Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 35

"Well don't forget, people change." Michael points out and Calum sighs and says "Obviously.  But Nat's barely changed-" "Are you kidding?  She's been more wild then ever!" Ashton points out and Calum asks "What do you mean?" "Please back a couple years ago when you two were together she woulda NEVER fucked you." Michael says taking a sip of his beer.  "What is that supposed to mean?" "Bro you practically CHANGED her from a good girl!  She's a lot more fun to be around now!" "Yeah well I guess that is true." Calum agrees as he takes a swig of beer.  

I cover my mouth.  Is that what they had all thought of me?  Back in school?  The goody-goody two shoes?  A party-pooper? The Perfect Prom Queen?  Was that all I was?  I'm shaking at this point, and I try to grab onto something, but when I reach for the railing for the stairs, I knock something over.  "Shit!" I whisper and I look back to hear the boys say "What was that?"

I look wildly around thinking of something that I could possibly do.  An excuse, a hiding place....anything at this point.  Suddenly the light flickers on as Ashton rounds the corner and I'm still gripping onto the railing of the stairs, and I can feel my eyes prick with tears.  Ashton sees me and his mouth turns into an 'o' shape before saying "Calum?"  

"Yeah?" Calum says coming out of the room and when he sees me his jaw drops.  "Oh my god Natalie are you alright?" he asks coming towards me.  Ashton went back into the room, knowing Cal could take it from here.  "Don't fucking come near me you asshole!" I snap at him, and I feel a tear escape my lids and he reaches out towards me and I turn to him, my voice now hoarse. "What are you gonna do huh?  Fuck me because you know I'm gonna let you?  Cause I'm not that GOOD GIRL back from school?"

Calum's jaw drops and he says "Babe you know that we're drinking and-" "Oh trust me the truth comes out when there's alcohol around." I state bitterly and he looks at me, a hurt expression on his face.  "I loved you then, I love you now-" "Oh go fuck yourself Hood." I spat as I'm about to storm out but Calum grabs me, wrapping his arms around my waist and says "You're not going anywhere Natalie." "Let go of me!" I say hitting his arms but he doesn't give and says "I know you're drunk don't try me darling."

I continue hitting his arms, and I don't even care how much my own knuckles are hurting, I'm surprised that he hasn't let go, because the only reason I really kept hitting him was to hurt him enough that he would let go.  "Fucking let go already!" I say, my voice beginning to thicken as tears started spilling down my cheeks.

"I'm not losing you again." he whispered and I'm still trying to pry his grip off of me, but he holds me even tighter and I then say "What do you have to lose?  A fuck buddy?"  I can sense Calum physically wince, and I know that my words stung.  "I'd rather say my girlfriend." he says and I shake my head and say "Oh don't pull this card on me Calum Thomas Hood.  Don't you DARE try this trick on me." 

Calum pulls me even closer and whispers "Stop trying to fight me, you know I love you and I would never hurt you." "Yeah not now, but apparently you have no problem doing that behind my back."  Suddenly the other boys come into the room seeing the fight.

Michael then steps in and says "Natalie you know it's my fault for saying that bullshit back there.  To be honest that's what I thought of you when I first met you, especially when you were with Calum.  I thought you two were that goody couple which everyone loved, but as I got to know you guys even better I realized that wasn't true.  Don't blame this one on Calum." 

I glance at Michael and I can see the guilt in his eyes, and I can see that he feels responsible for causing me and Calum to fight again.  "Mikey, I forgive you really, I do." I say, beginning to walk towards him and Calum let's go of his grip on me.  "But I just can't believe Calum would agree with you on it.  That's what's pissing me off so goddamn much.  And if I was supposed to be his 'girlfriend'-" "Wait he called you his girlfriend?" the boys ask.

I roll my eyes and say "Not that I believe it." "Natalie I am not gonna play this game with you." Calum says through gritted teeth and I turn to him and say "This is how we got together the first time!  We kept hooking up before you FINALLY decided to take me on a date, and then after a fight you FINALLY had the guts to ask me if I could be your girlfriend." 

"Well since we've hooked up a couple times now how about this: why don't I take you on a date tomorrow night?  Just you and me." he said and I cross my arms over my chest and he then says "And if the paps ask me who I was with, I'm gonna tell them loud and proud that I was with you: my wonderful, beautiful, amazing girlfriend."  

I gulp a little before shrugging and saying "Fine.  If that's how we're gonna do it."  Calum grins at me and I raise my eyebrow and say "What?"  He comes over and whispers "You know, angry sex is usually the best kind of sex."  I blush and he winks before going back into the living room, to what I assume to be cleaning up after the mess the boys made.  "Bastard...." I muttered before I can hear someone's phone ring.  

"Hello?" Michael asks, his phone against his ear.  "Skyler?"  I whip around at the sound of her name and I feel a knot form in my stomach.  "Where are you?" Michael asks.  He sighs before saying "Don't move, I'm coming to get you."  

"Oh god what's happened?" I ask Michael and he grabs the keys before saying "She's super wasted, I can only guess she's outside the bar where you guys were at."  I nod, writing down the address and Michael's off to go get Skyler.  "You should head to bed." Ashton says, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I swallow and say "Sylvana's already upstairs, and Luke I think you should head up too.  I may have to talk to Skyler when she's back." "Promise you won't shake the house down though?" Ashton asks and I laugh a little and reply "Oh don't worry.  I'll just tell her off and make sure she makes it bed."  They both nod, even though they look worried and they head upstairs.

I walk into the living room before seeing Calum on the couch, a can of beer in his hands.  He's cleaned away everything else and I sigh, taking off my heels finally before walking over to him and he looks at me and opens his arms and I smile a little walking to the couch before sitting down beside him.

"Michael went to get Skyler." I say and Calum is twirling a piece of my hair in his fingers before he says "I know.  Are you gonna talk to her?" "Yeah.  I'm not having her turn into an alcoholic like my uncle did." I say burying my head into his shoulder and he intwines my hand with his and says "I'll be right behind you yeah?"  I nod and he then holds out his can and I don't say a word, grabbing the can before taking a sip.

I can sense Calum moving a little closer to me and then his lips attach to my neck as he begins to tease me slowly.  I smirk a little and I then turn my head as our lips finally collide, the distinct taste of beer lingering on his lips.  However, I see the car headlights that appear in the window and I pull away and say "Can we continue this later?"  Calum then leans in and whispers in my ear, his hot breath making me shiver, "Well this thing is far from over."  I blush a little before I hear the door open.