3:05 - Missing you // c.h.

1.

Ashton's POV:

"Thank you so much Virginia! We love you tons!" I yelled, running off the stage followed by the rest of the guys. Blood, sweat, and tears were all mixed together as Mike pulled us in for the final hug of the North American tour.

"I love you guys so much!" Mike exclaimed.

"Shut up Mikey." Calum said, causing us all the burst into laughter.

Yes, indeed leaving America would be sad, but we were flying back home tonight to start the next leg of the tour. I was beyond excited to see my family, especially my sisters. I was surprising my siblings by my arrival home. They have been on my mind for the past couple of weeks for some odd reason. Maybe I was just missing them a lot, but something deep, down inside me told me something was wrong with my younger sister, Madeleine. When I left, her depression got worse and people at school would constantly asked for my number. People would pretend to be her friend just to get to me, causing her heart to break more and more. I've texted her everyday since I left but she hasn't responded since April 26. It's May now.

Everyone eventually pulled away from the group hug and went into their separate dressing rooms. We were flying back home tonight with one stop somewhere in Hawaii for a 3 hour layover. That meant 3 more hours away from my family and my struggling sister. I sat on the couch with my phone in my hand. FaceTime was open to Madeleine's contact.

Should I do it?

Should I call her and talk to her?

Will she even answer?

Thoughts ran all through my head, giving me a headache. I took a deep breath.

"Well, you never know unless you try." I said to myself and before I knew it, I saw myself and above my head were words saying,

Madeleine <<33
FaceTime...

One ring,

Come on Madeleine

Two rings,

Madeleine please

Three rings,

Madeleine, I need you rig-

Connecting...

"Hi Ashton." She smiled. I knew immediately it was fake but I smiled back. All that matters right now is that she answered.

Convo:

Ashton: Madeleine! I've missed you so much!

M: Ashton! Please just call me Maddie, but hey, I've missed you too.

Her cheeks reddened and she pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. She was so precious. How could anyone possibly hate her?

Ashton: Your name is so pretty. I don't see why you always want to hide it. Madeleine, I'm your brother.

M: Fine. Is there a reason you called? Not that I don't want to see you. Just asking. I really have missed you.

Ashton: I just miss you a lot actually. I heard school is really hard for you, I'm so sorry Madeleine. If there is anything I can d-

M: No, it's fine Ashton. It's almost over anyways.

Ashton: You are a senior next year! Last year and then you can go to college!

M: Yay, more school.

Her eyes rolled.

Ashton: You don't want to go to college?

M: I think it's just that I want to get into the correct college, the one that's right for me.

Ashton: is it still Emerson? The one in Boston?

She nodded.

Ashton: you'll get in Madeleine. You are amazing.

She smiled, a real smile. Suddenly, I heard a door slam from her side.

M: Ashton, I need to go.

Her face was panicked, as if she had just saw someone break down her door and barge in. She looked scared, I could see it in her eyes. I didn't mean to hurt her. I would never.

Ashton: o-oh ok. Love you Madeleine!

M: bye Ashton I lov-

And with that she ended the call. I don't know if she meant to ended that fast. It sounded like she got cut off. But, The way she spoke, she was so broken. I could just tell. Wonder what had happened to make her so lost and scared..

2 hours earlier in Madeleine's POV

"Maddie, open the door!" I heard Lauren, my sister, scream from outside the bathroom door.

"No! Leave me alone!" I screamed back at my 14 year old sister. Right now, I sat on the floor in my bathroom, tears streaming down my face and blood stained onto my wrist. Too much was happening. So many people at school kept asking me more and more questions about my brother. My anxiety levels rapidly increased and it was just too much for me too handle. And when I wouldn't answer, they would yell at me and say horrible things to me. It's not my fault I was cursed with this illness, it's just a part of who I am.

"You can't hide forever Maddie! Please come out!" Lauren exclaimed. I heard the whimper in her voice, signally to me that she was crying.

"Lauren, I miss him!" I suddenly screamed so loudly and burst into more tears. They just flew down my face. I missed Ashton. I really did. My heart cried for him everyday.

I heard the door unlock and fell the floor creak as footprints came closer to me. I had forgotten my whole family knew how to pick locks. Arms, belonging to my sister, were soon wrapped around me. Something about Lauren's hugs made my body relax a little bit. All my siblings hugged well but Lauren's were the best. She pulled away and faced me, wiping away tears falling from my eyes down my cheeks.

"I know you miss him, Maddie. I do too. You don't deserve what you go through. Hopefully, Ashton will come home soon and fix your heart, but for now please just stay will me."

It was hard but I forced my head into a nod. Lauren help me up and walked me to my bed, tucking me in. She placed 5 bandages on my cut wrist and then covered them with bracelets. This was our routine and I felt the only one who could break this routine was Ashton.

What I didn't know was that he wasn't the only one.

~~