Cigarettes // cake // Sequel of Mute

Forty

{Calum}
I open the door slightly and see Luke and Halsey exit the apartment. I quickly put on some clothes and walk outside before locking the door. I leave the building and put a cigarette between my lips before pulling my phone out.

Me [3:09pm]
can u meet me at the park

Ashton [3:09pm]
sure bro

I walk to the park, sitting on a bench. I breathe in the smoke before breathing it all out. I just need to hang out with someone right now.. but it can't be Luke because I don't want to talk to him right now. And not Michael because he hates me, not Halsey because she's probably fixing things up with Luke and Michael and not Alexia because we aren't close and also she might be busy with Andrea.

So Ashton's my only choice. I won't exactly be talking to anyone since I've gone mute again, but I'm sure Ashton will understand.

"You're still smoking?" I hear and see Ashton walking over and sitting beside me. I breathe out a laugh. He looks fucking hot. He has a leather jacket on and his hair is swept to the side.

"Are you okay? You're staring." He says and I look away before grabbing my phone.

'You look hot.' I type and Ashton frowns.

"Calum..." He trails off. "Please don't tell me you're going mute again."

I look down and Ashton wraps an arm behind me. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

"Does Luke know?" He asks and I nod making him frown.

"And he's not doing anything?"

I shake my head. He mumbles an apology. Its an awkward silence before I type on my phone.

'Are you an Alexia okay?'

Ashton gives me a tiny smile before shaking his head slightly.

"I... I think we're about to break up." He says and my eyes widen.

"You have a kid!" I blurt out.

"I know I do, but we fight too much over her and.. we just can't do anything for Andrea right now." He sighs and I shake my head.

'Don't. Do not.' I type on my phone.

"Then start talking again." Ashton says.

'That's blackmail.' I type and he breathes out a laugh.

"Okay, well if I can't get you to talk again, then how can I fix things with Alexia? I mean, I still love her a lot and all.. but how do I really fix it? I don't want to just fix it, I want to fix it for good, you know?" He asks and I nod at his ramble.

'Just talk to her, ask her how she feels,' I type and Ashton looks like he wants me to continue.

'Then maybe once she tells you, you can work on from that. You know her well enough.' I type making him nod a little.

"Okay.. I mean, I could try.." he whispers to himself.

"B-But what about you and Luke?" Ashton changes the subject hesitantly.

'It's shaky.. he just left me to take care of Michael and help Halsey with him.' I type and Ashton frowns.

"He left you? That's stupid..." Ashton trails off and I nod. "Okay, well you should probably actually talk to him and not type on your phone to him. Why don't you ever want to talk?" He rambles.

'Because it's just a way to disappear if things get too intense...' I type.

"Calum, you won't disappear, everyone's just going to want you to talk more and they're all gonna come up to you and--"

I cut him off by nodding.

"Then why don't you talk?" He asks and I look away before shrugging.

"Calum please.. you don't have to do it often, you can talk only when necessary, you're allowed to be quiet.. just not mute." He says and I think how much of a good offer that is though.

He leans forward and makes it seem more serious than it should be. His face is really close to mine. I lean back a little, blowing the rest of my smoke aside before dropping my cigarette.

"Please?" He asks and I see his nose twitch, probably at the smell of my breath.

"What do you want?" I ask and Ashton smiles, leaning back.

"Go talk to Luke." he crosses his arms.

I sigh and turn away.

"I don't know what to say to him." I mumble making Ashton shrug.

"He's your boyfriend, you should know. Look, let's make a deal," he says and I nod him on. "You promise me that you'll talk to Luke, and I'll talk to Alexia, today."

"What if I don't?" I ask and Ashton already looks upset.

"I'll.. be mad." He shrugs. "Just please do it?"

"Okay fine, but you have to talk to Alexia too." I say and Ashton nods.

I sheepishly hold out my pinky and so does Ashton. We interlock our pinkies together before getting up.

"Okay, bye Calum. Good luck okay?" He asks and I nod. He pulls me in for a quick hug, thanking me before we walk home.

I've barely been mute for a day and Ashton's already managed to make me talk which I don't want. I can't keep letting people get to me this way... but maybe if I just let Luke get to me, he would make everything better.

I get into the apartment to see Luke still not there. I sigh. Of course he wouldn't be here. I lay back on the couch and kick off my shoes, too lazy to put them beside the door. Luke always got annoyed when I randomly kicked my shoes off somewhere.

The door opens and I see Luke. He gives me a tiny smile before closing the door.

"Are you okay?" he asks and I smile and give him a tiny nod.

He pulls his shoes off and walks up to me. He gently lays on top of me and spins around so that he's facing the ceiling. He rests his head on my shoulder and I wrap my arms around his arms. Our fingers intertwine and I kiss his cheek earning a tiny smile from him.

We don't have anything to say to each other. I promised Ashton but I don't even know what to say... I feel like it's fit not to say anything. I gently run my hands through his hair and Luke almost seems to fall asleep.

"When was the last time we kissed Calum?" Luke asks and I frown.

"Why?" I ask and he notices I talk but chooses to ignore it.

Luke shrugs, "I miss you."

"You know what, let's spend the whole day tomorrow. Let's go out." I say.

"On a date?" Luke asks and I give him a small smile.

"On a date." I repeat.

--
A/N: i am skskskosososos sorry for never updating theres just so much shit going on rn ugh

(ALSO HAPPY EARLY BDAY acousticgaskarth )