Why don't you come to phone then, when mum asks for you?"

"Mum asks for me?" Mali sounded as confused as I was. "Dad says she never does. He says you never do either..."

She trailed off and I heard other voices coming from the other end of the phone.

"Calum," dad answered, breathless. "What's up, man?"

"I'm good. Where did Mali go? I wanted to speak to her, I haven't spoken to her in ages." I frowned at my dad. Not that he could see me.

"Yeah, she had a ton of homework to do, so maybe some other time. Have you started boxing yet?"

"Tomorrow," I said glumly. "I'm not looking forward to it at all. How are you?"

"Good, good. It's all good in the hood, eh?" Dad joked.

"Very funny dad," I rolled my eyes and chuckled down the phone.

I heard a weird noise, like someone crying, maybe a child, and dad cursed. "I've got to go, Cal, I'll speak to you soon. Good look with your boxing!"

"Bye," I stared at the phone as he ended the call. My dad is weird. Almost as weird as my mum.

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The plan was for me to arise bright and early on Saturday morning, ready for boxing which, by the way, was a two hour session. Two hours, I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Of course, this didn't happen and I ended up waking up half an hour before the session started and mum was in an awful mood because of it. It's not my fault I forgot to set an alarm. I was too busy singing the Phineas and Ferb theme tune to remember.

I made a bowl of co co pops and wolfed them down whilst shoving on some random vest and joggers. I looked terrible but it was just boxing so I was hardly going to make an effort. I grabbed an apple juice out of the cupboard and mum gave me some bus money. I kissed her goodbye on the cheek and ran out of the door.

I stopped off at the shop on the way to buy some gum because I was clever enough to forget to brush my teeth. I also bought some gummy worms because I have an obsession.

I got to the bus stop and waited 10 minutes before re checking the tImes and realising there wasn't another bus for 45 minutes. I only had 10 minutes to get to boxing, so I ended up running to the local gym which used up all the energy I'd gained from the co co pops. I was also 15 minutes late.

I tried to sneak in whilst the older dude was talking and I would've succeeded if I hadn't have tripped over some weights on the way over and made a massive bang. Everyone turned to look at me and I heard a few people sniggering. I went red but the guy just smiled at me.

"Hood, right?" He ticked me off on his clipboard and turned to face the group. "Ok, now you're all warmed up, I want you to go back into your partners and find a space around the circle. Calum Hood, come over here a second."

I trudged over to the corner where the man was walking to. "I'm really sorry I'm late. I missed the bus. Please don't tell my mum I was late. She'll kill me." I may dislike my mum but I don't like to see her angry.

The dude laughed. "That's ok, Calum. I won't tell your mum. I'm Neil, but you can call me coach. Because you were late you missed the warm up, so I'm pairing you with my assistant who will get your blood pumping and them you can join in with the rest of the activities."

I smiled but inside I was dying. Not only did I just embarrass myself in front of the whole group, but now I have to get with his 'assistant' who's probably some sweaty middle aged creep in a shell suit.

"Oi!" Coach yelled into the office.

"What?" A voice yelled from inside.

"You're needed, that's what," he snapped. A girl appeared from the office. A very pretty girl, actually. I was self conscious now of the fact I was wearing joggers and a vest. She was wearing a sports bra and some Lycra leggings. "This is Calum, he's the 15th boy. He's got no partner so I want you to warm him up."

He shoved the girl over to me gently. "I thought I wasn't to be needed?" She sneered.

"Shut up and do as you're told," coach said, sounding exasperated. He walked over to a pair of boys who were already trying to punch each other.

I turned to the girl. "What's your name?" I asked her curiously.

"My name? My name is irrelevant. I'm about to become your new human punchbag, let's try not to get too personal, yeah?" She grabbed some tape off the side and began wrapping it around her fingers. "Do a few press ups whilst I sort this tape out. It's a mess."

I did as I was told. When I was done, she actually smiled slightly and helped me up.

"So you're a professional boxer?" I was being nosy but I didn't really care. Caring wasn't really in my vocabulary much, if I'm honest.

"One day, I hope. But for now I'm stuck helping out in this stupid stereotyping gym with my stupid stereotyping dad who's been brainwashed by my stupid stereotyping mother," she sighed. "Sorry, I shouldn't be ranting at you."

"It's ok," I told her honestly. "It's good to vent once in a while."

She nodded and looked out of the window for a while. "I'm Cas, by the way."

"Nice to meet you Cas, I'm Cal."

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Basically the start started off before Cassidy's last Pov but has ended after her pov

You won't understand why she's pissed with her dad bc that will be in the next chapter skipping back in time a bit then Cal's next pov will be carrying on from this

I hope this isn't too confusing lmao

Btw I have had major writer's block and I rewrote all this bc I didn't like it but now I kinda do I tried to make it cute but it's not v cute bc they just met ugh