Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 28

It's weird to back in a car, Ash and Mikey are sitting up front playing music softly. Nat and Calum are both on their phones, and Luke and I are on the pull out seats in the back of the car with my head in his lap. He plays with my hair and hums something under his breath.      

Natalie's POV

"So you're not gonna be an asshole?" I joke bumping shoulders with Cal.  He grins at me and says "Well after all thats happened I kinda saw how much I kept hurting everyone.  Hell, I thought it was hurting you more than anyone else but....I think I needed that reality check."  We finally arrived back at the house and we all get out of the car.

Skyler's fallen asleep and Luke carries her in bridal style and I assume when he goes upstairs that he puts her to bed, because he comes back down.  "She's literally sleeping like a rock." he states flopping onto the couch.  "Yeah well, sleep is the best thing she can get right now." I stated as I took a seat in the loveseat.

I then feel my phone beginning to buzz in my pocket, and I pull it out to see its my mom.  "Oh hey mom!" I said leaning back in the chair.  "Hi darling!  I was just calling to check up on all of you, Skyler's mom told me about the accident," my mom said and I then twirled a piece of hair between my fingers and said, "Well the doctor said that she has a concussion and her license has been revoked for a couple weeks.  Other then that she should be fine." 

"How's Luke doing about it?" my mom asked and I looked to see Luke fast asleep on the couch.  He must've been exhausted.  I remember last night he barely slept at all, we were both wide awake until I could feel my eyelids beginning to droop.  Luke then told me to let me get rest, he would stay up.  I told him to wake me up if he was feeling too tired, and he agreed.  That was around 3 or 4 in the morning.  After that, I just slept until 6-ish and Luke confessed that he didn't want to wake me up, so he just stayed up the rest of the night.

"He's just tired, we both stayed at the hospital last night in Sky's room." I said running a hand through my hair.  "I'm gonna assume that he's gotten no sleep at all." my mom states and I bite my lip and say "Yeah.  I told him to wake me up if he was feeling too tired but I guess he just got a cup of coffee and kept going." 

"Poor guy.  Well funny thing is school's seemed to have started.  Have you enjoyed it?" my mom says changing the topic.  My stomach twists into a knot.  School.  "I completely forgot about it to be honest." I confessed and my mum laughed a little and said "Well just make sure you have everything.  I'm so proud that you're gonna be an international student!"

I smiled a little but truth was, ever since I had sang with Vic I had somewhat questioned whether I really wanted to continue school.  Everyone had always assumed with my good grades that I'd go to uni and get a degree and all.  But being in LA and seeing what the boys had accomplished it had made me question what I really wanted.

"Mum America isn't what I'd like to say as well….'international'......" I snorted as I got up and walked outside while she said "Well honestly, both me and your father are so proud of you, we're so glad that you've made it this far."

"Mum...." I started realizing that I couldn't hide this fact from her any longer.  Although both my parents had gotten masters in their fields, and both sides of the family usually would go to university as well, I couldn't deny Vic's words in my head.  Never let talent go to waste.

"Oh my god sorry darling but I have to rush off, I just realized I have a big conference call to make.  I'll text you though yeah?" she cut me off and I said "Oh yeah that's alright.  Bye." "Bye darling love you!" she said before I ended the call.  

I sighed as I sat on the edge of the pool, my feet dangling in the water.  I bit my lip as I thought about it.  Vic had told me to consider the whole singing thing.  He thought I was talented.  So if he thought I was talented, maybe someone else would.  

"You ok?" I heard a voice say and I look to see Michael's walked over.  I shrug.  "Don't tell me Calum's already broken the oath of him not being an asshole." Michael says and I shake my head and reply "It has nothing to do with Calum surprisingly." "Holy shit, that's a new milestone!" Michael says shocked.  I laugh a little as he comes to sit down beside me and he puts his feet in the water too.  

"Do you think you'd move back?" Michael asks aloud and I shrug and say "Right now....probably not.  But maybe if I change my mind maybe I will.  I mean, I like being at Sylvana's cause it's closer to campus.  But....well..." "Is that's what bothering you?" "No no, it's...." I sigh.  

"I was talking to my mum earlier and she remembered all about school and she started talking about it and before I came here I was so set on going to uni and getting a degree and all....but now.....I don't know anymore.  Vic told me I was talented and all but I can't say that to my mum.  She's just so happy about this whole thing, seeing her daughter going to university like she did, that I don't want to ruin it for her." I say getting it off my chest.

"Well she's your mum, and she just thinks that what you're doing is making you happy, and that's why she's so happy too.  But Nat, if you're not about uni, you can drop out like the rest of us did!" Michael said jokingly.  I laugh and say "I just haven't seen her this happy about things lately that....I want at least one thing to go her way." 

Michael nods understanding before saying "Well maybe you should do one year of uni....and if you don't like it then you can leave.  But if you do like it, then you can continue!"  I laugh and said "That's what I was gonna do but..."  I take a deep breath and then said "I don't wanna waste my time when I can be doing something that I should be doing ya know?" 

Michael holds his arm out and I put my head on his shoulder as he wraps his arm around my shoulder and says "Whatever happens with you is gonna happen.  And who knows.  Maybe you're meant to be a scientist to find the cure to cancer!" "But I don't even like science!" I retort and he sighs and says "You know what I mean.  You're gonna do something amazing, and it's gonna be something you enjoyed." 

We're silent for a moment and I then say "Remember the day that I was leaving?  And how when I came to your room you said that you weren't good at those heart to hearts?  I think you're wrong.  Maybe you're meant to be some great therapist and save peoples marriages and shit."  Michael snorts and says "I'm gonna stick to being a high school drop out in a band where we do crazy shit." "So you can be punk rock?" I giggle and he says "Uh we ARE punk rock!" "Alright Mikey whatever you say." I laugh.