Callum's POV:

I spent the next day with Jake, trying to distract him from everything, especially his emotional breakdown last night.

We started the day at a café along the waterfront for breakfast and coffee, before we lay on the golden-sanded beach for longer than we should have. The sun felt amazing on my skin and I welcomed a strong dose of it. After lunch, we went to the cinemas–something I love to do but haven't done for ages–and concluded the day with making some mojitos back at the share house with Haze and Ellie.

Today has been a good day. Surprisingly, neither of us were that hungover, thankfully.

"What have you got planned for your trip away?" Ellie asks Jake and I, before taking a long sip of the mojito I recently made her. She smiles at it, impressed. "Oh, this is great, Callum. You'll have to show me your secret recipe."

"Maybe, if you're lucky," I grin. "We haven't got anything booked in yet but thinking we might hire a van to drive down in and free-camp for a few nights wherever we can. We will probably stay at the hotel Alicia suggested everyone stays at the night before the wedding so we have an easy place to get ready and sleep that night. Then, probably keep heading south to the Hunter Valley. I want to do some hiking and I'd like to go to the breweries and wine tasting places along there."

"Wow, that sounds like an amazing holiday!" she beams. "Haze and I are have decided to do some travelling across Europe next year. We're thinking..." she trails off for a moment, meeting my eyes and smiling. "We're thinking of going for about six-to-eight months, if we can budget enough for it."

My heart sinks in my chest, slightly, at the thought of Ellie being away for that long but I don't show it. I was away–for longer than that–and the time flew. I'm sure she would be back in no time. Jake wouldn't ever admit it, but he would miss having Haze around.

"Wow," I manage to say while my mind spins for a moment. "That sounds fantastic. Have you said anything to Ma?"

"Not yet," she frowns. "I'm a bit afraid to."

"She won't want you to go but only because she will miss you so much," I explain easily, considering that is exactly how I feel as well. "But she would be happy for you."

Immediately, I look to Haze who is looking at Ellie like every person wants to be stared at. It clicks then. On that trip, I am certain he is going to propose to her. It is written all over his face.

We continue the conversation of travel as we move out to the back-patio area where Haze has made a platter.

"Should I tell her tomorrow?" Ellie asks me, chewing thoughtfully.

We're meeting Ma for breakfast tomorrow which will be nice, I haven't got to see her for a few weeks now.

"Up to you, really."

"Maybe I'll see what her thoughts are on it before we book any flights."

"Might be a good idea."

"Eat," Haze demands and Jake casts him a surly look before obliging.

"I've been eating all day."

"Good, you need to."

Jake has lost weight, but not in a bad way. He is stronger now, with his gym sessions and football. He does look like he could use more meat on his bones though. The long runs he takes has made him leaner than he has ever been before.

I sit back and make myself comfortable. The mojito goes down a little too easily and I've downed four before I note I'll end up drunk on a Sunday afternoon.

"You sure you don't want one?" I offer Jake. "They're reaaaaally good."

"Next time."

"Why are you going to the fields again?" I ask.

Jake shrugs. "Don't know. Coach said he needs to see me."

I hope it isn't anything bad. I shrug it off and continue devouring the platter. It's true, we've lazed around and ate pretty much all day but it's been so nice to relax. I love when I take a complete day off from studying. It's good for my mental health.

We all part ways at seven. I give Jake a lingering kiss goodbye, missing his warm lips on my immediately once I've stepped back. I'll sleep well tonight, I feel exhausted, even though we really didn't do much of anything today.

The next morning, I send a good morning text to Jake and get ready quickly. Ellie is picking me up and we are meeting Ma in town at the new café that's opened. Ma assures me it has 'great' google reviews. I never think to check a place up on google before I go, but it's something Ma takes very seriously, apparently.

"You look nice," Ellie compliments as I slide into the passenger seat of her car. It smells fresh and fruity, with a plush pink air freshener dangling from the mirror.

"Thanks, I overslept. Forgot to set an alarm."

"That's unlike you."

"Yeah," I yawn. "I need a coffee. I'm afraid I'm becoming addicted."

"I have noticed you're drinking coffee a lot now. It's a university thing, I think."

"Possibly."

The drive into town is short. The street is busy and it takes us three laps of the main block before we find a carpark. Ellie stresses about parking and I instantly think that I should have offered to drive, considering there was a parallel park right in front of the café we're going to but Ellie refused to attempt it. 

Ma is there when enter. Excitement lights up her face as she bustles around the table, pulling Ellie into a tight hug and then me next.

"Goodness me, will you stop growing?" she exclaims, peering up at me but I'm quite positive I haven't changed in height since the last time I saw her.

"I can try," I smile at her.

She looks well, her eyes having a shine to them and her cheeks rosy. She sits opposite to us, her smile never leaving her face.

"I've missed you two so much," she sighs. "Tell me everything. What's been happening?"

Ellie does most of the talking, always having a lot to fill mum in on. I try not to focus my reply all about Jake, despite wanting to, and try to throw in some of the good feedback and marks I have received to make Ma proud. She loves being a proud mum. It is her favourite thing to do.

We talk about our cousin's wedding coming up. Alicia and Ellie were awfully close when we were younger, before they moved away when Ellie was about fourteen. I partly zone out when Ma and Ellie discuss options of what they are going to wear.

My eyes wander around the café, seeing a range of different people at the tables. Couples, groups, lone people with their phones or laptops. I make a note to try to come to a café to study one day and see if I manage to get any work done. I get distracted too easily at home.

"What!?"

Mum's mini-outburst shocks me from my thoughts and I turn to see her gaping at Ellie.

"Eight months!?" she practically shrieks and heads begin to swivel our way.

Ellie winces.

"Not as long as when I went away," I pipe up only to be ignored.

"That's... long."

"It sounds long but it really isn't," Ellie insists.

"It's travelling, Ma, not like she is going to be moving there," I say.

Ma bites her lips sulkily. "I guess so. Sorry, love. It will be so fun for you. I'm just going to be sad not to see you!"

Ellie and I exchange a look. I should have put a bet on it that she would react this way.

"I think it will be the best time of my life," Ellie says firmly with a smile. "I can't wait."

I notice her eyes glance to her left hand for a moment with a smile, before returning to mum's face. I bite my cheek. I was right.

We finish breakfast and Ma announces she has something to show us.

"You sure you have to show us and can't just tell us?" I question.

"I'm very sure."

We pile into her SUV. She has had the seats re-done since I was last in it. The poor car seats were a bit worn from all the use of the years.

It's not until the car starts moving and I have a chance to check my phone, to realise Jake hasn't replied. He tends to sleep late, but he should be at work today. Even when he's at work he still manages to reply during his breaks.

We drive out of town for a minute or so before Ma turns into an unfamiliar street. My eyebrows pull together when we stop in a driveway.

Ellie looks back to me and I shrug. We get out of the car and Ma smiles, gesturing her hand.

"Welcome to my new home, kids."

"What!" Ellie squeals and I move to wrap my arm around Ma's shoulders.

The house isn't as big as the one we had in Alwood but she doesn't need a house like that anymore, since it's just her. It is a gorgeous, light green house with a white picket fence and a rose garden lining the front porch. It suits Ma so much.

"Wait, you bought this?" Ellie asks. "Like, you completely own it now?"

She nods. "Yep!"

Ellie engulfs her in a rib-breaking hug and Ma laughs. "Well? Do you want to see the inside?"

I quickly try to face-time Jake, he should be on lunch by now but the call goes straight to voicemail. I frown down at my phone on confusion, before trotting after the girls, letting Ma give us a tour.

It's partly furnished and she explains that the next load is due to be delivered later today. We both offer to come back and help after classes.

"I'll do a dinner soon and everyone can come see!" she gushes, looking so happy that it makes my eyes sting a little.

"Sounds good, Ma."

We agree to meet back at the house around four this afternoon. Ellie drops me back home and I only have ten minutes to get organised before I walk to class. I am tempted to get a second coffee when I remember Ellie's words about becoming addicted. I pass the coffee cart without a glance and ignore the wonderful scent coming from it. I send another message to Jake, hoping to have heard back from him by now but still radio silence.

I meet Ellie at Haze and Jake's place this time.

I shrug into my jacket, the afternoon chill seeping into the house.

"Where's Jake?" I ask Haze when he walks in.

"And hello to you, too," he snidely retorts, before going over to Ellie.

I look away when they kiss and wait impatiently for them to say their greetings.

"Well?" I demand rudely.

"Jesus, I don't know. I'm not his mother," Haze snaps at me and Ellie gives him a sharp look.

"Why, what's wrong?" she asks.

"I haven't heard from him all day and I just realised he didn't reply to my text last night either."

"He was at yours, wasn't he?" Haze asks.

"No, he had that football thing, remember?"

Haze turns to me then. "He never came home from that. I assumed he was with you."

My stomach clenches painfully and I swallow, trying to keep calm. I fumble for my phone and try ringing him again.

"Straight to voicemail," I say. "It's been doing that all day."

Haze goes to the fridge and looks at a list of contact numbers on there. He reads for a moment, before dialling.

"Hi Dan, it's Haze calling. Yes, Jake's brother. I'm wondering if he came in today?" He pauses, listening on the other end. "Right. Okay. He hasn't been home since last night and no one has heard from him. Bit unlike him." He nods. "Okay. Yes. Will do. Thanks."

I feel very unsettled when Haze hangs up, a frown etched onto his face.

"He didn't show for work today. They've been trying to get in contact with him, too."

"Is the coach's number on there?" I ask frantically.

Haze shakes his head. "Don't think so."

The only other person I know on the same team is Rhett and I'd rather cut off my left arm than have to ring him for help. I push a hand through my hair as a hundred and one different scenarios scatter across my mind, making me feel dizzy and sick.

"Woah, Cal," Ellie gasps and I realise Haze is holding me up.

He pushes me towards one of the dining chairs and I collapse onto it.

"If he's not here, where the hell is he?"

-----------

Thoughts?

If you're looking for some new books to read, I've made a fresh reading list with a bunch of stories from lovely writers I've met on Wattpad, it can be found on my profile under 'Books Written by my Wattpad Friends'.

A book I recommend checking out is Hard To Find by annasteffey 🤍✨