Heart of Gold // Lashton

0.7.1.5.

❦ Michael ❦

To say the day was the best, would be jinxing it. And Michael hated that, so he kept that thought for when the day would end. But of course, little did he know the end of the day would be, well, not really there in a way. It would be what seemed like an eternity away.

On the one side, Michael kept thinking about his dream because what if Ashton were to die soon? But on the other side, Michael was sure it wouldn't be that day. Ashton was feeling too well and he was sure there would be more signs that would tell him something was wrong.

"It's beautiful."

Michael just smiled, lying down as well to look up at the sky as well. "It always has been and always will be."

"You know." Michael kept looking at the stars, but oh, how he wished he had looked over at his friend. Any moment to keep the inage of his friend in his mind. "When we were younger, they used to say that when someone dies," Ashton stopped for a moment, but Michael didn't think much of it, knowing he must be thinking of his dad, because after all, this story had been told then as well, "they become a star."

"I used to believe that."

"Keep believing. It's this impossible thing, but the thought behind it is beautiful." Ashton said, explaining his thoughts on it and making Michael swallow harshly. His best friend's words mixed together with his dream made him want to cry. "I guess."

"It's what I believe." Michael heard Ashton mumble, feeling a hand take his own. Taking one last look at a barely there star, he slowly turned his head to meet a pair of hazel eyes. "I'll believe it as well, then."

"And believe when I say, that I love you, Michael. Thank you for being here for me, even through the worst."

"I love you too, Ash." Michael said quietly, watching the other boy nod and turn his head back. He followed the actions, hearing a faint whisper pass him by, only catching the words 'your star'. He didn't think much of it, once again, and simply looked up at the stars in a peaceful way, enjoying the quietness of the night.

That was, until he felt Ashton's grip on his hand loosen. He frowned, turning his head and seeing Ashton lay there, peacefully. Everything seemed normal for a moment, as if the older boy was sleeping, and Michael was about to sigh in relief and go back to looking at the stars again, when he noticed one thing that was off. Ashton wasn't breathing.

"Ash?" Michael squeaked out, feeling his heart jump out of his chest immediately as he squeezed the boy's hand. "Ash?"

When the boy didn't respond, Michael sat up and looked over the boy with wide eyes. He was awfully pale. "Ash? Please, Ash."

The galaxy haired boy crawled closer, shaking his friend carefully, before leaning down to press his ear to the boy's chest as he didn't get a response. This couldn't be happening, right?

"Please." The boy whimpered out, sobbing once before wiping away his tears forcefully and trying to get his phone out as fast as he could. "Come on, please. Don't be gone, Ash, don't."

Michael shakily went to his phone's keypad, pressing the '0' thrice and then the green button, pressing the phone to his ear. He kept his watery eyes on his friend, desperately trying not to panic and to remember CPR. He had taken the class after Ashton had had the accident, wanting to make a difference in case such a thing happened. But in that moment, he just couldn't remember anything.

And even through the talking on the phone, waiting for the ambulance and riding it to the hospital, all Michael could do was cry as he watched his friend fade away. He felt so useless. And terrible. A horrible friend. The worst human alive.

"Sir, maybe you need to call a relative? For when we arrive in the hospital?"

And yeah, that's when he lost it again. He didn't even call Ashton's mum. He was too busy crying over how horrible he was to forget one of the most important things.

Michael called her, telling her to get to the hospital as fast as she could. The woman tried to stay calm, but by how Michael was acting, she knew it couldn't be good. And no one could blame her for waking up the neighbour to bring her to the hospital and for her husband and daughter to watch the kids, simply because one, she couldn't drive herself in the state she was in and two, she couldn't take the kids. Not in this situation.

It was quiet in the hospital, apart from the sobs that escaped the broken boy sat on the floor in the waiting room. They had rushed his best friend in and commanded him to stay there until further notice. All he could do was wait.

Soon however, he wasn't alone, as Ashton's mum joined him. She sat beside him, trying to stay calm and comfort the boy, crying silently herself.

"I'm- s-sor-sorry." Michael choked out, wiping at his eyes forcefully, glaring at the ground. "It's m-my fault."

"Michael." The woman started sternly. "Don't you dare. You gave him the day of his life, I bet. And I'm sure he was thankful for that. No matter how it ended."

"End." Michael repeated, taking a deep shaky breath. A few things clicked in his head, suddenly. How Luke had started appearing in the boy's dreams (something he had thought of already in his dream with Calum). How Ashton had insisted they had a day for themselves. How Calum had appeared in his dream, encouraging him to do something for Ashton, something the boy loved. And lastly, how Ashton told the galaxy haired boy that he loved him and was thankful for everything.

"It's going to be okay, Michael." Ashton's mum whispered to the boy, pulling him into a tight embrace. Michael simply accepted it, feeling empty as he closed his eyes, mumbling some words to himself.

"Irwin?"

Two heads shot up at the soft call, but as soon as they saw the nurse giving them a sympathetic look, they didn't even need to hear the words.

"I'm sorry."

Michael felt his heart stop. Just like how Ashton's had stopped beating, but his for good. Michael's, in contrast, started up again, thumping against his ribs and telling him he was alive, while his best friend wasn't. While his best friend was just pronounced dead. While his best friend, was now somewhere else.

The galaxy haired boy looked up and out of a nearby window, his teary eyes scanning the sky. There were so many stars out there. Some shining carefully, while others shone brightly. And one, shining particularly bright. Michael almost smiled at it, knowing, hoping, pretending, that it was Ashton, being there for him. Being his star. "It's not the end."