Amnesia • Calum Hood

•Chapter Four•

When I woke up the next morning, I felt like I'd only slept for a few minutes.  My eyelids felt heavy and my mind was clouded with a fog I couldn't seem to break.  Every limb was stiff and numb, and I exercised each slowly before finally sitting up in the bed.

Looking around, I remembered vaguely where I was and why.  Michael's room was nice, with a few band posters and various knickknacks scattered about.  His bed was comfortable and familiar, a nice change to all the hotel beds I'd been sleeping in recently.

Shuffling into the hallway, I spotted Ashton wearing shorts and a black tank top, making his way to the bathroom.  I smiled and said good morning, and he returned a cheery grin which I found surprising.

"I'm a morning person, remember?" he joked lightly, and I chuckled at the memories.  Ashton always was a little strange, and I was glad to see he hadn't changed much.  I studied him a little closer now, eyes squinted slightly.  His hair was shaggier, and there was a hint of facial hair he didn't have before.  He was broader, and all around older, which was to be expected.  But he was still the same cheerful, funny person he was when I left.

I yawned loudly and stretched my arms forwards, groaning.  "I feel disgusting.  I need a shower and a tooth brush."  I remembered with a sigh that all of my things were back at Sadie's.  "I guess I have to drive back."

Ashton shook his head.  "We've got some extra toothbrushes you can use for now, just clean yourself up and meet us downstairs."  He nodded once before beginning to stroll away, but I was still confused.

"We can go back, right?  I mean, it's safe to drive?"  When I glanced out the window earlier, I saw sunlight streaming through the trees.  Surely Sadie and I would be able to go back, now that the bad weather had subsided?

Biting his lip and shooting me a sheepish glance, Ashton said, "A pretty nasty branch fell on top of her car last night.  It's bad, and definitely not safe to drive.  Me or Luke will give you two a ride home after breakfast, let you gather your things."

I cringed.  Poor Sadie, seeing her car wrecked probably wasn't the greatest way to start her morning.  But I had no doubt it would be fixed; her father was so desperate to patch up his relationship with his daughter, he'd gladly patch up her car if it helped.

I shut the door to the bathroom behind me and saw a fresh toothbrush and tube of toothpaste ready and waiting on the counter, as well as something surprising on the toilet seat.  My mouth dropped open as I saw one of my old tee shirts, and a pair of shorts I remembered having as well.  I must have left them here, back when Calum and I were dating.  We often left a change of clothes at each others houses.

Seeing the clothes gave me yet another wave of twisted nostalgia.  It reminded me of when times were good, when I was over here every other night with Calum.  I couldn't believe he even kept the clothes.

This made another thought pop up.  What did he do with them?  Did he bring them out, and run his fingers along the fabric, like I used to do with his shirts?  Did he ball them up and stuff them in the back of the closet, ashamed and angry just at the sight of them?

Reluctantly, I changed out of Luke's clothes and gingerly picked up the shirt.  It'd been freshly washed, I could tell by the subtle warmth of the threads.  They fit snuggly and perfectly on my body, and yet the sight of them in the mirror made me queasy.

I proceeded to brush my teeth and run a comb through my hair, although it was enough of a mess already.  I threw it up into a messy bun that made me look like a homeless woman, and exited the bathroom quietly.

After throwing Luke's clothes into the hamper in his bedroom, I padded downstairs and joined the others in the kitchen.  Luke and Sadie were attempting to make what looked like eggs and toast, although Sadie was hardly concentrating.  Her face was tense with annoyance, and her voice was clipped as she snapped at him.