4am | c.h.

Chapter Three

IMPORTANT A/N: 

THIS IS YOUR TRIGGER WARNING!!! Do not read this chapter if mention of suicide triggers you. 

Also this is going to be a really long chapter but it is important to the story so I need you to read all of it. If you don't feel comfortable reading this chapter due to the trigger warning then please send me a message and I will summarize the chapter the best I can for you. 

After Ashton revealed exactly how he knew Luke yesterday all hell broke loose. Luke started screaming at Ashton about him not understanding why he'd done it and Ashton accused Luke of using him. The entire time it was happening Allison and I were standing in the kitchen doorway stunned. 

Halfway through their screaming match Luke ended up stepping on a piece of glass and cutting his foot open, and though Ashton was clearly pissed off he still rushed forward to help Luke. The cut wasn't very deep but it seemed to be exactly what was needed to mellow the boys out long enough to talk. 

Luke ended up leaving with Ashton to finish talking and Allison and I were left to finish our movie marathon alone. The movie marathon wasn't much of a marathon though because we both ended up passing out before midnight. 

That brings me to where I am now, sneaking out of my own front door in an attempt to avoid waking up my best friend who is still passed out on our bed of blankets on my living room floor at 4:00 in the morning. 

The sky is pitch black as I make my way down my steps and I can see Calum's silhouette being outlined by the street light directly in front of his house. As usual he has a cigarette resting between his long fingers, but he doesn't look up to meet my gaze like he has every other day.

My lips turn down in a frown and I walk out onto the sidewalk to do my stretches. Maybe he just hasn't seen me yet, though I don't know why I think that him not acknowledging me is such a major deal. 

By the time I've finished warming up for my run he still hasn't looked up from the ground and I can't help but feel slightly concerned. Maybe I really did piss him off yesterday with my comment about his smoking. 

"Good morning, Calum."

That's a good ice breaker right? I mean, it's a lot better than me basically telling him that smoking is going to kill him. 

His head raises slowly and I am made aware why he hasn't looked at me. The hood from his jacket hides his face in the shadows but not enough to prevent me from seeing the black and blue ring around his left eye. 

My lips part in shock and I want to ask him what happened and how he'd gotten the black eye but before I can even begin to speak he is on his feet and speed walking into his house, the door slamming loudly behind him and rattling the window right next to it.

"Well, that was rude." The voice came from beside me and my body jerked in surprise, my ponytail flipping wildly behind me as I spun my head to see who had spoken. 

"Ashton! You scared the hell out of me!" All I receive in response is a shrug of the shoulders and what sounds like a giggle. 

My eyes drift down and I notice that he too is in running gear,"Are you going for a run too?" He nods his head and scratches the back of his neck awkwardly,"Yeah, I was actually wondering if you wanted to run together. I usually don't run this early but I couldn't sleep last night." 

My lips turn up at the corners and I shrug my shoulders,"Why not? It could be nice to have some company. Besides, it gives you the chance to tell me what the hell is going on with you and Luke."