Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 26

"Nat it's not what it looks like," I try to explain but she holds her finger up at me and continues to address Calum. "What is wrong with you? She's dating your best friend, and she's MY best friend do you have any morals you prick?" Nat fumes. "Why do you care what I do? We're not even together anymore!" Calum argues back. "And you think that gives you permission to do whatever the hell this is?" "No, I think that means I don't need your permission." Nat gawks at him and her lip begins to quiver. "What are you even doing here?" Cal asks calmly brushing his hair back. "I... uh... came to get the rest of my stuff." "I moved it all into Luke's room Nat," I whisper and she glares at me with something I've never seen before, a mix of disappointment and rage. 

"How could you do this to me... to him?" "Nat I didn't do an-" "Oh save it!" she says biting her lip. "Natalie I didn't do shit!  The only thing I am guilty on here is trying to get you to meet your favourite singer and for once get Calum out of the house because he's heart broken over you!" I respond bitterly. The rooms goes silent.

"Still?" she whispers staring at the ground but I know it's not meant for me. "You're not exactly easy to get over," Cal confesses. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna g-" "Hey Nat! Vic needs-" Luke calls running up the stairs. He eyes us both. "What's... uh... what's this?" Luke mumbles. "I'm going to go see what Vic wants!" Nat announces her voice breaking a little. She pats Luke on the shoulder when he passes. 

"By the way it smells awful in here," Nat adds making Cal break a smile. I sigh, "I was trying to get Cal to hang out with me, but as Nat so kindly pointed out it smells like inside of someone's TOMS, so I was trying to get Cal to go shower and he decided that he couldn't change in the bathroom." Luke presses his lips together and offers me a small nod walking away. 

"Damn it" I groan scratching at my hair line, but Calum has a smile on his face. "What are you so happy about?" I ask sceptically. "She still loves me," he says. "Cal are you insane? She called you a prick!" I chuckle and Cal shrugs. "She was mad at me, that means she still has feelings for me" "So what you're saying is her being mad at you is a good thing?" I question in disbelief. "The best," he replies quickly. "Huh…" I say trying to understand. "I'm going to win her back!" Cal decided running off. "Shower first!" I call after him. 

Im sorry -Skyler

Me too -Natalie

Hug? -Skyler 

Hug -Natalie

I run downstairs and Nat's standing in the back with her arms open. I grin leaping into them. "I am so so so sorry, I love you!" "Me too, I just got this weird feeling when I saw you guys." "Things have been tense for a while I shouldn't have been there," I assure her. "I shouldn't have assumed, I know you wouldn't ever do that." 

I smile taking a step back. "I just want things to go back to the way they were," I confess and Nat looks at the ground. "Yeah, me too," she whispers. "But we can't go back, we can only go forward. I know that pretending nothing was wrong didn't work, but neither did not talking so..." Nat trails off. "I think we should be friends." Nat nods. "I thought we were friends?" She punches my arm. "With Calum you imbecile!" I squeak and she pulls me into another hug. 

"Luke?" I say getting in bed next to him. "Can you please try not to end up in rooms with a shirtless Calum?" he asks me I sigh kissing his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I love you I didn't think it would cause all this." "I know, it just... it pissed me off, seeing you with someone else." "Luke I-" "promise me that you'll never leave me." 

I bite my lip and he turns over touching out foreheads together. "Promise?" he repeats putting his pinky up. "You shouldn't be worried about me," I assure him locking our fingers together. "I promise."