Even If You Don't // Calum Hood

Chapter 5: I'm Where I'm Meant to Be

I did, however, move my arms down from Michael's neck to his waist so I could hug him more comfortably. His own arms repositioned themselves to hug my shoulders as I happily buried my face in his shirt.

"Kay tell you how much I love that song?" I asked him, my voice muffled slightly by the fabric.

"And that you've always wanted to slow dance to it?" he teased, "Yeah." He leaned in closer so he could whisper in my ear, "I think she was hinting more toward Calum coming out here and dancing with you, but he was too nervous." I blushed a bright shade of red, making him chuckle when he moved back and saw it.

"Why would he be nervous over me?" I sighed, "I'm no one to get nervous over."

"Come on, Mar. You're talented and hilarious and not to mention incredibly gorgeous," he said, "He'd be crazy to not be into you."

"That's just a thing people tell their friends," I shook my head, releasing my grip on him and going back to my drum kit.

"A thing people tell their friends when it's true, Mari," Michael followed me, standing beside the drums as I sat down to tune them.

"It doesn't have to be true, it's just to make them feel better."

"It's true and you know it," he stated, coming up behind me and plucking my drumsticks out of my hands.

"Michael!" I exclaimed, jumping up.

"Say it's true," he ordered, holding them above his head so I couldn't reach them.

"Michael!" I whined.

"Say it, Mari!"

I huffed lightly, but I wasn't waving the white flag that easily. I stepped up on my seat so I was taller than him, but he only moved his hand behind his back.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Michael Gordon, if you do not give me my sticks back right now, I swear to God, I'll send one right through your hand later."

"That's not very nice, Mari," he pouted.

"Then give them back!"

"You know what you have to do to get them back," he shook his head.

"I'm not going to say things that aren't true, Michael," I said firmly, crossing my arms over my stomach.

"Then I guess you're not getting these sticks back," he shrugged, sauntering away.

I sighed to myself, getting back down from the chair and going all the way to my dressing room so I could get an extra pair of sticks from my bag. I decided to take a break though, putting the sticks on the coffee table and flopping down on the couch. But I wasn't even give two minutes of peace and quiet before the door opened.

"Kenz, have you seen-" Luke cut himself off when he realized Kenzie wasn't even in the room, his eyes landing on me instead. "Oh, sorry, Mari," he said, "I didn't know you were resting."

"It's okay, Lu," I murmured, "Who are you looking for?"

"Mike. I heard he was onstage with you, but I just checked and he wasn't there. Do you know where he went?"

"Probably went to go annoy someone else."

Luke looked at me for a moment before fully coming into the room, closing the door behind him. He came over to the couch, picking up my legs and sitting down so they were lying on his lap.

"What happened?" he asked, his fingers toying with one of the rips in my jeans.

"Nothing," I sighed, "He just stole my drumsticks and won't give them back."

"Sounds very Michael," Luke nodded, "Why'd he take them?"

"Because he enjoys being a prick?" I suggested, making him laugh.

"I think you just need a nap," he said, "I'm sure Ash wouldn't mind finishing setting up for you."

"A nap would be nice," I couldn't help but chuckle myself, "But there's no way it'd be quiet long enough for me to fall asleep."

"How about you go sleep on the bus? No one will be allowed on unless it's me coming to wake you up for show time." I thought for a moment.

"No one will come on?" I asked.

"No one," he confirmed, "I'll have Bryan guard the door if I have to." I giggled softly, making him smile. He stood up, turning around and holding his hands down to me so he could pull me to my feet.

"Thanks, Lu," I told him. He kissed my forehead, grabbing the drumsticks from the table and leading me out of the dressing room. He walked me to the back door then to the bus, opening the door for me.

"See you in a couple hours," he said as I climbed on before closing the door behind me and leaving to find Bryan.

~

sorry it's pretty uneventful, i just wanted something to post since i haven't done so in a couple months (although when i started writing this, i knew that was gonna happen :/ ) but since calum's birthday is tomorrow i figured i'd post something

Title/song used: "I See The Light" from Tangled