Daylight\\A.I. & C.H.

<:6:>

Ashton and Calum

"Dude," Ashton flies into Calum's room, closing the door and rushing up to him, "We have to go find them."

"What?" Calum asks, jumping to meet him.

"We have to go find them. I have to see her again," Ashton fists his hand in front of his chest.

"I-I," Calum stutters, teetering on wanting to feel that pleasure but knowing something isn't right, his fingers grazing the bumps on his wrist.

"Calum, please," Ashton's hazel eyes look at him crazed, "I have to see her again."

"Ash, I-" Calum begins again before Ashton steps to him, his chest heaving.

"I know it doesn't make any sense, but I've never met anyone like her. She was different. I want her so bad. I need her, Calum."

Calum swallows at the desperate plea in his best friends voice, realizing he feels the same way. He too has a burning desire to taste Veronica and touch her smooth soft skin. He watches Ashton's face twist up and his eyes water, scaring Calum at the uncharacteristic behavior before he concedes.

"Yeah, let's go find them."

"Thank you!" Ashton puffs before he hugs Calum quickly and then jumps away to the door, "I'll meet you at the car."

---------------------------------

"This looks like the area," Ashton says, driving down the dark road they found themselves last night after trying to find the vineyard mansion the normal way from the city and failing.

"Yeah, I've got the heebie jeebies so it's the same road," Calum groans as we looks out the windows, "I can't believe neither of us got their number."

"Yeah, makes this ten times more fucking difficult," Ashton groans as both of them notice the two by four with a nail in it on the side of the road. Feeling hopeful he is on his way back to her, Ashton presses harder on the gas, "I think I remember Veronica's directions."

"Do you think they'll be there again?" Calum asks, sounding solemn.

"I don't know," Ashton answers, feeling nauseous at the thought of never seeing her again when a black shape darts in front of the car. "SHIT!" Ashton yells as he slams on the breaks and turns the wheel, spinning the car and killing the engine.

"What the fuck was that?" Calum huffs panicked, looking out the windows as Ashton desperately tries to restart the engine. "Hurry, man!" Calum yells at him, truly scared.

"I'M TRYING!" Ashton yells back, his fingers numb as his heart pounds in his ears.

Ashton restarts the engine just as Calum's eyes focus on the same abandoned shacks from the night before, black masses making movements and he screams at Ashton, "GET OUT OF HERE!"

Ashton slams into first gear and shoots the mustang forward, quickly turning to correct their direction on the road before slamming his foot on the clutch to shift to second, then seconds later third. He gets up to 110mph before he lifts his foot and shifts back to fourth, finally letting his body breathe while his hearing comes back. Calum grabs his arm, swallowing before he closes his eyes and huffs, his adrenaline making him sick.

"Pull over," Calum says breathily.

"What? Are you fucking crazy? No." Ashton looks at him, noticing his face going white and he lets off the accelerator.

"I'm gonna fucking vom, PULL OVER!" Calum shouts before he gags, grabbing his mouth.

Ashton slams on the breaks, the car coming to a halt with a screech while Calum jumps out, the car still in motion and empties his stomach. He gags and unloads again, all his eggs and toast splattering against the black asphalt when he hears a snap. He gasps and jumps backwards into the car, his heart hammering in fear as he regrets not throwing up all over himself and Ashton's car.

"Calum? Is that you?" he hears in a familiar British accent before two figures come into view in the head lights.

"What's wrong, man?" Ashton asks him nervously.

"Veronica?" Calum asks as he sees her face light up red and then Claires.

"Veronica?" Ashton gasps before he turns around, noticing two bodies behind the car.

He quickly gets out, his heart pounding and then exploding with joy at the sight of Claire, her appearance looking shocked and concerned. She rushes to him, faster than he can comprehend as Veronica does the same to Calum. Claire grabs Ashton's jacket, pulling him back to the door of the car. She looks around frantically as Veronica does the same, Calum leaning on her in his current weak state of confusion and illness.

"You shouldn't be here," Veronica snaps and Calum frowns at her, feeling hurt as Ashton looks at Claire, wondering if she feels the same.

Claire's eyes roam Ashton's face, her brows pinch together before she rests her hand on his thick chest, "It's not safe here. There are Ferrals out here."

"Then let's go," Ashton announces, not know what she is talking about but jumping into action and flinging his seat forward for Claire to climb in.

She makes eye contact with Veronica before complying, and Veronica follows suit, getting the seat to fold forward before joining Claire in the back seat. Calum jumps in after her while Ashton removes the e-break and continues down the road quickly. Veronica and Claire stare out the back window for a long time before finally turning around, but worried expressions still play on their pale beautiful features.

"I think we're fine now," Claire says quietly.

"From what?" Ashton asks genuinely.

"What the fuck was that?" Calum asks more intense, still shaken, "What the fuck is going on?"

"You guys need to go home," Veronica states, ignoring their questions.

"Just take us to The Haven and then go home," Claire adds, looking down at her hands, Ashton's heart ripping in two.

"No," Ashton says plainly, making Claire jerk her head up and make eye contact in the rearview mirror. "We wanted to see you again."

Claire smiles and looks back at her hands, warming his heart before Veronica speaks out again, "We shouldn't. Just take us to The Haven and then go back home. Stay away from us."

"You don't mean that," Calum turns around in his seat to look at her, watching her face fall and brows push together.

"It's what's best," Claire says solemnly before looking at Ashton again, her eyes round and searching.

"How? We want to be with you," Ashton tells them.

"It's not safe," Veronica shakes her head.

"What do you mean?" Calum asks her, twisting up his face in hopeless confusion as Claire sighs and leans forward, resting her hand on Ashton's shoulder.

She looks at Veronica before Veronica turns to her and then nods, releasing a sigh herself, "Keep going straight and don't turn until we are back in the city. Then I'll direct you to our House."

"Okay," Ashton agrees before he lifts his hand and rests it on Claire's, thankful he found her again.