kitten ♡ [muke]

27 - part 1

Calum and Ashton sat in the little café on the bottom floor of the hospital. Cal had ordered them chocolate milkshakes, Ashton's favorite.

Ashton also seemed to be in a good mood today, which made Calum happy. He hoped he wouldn't ruin it... But he knew he was about to.

They talked about how things were going, and Ashton opened up to Calum about what had happened with Mikey.

"He said that?", Calum asked in disbelief. He knew Mikey could be bossy to Ashton sometimes, but he never knew he was this violent. Could that be what happened at the bar that night...?

"It was scary," Ashton replied, his curls bouncing as he nodded his head. He took a big sip of his chocolate milkshake. Michael had really been scaring him lately, and he was grateful to get to spend the day with his favorite person to take his mind off of things.

"Wow..", Calum trailed off in disbelief. He felt a mix of emotions; anger, worry, hurt. Ashton meant everything in the world to him, and he just wanted him to finally be okay. Ashton's confession about his Michael just made him even more ready for the plan. He was ready to get rid of fake Michael, for good.

"Ashton, there's someone I want you to meet."
...
"What if they don't like me?", Ashton whispered quietly as he clutched Calum's hand, hiding behind his muscular arms.

"Baby they'll love you! Besides, it's an... Old friend.", he said, smiling without his teeth.

He heard Ashton sigh as the elevator dinged with each floor they passed. Finally, they reached the 5th floor.

Calum began to get really nervous. His hands got clammy, and he began to sweat. Ofcourse, Ashton noticed.

"Calum where are we going?", he asked, his voice tense. He knew something was wrong. He always did.

They reached Michael's door just then, saving Calum from having to answer. He took a deep breath as he prepared himself.

"We're here.", he said.

Time felt as if it had slowed down as he slowly pushed the door open. Luke was sitting in the chair next to Mikey, clutching his hand tightly as he hunched over him.

Ashton slowly peeked his head around Calum's built shoulders as he looked into the room. "H-hello?", he said, quivering slightly.

Luke turned around to see Calum at the door, holding on to the hand of the curly headed Ashton.

He wiped his eyes quickly with his free hand and stood up, setting Michael's hand back down on the bed gently.

He began to make his way towards them, and as he came into the light Ashton recognized him.

"Y-you're that nurse!", Ashton said in surprise, cowering behind Calum. His eyes searched Luke's body rapidly, not able to connect his ripped skinny jeans and boots to a crisp nurses uniform.

"About that..", Luke began, taking another step towards them.

"W-where's your uniform? W-why are you here?", Ashton stammered nervously.

"I'm not really a nurse Ashton," Luke began softly, not wanting to upset him any further.

"W-what? I s-saw you in m-my room, y-you asked all t-those questions!", he exclaimed, his eyes widening.

"I borrowed the uniform, I just needed some answers...", Luke murmured.

"About Michael...", Ashton said, piecing it together in his mind. "But why..?"

"Because," Luke began, taking a deep breath, "I have him. Here, with me. The real Michael."

Ashton shook his head and gave a sad smile and chuckled. "You just don't get it do you? He never leaves me. Why would he be here?"

"Where has Michael been the past few days Ashton?", Calum said, speaking for the first time in a while.

"I-I don't know..", Ashton said slowly.

"Ever since you started taking your medicine again like your supposed to, he's been gone hasn't he?" Calum said, turning and taking Ashton's hands in his.

Ashton nodded slowly, his bottom lip trembling slightly, although his eyes were dry.

"That Michael, you made him up in your mind after the accident. The real ones here, and I think if you saw him, you could get better." Calum said softly, a lump forming in his throat.

"Calum I-", Ashton began as Calum spoke. "Do you trust me?", Calum said, gripping his hands more firmly as he looked directly into his boyfriends pretty hazel eyes.

Ashton couldn't find the words to speak, so he just barely nodded his head, the smallest curls in the front of his head bouncing slightly.

"Come with me," Calum whispered, beginning to take a few steps backwards, pulling Ashton along slowly.

He walked, slowly and reluctantly, over to the bedside. He saw a figure laying there, almost peacefully, as if he were sleeping. He saw fringy pink fluff poking out from underneath some bandages on the boys head. His eye sockets were slightly purple, and his pink lips were chapped.

There was no mistaking who it was, Ashton knew that face anywhere.

"Michael?"

TO BE CONTINUED

....