POISONOUS//lashton au

Twelve

Over the next few days, Luke had hardly anything to do with anyone. He went to school and he went to work but that was it. Even when Calum and Michael invited him out or wanted to hang out, he always declined. His mind was still spinning from talking to Ashton. It was all so much for him and it all happened so fast. Also, he still didn't want to tell Michael and Calum about talking to Ashton. Even though it happened and they obviously couldn't change that, the would still be so protective over Luke and he didn't want that. He was fine and didn't need protection. Clearly he didn't need it. After all he did just fine with seeing Ashton by himself.

But on Friday, when Calum asked Luke to go to the movies with Michael and him, Luke finally agreed.

At 6:30 Friday evening, Michael and Calum went to Luke's 45 minutes before the movie began. They sat on the couch and looked at each other before looking at Luke. Luke noticed this exchange.

"What was that look for?" Luke asked.

Michael sighed. "Luke I know things have sucked lately and I am sorry about that. Calum and I are here for you but what has been going on with you this week? You're more distant than usual and honestly slightly worried about you. More than usual worried about you. What's up?"

Luke considered just lying but there really wasn't a point so he decided to just tell them the truth.

"I talked to Ashton."

Calum's and Michael's eyes widened. They looked at each other again then bsck at Luke. Calum was the first to speak.

"What do you mean you talked to him? I thought you didn't want anything to do with him!"

"I didn't. I really didn't at all. But I was at work at Monday and he saw me there. I couldn't go anywhere so he talked to me."

"What did he say?" Michael asked. "Did you punch him? God I hope you punched him."

"I didn't punch him. He begged me to listen to him for 20 minutes so after my shift we went for coffee and he told me how sorry he was and why he did it."

"You went out for coffee with him? Why would you do that?"

"Because he told me that if I did he would leave me alone. Also, I had some questions for him. Do you know what it's like to have your heart broken and not know why for three years? Guys, I had to know. It wasn't harmful either. It's not like anything happend. And for the record, nothing is ever going to happen. Can we please go now?"

Luke got off the couch and looked at his friends who nodded and stood up as well.

"Alright. Let's go." Michael said.

The three walked out of the house and got into Calum's car. Luke sat in the backseat and listened to the two in the front speak.

The first 5 months since Ashton had left were the worst for Luke. He spent all his time in bed. He didn't speak much and he cried. He cried so much. The two years and 8 months following the first 5, couldn't be considered uphill but they weren't necessarily downhill either. Luke became emotionless for the most part. He usually refused to express any emotions. He still spent most of his time at home alone but he was slightly better.

In the time following those 5 months, Luke had his days. There were days that Luke would smile and talk a little more and sometimes willingly leave his house. There were days when it appeared that Luke was getting better. But that's all it ever was. Days. It would be one day in an entire week. Sometimes only one or two days in a month. But that one day always gave Calum and Michael hope. The next day, when Luke was his normal emotionless self, the two would try not to lose hope. Although it was always a bit of a let down. Even though they expected it, it was always upsetting for them when the day after what seemed to be a turning point ended up just the same as any other normal day.

In the beginning, when Luke started to show signs of improvement, all of Luke's friends and family believed it would come in baby steps. His happiness would come back to him slowly, but that it would.

After three years however, they started to lose hope. No one ever said it, but it was obvious mostly everyone felt it wasn't going to happen. The longer it took, the more doubtful they became.

Michael and Calum however, never gave up on Luke. No matter how much faith in him they lost, they always tried. They believed taking him out to make him do stuff may help. It never seemed to do anything but make him miserable and want to go home but they continued to take him out. It never seemed to work but they were convinced that one day it could.

So when they pulled up to the theater, the two excitedly got out of the car and pulled Luke along into the building. Once their tickets were paid for the three stood in line to get snacks when Luke nudged Michael.

"Hey I got to run to the bathroom buy me a popcorn and drink will you?" Michael nodded.

"Yeah for sure."

Luke made his way out of the line and pushed his way into the bathroom. While exiting the bathroom he opened the door, accidentally bumping into someone.

"Oh shit sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Ashton replied.

Ashton. Luke was sure that this would mean another conversation. Another conversation he was in no way prepared to have.

But Ashton kept walking. He didn't say hi and he didn't give a smile of recognition. All he gave was a dismissal.

He was serious. He wasn't going to bother Luke again. He wasn't going to ask for second chances and he wasn't going to ask for even just a simple conversation.

And Luke would have been fine with that if he didn't have questions. If Luke didn't have things he needed to ask Ashton he would have loved not talking to him again. But there were so many unanswered things that he needed to know. So he stopped Ashton.

"Ashton wait." Ashton stopped and turned to face Luke, clearly surprised. Luke struggled to find the right words to say. He didn't want to make it seem like he wanted to talk to Ashton but he needed to talk to him. Just to ask a few questions. "You were serious." That was the first thing Luke could bring himself to say.

"Serious about what?"

"Not talking to me. About leaving me alone now that you've had your 20 minutes. You were serious?"

"Yeah I was. I am. I don't deserve to talk to you. You gave me 20 minutes of your time which was more than what you should have given me. For me to think it's okay to talk to you after saying I wouldn't would make me a pretty huge jack ass. I mean, more than before anyways. So yeah. I'm serious."

Luke was taken aback. He didn't expect that answer.

"Wow okay. Thanks."

Ashton nodded and started to turn away before Luke stopped him again.

"You know i still have questions."

Ashton nodded. "Yeah. I figured you would. I'll answer all of them."

"I can't right now. But tomorrow I have a lunch break at 12:30. Meet me outside the library. We can talk then."

"Yeah. I'll see you then."

~

Okay oh my god I got an 81 on my math hand in which is my best mark this semester and then I got an 83 on my psychology test and an 80 on my history test and I'm doing well.

Also I can get license soon so yay

-ash