Save You (Lashton AU)

Chapter 2

[Luke's POV]

Once I closed the door behind me, I leaned on the wood, sighing. There wasn't much to do other than please one of my deadly addictions.

Nicotine.

I began smoking as little as fourteen years old, being 18 now, its been more than four years since I started. It's not as bad as it seems, although I remember clearly the first time I let it invade my lungs. It was like it washed out all the stress I had and relaxed my tense bones. Now it warms up my lungs, letting me know I am, in fact, alive.

I grabbed the pack and took one out, balancing one between my lips whilst searching for my lighter in my pocket. Getting ahold of the lighter, I ignited the piece of paper and took a much needed drag, before resting on my couch.

I began to light up the second, about to put the cigarette between my lips when I heard a loud crash, making me jump and drop the lighter on the floor. I cursed under my breath and got up quickly, thinking something had fallen in my house.

Opening the door to my room, I looked around, trying to see if anything was misplaced, but found nothing. My eyebrows knitted together and I made my way outside. Before I could even reach the kitchen, I heard faint screaming in the distance. It wasn't loud enough for me to distinguish the words, but loud enough to hear it was coming from the house Ashton had walked into earlier.

I listened intently, trying to figure out what the man (that was obviously not Ashton because the person screaming had a very deep voice) was saying. Failing and only hearing choppy incomplete sentences, I pressed my ear to the front door, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"Am I not enough?"

"I don't want you talking to other people"

"I don't love you"

Once the last words left the man's mouth, everything went dead silent.

A couple seconds later the man shouted, "Leave!" followed by some shuffling noises and the click of a door. Curious, I looked through the small window above the sink, seeing Ashton walking out of the house, head hung low and shoulders slouched.

I hesitated, wondering if it was a good idea to call him over or not. I didn't want to come off as creepy, though I'm 99% sure I weirded him out earlier but - ok I should just go.

I opened the door just in time because he was about to cross the street. Before he could walk any further, I called out his name.

He turned quickly, almost afriad that someone was behind him. His reaction didn't catch me off guard though, it was the noticeable purple mark forming under his eye.

"Oh my god" I whispered mostly to myself.

Ashton wiped the fear out of his face, grinning slightly "Hi Luke". He forced another smile and walked towards me.

Seeing through the smile I ask, "Are you okay?"

"Of course" he smiled again, though he was lying straight to my face. The eyes always give away everything; he was in pain for sure, there was no denying. His lip quivered slightly, but he stopped himself, making me think if I was imagining that or not.

The way he was holding back his tears pained me somehow.

I didn't say anything and turned around, pointing to my door and motioning for him to come in.

Turning just a bit to see his response, he shook his head as if saying "no" but I gave him a stern look that eventually made him come in, looking over to his friends house beforehand.