What I Like About You (Lashton)

2

Ashton's POV

Damn it.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

I have no idea what to do, I'm sat here having a panic attack whilst my dad's at the hospital in critical condition.

"Luke... h-he's gonna... what if he..." I can't form words as I violently sob into his shoulder.

"Shhh, Ash, he's gonna be okay. He's gonna be okay." He rubs circles on my back with his thumb soothingly. "Do you want me to take you there?"

I nod silently and he helps me up. I slip my shoes back on and he guides me to his car, opening the door for me.

He plays my favorite song, Blink-182's Wishing Well, quietly in the car. It helps that the song is playing; it calms my nerves.

When we get to the hospital, Luke opens the door for me again and we walk in together.

"Wait here, yeah? I'm gonna go sort things with the receptionist. Be right back." He grabs my shoulder before walking off quickly towards the front desk.

I hate being alone, I can't stand it. I get antsy after a while, I want Luke to come back.

As soon as I think that, He comes back into view.

"Come on, they're gonna let you go see him. Your mum is already in there." He says.

"Luke...?" I say. He raises his eyebrows. "Could you come in with me?" I ask almost inaudibly.

He gives me a small smile. "Of course, Ash. Let's go."

He takes my hand and we walk together towards room #767, which is where my dad is supposed to be. We have to go through many hallways, make many turns. It reminds me of a maze.

I finally see Mum sitting on a bench outside a room, with a tissue she's holding to her face. I let go of Luke and run towards her.

"Mum!" I shout. I hug her tightly, she may be all I have left.

"Oh, Ashton." She shounds like she's been crying. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, what about you?" I ask, looking her in the eyes.

Luke finally walks up behind me, not disurbing anything.

"Mum, this is my best friend. He helped me." I tell her, and Luke reaches out to shake her hand.

My mum hugs him instead, "Thank you, Luke. I'm Anne." She says.

"It was nothing, Mrs. Irwin. Ash is my best friend, I'd always be there for him." He says and I would smile, but the thought of what might happen to my father clouds any happiness.

A doctor appears, his gloves slick with blood.

My dad's blood.

"Mrs. Irwin, he's in critical condition. He has been shot twice, on opposite sides of his chest. He's in danger of kidney failure, and we aren't sure if he'll make it." He says.

I feel light-headed and all my breathing stops.

Luke's voice is the last thing I hear before I fall to the ground.

Luke's POV:

As I hear the doctor's words, I see Ashton falling.

"Ashton!" I call as I rush forward.

I'm too late to catch him, and I hear his head hit the ground with a hard crack.

I kneel beside him, panicked, and hook my arms under his to pull him in a sitting position against me. His mum looks down at him and kneels beside him as well.