Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 26

"Don't you remember?  Out on the street when you guys finally came to Sydney with 1D?  And those girls came up out of nowhere and Calum couldn't even tell them I was his FUCKING girlfriend?" I say and Calum sighs throwing his arms up and says "You're STILL hung up about that!?" "Thats what crossed a line Calum.  You did so much before that too.  You just kept hurting me, but I put up with it.  And then I didn't want to take your shit.  And I'm sorry I have enough self-respect for that." 

"Yeah but look at how fast you moved on.  Went off with some JOCK right away!" Calum retorted.   "YOU'RE SERIOUSLY BRINGING CAMERON INTO THIS?!  HE'S GONE CALUM!  GONE!!" I yell.  Ashton then says "Stop FIGHTING for crying out loud!  Just fucking make up already!" 

I look at them and say "No.  I'm sorry, but I knew something was gonna happen when 1D came along to pick you guys up.  It wasn't that I didn't want you guys to go.  I mean, you guys have accomplished so much!  Really you have!"  I can feel tears welling up in my eyes again.  "But I hoped that nothing would change between me and Calum.  I really didn't expect to lose my boyfriend along the way." I choke out.

"I'm still Calum Nat.  Please, you've gotta remember that I'm still the Calum you fell in love with.  I know that you're still the same Natalie I loved, and still do." Calum says coming back to me, holding my face in his hands.  "You're still as beautiful as ever, as smart as ever, hell even more stubborn." he whispered and I looked at him and said "And you're just one hell of a liar to me." 

Calum closes his eyes and sighs.  "The Only Reason was about you too." he says and I feel a tear slip.  I suddenly realize those lyrics and I feel a pit form in my stomach.  "I'm gonna win you back.  I swear I will...." Calum whispers and he's leaning in, glancing at my lips and I push him off of me before saying to Luke and Ashton "Sorry guys I'm gonna go."

I then turn to Calum and say "You're lucky I didn't slap you.  Again."  I then run out of the studio dialling Sylvana.  "Hey Natalie!" she says cheerily and I feel a lump in my throat and say "Hey." "How's it going?  Please tell me you got that surprise!" "Yeah I did." "Perfect!" she says and I'm silent.  "Natalie somethings up." "Just....can you come and get me?  I still have a couple things to pick up here and it'd be easier with the car." 

"Yeah yeah of course Nat.  Do you wanna talk about it?" she asks, concern in her voice.  I then begin to sob quietly and she says "Listen I'm on my way, you hang in there yeah?"  I sniff and whisper "Ok thanks." "I'll be there soon alright?" Sylvana says before I shut the line.  

I go into the house and up the stairs, it's all familiar.  I go into Luke's new room, seeing a small cardboard box and a couple plastic bags of stuff.  I sigh as I walk over and pick the box up, before trying to grab the other bags too.  "Need a hand?" Michael asks leaning against the doorway.  

I look at him and nod.  Michael comes over and picks up the plastic bags and we walk down the stairs together with the stuff.  Skyler looks up from her spot on the kitchen island seeing I have the last of my things.  "You're gonna take it?" she asks and I glance at the box and things and nod.  

"What was even in there?" Michael asks and I shrug and say "Couple clothes, pictures, books and stuff."  I look to see a couple pictures and a couple shirts.  "Wait a sec." I say looking for something in the box and the bags.  "What is it?" Skylers asks coming over to see what was left of my stuff.  "Somethings missing." I state looking up at her.

"What's missing?" she asks and I look back down and say "There's a sweater.  A black zip up sweater." "I don't remember there being a black sweater...." Skyler says biting her lip.  And I then realize.  That black sweater used to be Calum's.  Since it was my favourite, before he left for tour he gave it to me just so I could have something of his.  I had never returned it, and had barely worn it since the breakup, but never had the heart to give it back.

I then realized where it could've gone.  I marched up the stairs as I stepped into Calum's room.  My nose wrinkled as I coughed a little.  It reeked of alcohol and dirty laundry, and I immediately went to the closet, as I began to look through the closet to find the hoodie.  Where could it be?  I had a feeling Calum took it, because he's the only one who would want it.  

I was unsuccessful in the closet, and I went to the drawers, opening each one, digging through each one, still coming up unsuccessful.  "What the hell are you doing?" I heard a voice say and I looked up to see Calum standing at the doorway.  

"Trying to get back what was mine." I state matter-of-factly.  Calum's frozen.  "You took it didn't you?" I asked crossing my arms.  Suddenly my phone buzzes in my pocket and I look to see it's Sylvana.  And she's outside.  

I sigh and say "Well it was your sweater anyways."  I walk out of the room and get back down the stairs and grab my stuff.  "Sylvana's here." I say to Michael and Skyler and they help me get the stuff out to the car.  And it's goodbyes all over again.

"Call me soon yeah?" Skyler says hugging me tight.  "Of course!" I say smiling.  "Bye boys." I say waving at Luke, Ashton and Michael.  They look a little downcast at me leaving again, but I try to remind them that I'm still around, and that I'm not far away and that we all have phones.  

Finally we leave, and as we're driving, Sylvana then says "So what happened?"  I'm quiet before suddenly I burst into tears, and I tell Sylvana about the whole thing with Skyler and Calum, me singing with Vic, the 5sos song, the fight me and Calum had and how he tried to kiss me but I was so hurt, and now that I have my stuff it turns out that Calum's taken back the sweater he gave to me to be mine but I honestly couldn't care about it anymore because I had done too much for one day.  

Sylvana listened and by the time we got back to her place she then said "Listen Natalie.  We're in LA.  You're even going as a freshman into USC!  There's someone out there, and you still got me and Skyler as your friends, as well as 3/4 of 5sos.  You're doing things that half the fans even dare DREAMING of.  And you know what?  Not many people get to sing with Vic Fuentes.  So if you're gonna apply for a job here- might as well put that in your resume!"  I laugh as we both get inside.