POISONOUS//lashton au

Five

Sometimes, Michael and Calum forced Luke to go out. Every time, Luke hated it.

Two days since Luke had seen Ashton and there hadn't been another encounter. Of course there hadn't been the opportunity for one. Tuesday Luke had an economics class at 9, and calculus at 1, then, he worked at 3 to 6. On his way home from work, Luke took a different route home and skipped his coffee. Just out of caution. He didn't think he'd be able to handle another run in.

But Michael and Calum forced Luke to go out two days later on a Wednesday. They dragged him to a mall where Luke hated going. Most times when the three went out, they made a day out of it. Which Luke hated. He tried not to complain because he knew they were trying to help him but all he really wanted to be doing was stay at home. Wednesdays and Sundays were his only days where he didn't have classes or work and he just wanted to be at home. Not doing stuff.

It was just after noon and Luke was hungry. Michael and Calum however, weren't done looking around. They were in some store Luke hadn't bothered learning the name of. As Michael and Calum looked around the store, Luke stood by a rack of clothes brushing his hands against the soft material in boredom. He pulled out his phone to check the time. 12:12. He just wanted to eat.

Thankfully, the two boys came up to Luke just a moment later.

"Ready to go?" Calum asked.

"I was when we got here half an hour ago." He informed them.

"Well then let's go get some food." Suggested Michael.

"It's about time." Luke grumbled.

The three walked out of the store and made their way to the food court with Michael and Calum happily chattering away while Luke remained silent. The two tried getting Luke to join in but with no luck. Luke was not going to talk and neither of his friends could make him.

Once they reached the food court, they all got their food and found a spot to sit. Michael and Calum kept trying to bring Luke into the conversation and Luke kept replying with short one word answers.

"So how's work going Luke?"

"Fine."

"How did you do on that calculus exam?"

"Good."

"Anything interesting been happening?"

This particular question made Luke let out a long shaky breath. Michael glared at Calum who asked the question. Calum gave Michael an apologetic look. They braced themselves for the likely sarcastic and bitter answer Luke was about to give.

Instead, Luke just shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing. Not a thing."

Michael and Calum shared a look.

For the next ten minutes, the two decided it would be best to eat in silence which they found incredibly awkward but Luke felt was perfect.

As Luke picked at his fries, he suddenly felt self concise. He felt like he was being watched. His nose wrinkled in confusion and he looked up from his food. The area was very crowded and it was hard to pick out who was watching him. Or whoever he felt was watching him. Faces blurred past as he tried to spot the person. He became slightly dizzy. Too many faces that just ended up confusing him. And then he spotted him.

Luke's heart jumped in his chest. It was beating fast. He felt like it was too fast to be considered healthy.

Ashton was sitting there. Only a few tables away. And he was looking at Luke. When Ashton realised Luke had spotted him, his usually bright happy eyes grew sad. Luke hated this. He hated when he first did that two days ago and he hated it now. Ashton had no reason to be sad.

Then Ashton's lips moved and Luke heard him.

"Luke."

This was the first time Luke had heard Ashton's voice in three years. He never thought his heart could break from hearing that voice. Or his own name. But it did. Then Ashton stood up.

Michael and Calum must have heard it too. They looked behind them where Luke had spotted Ashton.Then Calum spotted Ashton. At first, he looked shocked. Then anger grew on Calum's face. He turned back to Luke who was still looking at Ashton. Calum stood up.

"Come on. We're going."

"What? Why what's going on?" Michael had personally never seen Ashton. He'd never seen pictures of anything. By the time Michael appeared in Luke's life, Calum forced Luke to get rid of all evidence that Ashton had ever been around. It wasn't easy for Luke to do but he did it. The only thing he had left were the memories. Something that he could never get rid of if he tried. And he had.

Michael hesitantly stood up, still confused. Calum gestured to Ashton. Michael followed Calum's gaze to where he was sitting.

Luke tuned out everything Calum said. He was still sitting down and he had cast his gaze down. When he looked back up however, Ashton had stepped a little closer and seemed to be making his away towards Luke. This made Luke move. He hopped out of his chair and walked away from Calum she Michael who quickly followed after him. Luke shoved his way through people and towards the doors, willing himself to not let the tears fall from his eyes. His vision was going blurry. He couldn't tell if it was from the tears clouding his eyes or from how dizzy he was feeling. Either way, he had to stop. His breathing came in quick gasps, like it was hard for him to even take in another one.

Calum and Michael finally caught up to Luke who was beginning to hyperventilate. They each grabbed him by one arm and led him towards the doors.

"It's okay buddy. You're going to be okay. We'll get you home and everything will be fine." Calum said to Luke which did little to calm him down.

As the three stepped outside, the heat of the sun hit them hard. Luke mostly. He couldn't seem to catch his breath and could hardly walk without the help and support from his friends.

Thankfully, Michael had parked his car not too far from the doors. As soon as Calum opened a door in the backseat, Luke collapsed into it. Calum squished in beside him and put on both their seat belts as Michael got into the front seat. Calum wrapped an arm around Luke's shaky shoulders. He had calmed quite a bit since he'd sat down but his breathing was still fast and unsteady and he had started crying.

"I'm going to take him to your place. it's closer." Michael said from the front seat.

"Yeah that's fine." Calum replied.

They continued to softly chatter but Luke didn't hear any of it. He could only concentrate on Ashton.

Ashton.

Luke wasn't sure if he'd passed out or just fallen asleep but either way, as he was unconscious all he could think of was Ashton. How Ashton had been honest with Luke all the time. He never lied to him. only once. Luke thought of that first and only lie Ashton had ever told him. It was only one lie. One lie told over the course of a year and a half. One lie repeatedly spoken. One lie that cut more than any could. The last thing Ashton had said to Luke before he left him.

I love you.

~

MY SHIT BACK IS GETTING BETTER

Anyways I go back to school tomorrow I'm going to die

I have a dentist appointment I'm like 20 minutes so bye

-ash