Silence » a.i

3.8

Luke would not stop walking out of the house. For the next month, it was just in and out and in and out and in and out. He didn't even go anywhere. He just stood there with the back door open, taking a step out and giggling to himself before going back in and repeating it. He was such a five-year-old.

But it was kind of adorable.

I sat in the living room with Michael, his arm slung casually around the back of the couch. Ever since we kissed the night I died, we've been closer. We just haven't been that close.

Ashton acted normally, but I was afraid he would snap at some point. I never mentioned the kiss to him, and I never told him that I forgave him and wanted him back. I just felt like there was something stopping me. Maybe it was out of fear of Mali.

"Is he still doing that?" Calum inquired as he stepped into the living room. He watched as Luke continued to go back and forth from the porch painted by the outside lights, back into the house.

"Two. Fucking. Hours." Michael stated through clenched teeth.

"He's excited." I shrugged.

"He's wasting the heating is what he's doing." Michael said.

"Luke, get in the house." Calum sighed.

"No," he said, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood on the deck. "I've been inside for like, half a year."

"Well, in or out!" Mikey barked. "Pick one!"

Ashton stayed silent. He hardly ever said anything anymore. He still lived here -- he moved into Ben's room, I think. He'd just sit there and say nothing, though. I couldn't help but feel I was responsible for putting him back in his old habit. I'd try to speak to him but he never really said anything back.

Luke stomped into the living room, closing the screen door behind him. He sat on the couch next to me, going to sling his arm around the back of the couch. Once his arm made contact with Michael's, he quickly folded his hands in his lap.

"It's getting late anyway." I told Luke, putting a hand on both of his.

He shrugged, "What's the difference? Once you and Ashton are asleep, I'm just going to leave anyway."

Luke hated spending time in the house now that he could leave. He was stuck inside for six months after all.

"Was there something you came for?" Michael asked, his question aimed at Calum.

"Yeah. You," Calum replied. "Ma thinks she found a way to bring someone to actual life again. I need one of you three to come with me."

"Why not Cooper?" Michael quizzed.

"You really want to offer up Cooper to be a guinea pig?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

"Alright, let's go." he grunted as he stood up from the couch.

"Bye." I chirped as he walked out of the house with Calum.

So it was just me, Luke, and Ashton. Probably the most awkward trio to leave alone. I sat awkwardly on the couch, not really knowing what to do. Talking to Ashton probably wouldn't go over well, and Luke was just upset he couldn't keep messing around with his new freedom.

Luke sighed, looking between Ashton and I, "Can we go for a walk?"

I shrugged and nodded, "I guess. Ash, you coming?"

That was one of the first times I'd spoken directly to him in a week. Also the first time I used his nickname. He turned when his name left my lips and nodded, standing up. We walked together to the door, Luke leading the way happily.

"What happened with your parents and stuff?" Luke wondered as we turned out of the driveway. He studied my house, his hands jammed deep in his pockets.

"They still don't know," I sighed, feeling bad for Jeremy. He was still trapped inside that house. "Jeremy's taking online classes now. He can't leave the house, so he can't go to school. I don't see the point, it's not like he can grow up and do anything with his diploma.

Saying that made me realize that was now my fate. I kept forgetting I was dead -- I won't age or get old or have a family. I was stuck like this and I couldn't even remember that. But every time I did, I got really sad. This was better than being stuck in an endless nothing, though, right?

"Weren't they confused?" Luke asked as we passed Mikey's house, and the new house in place of Ashton's.

This one looked a lot more like the other houses on the street. It wasn't tiny like Ashton's, but it didn't look as cozy. The only thing that remained the same was the single tree outside. Ashton didn't look toward the new house.

"Well, yeah," I said with a light laugh. "Their son suddenly didn't want to leave the house anymore. If he could get out of the house like me, he'd still go normally."

I'd still been going to school. I went with Calum still. We acted as if nothing was different. No one noticed anything was off. I still continued to keep up with school, and Calum continued to ignore the world over his notebook.

"Oh," I added, running a hand through my hair, "my parents are kind of coming over for dinner tomorrow night."

Luke stopped walking. Ashton noticed and stopped to wait for us.

"What?" Luke gasped.

"I'm sorry. I forgot about it and-"

Luke looked to Ashton, cutting me off, "Do we have anything in the fridge?"

Ashton stood there for a second behind his dark shades before shaking his head. Luke groaned.

"I'm sorry." I repeated.

"Let's just get to the store." he sighed, stalking off down the street.

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**after reading this back again, i reeeeeally didn't like michael and bridgette together so i kinda edited that part a bit sorry