peaches ; cth+afi ✓

cardinal

age 17

it took a lot of convincing, but calum's mom is letting ashton stay with them until he can go somewhere else. calum doesn't want him to leave, especially in the state he's in. ashton has always been the stronger of the two, even when they were kids, so it's weird for calum to see him so hurt. he would do anything to keep ashton from hurting, but this isn't really anything he can change.

ashton is sitting on calum's bed and just thinking about how stupid he is. how could he have thought that he could hide his and calum's relationship forever? his family would've found out eventually. all his thoughts melt away when he feels calum's small arms wrap around his waist.

calum leans his head against ashton's shoulder and presses a small kiss to his neck.

"ash, everything'll work out. i'm sorry for how things happened, babe," he mutters.

"it's not your fault, baby. it would've happened eventually," ashton sighs.

"you just didn't deserve any of this. they're supposed to love you. what kind of parent does that to their child," calum grumbles, sliding his fingers over the bruise on ashton's cheek.

"it's okay, cal."

"no, ash. it really isn't. you deserve to be loved and supported. hell, you deserve the world."

"i don't need them, calum. i have you to love me."