Bent Bunny Ears {5SOS}

Three

The cold air blowing down circulated the curled up boy, wrapped in a hoodie with his head to the floor and a violent tear of his teeth into the flesh of his lip. He didn't want to be here, knowing nothing would come from therapy and talking about how he felt, especially not with a school counselor.

He only sat here because his mother sat outside, knowing she was praying and hoping that this would help but it only did if he took advantage of it and actually spoke to the woman seated across from him. He knew she was close to Michael, had seen them together plenty of times and when she'd call while he was over to make plans with her and her husband. Michael only had good things to say about Elizabeth and Ashton knew there was no way in hell he'd tell her anything that could get back to the other man.

She gossiped about all the students, well meaning and out of a pure heart but Ashton didn't need his name caught up and to be another reason Michael would try to talk to him about helping. He couldn't say anything, not wanting to especially with knowing that even if it did stay from Michael, she'd turn right around and tell his mother and that was one of the last things he need.

He knew how it would go, especially if he was as honest as he wished he had been months ago before he ruined his chance. She'd lie and say everything they spoke about was confidential and private only to them, that he could be honest and let his walls down. He'd tell the truth and she'd turn around and calls the cops, get him institutionalized because he was a threat to himself and to others. He'd be stuck in a loop of retelling what happened over and over.

To his mom, his siblings, Calum, the school, the police-anyone he had ever met and would ever meet. He'd be the boy that was abused, the boy that was a victim, the one who let it happen to him, who was stupid and naive. People would blame him, defend Michael and he'd have to deal with that. He felt no one would believe him, that he'd be at fault because that's how he felt. Why would anyone sympathize? How could he be the victim when he let warnings go over his head?

He knew his mom would look at him differently, would know that he let it happen and his behavior now wouldn't help at all in defending himself. He would sit here though, silent and unmoving, barely blinking to avoid encouraging her to even speak with him a little. He didn't want to talk about his interests, any issues, his family, his one friend, his past, his schooling and the decline in how he had been barely crawling by in progress.

He didn't want to say anything about himself, wanted to go home and he knew if his mom had just dropped him off and pulled away, he would've ran out. He wished Calum was answering his phone, that the brunet could've sat with him because his best friend made it easier to deal with everything. He knew Calum was most of the reason he was in control of any kind, when he'd run from home to the brunet or at least take some of the comfort from the brunet when he couldn't handle anything else.

"Ashton, it's been a little over half an hour. I'm sure your mother would want you to utilize this time we're spending?"

He looked up finally, making her smile as she shifted and readied her pen against her pad for nothing to come soon. He settled with staring, making her sigh as she fixed her pencil skirt and made a sympathetic face.

"You know, when I first started therapy and talking to counselors, it was very hard for me to open up about myself and any issues I was having at the time. I struggled in school when I started high school especially, and I was very disheartened to know that you are as well. You're such a bright student, Ashton. So mature for your age that I know you can do better-we all do. Your mother, your friends, Mr. Hemmings-they all want you to be your best."

He forced himself not to move or make a face, knowing it'd only fuel her more as he stared blankly and only got her into speaking again that he couldn't believe it was ever hard for her to open up as he bit into his lip harsher.

"You know, your mother and Mr. Hemmings came and spoke to me personally about you. I haven't had the chance to talk to Calum yet but I'm sure he'd love to know if you're making progress or if there's anything he could do to help you. Mr. Hemmings always speaks so highly of you, how much potential he knows you have and how much maturity you've shown him. You always were at the top of your classes. Maybe, along with your therapy with me, you can start your tutoring with Michael again?"

He got up the second her watch beeped to show the time, not giving her a second to speak as he left the office and went to his mom. Her smile stayed despite her eyes letting him know how worried she was and how let down she was by the clear tension spilling out of the room behind him. She passed him her keys after he looked off to the side with his hand out, saying she'd be there in a moment after she spoke with the counselor.

He nodded stiffly, moving up the hall and out the front door of the office to get out to the parking lot. He let himself into the car and fished his phone from his pocket, dropping the keys into the cup holder and moving to call Calum with the small time he had from his mom, peeling at the split flesh of his lip as it slowly connected to the other teen he needed right then.

The brunet jumped when his phone suddenly rang, messing with the device for a moment as he sat on the bed, wiping his cheeks quickly and trying to get rid of the lump in his throat, holding his stomach that felt like he had eaten pounds of iron with the sudden weight that was crushing him. He answered it quickly, biting at his nail as Ashton's voice filled his ears and made him relax in the slightest.

"Hey, Cal. Um, c-could you come over now? Are you still busy?"

"No, I'm just...I'm in the middle of something right now."

He knew he shouldn't have said anything the second Ashton asked what was wrong, hating how his tone gave him away as he bottom lip trembled and tears that he had just wiped away came swelling back up at the concern in his best friend's voice.

"I did...something bad happened, Ash. I didn't...I'm sorry."

"Cal, baby, what happened? Whatever it is, I can handle it for you and it'll be okay. Why don't I come pick you up and-"

Ashton's tone was gentle, so soothing and comforting when he spoke again that Calum couldn't help but let go of a tiny sob into his hand as a quick panic swelled in his chest as he sharply spoke up, snapping back quickly as his voice rose from a whisper without his meaning to.

"No! I-I'm not home and I-I'm okay...don't come. Please don't-" he felt his stomach drop and bile rising in this throat when he heard him getting off his call, quickly turning back to his phone as he whispered again despite knowing he had been heard, "I have to go. I'm sorry. I shouldn't've called. I'm okay. Don't come get me."

"Calum, wait, no, talk-"

The boy dropped his phone quickly when the door opened, hiding it as he stared with big eyes at the man coming in. He moved back subconsciously when he sat at the edge of the bed, staring between the cup of tea and the man for a moment before he shook his head.

"I-I wasn't talking to anyone. I just....I was waiting for you, Sir-uh, M-Michael. Is everything okay?"

He hung up his phone quickly when Michael looked away for a second, sliding it under the pillow behind him and hesitantly taking the tea that Michael said would make him feel better, though he felt nothing would ever make him feel that way again as he refocused and swallowed hard.

"Of course, bunny, just had a call from, uh, work. Can we talk?"

"Uh, I-I should go. My parents and...Ashton and I have plans tonight. I can c-call you later again? Or see you at school?"

"Okay, Cal, why don't you finish your tea first and then we can clean up together and you can go?"

Calum wanted to say no, to run out right then but forced himself to not seem so on edge and make Michael panic as he slowly drank away his tea, staring at the bathroom door in nerves of having to go inside with Michael while the man stared at him. He didn't push his hand from his knee, wishing he had covered up more with the covers but stayed quiet and unmoving outside of the tea.

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AN: hello, very sad and terrible twist. I felt horrible tying Calum up into this but it does go deeper into the story and the whole storyline as well. Any thoughts so far?

Ty for reading though, see you next chapter. Love you :)

<3 ...