Somewhere in Neverland (Lashton)

Ch. 22: No One's There to Save You

"You don't know what it's like

To be like me

To be hurt

To feel lost

To be left out in the dark

To be kicked when you're down

To feel like you've been pushed around

To be on the edge of breaking down

And no one's there to save you

No, you don't know what it's like

Welcome to my life"

Simple Plan (Welcome to my life)

On New Years Eve, Luke's parents went out and the boys had the house to themselves. Luke hadn't talked to his parents since Christmas Eve. Nor had he spoken to his aunts and uncles. His grandpa went home the day after christmas.

"So are we going to watching Ryan Seacrest's ball drop?" Ben asked as he hopped on the couch joining Jake, Luke, and Ashton.

"That did not sound right," Ashton remarked as the boys chuckled. Jack turned the TV on, switching it to Ryan Seacrest's New Years Eve Special.

"I'm going to order us pizza and put in some cookies."

"Usually for New Years we go over to Mikey's and watch the ball drop while getting stoned," Luke said as he stared off into the distance.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that last part," Ben said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, it's weird being here. It's been a tradition of ours since we were five," Ashton commented.

"I hope you weren't getting stoned when you were five," Ben remarked. Ashton rested his head on Luke's shoulder.

"I miss them."

"Me too."

"I wonder what they're doing tonight." Ashton imagined Michael and Calum inviting a few lads from the football team over and watching the ball drop while getting stoned with their replacements. It hurt Ashton to know how easily he could be replaced. While Luke imagined Michael and Calum watching the ball drop in an empty room wondering about Luke and Ashton. They'd grown up around each other and were always there for each other through thick and thin. When Luke's sister killed herself, each of the boys made sure to keep an eye on him, constantly taking him out and having sleepovers. They would let him talk their ears off and cry onto their shoulders. When Ashton got his first date with Katie, the boys threw him a bachelor party. And when Calum's long time girlfriend and best friend moved away, the boys made sure he was okay and helped him move on. When Michael's dad lost his job and his parents were looking at jobs out of the country, the boys had a lemonade sale to make money so Michael wouldn't have to leave. They were always there for each other. So why weren't they there for each other now? Best friends make an unspoken promise to always be there for each other no matter what, yet their best friends weren't there anymore. And it hurt like hell. It was firsthand betrayal, getting stabbed in the back. Nothing had ever hurt either boy so bad. Luke who had lost his own sister had never hurt worse than he was now. Betrayal cut through them like a knife, leaving a scar for the rest of their lives.

"Pizza's here," Jack called as he set the pizza on the table. They all sat up, each grabbing a piece.

"So guys, what's your new years revolutions?" Ben asked.

"I for one would like to move out of this house considering I am a college kid and still live with my parents," Jack said.

"What about you, Ash?" Ben asked.