Castaway || mgc

23

nothing

          i ignore calum's shouts and continue to walk towards ashton's table where the poor boy is sitting alone; his laughter gone from his lips, his eyes glued to his fingers.

          "hey," i always fail every single attempt at starting a conversation but i won't let my nervousness get to me. "do you mind if i sit here?"

          ashton doesn't seem to hear me, or he does but he's ignoring the fact that someone's talking to him.

          however, i won't budge from the spot i'm standing in and he slowly lifts his head up to take a look at me.

          up close like this, i feel such a pang in my heart at the sight of his face. he probably looks worse than luke and me.

          ashton has really dark circles around his eyes that i don't think he sleeps at all. it seems like no one around here sleeps. probably not even calum.

          his hazel eyes bore into mine with sorrow before he nods and i squint over at calum as i sit down opposite ashton. he fiddles with his fingers, "your friend doesn't really like me."

          i look at him in confusion, "friend? do you mean calum?"

          "no, calum is my friend, too." he objects and i'm taken aback by what he just said to me. "i meant that friend of yours."

          i follow his finger to see what he's pointing at—the creepy nurse.

          "wait, whoa, you can see her? i thought i was the only one!" my heartbeat quickens at the scene unraveling before me. everything is confusing me and i don't think i can handle it.

          ashton shrugs, running his long fingers through his tousled hair. "i can see luke's friend, too. she was with me just now." and he begins to slowly giggle.

          i watch as his eyes are fixated on a spot in the corner of the cafeteria, not far from the table. his low giggles soon turn into a fit of laughter as he sits there, laughing his head off at nothing.

          my eyes can't be taken off of him and i can't comprehend the situation. i don't decipher what he's laughing at nor what he sees.

          it's like i can't move from my seat and i feel arms being wrapped around my torso before i'm being pulled back onto my feet.

          "come on, michael." i hear calum's voice, "i told you not to get near him. he's gone nuts and you can't save him."

          of course i can't.

          i've gone nuts myself.