feelings are fatal

-8-

Ashton did hear of it.

But before he heard of it, he was at the fair, waiting for Luke.

Ashton walked to the ticket stand, taking out his wallet.

He had a big smile on his face as he stared up at the rides, imaging how happy Luke would be while they rode the rides together.

He backed away after he bought two bracelets, bracelets that would allow them to ride as many rides as they want as many times as they want.

They were $75 each, but Ashton thought it was worth it.

Ashton walked over to the entrance to the fair, looking around for the blue-eyed boy he was lucky enough to call his boyfriend.

He stopped hopping around in excitement after an hour. He checked his phone for the time, then called Luke.

He didn't pick up.

After another hour, Ashton gave up. He sighed and stuffed the bracelets in his pocket and walked away, trying his best not to cry. He looked down a his phone once he heard a ding.

He thought it might've been Luke, and frowned seeing it wasn't. Instead it was from Instagram.

'@calumwitdahood has tagged you in a post!'

Confused, Ashton opened the notification.

What he saw was enough to break him.

It was a picture of Luke at a party, making out with some blonde girl. Ashton gasped quietly and dropped his phone, covering his mouth. Tears slipped from his eyes, and his body started to shake.

He picked up his bag and started running home. He had nowhere else to go anyway. He knocked on the door a couple times and swallowed his fear when his stepdad opened the door.

Tyler's eyes burned with hatred, but Ashton ignored this and pushed past him, wrapping his arms around his mom who was behind Tyler.

They hugged for a long time, Ashton just staring blankly at the wall as his mom squeezed him tight.

His eyes were emotionless.

~~~

Luke couldn't bear to show up at school the next day. He felt terrible about what he had done to Ashton, and he just couldn't face him.

Calum walked into school, holding hands with Michael. He liked showing him off, liked showing that this boy was his.

He kissed Michael on the cheek and smiled. "You should get down to the locker rooms babe.. it takes you an eternity to get dressed," he laughed softly.

The green eyed boy gave him a look and crossed his pale arms over his chest. "Well Calum, I'm offended you would assume that," he said, shaking his head. "What if I've changed? What if I get dressed speedy fast now?"

Upon seeing the kiwi boy's face, Michael laughed. "I said what if. Not that I do," he adjusted his backpack strap on his shoulder and smiled crookedly.

Calum rolled his eyes and grabbed the back of Michael's head, pulling him close and planting a kiss on his forehead.

"Whatever. I love you dork.." he smiled and watched as Michael walked off to the locker rooms.

Calum spun around on his heel and headed to the lunch table where a bunch of his friends were sitting. But as he walked over, he spotted Ashton sitting alone at a table, scribbling something in a notebook.

He sat next to Ashton, smiling softly.

"Hey Ash," he said, looking the boy in the eye. Ashton met his eyes for a split second before looking back down at his notebook.