sunshine | l.r.h

nine

chapter nine:

question...?

Michael Clifford is sitting on the couch when Luke and Calum arrive home.

"I leave for three weeks to visit my mom and come back to you and Ash pissing each other off," Michael greets as he stands.

"Where is he?" Luke asks, feeling the remains of the fight.

"On the roof," Michael answers. Luke goes towards the fire escape when Michael stops him. "What the hell's happened since I've been gone?"

"Can we talk about it later?" Luke questions lowly. Michael purses his lips, knowing it should be talked about now. "Please, Mike? I need to talk to Ash." Michael gives in, letting Luke pass.

When Luke gets on the roof, he sees Ashton sitting on the ground. Wordlessly, Luke sits next to him. For a while, the two just sit there. The city buzzes lightly around them.

"I'm sorry," Luke whispers, breaking the silence. "I shouldn't have said that."

"It was me, Luke," Ashton confesses. Luke's brows furrow as he continues. "The guy who lost someone... it was me."

Luke had a hunch deep in his head but hearing the actual confirmation makes his heart twist. His words from earlier sting that much more. "Ash, I'm so sorry."

"You didn't know," he shrugs, running a hand through his black hair. "And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for holding it against you. Not every situation will be like mine."

"I shouldn't have said it," Luke apologizes again. Ashton shrugs, trying to take some of the weight off of Luke. Another wave of silence falls around the two. Luke has a new understanding of every action Ashton has taken. Ashton understands where Luke's at, hell, he even misses it. After a while, they finally go back inside.

Calum and Michael are sitting on the couch, watching something on TV. Michael claps as he sees them enter.

"Alright, if you two have made up, how's a party sound?" Michael questions, looking at the duo in front of him. Luke and Ashton share a look before grins spread over both of their faces. The four of them were never ones to turn down a party especially together.

The bass echoes through Luke's feet as they step out of the car. All of the boys were dressed in dark clothes and leather. The second they're inside, Luke heads straight for the kitchen. Calum is following behind closely. A few people shoot glances Luke's way. He's not a student, he has no reason to be here. Luke pours himself and Calum a drink before gazing around the kitchen.

"Gonna find a new hook-up tonight?" Calum inquires, taking a sip from his cup.

"I need to get her out of my head somehow," Luke answers over the music. As Calum's eyes trace the room, he spots someone Luke would hate being here. Liam Holt has his arm around a brunette.

Delilah feels the eyes burning into her head. Taking a quick glance over her shoulder, she locks eyes with Calum briefly.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," she mumbles. Natalia's brows furrow as she looks at her friend. Kitchen, Delilah mumbles. Natalia glances that way, seeing why Delilah huffed.

"Have fun trying to get her out of your head, mate," Calum chuckles. Luke's brows furrow.

"The hell are you on about?"

"Delilah's here and she's under the arm of Liam Holt." The universe must have something against Luke. He came here to try and rid himself of Delilah. Instead, he finds her with Liam Holt. He shouldn't be mad at the sight but something in him twitches. Luke pretends to shrug it off and takes a long swing of his drink. The tequila burns his throat as it goes down.