We Were Young

Love is a Bitch

  Calum sighed as he nodded lightly on his lover's door. Ashton opened it and smiled lightly seeing him.
"Hey.." he said.
"Hey... can we talk?" Calum asked.
"Yeah, of course," he stepped out of the way and let him come in. "What is it... you sound serious..."
"Yeah... kinda.."
"You told Luke, didn't you..."
"I didn't tell him... but he found out. Don't worry. I never told him it was you, but uh.. he broke up with me..." Calum pulled the ring out of his pocket.
"Isn't that a good thing though? N-now we can be together..." Calum looked at the ring and closed his fingers around it, feeling a tear slip down his cheek. He shook his head and looked up.
"Ashton... I am so sorry... I thought we could but... I-I cant sleep without him by my side... I havent been able to eat. When I see him he turns and looked away or he breaks down in tears and it physically hurts me... I love him... I-I can't be without him... I'm so sorry."
"No. I'm sorry. That I actually believed you."
"Ashton-"
"Don't. J-just go... I have a meeting to go to..." he whispered. Calum sighed and walked out of the house, everything inside of him going numb.
~~~~

Luke gathered up the papers on his desk and shoved them inside the file, glancing up, seeing his ex fiance staring at him. He looked back down and grabbed his file, turning and walking into the interview room. Ashton sat at the table with his jaw clenched, fingers tapping on the metal table impatiently. Luke shut the door and walked around to his chair, putting the papers down. He looked up at Ashton and saw a fading purple mark above his collar, exactly like the ones that litterer his own neck only weeks ago...
"Uh... sorry I'm a bit late, should we start?"
"I don't know, should we?" Ashton snapped. It was official. He hated Luke. The boy that could back out of anything and still always get his own way... but not anymore.
"Ashton, are you okay?" He asked quietly.
"Oh, definitely. I'm fucking great, especially now that you've shown up." Luke noticed him scratching at a spot on his arm with at least three red needle marks.
"You've been shooting again, havent you?"
"When did I ever stop? Do you want to take that from me too, the way you take everything?!" He was standing up now too.
"Ash, you need to calm down..." Luke said, taking a step back. Ashton kicked his chair before grabbing Luke by the collar and shoving him against the wall as hard as he could, clamping his hands around the boy's neck. Luke tried prying his friend's fingers away from his neck, coughing as he struggled to breath, to call for help... he slammed his body forward, causing them both to crash into the metal table, making a large crashing sound as they fell to the floor, Ashton's grip tightening. The door opened from behind him and two of Luke's coworkers pulled him off, dragging him away as he shouted indecipherable words. Luke coughed as he sat up, heaving for breath as Nia and Calum rushed to his side. Two cops grabbed Ashton and pinned him to the floor, cuffing his hands behind his back. He continued struggling and tried to get back to Luke.
"Are you alright?" Nia asked, rubbing Luke's back. He just nodded and coughed again.
"I fucking hate you!" Ashton started shouting at him. "Both of you! Go die!" Calum helped Luke to his feet gently. When he noticed who was helping him, he pulled away.
"I'm fine," he demanded, looking away from his ex.
"Luke, go home and rest for the day, Calum will give you a ride."
"No. N-not him. I don't want him to give me a ride..." Nia looked between them.
"Fine... Styles!" She called. Harry ran in the room quickly.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Get Hemmings home safely please."
"Right away, ma'am." Luke glanced at Calum before walking out with Harry.

  Luke lay in his bed silently, staring up into the darkness. His throat hurt terribly and it was almost impossible for him to swallow. His breathing was shallow, but that wasn't the reason he couldn't sleep. He sighed and slipped out of bed, walking into his bathroom and turning on the light. He turned the cold water on and splashed some in his face before looking up at himself in the mirror. He sighed when he saw the dark bruises forming on his neck from Ashton's hands. A tear slipped down his face as he thought of all the good times they used to have together... he walked back into his room and grabbed his phone, calling Michael.
"Hello?" He answered sleepily.
"Mikey... c-can you come over?" Luke asked, his voice hoarse from the attack.
"Yeah sure," Michael yawned. "Is everything okay?"
"Is anything ever okay, lately?" Michael laughed lightly.
"I'll be there in ten."
"Thanks... it really means a lot."
"No problem... I love you."
"Yeah, love you too..." he said, hanging up. Ten minutes later, they were sitting together on Luke's bed as Michael gently examined the bruises on his neck.
"Ashton did this?" He asked quietly. He just nodded and looked down.
"He lashed out and just attacked me... I'm not sure why, but I think it's because of Calum..."
"What do you mean..." Michael asked, looking away.
"He had hickeys all up his neck and Calum just always had this really distinct pattern... I don't know... but I think that's who he cheated with."
"It makes sense... they always had a thing if you remember... even in high school."
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Luke sighed and looked up at Michael. "Sorry I dragged you out here so late..."
"Darling, I would come anytime door you, even if I was on the other side if the world..." Luke smiled and leaned in, kissing Michael softly.
"You don't even know how much I love you," he smiled.
"Why don't you show me?" Michael teased. As he leaned back in, his phone began to ring. He looked over at it and felt his heart clench with sorrow.
"It's Calum..." he whispered.
"Here. Let me answer it." Michael picked up the phone and accepted the call. Luke stared at him intently.
"Hello?" Michael asked. "Wait... what?" He looked Luke in the eyes. "Hold on." He turned it on speaker phone. "What were you saying?"
"I-it's Ashton, he's on his way to the hospital. I find him locked in his room on the floor, I think he overdosed himself!" Calum said frantically.
"Wait, where are you?" Luke asked, feeling a pit form in his stomach.
"O-on my way to the hospital."
"We'll meet you there." And with that, he hung up. "Come on," he said, grabbing Michael's hand. They grabbed their coats and ran out of the house, driving quickly to be with their friend.

~~~~

They sat silently in the waiting room, Luke's head resting on Michael's shoulder as Calum stared at them.
"Ashton Irwin's friends?" The doctor asked coming in the room. They all stood up quickly.
"Where is he? Is he okay?" Calum asked, quickly.
"I'm so sorry, but he didn't make it. We can't be sure but we think he had about 375 mg of heroin in his system. He couldn't handle it ad his heart gave out." Luke fell back into his chair. "I'm very sorry for your loss. Is there any family you'd like for us to contact?"
"No... I-I'll do it," Calum whispered as Michael sat next to Luke, holding his hand. The doctor just nodded and walked out.
"Our last moment together was him trying to strangle me... is this my fault? Is he dead because of me?" Luke asked, to no one in particular.
"No. It's my fault," Calum whispered. "I-I told him that sleeping with him was a mistake, and that I loved you, not him..."
"Stop it. It's neither of your faults," Michael said. "We all knew he was an addict, he wasn't just going to stop. And he's been dealing with depression from the time we were all in highschool... it's nobody's fault... he just couldn't handle it anymore. He escaped." Everyone was silent. It was the truth. Ashton Irwin escaped the tragedy called life.