Best Friend's Boyfriend || Lashton

Chapter 23

Best Friend's Boyfriend
Chapter 23

"Mikey? What happened?" I question into the phone.

"I- I..." Michael responds drowsily.

"Michael! I need to know," I say urgently. "Hurry!"

"C-Calum," his teeth chatter. "C-Call Calum. I-I need C-Cal-Calum," he stutters faintly.

"Calum?" My heart sinks. "Why?"

"I'm in a mess. Tell him to meet me at the alley."

"Which alley?" I question. "Michael? Michael can you hear me?"

"He'll know-" My best friend rasps before the line goes flat.

"Michael? Michael, can you hear me?" I say hurriedly even though I already know it's too late, for the line has already disconnected.

"Call Calum," I tell Luke. "Now!" He nods, dialing in Calum's memorised number. He picks up on the second ring.

"Hey, Luke-"

"It's Ash," I interrupt grabbing the phone. "Michael called us- he said h-he was in trouble in the alley way. He needs you."

"Why wouldn't he call me?"

"I don't fùcking know, but he said he needs our help and he's in this alley-"

"What? No, no, Michael, what did I tell you?" Calum mumbles to himself. He clears his throat. "I'll be at your apartment in twenty minutes-"

"No," I say. "You'll be there now, hurry," I instruct. "Tell us where it is."

"Us?" Calum questions.

"Luke's here with me," I explain hurriedly. "Which explains why I have his phone."

"Why is Luke with you?" He asks, breathing heavily.

"Bit of tutoring, you know- never mind," I say exasperatedly. "Just get there as soon as possible."

"Okay," he agrees, footsteps thudding indicating he's running.

"Okay, so where is this alley?" I ask.

"84, Hillview road. It's between the Oliver Brandons Book Store and the Matts Mattresses place. It's near your house," he says breathlessly.

"Okay, I'll be there," I say, tugging on my worn out converse, grabbing Luke's hand and throwing him a jacket.

I sprint out the apartment, turning the corner and running as fast as I can.

"Ashton, wait up!" Luke yells, catching up to me easily due to his long legs.

"Yeah?" I say hurriedly, stopping abruptly.

He doesn't respond, just entwines our hands and starts running again.

"Michael?" I call out as soon as I see the book store and the alley next to it.

I run into the alley and Luke follows, letting go of my hand.

Calum is already there and he
's on the ground next to a pale redhead, who's vomiting on the ground.

"Michael, oh my God, Michael!" I say, horrified as I push Calum to the side. "Michael," my eyes brim with tears.

"Ashton- I- I need- I need my- innnnnnnhalerrrrr," he slurs, eyes drooping.

I see his jacket tossed to the side and check in the inside pocket, snatching the inhaler and rushing to him, shoving the plastic thing inside his mouth.

"W-what happe-" I stop short as I see the large purple bruise on jaw and blood pouring out of a gash in his arm. "Luke..." I turn to the quiet blonde. "Call an ambulance." He nods.

"S-Shane Craig was here," Michael hiccuped. "He s-said he h-had un-unfinished business w-with me b-because I-I dated his dead b-brother w-who he w-wanted to a-avenge me f-for and he- he" Michael chokes out. "He had a knife and he s-stab-stabbed m-my-" his eyes droop and he stays limp.

"Michael!" I say, fearfully. "Mikey, meekle, mike-ro-wave, this isn't a time to sleep!" I mumble desperately.

"I'm tired," he mumbles. And I hear the faint sounds of the ambulance's sirens.

The ambulance's sirens get closer and the van appears in sight.

"I know, b-but we're counting on you, Michael. Michael? Michael! Michael Gordon Clifford!" My voice trembles and raises slightly as the doors of the ambulance open, as the nurses in crisp white uniforms rush out.

"So- dizzy," is what he murmers before he is ushered onto a stretcher and into the ambulance van.

"Come along, dears," a nurse with kind brown eyes beckons.

I slowly follow the nurse and Luke and Calum trail behind me.

I feel a hand creep in mine as the ambulance starts, and already recognize it as Luke's because it fits perfectly.

A thought in the back of my mind thinks 'people who's hands mold together perfectly are meant to be' but it's pushed out of the way for my worry for Michael, who looks as pale as a ghost, lying still on the stretcher.

I try to convince myself that he's alive through the steady rising of his chest, but his limp state says otherwise.

I let out a choked sob and bury my face in Luke's shoulder as my best friend lies motionless on the bed thing. He squeezes my hand in a comforting way.

Calum copies me and leans on Luke, who himself struggles to stop his emotions free so he can support me and Calum.

Michael, please be alive. I find myself pleading as the ambulance starts down the road.

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Sorry this is short. I wanted to end it on there but I only wrote about 400 words so I edited a bit and now I have 883 words.

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-Sparkler12