Vanessa's point of view

"What's that?" Calum asked as he braided my hair. "What's the envelope on your desk?"

"It's an invitation to my best friends Quinceañera." I said and he nodded. "Luke said I can't go but I'm probably going to sneak out. I don't care at this point." I told him.

"No, don't do that." He said and hummed. "When is it?"

"Fourteenth."

"We're off that day, I don't know what he has, but the band is off. Thirteenth is an interview, fifteenth a scheduled live stream. That's all." He told me. "I don't see why he can't take you."

"I know. I guess being 'lead singer' means you have more stuff to do." I said and rolled my eyes. "I-I honestly didn't Luke could be such a rude person."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Like, when I didn't know you guys, I didn't think Luke could be so... so rude. I didn't think he could be such a dick. I thought he was nice, laid back, and didn't lie all the time." I said and sighed. "I guess you can never judge a person without knowing them personally."

"No comment." Calum said and I chuckled. "I can take you if you'd like? If Luke and Arz can't, I will. She'll only be fifteen once." He told me and I nodded.

"I know, I still have to buy her gift." I said and he said we could go now. "I don't know, I'm not dressed. Also, what if Luke comes home and sees we're gone and gets mad?"

"What's he going to do?" He asked and I shrugged. "Go on, get dressed now." He said and I nodded.

"Your braid is shit." I said as I looked at it in the mirror. "What is that?" I asked as I attempted to take it out.

"I tried!" He said and I rolled my eyes as I went to my closet, complaining about him tangling my hair.

-

"What does she want for her birthday?" He asked as we walked around the mall. I fixed my hat and then crossed my arms under ny chest.

"Band shirts." I said and he nodded. "Knowing her, Andy Black, Bring Me The Horizon, The Misfits, or Twenty One Pilots." I said and he nodded as we walked into the direction of Hot Topic.

He fixed his sunglasses and then put his hands in his pockets. "Do you think people could tell I'm... well me?"

"Somewhat." I said and he nodded as he fixed his beanie. My phone rang and I looked at it, seeing Luke's name flashing across the screen. "Luke's calling me."

"Just leave him, call him back later." He told me and I nodded, declining the call and putting my phone in my back pocket. "Come on, let's buy the shirts and then go get something to eat.

I nodded and we went into the store. We walked around and I grabbed a few shirts that she'd like, along with a few accessories with crosses on them. I put them on the counter and Calum pulled his wallet out.

"No wait, I want a new shirt too." Calum said and went to the Green day area he grabbed a shirt and then plucked another shirt out of some other area.

He put them on the counter and the lady rang them up. "No wait," he tossed a few necklaces on the counter too and then pulled his wallet out. "Spending all my money." He said and handed the cashier the money.

"Best way to spend your money." She said and I agreed. Calum laughed and the lady handed him the bag. "Have a nice day."

"You too." I said and smiled before we left the store. "What was with the last minute stuff?"

"I had to grab something for Luke before he bitches at me for not telling him that we left." He told me and I nodded. "The necklaces are your's though."

"Dude, why?"

"Dude, because I know Luke isn't going to apologize." He mocked me and I rolled my eyes. "He never apologizes first." He told me.

I nodded and then fixed my snapback. "Thanks Cal." I said and he shrugged.

"You're welcome." He said and then we left the building. "There's a taco truck literally over there, want something?"

"Why not?" I said and he unlocked the car. He tossed the bag in there and then locked the car again, walking towards the truck with me following.

"It's hot Calum." I said and he agreed as he unbuttoned his flannel, leaving him in a black shirt. "I wish I wore shorts." I told him, tugging my shirt down since it was riding too far up for my liking.

"You should have." He agreed and I chuckled. "What do you want?"

"I'll order, I speak Spanish Cal, and considering everything is in Spanish..." I said and he shrugged. He told me his order and I told the man inside of the truck, who nodded and told me how much. "Twenty dollars Cal."

He handed him the money and then laughed. "Keep the change." He said and I told the man, who nodded and then went to making the burritos.

"Calum?"

He looked at me and then turned around, smiling at the two girls. I noticed them from school and by the looks of it, they did aswell.

"Vanessa?"

"Hi Cynthia," I said and forced a smile. She looked at me as she took her phone out, seeming confused. "I-I'll take the picture if you want."

She nodded slowly and then handed me her phone. I quickly took some pictures of them and then handed her the phone back. "I want one with both of you!" Cynthia's friend said and I was nervous.

"I don't think that's-"

"I'll take it!" Cynthia said and took the phone. She pushed me into her as did I awkwardly put my arm over her shoulder with Calum. I smiled and then she turned the phone off after taking it.

"Thanks!"

"Anytime." Calum said and smiled as they stepped to the side. The man in the truck called us and we went up to him.

We took out drinks and food and then Calum chuckled. "Mind eating in the car again? Just... try not to make a mess."

"Sorry, and sure." I said and he laughed. We went back to the car and I felt a little uneasy knowing that those pictures will soon be floating around on the internet.

We got into the car and his phone rang. "Hold on, Ashton's calling." He said and held his phone against his ear. "Yeah?"

"I'm out with Vanessa, we went to the mall because shopping, am I right?" He said and I laughed. "And? No I didn't buy anything like that, band shirts and stuff Ash. They're necklaces, dude chill. I'd never do that, you're fucking weird." He said and I just looked at him.

"I know, I'm not stupid. Fine, okay. Yeah, whatever. You're at Luke's? Yeah, we're on our way then." He said and started the car. "Okay Ashton, no what the hell, that's not going to happen. Fuck I'm driving now Ashton bye."

He hung his phone up and I rose an eyebrow. "He wants to talk to me, we gotta go back." He told me and I nodded.

"Fun." I said and he agreed sarcastically as we buckled up. I yawned a bit and stretched, Calum laughing as I did so. "What's so funny?"

"You yawn funny, that's all." He said and I rolled my eyes. "It's like... it's like you're trying to be quiet but it just ends up being high pitched and kitten like. It's weird."

"You're weird." I shot back and he laughed as he turned the radio on. "Leave it!" I said as he went to change the song. "Melanie is fave!"

"Who?"

"I'll cry until my pity party's in flames," I sang softly and he went leaned back as he backed out of the parking space.

"You're so lucky that I'm not going to change it." He said and it smiled to myself.

-

"Hi." I said as I saw Ashton and Michael. "What's up?" I asked and sat down by the coffee table, facing them.

"Nothing really. What's in the bag?" Ashton asked and I tossed it at him.

"Don't dirty anything." I said and he looked through the black bag. He held up all the shirts and then looked at the necklace.

"What is this?" He asked with wide eyes, holding up a spiked leather choker. "What the hell?"

"It's for my friend, she loves leather chokers. Chill out." I said and he blinked a few times.

"Looks like a kink-"

"Shut up Michael!"

"You were thinking the same thing Ashton!"

"Both of you shut up." Calum said and I looked at him. He sat down beside Michael and then held his burrito up as he unwrapped it.

I did the same and then took a bite before setting it down on the bag it came in. "Wanna see a trick?" Calum asked and I nodded.

He took the two bottles of coca-cola and then opened it using the lids of one another. They fizzed, but didn't spill, which causing me to laugh and clap.

"Skills." I said and he nodded as he smiled, looking over at an unamused Ashton and Michael. "Teach me how one day."

"One day." Calum said and I nodded. I heard a door close upstairs and then Luke came downstairs.

I choked on my food and then banged my fist against my chest. "You okay there love?" Michael asked and I nodded, taking a drink of my soda.

"Peachy." I answered, my voice sounding scratchy. I cleared my throat and Calum made an excuse to go in the kitchen.

"You went to Hot Topic?" Luke asked and I nodded as I wiped my hands on my jeans. I took the bag and then looked through the shirts. "Why?"

"Since I can't go to my friend's Quince, I thought the least I could do was try to get her something." I said and he nodded, saying that was fair.

"This one is yours though." I said and handed him a Green Day shirt. He rose an eyebrow and looked at it, holding it up. "Calum thought you'd like something."

"Thanks." He said and I gave him a small, tight smile. An awkward silence settled and I sat up straight as my phone rang.

I picked it up and looked down at the dark wooden table. "Hello?" I asked and bit my bottom lip.

"Vanessa!" Miranda yelled, sounding panicked, and I hummed. "Please, address, where-"

"Oh shit!" She yelled and there was rustling. "Bye! N-Not you Nessa!" She said and I was just so confused. "Leave me alone!"

"Miranda, I don't understand what's going on." I told her and tried to listen to her as she attempted to explain what happened. "Your older brother flipped shit?"

"Yeah!" She yelled and then it went quiet, besides for her rapid breathing. "H-He drank too much when he went our for a pint with his coworkers. He-He lost a bet and now I need to hide."

"Oh, wow, okay um..." I looked up at Luke, who was engrossed in a conversation with Michael about the new single. I told her the address quietly and she hummed.

"I know where that is, thank you. Fuck, you're the best person alive. God bless your soul Vanessa. I love you." She said and there was rustling again. "I'll see you soon."

"See you Miranda." I said and then hung up, hoping Luke wouldn't get mad because this is very important...