The day of my graduation, I was still extremely jet-lagged. As much as I really didn't feel like getting up and dressed all pretty, I knew I would have to. I had spent the last two days sulking and eating too much junk food on our crappy couch.
After I finished showering, I was in the middle of applying my makeup, when I got a call from Michael Clifford himself.
"Hello-"
"JADE ELIZABETH MCKINGSLEY HAPPY FUCKING GRADUATION DAY."
That's how Michael greeted me. I couldn't even help but laugh. He's such an odd human, but he always makes me feel loved.
"Thanks, Michael." I stifled out another laugh.
"Luke and Ash wish you the best as well." he said cheerfully. My heart sank in my chest when he didn't even mention Calum's name; although I wasn't sure why he would.
"Tell them I said thank you." I said.
"Has Calum called yet?" Michael asked. I shook my head, then realized he couldn't see me.
"No. I don't expect him to, though." I mumbled.
"I'm gonna go kick his ass, I'll be right back." Michael muttered. I let out another loud laugh at the image of Michael beating up Calum.
"You go, tough guy." I teased.
"You know the lads and I will be at the ceremony?" Michael questioned. I laughed again.
"I expect nothing less."
"Good. Now get ready, McKingsley. See you later!" Michael yelled, then hung up the phone before I could say anything back.
I rolled my eyes and continued on my makeup, just a tiny bit happier than I had been before.
>>>>
The last time I had talked to Abby was when the two of us were arrested for fighting in the front yard of a random party. In the classes we shared, she ignored me, and at lunch, she never sat with me or her brother. Carter chose our friendship over his friendship with his sister, which meant a lot to me.
When I walked into the auditorium where the ceremony was being held, I instantly spotted Carter standing alone, scrolling through his phone. I also saw Abby, standing and obviously flirting with Ethan.
"Hey." I smiled when I reached Carter. His head shot up from his phone and he pulled me into a hug.
"Yo. I've missed you." he chuckled in my ear.
"Same here." I laughed.
"How've you been? I was sorry to hear about you and Calum." Carter frowned. My head whipped up to stare at him. I hadn't told him anything about Calum or I ending things.
"How do you..." I trailed off. His eyes got wide and confused as he pointed toward his devil of a sister. I groaned loudly and handed him my purse, then made my way over to Queen Bitch herself.
I guess she hears my shoes clicking against the floor, because she stopped talking to Ethan momentarily and turned around to smirk at me.
"How the hell did you know about Calum and I?" I practically yelled. Ethan seemed pretty surprised at my outburst, but Abby just rolled her eyes.
"He called me last night. Said he needed someone to come by and get his mind off of things. I'd be lying if I told you nothing happened between us." she twirled a piece of hair in her fingers.
"You're lying." I sneered.
"Think what you want. But he obviously wasn't getting any from you, and he is a guy after all. They have urges." she shrugged.
I wanted to rip her fake hair extensions right out of her little stupid head. She was lying, I knew she was. Calum wouldn't do that to me.
But there was that little doubt. That little tiny sliver of doubt that told me that maybe, just maybe, my ex-best friend wasn't lying. That if she had gotten Calum drunk enough, he would've done whatever she wanted him to.
"Seriously, Abbs? Don't be a bitch." Carter stepped in and gripped my shoulders, pulling me away from his sister. He took me behind the stage but I wasn't myself.
I felt as if the world was closing in on me; I couldn't breathe. Like my lungs were collapsing and I needed to throw up so fucking bad. But most of all, I wanted Calum. I wanted him to tell me that everything was fine and that he didn't hook up with Abby.
"Don't listen to my sister, okay Jade? She's just trying to get under your skin. Abby was with me all night last night. We had dinner with our parents and then she and I went out with some friends. She's lying. She wasn't with him." Carter calmed me down.
"Are you - are you serious?" I stuttered. I was beginning to be able to breathe again. Calum and Abby didn't hook up. I never knew what real happiness was until that moment when I realized that Carter wasn't lying to me.
"Dead serious." Carter chuckled. I threw myself into Carter's arms and hugged him so tight, desperate to share my happiness with someone.
"Then how did she know we broke up?" I whispered.
"It's all over Twitter, Jade. It's not exactly a secret." Carter rolled his eyes. I felt my stomach sink when I heard what he said, but it was a rational explanation as to why Abby knew.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"You're welcome." he laughed. "Cmon, we gotta get ready."
Carter walked away from me so he could go get ready, while I peaked out the curtain. People upon people were filling the room. I instantly spotted Michael, his bright red hair was hard to miss. Beside him were Luke and Ashton, and I frowned when Calum was nowhere in sight.
Ashton caught my eye and broke out into a huge grin as he waved. I smiled and waved back, then watched as someone's little sister ran up to him freaking out and screaming because he was the Ashton Irwin.
"Wow. You just have to show off that you know 5 Seconds of Summer, so you dragged them to your graduation. You know, Jade, not everyone gives a shit, okay?" Abby huffed. I rolled my eyes, not even bothering to acknowledge her presence.
But she followed behind me.
"I mean, seriously, you and Calum broke up. So stop trying to use his fame and make yourself popular." Abby continued.
That's where I drew the line.
"Listen, Abby, I would never use someone's fame to my advantage. Calum and I have been friends since we were in diapers, and as far as I know, he wasn't famous back then. I'm in love with him, and he's in love with me. You just can't stand that fact, can you, Abby? Well you're gonna have to get the fuck over it. Just because we aren't talking now doesn't mean Calum and I never will. So fuck. Off."
Well that shut her up. She seemed pretty speechless at my outburst, and just as she opened her mouth to speak, Carter peaked his head around the corner.
"Show time, ladies."
