Clean ⇔ Cashton ✓

Maybe I Know Somewhere Deep In My Soul That Love Never Lasts

ASHTON

I've always had an interest in trying to figure out stranger's personalities, as weird as it may sound. I like people watching, observing them from afar and making up little stories about them in my head. It's interesting, the way everybody has a different background, a different story locked up in their minds with the key hidden from sight.

This new job at the restaurant has allowed even more people watching than I had thought. Families and business men and women and couples walk in, and it's easy for a waiter to get an idea of them based on their conversations. It's the perfect job, to say the least.

There's only one person in the restaurant that I haven't been able to figure out. Not my boss, who was much too easy to figure out based on his tendency to spill information. And not Michael, who I'm positive was hot shit in high school and he still thinks he is.

Not any of them. No, the one I haven't been able to figure out is the waiter who sits by himself at break and who seemed to have earned himself an disliked reputation around the restaurant.

Calum.

He's one of the kindest souls I've ever met, but Michael and all his friends seem to stay away from him at all costs. I don't understand why. He doesn't show any sign of violence or rudeness, just pure happiness whenever I smile at him. He seems fragile, the way he carries himself as though he might break at any second. He always seems on edge, as though he's scared at every moment of the day. All the while, he seems genuinely happy whenever I talk to him. Everything he does leads me to a different idea of his story, and I am no closer to figuring him out than I was when I first met him.

Michael told me that I should stay away from him. He didn't give many details, other than that he has a protective boyfriend that wouldn't like someone else talking to Calum. I find it a little hard to believe, but Michael swears on it. Says he used to be family friends with Calum's boyfriend, and that it was in my best interest to stay away from the tan boy.

An order that I have decided to ignore.

"Ashton!"

A voice shakes me from my thoughts, and I turn to find Michael narrowing his eyes at me. I look down, startled. I'm standing in front of the silverware, clearly too deep in my thoughts to have accomplished whatever act I was trying to do.

"Sorry, thanks," I say, and Michael just frowns at me before turning around and walking to the back. I let out a sigh. I really need to stop spacing out.

I shake my head, grabbing a few rolls of silverware and walking out of the back room and into the restaurant, beginning to set up a few empty tables. I glance up, looking around the restaurant. My eyes catch on Calum, who stands in front of a table with a big smile on his face as he writes down their orders. I smile softly as I continue setting the table. Out of all the workers here, Calum remains the only one who seems to genuinely not hate his job.

Calum turns away from the table and our eyes meet for a moment. I quickly look back down, wincing at the awkwardness of accidental eye contact. I focus on straightening the menus as Calum walks past me to head towards the back. I straighten up and follow behind him, stuffing my hands in my pockets as I do.

I notice absentmindedly as Calum walks in front of me that he is putting more weight on one of his legs than the other, walking nearly in a limp. I furrow my eyebrows, watching as he tries to cover up his walk by steadying himself as he holds onto the wall.

I can see him wince as he turns the corner into the break room, knuckles white.

"Calum?" I say, and Calum turns around swiftly, his face contorting in pain for a split moment before he masterly covers his expression with a smile. He holds onto the counter as he offers me a bright smile.

"Hey, Ashton," the boy greets kindly.

"Are you—are you limping?" I ask. Calum blinks at me for a moment before responding.

"Yes, I was clumsy this morning and ran into my closet door," he answers, no sign of unsteadiness in his voice. It almost sounds rehearsed. "I'm perfectly fine."

Calum's smile stays on his face, barely wavering. I frown slightly, unsure of whether he's telling the truth or not. Although, I can't imagine how else he could have gotten himself hurt. I nod a bit, and Calum returns the nod with a smile before turning around once again and heading into the back, his limp even more noticeable than it was before.

I sigh lightly, cleaning up a bit as I try to get him out of my mind. It's not worth bothering myself about. If he says he's perfectly fine, then he must be. Nothing more to it.

"Why are you still talking to him?" Michael's voice appears beside me.

"What?"

"Calum. You're still talking to him," Michael repeats. I turn to look at him, crossing my arms. Michael raises his eyebrows expectantly.

"Is that such a crime?" I say.

"In Luke Hemmings's eyes, yeah," Michael says regretfully. Luke. Must be the name of Calum's apparently protective boyfriend.

"I don't think talking to one of your coworkers is that big of a deal," I laugh a little, cleaning the counters as I do. Michael smiles a bit lopsidedly and shrugs noncommittedly.

"Maybe not," he says. "Don't say I didn't warn you though, buddy."

"Note taken," I grumble, tossing the washcloth in the sink before stalking out of the room. I shake the odd conversation out of my head. Yet another addition to the mystery that is Calum Hood.

He seems like the kind of kid that's been through a lot of shit, I can see it in his eyes, the way he moves. He seems like the kind of kid that doesn't intend on letting his secrets bleed through to the world. And for once, I'm not too interested in trying to figure him out. Not anymore.

I just want to make sure he's really okay.

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A/N: hey guys I didn't die

so what do yall think about shorter butmore frequent chapters? instead of long chapters but not updated often

idk imma try it out

anyway when do yall get out for summer? or have you already?

thanks so much for reading and please comment or voteJ I love you so much, I hope today is the best day of your entire life and I hope you are super duper happy rn

ok bye