Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 4

I bite my lip nervously clicking on the link to twitter before dialling Luke's number he picks up on the fourth ring "hello?" he says his voice groggy "hello there sunshine" I reply "hey dork" "so have you been online yet?" I question Natalie watching as I pace around my room "no the band literally just woke up" 

"oh well uh do you have a computer near you?" "yeah" "just um go on twitter" "ok, now what?" "look at the trends" I say weakly berrying my head into my hands "who's Luke's mystery girl is trending world wide." Luke says sounding shocked "this uh this is not good."      

Natalie's POV

"Wait so you and Luke were caught?" I asked shocked.  I felt something inside me stirring.  I wouldn't exactly say jealous, but I wouldn't exactly say mad.  And if anything, I wasn't even any of those emotions towards Skyler.  I was getting just a little bit mad at Calum.  

"Yeah, I don't know how, but Luke didn't seem too happy about it." Skyler said laying back onto the bed.  "But why?" I asked her, laying down beside her.  

"I don't know." she said shrugging.  "Listen I'm gonna go." I said getting off the bed.  "Why?" Sky asked shocked.  "I just have to.  I'll talk to you later." I said grabbing my hoodie and leaving her house, walking down the Glob.  

I got there five minutes later, walking into the actual store.  I heard the door clink, as I stepped inside, the AC refreshing after the outside humidity, the air heavy.

I looked towards the slushie machine before finally choosing my flavours and paying, and walking back outside.  I sat on the edge of the sidewalk, as I sipped on my slushie.  The Glob brought back so many memories, some of which I didn't want.  Like when there was me and Calum fighting here after our first date, then when he asked me to be his girlfriend.

I felt a tightening feeling in my chest, before I immediately stood up and walked home.  Just as I was arriving at my house, Skyler suddenly popped out of nowhere, on her longboard as she cut me off.  "You went to the Glob without me!" she said eyeing my slushie.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.  "Yeah I just needed to um...." "Think?" she asked.  "Yeah." I said.  "Do you wanna talk about it?" she asked and I shook my head bitting my lip.  Skyler nodded, understanding.  "Just tell me if ya need to talk ok?" "Yeah.  I know where you are." I joked trying to not burst into tears at that moment.

I walked back into my house, knowing my parents were out and about running errands.  I ran up to my room and flopped onto my bed, calling Calum.  

"Hey Natalie!" he said, picking up after the second ring.  "Hey Cal." I said not sounding as excited as he was.  "What's up with you babe?" he asked.  I could imagine he was on the Gus Bus, on his bed like I was, and staring up at the ceiling.

"Oh nothing much, but hows the tour going!  Me and Skyler already miss you all." I didn't mention me missing him.  "Great actually!  I can't wait until we come home for good!  By the way, did you hear about Luke and Skyler?"

"Luke and Skyler....?" "The photo that got leaked?" "Oh yeah, heard all about it.  I heard Luke wasn't too pleased about the entire thing." "Oh well, he just wants to protect her, you know, he's one of the most popular in the band, and I guess he doesn't want her getting hate."

I didn't mention anything about us maybe coming to the fans.  It was on the tip of the tongue and I was just about to mention it before Calum said "Oh my gosh babe I'm sorry but I have to go.  We have an interview to head to.  Do you wanna text later?" "Yeah I'll see if I can get the chance to.  I have another shift tonight." I said before I shut the line, not even saying that I loved him or any of that crap.  

A couple hours later I drove myself to the mall, and I stepped into the store dumping my stuff in the back room, before attaching the special ear piece in my ear, and attaching the small box on the side of my ripped skinny jeans. 

Thankfully working at the mall not only gave me major discounts at Forever 21 but I got some discounts from around other stores around the mall.  So I got a ton of new clothes, and always got to look good.

I adjusted my shirt before heading out and getting assigned to work in the changeroom.  "Hey Natalie!" Gail said a wide grin on her face.  Gail was one of my co-workers at the store, and she kept me company since I didn't have Skyler around.  Usually she worked at cash.  

She flicked her bright red hair to the side.  I knew she had it originally black, but I loved her new locks.  She quickly pulled down her new Avengers shirt.  "Ugh I don't why I wore this shirt!  It keeps riding up!" she groaned, pulling her black leggings up a little bit.

I laughed and said "Well I'm gonna have to work in change room anyways, so worst case you can change there." "That's not even funny, but I'm laughing!" Gail said giggling a little.  

The shift flew by, as I continued to help girls, fold, get other sizes, and put back.  I was putting away a shirt and a girl then said "Hey are you the girl who was hanging out with the 5SOS boys?" "Sorry what?" I asked confused, and taken aback.

"There was a girl who took a picture with Calum, Michael, and Ashton, and you were hanging out with them.  Apparently you were good friends with them." the girl said.  "Yeah I was hanging out with them." "Your name was like....Natalie or something?" I pointed to my name tag and said "You got that right."

She talked to me for a little and then left.  It was great that people actually knew I existed.  But I didn't like how they thought I was just "good friends" with "all of them".  If anything me and Calum were very, VERY good friends.  

Finally, the shift ended, and we ushered everyone out, before finally cleaning up some last minute things and shutting the doors.  I finally got out around 10, before driving myself home and slumping myself into bed.