bulletproof - calm ot4

8- the lives we lived are only golden-plated

How cruel is the golden rule when the lives we lived are only golden-plated? And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me though I carried carats for everyone to see.

-

"Hi, angel," Calum says, sitting down at the cafeteria table across from Luke. It's become an unspoken agreement that Luke is the baby of the group. He's broken, he's scared, and he feels alone. They all recognize it, and they all want to do anything in their power to make it better. Calum is no exception.

Luke looks up at Calum and smiles, stuttering out, "H-Hi."

Calum's face lights up, heart fluttering. It's not much, but it's progress. The pretty boy begins to pull out his lunchbox, but frowns when he sees that Luke isn't eating. Again.

"Not hungry?" Calum asks, concern lacing his voice. Luke hesitates, before shaking his head, making Calum frown. He's never seen Luke eat lunch, and it worries him. Calum knows that Luke probably eats a big breakfast and he's probably making a big deal over nothing, but he can't help but feel uneasy.

"Do you know where Ashton is?" Calum asks, pulling his food out of his lunchbox.

Luke nods, holding up his phone to show Calum a text from the muscular boy.

Gonna spend lunch period in the library, I have some studying to catch up on.

"Looks like it's just the two of us, then," Calum smiles cheekily, and Luke giggles. "Are you sure you don't want to half my sand which?" Calum suggests.

The blonde shakes his head furiously, bitting his lip. The boy in the navy blue skirt thinks he sees tears clouding over Luke's blue eyes, and he quickly reassures the boy that it's okay, even though it really isn't.

"It's okay, angel," Calum promises, holding his hand out for Luke to take. Luke glances at Calum's outstretched, dainty fingers and can't help but giggle.

Luke begins to play with Calum's fingers, awed at how small they are. The tan boy sighs in relief, allowing his boyfriend to bend and pull on his fingers. He just narrowly avoided upsetting the blonde, and he knows it.

When Michael gets upset he breaks things and he hits things. When Ashton gets upset he most likely studies. But Luke? Calum doesn't have the faintest idea, and he isn't sure if he wants to find out.

He feels Luke intertwine their fingers, and it pulls a smile onto his face.

The smile quickly vanishes when Luke's sleeve rides up ever so slightly, and Calum eyes ghost over his wrist.

Smile red lines, nearly the identical color of his maroon sweater dot the frail boy's wrist. It makes Calum's heart drop, makes his stomach churn, brings tears to his eyes.

No. That can't be it. It can't be.

He doesn't understand how his beautiful boy could do this to himself. He bites his lip, blinking back tears.

Luke squeezes Calum's hand, stuttering out, "O-Okay?"

The pretty boy nods quickly, even though he isn't. "I'm fine." He forces a smile.

The tan boy doesn't know if he should say something. He doesn't know if it would upset the blonde if he asks about it, but all the same, he isn't sure if he wants to ask. He wants to help, but he doesn't know how.

What he does know is that he has to tell Michael and Ashton. They agreed on no secrets, and it isn't fair if Calum keeps it from them. He just wishes Luke would be the one to tell them.

Calum bends down, pressing a kiss to the back of Luke's hand.

-

"I don't know what to do, and I don't know if I should say something to him but I figured that I have to tell you guys and I want to help, oh, my God, but I--" Calum is rambling, pacing back in forth in front of his dark haired and dirty blonde boyfriends. He called them to the bathroom during sixth period so he could finally get it off his chest--he's been worrying about Luke all day.