Coming Up For Air

1.6

"Don't fuck with my love
That heart is so cold
All over my arm
I don't wanna know that babe"
-Ed Sheeran, 'Don't'

⚑ Luke⚐

"You're going to be okay. We'll get through this," was the first thing Calum said when Luke finished speaking. He had told him the story, the whole story, from the moment he had met Ashton until he ran out of Ashton's apartment that morning. Three days suddenly seemed very long.

"Ha. I remember saying that once." Luke said in a watery voice. He was curled on the couch, his knees tucked under his chin, and Calum's arm was wrapped protectively around him. Luke had a habit of trying to make himself as small as possible when he was sad or scared, and right then he was inoculated with a sickening concoction of both.

"Yes. And you were right." Calum said, tightening his arm. "You were there for me, and now I'll be here for you."

"Okay." Luke gave a tiny nod, and waited for Calum to say what he was really thinking.

"So," The dark-haired boy said finally, "I understand why you were upset, but I think you may have overreacted a little."

"Yeah." Luke nodded. "I know. But I still feel so--like, I don't know, betrayed? I didn't know him for very long, but--,"

"But that's it. You haven't known him. And so, when he was faced with having to choose between you and his best friend, whose heart he had already pretty much decimated by the sound of it, he chose his best friend. It's what you would do, I can only hope. Right?"

Luke stopped and thought about it. If Ashton's and his situations had been reversed and Calum was the one who was in love with him...

Yeah, he would have lied to Calum in a second if it meant he would be a little bit happier.

"Okay. You're right." Luke admitted. "And now I feel really stupid."

"Don't feel stupid, L." Calum told him, standing up and holding out his hand to help Luke up. "We're going to go somewhere for lunch, because I'm starving and we have no food. I'm thinking...Bernadette's?"

"Sure." Luke said, feeling lifeless and limp and distinctly loser-esk. He knew Ashton probably though he was the most melodramatic, selfish, horrible, apathetic, oblivious, awkward, mean--

His phone buzzed.

Ashton: im sorry. can we talk
11:47am

Ashton: *?
11:47am

Luke glanced up at Calum. Their eyes met and after a second Calum nodded with complete understanding.

"I'm fine by myself. Go."

"I--okay. I just...okay. Yeah." Luke said, tripping over himself to stand up, and then realizing he had nowhere to be because he and Ashton didn't exactly have plans yet.

Me: When and where?
11:47am

Ashton: do u know the bell and whistle? there. asap.
11:48am

Me: k
11:48am

"Shit, dude! You just gave him the 'k'?" Calum chuckled as he read the conversation over Luke's shoulder.

"I didn't think...I mean, should I change it? I can do one of the little asterisk things and--,"

"No, no. You're still mad, remember? Even if you aren't, you are. Or at least moderately annoyed. You have to play this right, Luke. Yeah?"

"And here I was thinking I was the gay best friend." Luke laughed, punching Calum lightly in the shoulder.

"So you definitely are then?" Calum asked, his face suddenly turning serious.