Calum
"Care to explain where you were last night, young man?"
My mother's words were loud and harsh. She never raises her voice at me unless it's necessary, and I knew it'd be inappropriate to tell her that I was out with a boy. So of course, I lied and told her I was too caught up in my artwork to realize that I was late for my curfew.
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again. I was just drawing and you know how it's a way for me to escape time."
She smiled, at least she somewhat understood that I wasn't really comfortable with the atmosphere around me. Joy is a good mother in my opinion; she's just overprotective and wants the absolute best for me. She doesn't know about my insecurities or my disorders and she most definitely doesn't know I've been depressed for three and a half years. But that's okay, because I know that sometimes life isn't going to be perfect but for some reason, Michael is starting to make it feel perfect.
"You and I both know where you really were," Mali spoke casually as she held a tube of Sephora Concealer in her hand. She really loves makeup. I remember a time when she willingly put mascara on me and I felt pretty but makeup isn't my thing so I haven't worn it since. I do paint my nails though and there's a shelf in my room of around fifty black polishes just sitting there next to my window.
"Where was I then?" I quirked with my eyebrows furrowed. She was absolutely nosy and it irritated me. I love her dearly, but sometimes she gets on my nerves to the point where I could push her in front of a car in the nicest way possible without actually harming her.
"With Michael." How did she even know I was with him, again?
"I was not."
"Your eyes say otherwise."
I rolled my eyes at her comment, getting ready to be the sarcastic guy I am. "Last time I checked, eyes can't talk. Only mouths can."
"Calum, I'm being serious. Stop being sarcastic for a moment and just open up to me."
"Okay, fine. I was with him but we didn't do anything bad. We aren't even friends, just acquaintances who happen to do things together."
"Things?"
"I know what you're thinking but its nothing sexual. He just wanted someone to go to the market with; the one next to the gas station. And then we stayed in the empty lot for a while to just talk."
"Talk about what?" Mali pursed as she sat down in front of one of the mirrors on the wall, applying it slowly and beautifully. I wish I was good at doing makeup, or doing anything really. I'm as unskilled as a rock.
"I don't remember. He was super nice though."
"For a guy with an eyebrow piercing and colored hair, nice wouldn't be the definition people would use to describe him the way you did."
"Well, I'm different."
"That's a good thing," Mali smiled. She was finally satisfied with her winged eyeliner and how you couldn't see her eye bags because the concealer worked that well.
"So Cal, how about you and I go see that movie?"
"When?" I questioned, knowing that she had somewhere to be in less than an hour and that I was practically wasting her time by answering pointless questions that wouldn't help her out in any shape or form.
"Right now."
"But you have a date."
"It can wait. I'd rather spend time with my little brother than go on a date."
That really means a lot.
-
The two of us ended up getting tickets for Ride Along 2, because she knows that I need a laugh every once in a while. I think the best part about having Mali as a sister is that she knows when I'm down, or when something is up. If she sees that I don't have a smile on my face, she'll do anything to fix that, even if that means cancelling a date with her boyfriend.
Of course, she bought an extra large popcorn along with two sodas, but I couldn't have either. Soda was full of sugar and I wasn't trying to have a heart attack and popcorn has too many calories. I can't get any fatter than I already am, so movie theatre food isn't the way to go if I do need to eat something. That's rare though, because I never put anything in my mouth unless I'm forced to.
We chose the farthest seat we could, which wasn't the back but was the third to the back row, which satisfied me enough. I liked being far away, because people wouldn't judge me for looking the way that I do and I'd be able to spy on people as well as watch the movies from an amazing view. Perks of getting there early, I guess.
We watched as strangers filed into their seats, but one of them particularly caught my eye. He had bright flamboyant hair, two miniature black gauges in his ears, an eyebrow piercing and he was dressed in all black, aside from the grey sweater he had hanging off of his arm. Wait, that's Michael. Hide.
"Do you want some popcorn?"
"No, I kind of just want to go home."
"Calum, I just spent seventeen dollars for us to see this movie. That could have easily gone towards a new pair of heels. Please just live a little, just this once." That's exactly what Michael said.
"Okay."
I was hoping Michael wouldn't be able to see me. It's starting to creep me out how he's everywhere I go. First it was the train station, then it was Olive Garden where he coincidentally works and now its the freaking movie theatre. Will I ever get a break from this attractive cocky male?
"Fine, but I need to use the bathroom. Save my seat?"
"No promises," Mali said jokingly with a laugh following afterwards. She's so lucky I love her, because I would have punched her in the arm if I didn't.
This was my chance to get out of here and avoid Michael, or the guy he was with so they wouldn't see me. But of course, the minute I began walking down the sideline with my head down, he spotted me and he called me out.
"Calum!"
"Shit," I mumbled under my breath. I wasn't sneaky enough. Now I'm stuck in the box again.
"Luke, this is Calum. Calum, this is Luke." I loved the way he said my name. It made me feel a bit uneasy, but I loved every second of it. The way his lips curved into a small smile whenever he was about to say it. It was adorable but I can't catch feelings. He'll find out everything about you, Calum. Leave before its too late.
"Nice to meet you, Luke."
"So you're the one Michael won't stop talking about. It's great to finally see your face. I approve."
I noticed that Michael kicked Luke in the stomach the minute he did that, but Luke didn't even flinch. It was as though he were a brick and couldn't feel any pain. I wish I could be that way, but they must do that a lot and Luke has gotten used to that. Or maybe he's really muscular underneath that basketball tee he's wearing. Who knows.
"You can't just say those things, Luke."
"Oops."
"I'm sorry but I really need to use the bathroom. I'll catch up with you later, okay?"
"Okay cutie."
I left the theatre without a single thought and even though I did regret leaving my sister after she cancelled on her boyfriend, I at least felt sort of free. I found myself going to my happy place, which oddly enough was the train station bench. It was the place where I started drawing, when I was exactly six years old and I was waiting with my mother for my father to come back from work. Ever since then, I've always enjoyed being there.
But this time was different, because when I ran my fingers across the hole filled bench, I felt kind of sad. Not only was this the place where I picked up on a hobby, but its also the place where I met Michael and I'm finally coming to realization that maybe I shouldn't avoid him.
Maybe he can help me feel alive again.