Chapter 108 The Love Of My Life

• Calum turns to me with a sigh. Dark emotions rise to the surface of his eyes. He’s angry and hurt but none of that is directed at me. I offer him a small smile so he knows that whatever he tells me won’t change how I feel about him.
• “In rehab, you’re allowed visitors,” he whispers. His blues close as if he’s reliving those days. I rub his knee, humming our favourite song till the tension in his shoulders dissipates. “They never showed up and I was there for a year. They were aware. I told my mum to tell them. At first, I tried not to care but I fucking cared, superstar. I mean, even if I was upset with my friends and I heard they almost OD’d, I would bury the grudges. I’ll show up immediately.”
• A memory from last term hits me unexpectedly. The day Jackson couldn’t make it to the house because his car was bad. I told Calum I hated him. I didn’t have a ride to school and he said I should get in the car and continue hating him later. It’s true, he will show up when his friends need him even if they are on bad terms.