Ashton sat atop his drum stool, slouching slightly and fiddling with his sticks. He anxiously pursed his lips waiting for the practice to start, rhythmically tapping his feet to one of their newest songs. There was a glimmer in his eyes; perhaps because of his bright love for his career.

His eyes traveled down to his feet where several sheets of music lied. Lines and scribbles were expertly scattered across the pages and he saw words that came so easily, and others that had been produced through long thought and struggle. His line of vision highlighted a certain part in a verse - an unfamiliar one - and he squinted and leaned down to get a better look.

The handwriting was absolutely atrocious, as most of theirs were, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't identify who it belonged to. He tried to distinguish the 'h's from the 'n's and realized that he was reading something that hadn't come up in their songs at all, much less their conversations.

you say you wanna, but do you wanna run away, a great escape, oh yeah.

Ashton's lips parted slightly in disbelief and obscurity, his mind immediately wrapping around the topic. They'd vowed to never tell anyone about this, so why had this been written down? And by who?

The paper felt rough against his dry fingers, and he slowly wrapped his fingers around the sheet, crumpling it up. He gulped, knowing that if anyone saw him do this to a lyric that hadn't been shown to everyone, he would get into serious trouble. Destroying anyone's work without their permission was a big taboo in their rule book.

His hands enveloped the ball of paper and he buried it deep into the pockets of his basketball shorts. Just as he did this, Luke walked into the messy area, shooting a goofy smile in his direction, and lifted his guitar into his hands.

⌭ ⌭ ⌭

"So basically he ditched you."

Isla groaned and leaned her chin into her propped up hand, "No, he didn't ditch me. He just left. I mean, that's what I would've done."

Kylie raised her eyebrow and sipped her strawberry milkshake, a disbelieving expression on her face. "That dîckhead ditched you. What a jerk move, honestly." She muttered, flipping her blonde hair to her back.

Isla sipped on her own vanilla milkshake and just shook her head. "He didn't ditch me. And that's totally besides the point, I was in jail, Ky. Like an actual closed off room with steel bars as walls."

Kylie just shrugged, "But you got out, that's what matters. The real stoners were found and now you can live your life normally again."

"He almost recognized me," Isla mumbled, going off a different topic, "and I was so scared."

Kylie unattached her lips from her straw, and leaned forward so that their faces were in closer proximity. "Stop worrying about him, he's not worth your time. All he does anyways is just blame you over and over for something that wasn't even your fault."

Isla knew that Kylie was right, but she still couldn't tear her mind from the memory of Calum almost finding out that the person he absolutely despised had given him one more reason for him to hate her. She didn't ever want to know what would happen if he found out that she was Isla, and not Isabelle.

Maybe he wouldn't take it that badly, because it's not like he spilled his life secrets to her. In fact, they weren't even friendly with each other as strangers. If this was all taken into account, and somehow they managed to see each other once more, he probably wouldn't make a huge deal about it. Isla hoped that that was what it would result to - if he ever found out.

"But it is my fault, Ky. Don't you see? If I hadn't been driving there at that exact time, if we just left a tiny bit earlier, or later, if we didn't have to buy Zack his stupid shoes, if - "

"Stop, Isla." Kylie interrupted her rambling. "It's not your fault, and I'm telling you the truth. You didn't know that he was going to get pushed right out into the street, there's nothing you could've done to help it. And just take my word, for god's sake and move on." She nodded her head to the sky, "I bet he's already forgiven you too, so please, Is, please, just don't blame yourself anymore."

Her words triggered something in Isla, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. No one, not even her parents, had said anything like this to her before. Honestly, she wasn't even sure if she had real friends anymore after the accident, but Kylie stayed with her. And that meant everything and more to Isla.

She licked her lips and stared back at her blue-eyed friend, a small smile on her face. "Thank you, Ky. Thank you or sticking with my bullshït for the past few months and not running away like everyone else did."

Kylie gave her a sympathetic smile and she leaned forward spreading her arms over the table to give Isla a hug. She grinned and returned the awkward air hug in response.

As they pulled away, Kylie reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, scrunching her face at the screen. "My sister texted me."

Isla's smile wiped off her face, "Miya texted you?"

Her friend hesitated for a moment before looking up with confused eyes, "Yeah, and she says to come over."

Isla's normal brown eyes widened immensely, her mouth left slightly agape in shock. "She hasn't contacted you in, what, three years? And now she wants to see you?"

Kylie furrowed her brows, "Yeah. It's probably important, will you be okay alone?" She was already up in her chair, ready to leave the small shop.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Will you be okay alone?" And it was a serious question, the last time Kylie and her sister talked, it didn't end so well.

She waved her hand in response, "She can't do anything to me, anyways." She shrugged and picked up her purse and keys. "See you later, babe! I'll text you."

Isla nodded and waved, wondering if she was being a bad friend by not accompanying her. But Kylie was strong, unlike her, and it took a lot for her to break.

She slipped her phone out and tapped away as a distraction to her overflowing thoughts.

๑ ๑ ๑

Calum sat at the local In-N-Out Burger, tapping his foot impatiently. His eyes darted back and forth from the entrance to his empty booth; pursing his lips in annoyance.

Luke said to meet there at 1, and it was already 1:45. His stomach rumbled loudly, and he wanted so bad just to get up and get a burger, but he figured that Luke probably wanted him to wait for his arrival.

So he slumped backwards in the worn-out booth, fiddling with his phone. He then realized that it had been a while since he's updated the fans of his whereabouts. Pondering on what it should include, he decided on something simple.

@calumhood: back in LA again, in-n-out is still the best burger place ive ever been tooo

He eyed his username of almost five months now, and he reminisced when he used to have the band name after his name. Every time he tweeted, this always happened. He would undergo a series of complicated emotions; grief and nostalgia being the most evident. It was just a username, but to him it was so much more. There was a certain symbolic meaning to it - that he was literally one with his band. Where there was Calum, there was 5 Seconds of Summer.

The detachment of the latter term in his old username was the first way he and the other boys had broadcasted to the fans and the rest of the world that they would no longer be making music together. It broke his heart, truly, but that was the only way. No one could replace Ashton, and they surely couldn't continue as a three-piece.

He let his mind drift into the topic once more, not realizing that he had been staring into space.

"Hello? Calum, you there?" A hand waved in his face, causing him to jump slightly.

He looked up to see someone he hadn't seen in ages, immediately his face lit up and he stood from the booth and wrapped his arms around the man.

"Jack! Why are you here?"

Jack chuckled lightly, Calum feeling the slight vibration of his chest. "Just taking a vacation in the magical Los Angeles." His deep Australian accent felt so welcoming.

They pulled away and Calum noticed Luke at the ordering stand, seemingly ordering a ton of food. He raised his eyebrows at Jack's response, "Really?"

Jack placed his hand on his chest in fake offense, "I can't believe you don't trust me, how long has it been since we've seen each other, Cal?"

Calum grinned at his well-known jokester personality, "Too long."

Jack slung his arm around Calum's shoulder and guided them down to sit back in the booth. "I couldn't agree more, mate. So how have you been?"

Calum's smile dimmed a bit, not really knowing if he should really tell Jack what was going on in his weary mind. "I've been alright. It's nice to be back in LA."

Jack raised his eyebrow slightly, "I'm glad, Calum. Luke's been telling me that you haven't been doing so hot, but you sound like you're still up and running."

"Luke was right." He admitted. "But I'm slowly trying to get past it all."

"How's Michael doing?"

Calum shifted uncomfortably, "I haven't heard from him in ages. We mailed something to him a few weeks ago, but he nor his family have replied back. The case can't be completely closed without him knowing about the outcome."

Jack hummed and looked straight forward, "Yeah, I tried visiting him while I was in Australia, but no one answered the door. I hope he's okay."

"No one answered?" Calum asked cautiously.

"No, but I knew I could see his silhouette through the window. He just didn't feel like talking, I guess." He shrugged nonchalantly, but Calum could tell that he really cared.

"I'm thinking of going back to see him," Calum started, referring to Michael, "But I feel like LA is screaming at me to stay."

"It does have the effect on people." Jack agreed. "I mean, I've only been here for a few hours and I already want to stay for life." He chuckled, looking over at Luke who was now bringing the burgers back to the table.

"Do you want us to show you around? It's basically our second home." Calum offered.

Jack nods excitedly, "Yeah! That'd be great."

Luke then slid into the booth with burgers on a tray, nodding his head towards Calum as a greeting.

"Jack and I have decided that we will be his tour guide during his stay at LA," Calum informed Luke. "So we better eat fast."

❃ ❃ ❃

honestly how do u even end a chapter not awkwardly

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