The Hitchhiker

May 2013

Calum POV

The water below me isn't deep, but the current is strong, and the stones are sharp. I am sat on the bridge ledge, my legs dangling in the air.

I am sitting here for over an hour now, clearing my head. I'm not trying to jump, I am not looking to end my life, I come here to think. Caroline just broke up with me, again. It hurts, even though we've been through this time after time. But I have learned my lesson, I will not go back to her next time she'll be back crying. I am not going through that train wreck of relationship again.
I've had enough. I stayed in town for the kids. Not to get caught up in her drama. She was supposed to be in collage but for some reason she keeps finding reasons to come back, pulling me away from them, and their program. We put such hard work into it, to make it better, and easier, why do I keep letting her side track me?

"Hi there!"
I almost have a heart attack. I turn my head swiftly to see who was the cheery person whom stopped my heart, and cut my train of thoughts.

"I hope you're not a jumper," The guy smiles. He was tall and blonde, sunglasses shielding his eyes from the setting sun.
"That would be stupid, since it will be one painful jump," I answer.
"True that," The guy pulled himself up on the stone ledge I was on, and sat himself beside me.
"I'm Niall," He offers his hand to me.
"Calum," I shake it.
"Are you from the 'Maybe town'?" He questioned.
"Why are you asking?"
"Who gave it the name?" He was grinning, finding this whole thing amusing, but I wasn't in the mood for amusement. I wanted to sit by myself and mope at my tragic life.
I decide it is best for me to just leave.

I rise to my feet, standing on the brick wall looking at the boy.
"It was nice chatting with you, but I'm not in the mood for company," I tell him.
"I wouldn't call this chatting, it was more me talking and you grunting," He grins. I shrug and get ready to jump down on to the bridge.
When I do, my shoe lace gets tangled and I trip, losing my balance. I try to steady it, but instead I tip back.

"WOW!" is what escapes my lips, as fear takes over, when I understand I am falling- off the bridge to the water and rocks under.
"I gottchya!" I feel a strong grip close around my arm and a sharp pain cuts my shoulder. I scream out in pain.
"Stop moving, so I can pull you up," The boy is nonchalant, working fast to get me to safety. He manages to get his hands under my arms, making it easier for him to pull up. I am squeezing my lips shut, clenching my jaw, to keep the moans of pain trapped in.
Finally I am pulled over the wall and my feet touch solid ground.

"Now that is what I would call close! Are you all right man?" The boy asks, finally some concern in his voice.
I let my weight give in, falling to the ground, letting my back lean against the wall.
"Let me get back to you," I breathe through clenched teeth, holding my right shoulder with my left hand. I was in so much pain.
"You dislocated your shoulder man," He says, though I already know that, how can I not with such pain?
"Come, I can set it if you'd like," He goes on.
I study his face, not used to people acting this way. He is a complete stranger, and yet he is acting as if he knows me forever. I nod, and he bends over by my side.
"It's going to hurt," He warns me. With two hands on my shoulder he pushes and pain like never before runs through me. I let out a painful scream.
"You should get that checked out," The boy says.
"Thanks," I reply, and I mean it.
"No problem, this is better than being spread down on the rocks below," He smiles. "Do you need help getting up?" He asks then.
"Let's… let's just sit here for a bit, I need to calm down," I sigh.
The boy nods, sitting down and resting his back against the wall.
"This is one fucked day," I finally say, after a long silence.
"No shit," He lets out a short chuckle.
"My shit of a girlfriend broke up with me- again, and then I nearly fall off a bridge and die," I can't help but smile, since this is so unreal.
"That sucks man- about your girlfriend I mean," He replies.
"Na, she is a bitch, I really don't know why I keep getting back together with her- I'm such an idiot," I sigh.
"No you're not, all of us go back to our ex's," He comforts me.
"Yeah well, never again," I assure him.
"What do you do? I mean with your life- you're in college?" He questions.
"No, I might start next fall, but for now I work at the school, we have this art program we started with the kids," I tell him.
"That is really nice, you like working with kids ha?" He asks
"I do, I might be a teacher some day," I reply, "What about you?"

The boy- Niall his name is pushes his sunglasses up on top of his head. He has blue eyes, and I was surprised to find them looking so sad.
"I am trying to figure it out," He sighs.
"I don't know who gave the town the name," I finally answer his first question. He smiles, though it doesn't reach his eyes, they stay just as sad.
"Come on, let's go back into town, dinner is on me," I state, pushing myself up to my feet.

As we drive through the town Niall starts reciting this song, about a town where everyone is the same.
"And the people in the houses
All went to the university
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same
And there's doctors and lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same."

"It only seems that way, but we are different, the people are far from being the same," I answer an unasked question.
"You know Calum, my sister, she is two years younger and she is one of the smartest people I have ever come across. She believes there is some form of god, and she always says that you get what you-"
"Deserve? Gee thanks," I say sarcastically.
"No, well that too, but she says you get what you can handle. This happened to you because god knows you can handle it, and you'll learn from it, and grow because it," He says.
I think about what he said.
"I am trying to decide if your sister is just a happy fortune cookie or is really smart as you say," I tell him.
"Believe me, she is smart," He answers firmly.
"So is she back home? Your sister?" I ask, making conversation.
"Tyra? Yeah, bless her, she is aiming to be the valedictorian," He sounded proud.
"Cool, so she has good grades ha?"
"I told you, she is smart! And nice! Everyone loves her, I mean.. how can you not?"
I think about what he said, this being the first to find a brother talk so highly of his younger sister. I wonder what happened to make him leave home, and make him so sad.
It sounds like he comes from the perfect family, living the American dream.

Present time:

Calum's POV

"Yo bro! what's up?" I say into my phone, following up on my promise to Tyra, to try and track down Niall. It has been a long time since I have seen him, but I will try, I owe them that.

"Calum?! Dude! When are you coming to NY to visit?" Liam said in his cheery voice.
"Soon man, once school is over I promise I'll come," I smile. I miss Liam, town is not the same without him.
"You have to come! The chicks here are something else! You won't remember who Caroline is once you get here," He promises
"I don't remember who she is anyway, it has been over a year since I last saw her," I remind him.
"Yea, yea, I hear you," He waved me off.

"Listen, remember the boy that came with you to NY? Niall?" I ask
"Sure do! What a guy!"
"Are you in touch? Is there any way to reach him?" I ask.
"Ahh, I'm not sure, I haven't spoken to him for a while, why?"
"His sister is looking for him, she is making her way to New York," I fill him in.
"I can try, when she gets here, send her to me, I'll see what I can find out until then," He promises me.
"Thanks man!" I say full of gratitude

"I can't believe I will get to meet Tyra!"
"She is just like he said she is Liam," I answer.
"Send her to me, I'll see what I can do!" Liam says.
"Thanks Liam, I will!"
"And don't forget you promised to visit me man!" He states
"I remember! Don't worry,"
"I'm saving you a spot! College dude- it's epic!!"

After the phone call ends, I go back to the ball, maybe I can find Tyra and give her Liam's address, though she is nowhere to be found, she probably had enough, tired from the long drive. I was happy she wasn't traveling alone, she had her boyfriend with her.. At least it seemed he was, the look he gave me when he found us talking on the side, next to the art work.

I hope she finds her brother, she looked so desperate. When I told her he moved on to NY, and we are no longer in touch she had that same sad look he had when I first met him. It made me wonder once again what their story is.

Notes

Hiya!!!
How is the weekend treating you?

So here is a little insight on Calum, seeing how he got to come across Niall and all.. I really hope you liked it!!!
Please let me know what you think =))
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Lots of thanks! and thank you for the lovely comments! I keep telling you how mush it means to me and how happy it makes me because it truly does! so keep them coming :)

P.s- Does anyone here watch the Vampire Diaries? I watch the last Ep. Last night and I was crying my eyes out!! my heart broke into a million pieces! I really hope Damon comes back! he is my favorite!!!
Ok, enough fan crying!
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
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