Even If You Don't // Calum Hood

Chapter 23: There's a Really Big World at Your Fingertips

[Kenzie, Vanessa, Kaylynn]

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found, the lost get found

[Kaylynn]

So if you get the chance, are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it
There's a girl on the streets– she's cryin'
There's a man whose faith is dying
Love is calling you

[Kenzie, Vanessa, Kaylynn]

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found, the lost get found

[Mari]

Why do we go with the flow?
Why take the easier road?
Why are we playing it safe?
Love came to show us the way
Love is a chance we should take
I'm moving out of the grey

[Kenzie]

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe

[Kaylynn]

Stand out!

[Kenzie, Vanessa]

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe

[Kenzie, Vanessa, Kaylynn]

Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found, the lost get found

[Mari]

So if you get the chance, are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it

~

Two hours later

"Now that's how you end a world fuckin' tour!" Michael shouted excitedly as the boys came offstage. They all had huge smiles on their faces, adrenaline still pumping through them from the show.

"Michael! Language!" Ashton scolded.

"We're all adults here, aren't we?" he pouted.

"Physically or mentally?" I snickered.

"You know what?" Michael grinned evilly, and I wasn't even given a chance to respond before I was being thrown over his shoulder.

"Mikey!" I squealed in surprise, smacking his lower back playfully as he took me toward his dressing room while everyone else followed, chatting amongst each other.

"Yes, kitten?" he smiled innocently, pushing the door open with his knee. He came to a stop in front of the couch, and I squealed again as I was suddenly tossed onto it. The other boys had taken that moment to grab towels and dry themselves off.

"You're insufferable," I huffed, pushing my hair away from my eyes and looking up at him.

"You still love me," he insisted, leaning down to kiss the top of my head before heading over for his own towel.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Clifford," I mentioned, leaning back against the cushion and pulling out my phone to check the notifications I'd gotten before getting onstage.

"Hey, Mar..." I heard the timid voice of my boyfriend, making me look up. "Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked softly, "Like...alone?"

"Yeah, sure," I nodded.

Calum took my hand and pulled me to one of the empty dressing rooms, closing the door behind me. He let go of my hand to pace, still not having said a single word since he pulled me in there.

"Cal," I walked over to him, putting my hands on his shoulders to make him stop moving and look at me, "What's wrong?"

"I've been thinking...you know...about how this was the last show of the tour and everything..."

"Yeah, I mean, we're all thinking about that," I replied, "We're really gonna miss you guys."

"That's the thing... I was thinking about how you're gonna be back in London and I'm still gonna be in Sydney..."

"I know, but I'm sure we can-"

"I think we should break up," he blurted out. I felt the wind get knocked right out of me, my arms falling back to my sides.

"Break up?" I whispered, already feeling my eyes getting watery.

"I just..." Calum cleared his throat in an attempt to hide the crack in his voice, "After spending the last six months never being apart, I... I don't think we'll be able to handle being 11,000 miles away all the time."

"Oh..." I swallowed, "Okay..."

"So... You understand, right?"

"Yeah, Cal," I started chewing on my bottom lip, "I get it. It's fine."

"Baby girl," he said under his breath, putting his hands on my cheeks, "You'll always be my favorite part of this tour."

"I know," I nodded, reaching up to kiss him. I pulled back so my lips barely brushed his, "I just wish I could have been part of your everything else too." Before Calum could respond, I was out of the room, leaving him alone in the deafening silence.

~

Title/song used: "The Lost Get Found" by Britt Nicole

WELL THIS TOOK A TURN DIDN'T IT