Amnesia • Calum Hood

•Chapter Three•

The whole room went quiet as Calum's words echoed through the small basement.  I could see Sadie shifting uncomfortably out of the corner of my eye, and Michael and Ashton were making worried eye contact with one another.

But I could hardly register what was going on with them, because my mind was entirely focused on him.  He was different, of course, two years can change a person drastically.  I noticed his jaw was sharper, and he was taller.  His body was filled out and muscled more, and there was a certain maturity to the way he held himself.

My eyes were drawn to his dark brown hair, and I was surprised to see a blonde streak cutting through the strands.  I didn't know why, but this subtle change to his appearance completely threw me off.  His arms were splattered with multiple tattoos, no longer having just the one feather on his chest.

He looked like an entirely new person, one that I just couldn't recognize.  Yes, those were his ears and his lips, but the expression he wore was foreign, the silent attitude he had so mysterious and unknown.

He was still Calum, but I could tell he was no longer my Calum.

His voice was like ice as he spoke again, slow and deep.  "I asked you," he almost growled.  "What the hell are you doing here?"

I was too speechless to respond.  My mouth opened, desperate to find the right words, but none came to mind.  I was drowning in his eyes, fighting for survival but coming up short.  His stare was choking me, shaking me, cutting right through me like a knife.  My voice was dried up, and all I could do was watch him.

Thankfully, Michael cut in and spoke for me.  "Just relax dude, she hasn't been here long."  His voice was so tentative, layered with fake encouragement that Calum seemed to ignore.  His face only hardened, eyes never leaving my face as he spoke to the others.

"Yeah, well, I want to know why."  The way he stared right at me sent chills down my spine.  Fear like nothing I'd ever felt before crawled into my heart as I struggled to find the boy I once loved in his dark chocolate gaze.

But he wasn't there.  He was gone.

I decided I had to speak.  There was no point in hiding, or relying on the others to back me up and explain everything.  Calum would have never listened.  He wanted my answer, my reasons.  I took in a shaky breath, trying to appear calm but failing miserably as I felt my hands tremble.

My voice quavered uncertainly as I said quietly, "It was time for me to come home."  That was a very generalized answer, one that didn't contain much of the real reason.  The main reason I came home was too painful and confusing to vocalize, and I was scared to admit out loud to the people I loved most.  If I said it, it would be real, and I was still hoping it was just a fantasy.

Calum snorted, frustration and anger clear on his face.  He shook his head, glaring at all five of us in turn before finally settling on me, regarding me with a flint-like stare.

"Bullshit," he said firmly, and before any of us could object he whirled around and stormed upstairs.  I froze in place, mouth agape as I watched his form recede from view.  I flinched harshly when he slammed the door, and shut my eyes tight to fend of the tears threatening to escape.

I would have stayed like that for hours, hunched over and silent, but then I felt a hand shake my shoulder, and I glanced up to see everyone watching me expectantly.  Sadie was trying to massage my back soothingly, but her fingers felt like knives grating against my skin, and I shook her off, earning a hurt look that I ignored.

"Well?" Ashton demanded, gesturing wildly at the steps.  "What are you waiting for, Joey, go after him!"

I frowned, eyebrows pulling together as I glanced at the others.  They wanted me to go after him?  Didn't that seem a little desperate?  Calum already seemed aggravated, and I didn't want to anger him further.  Not only that, but I was scared.  Scared he would erupt and turn away from me forever.  Scared he would hate me and wish I was gone.  I was scared to face him, but that was what I needed to do.