GUYS I KEEP FORGETTING TO SHOW YOU THE AMAZING TRAILER BY @JILGUERA SO CHECK IT OUT (IN THE MEDIA SECTION OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED) AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK^^

OH AND THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO @SOUNDTHEALARM BC SHE'S AMAZING AND HER STORIES ARE AMAZING AND HER COVERS ARE AMAZING YEAH ILY THANK YOU FOR READING YOU'RE AMAZING

Calum's POV:

My aunt and I made a deal after she had apologized to me a couple of days ago (even though I should have been the one apologizing) after the whole dinner thing. I said that if she could leave me alone until New Year's Eve, I'd go with her to those friends of hers and hang out with them and their kids.

She has managed to leave me alone most of the time, and now it's New Year's Eve, which means that I have to go and hang out with Ashton and his friends the entire night. Oh, joy.

As I step out of the bathroom, newly showered, my aunt comes out of her room.

"Get ready quickly Calum, we have to leave in ten minutes. And I already found clothes for you, they're on your bed," she says while she puts in her earrings. Wow, thank you! I really needed you to pick out clothes for me; I am just an infant after all!

I sigh quietly and walk into my room. Aunt Carol has placed my skinny, black, not ripped jeans and a white shirt on my bed. I knew I shouldn't have brought any shirts. I don't like wearing them, I prefer sweaters and t-shirts, but, of course, my aunt had to go straight for the shirt.

Not really feeling like arguing with her, I just put on the clothes she has chosen for me and dry my hair with the towel. I throw the towel on the bed before I go out into the hallway and see my aunt putting on her shoes.

"Great, let's go!" she smiles the second my shoes are on. I grab my jacket before we leave, but I don't bother putting it on. We're only going to be walking for 30 seconds or something anyways.

"Carol, Calum! Welcome!" the woman who opens the door smiles widely. If I'm not completely wrong, she's Luke's mom. Aunt Carol greets her before we enter the house.

"Luke and the others are in the basement, you can just go down there," the woman smiles at me and I give her a brief nod before I walk down the stairs. I don't want to sit with Luke and his friends, but I'd rather sit down here than up there with all their mothers. I quietly enter the basement and look around. Everyone in the room has their eyes on the movie that's on the TV, and I notice how there are some people here that I don't recognize. I quietly walk over to an empty seat and sit down.

The basement is pretty big for a basement. There are a couple of family photos hung up on the plain, white walls, and there's a huge bookshelf in the corner. There's a PlayStation 4 in front of the TV and a stack of games placed messily next to it. There is a couch, an armchair, and two bean bags, and they must have been here a long time because they look very worn out. 

"Hey Calum," Ashton smiles and I reply with a small wave, not really bothering to say anything. The others say hey too and Ashton introduces the unknown faces. The two guys that look older than us are Jack and Ben, Luke's brothers. He also informs me that his younger siblings are upstairs, but I honestly don't care about any of the things he tells me.

We watch the movie and occasionally one of them comes with a "witty" remark about it. I don't say anything, I barely even focus on the movie while it's playing. I just sit there in my own thoughts before I decide to go out and smoke. I walk out of the basement without a word and put on my jacket before I go out.

The air is freezing cold as it hits my skin. I pull my jacket tighter around my body as I take out a cigarette and a lighter. Just as I light it someone sits down beside me.

"Can I borrow that?" I hear and turn my head. Alaska is seated next to me with a cigarette in between her fingers. I just assume that she's talking about the lighter, so I hand it to her. She lights her cigarette before she hands it back to me.

"Thanks," she mutters before taking a long drag. She keeps her free hand in the pocket of her navy-blue jacket, and her long, dark brown curls a swaying swiftly in the wind. 

"About everything that happened-"I start saying before she cuts me off.

"It's okay, let's just forget all of that, it was a mistake," she says. I nod weakly and take a drag. Good, now we don't need to talk about it.

"So Calum, are you excited about the new year?" she asks after a minute.

"Yeah, I just really want to forget about this s.hitty year and move on," I mutter.

"Do you have any New Year's resolutions?" she asks and looks at me.

"No, not really... How about you?" I ask and take a drag of my cigarette.

"Well, everyone wants me to quit smoking, but I don't know..." she mumbles quietly.

"Yeah, same," I say. She smirks slightly and looks at me.

"How about we make a deal?" she suggests.

"What kind of deal?"

"Okay, this," she says and points between our cigarettes," will be our last cigarette. After this, we both throw away all of our cigarettes and lighters. If one of us fails and gives in to the temptation, we have to pay the other one for each cigarette. We can say 50 Norwegian kroners for each cigarette that we take after this. Deal?" she asks and reaches out her hand while I think about it. That actually doesn't sound too bad...Considering the fact that 50 kroners is a whole lot for one cigarette, and the fact that I don't have much money, this could actually work out.

"Deal," I say and shake her hand firmly.

"Guys, ten minutes till New Year's!" I hear Michael yell. I take one last drag of my last cigarette before I throw it on the ground and step on it. Alaska does the same and smiles widely.

"I feel healthier already," she grins and I laugh while shaking my head. 

"Whatever floats your boat," I laugh and start walking towards the house again. 

"We're going to quit smoking," Alaska smiles proudly as we approach the others.

"Really?" Ashton smiles hugely and looks at her.

"Yep," she smiles and Ashton hugs her immediately.

"That is so great!" he says, almost in relief, and she laughs while nodding.

"I want to light the fireworks!" Luke says loudly as he comes out of the house with a plastic bag filled with fireworks.

"I don't think so, we wouldn't want you to almost burn down the house again, would we?" Ben grins at Luke as he takes the fireworks from him, causing Luke to pout. I'm in such a good mood, I even crack a tiny laugh.

In no time, we're all standing outside, counting down from ten, all of us ready for a new year. This is going to be my first time celebrating New Year's without Jake, but I try my best to ignore the sadness and longing that is burning inside of me. I have to move on. Yes, that's going to be my other New Year's resolution, finally getting better and moving on.

"3!" everyone yells in unison. Ben gets ready with the first set of fireworks.

"2!" I take a small step back and look up at the sky. I'm finally going to try to move on Jake, even though I'm not sure if I deserve it.

"1!" And with that the fireworks goes off.

"Happy New Year's Calum," Alaska smiles gently and gives me a small hug.

"Happy New Year's Alaska," I answer quietly and hug her back.

New year, new possibilities. Or, at least I hope so...

Yay, Calum's gonna stop smoking c:

He's kinda mildly warming up, eh?

Do you think Calum will actually stop smoking or nah?

Let me know what you think of the chapter! 

ily guys