This Old Town ✖️Muke

Chapter 27

(Luke)

"Luke" the door to my hospital room opens and John walks in, followed closely by Ash and Cal.

"where's Michael, how is he?" I croak, not able to use my voice well from the smoke.

"he's still in critical condition, no one will tell us any more than that. we were just given permission to see you." my uncle says softly, walking over to the bed i am laying on.

"is he really that bad?" i ask, sadly, looking down and absentmindedly playing with the white sheet covering me.

"they air lifted him Luke" he says softly. fuck. I can feel the tear fall down my face.

"all we can do is hope Lukey." he says, sitting down on the bed next to me.

"we brought you your phone Luke." Ashton says, walking over and handing me the device that recently i have forgotten all about. I take it from his hand and gladly accept the hug he is giving me. when he pulls away Calum launches himself into my lap.

"you're so stupid" he cries into my neck.

"i know." i whisper.

"you could have died!" he pulls away and slaps my arm.

"i know" i say again, i cant really care about myself when Michael could be dying right now.

"stop saying that!" he cries.

"what do you want me to say?" i whisper.

"You're so stupid, but you're brave stupid." Ashton says making john chuckle softly.

"what, would you rather have had me stay where i was and let Michael die?"

"no but that's not the point" my uncle scolds. i sigh.

"why did no one tell me his parents were dead?" i ask after a moment of silence.

"we wanted him to tell you himself. it was a year after you left, he suddenly had no one but us. he shut himself off and for a while, we thought we were going to lose him. but one day he just up and decided he was going to know everything he could about the ranch and work. It took his mind off of it i guess." John says sadly

"he hated you for so long after that." Calum says and Ash elbows him.

"what? it's true. he did."

"he did but it was because he was alone and the only person he ever told everything to walked out of his life a year before." Ashton says.

"i-" i start to apologize,

"you didn't know Luke, how could you?" John says.

"but"

"stop Luke, blaming everything on yourself isn't going to do anyone any good. you probably saved his life, think about that instead." john says standing up.

"It's been a day, i'm going to see if there is any news on Mikey" he says, turning and walking out the door. i sit there gaping at his retreating form.

"what? how long was i out?" i ask Ash and Cal with wide eyes.

"you got to the hospital at midnight, last night, it's 6 pm right now." Ash tells me. you have only been out for like 16 hours. you need to sleep though, you breathed a lot of smoke."

"but"

"shut up Luke. were actually mad at you" Calum playfully glares at me.

"what why?" i whine.

"because, you didn't tell us you loved him" Ash says off offhandedly, moving to the window in the room and pulling the shade open.

"i, what?" i stutter with wide eyes.

"you don't remember do you?" he asks laughing.

"well one, we always knew you two had a thing for each other. and two, " he says, laughing at my expression when he says they knew about my crush.

"you shouted it to john before you ran in."

"i did?" i ask, not remembering it. they nod.

"ya,"

"well then" we sit there in silence for a few minutes before my phone buzzes in my hand.

"does anyone know?" i ask, looking at the twitter notification.

"we don't know." ash shrugs. i unlock it and go to the twitter app to read my mentions.

"Famous rock star Luke Hemming, gets himself in hot water with the law but now he's in the hospital?" i read off one headline.

"an insider at North Shore Hospital in Sydney says Luke was brought in with another boy who was airlifted." i read one.

" They say they were brought in from a fire that broke out on a ranch."

"Luke is in good condition, no word on the other guy."

"how do people even know this stuff?" i sigh, putting my phone down. Ash and Cal shrug.

"people like to gossip, there was probably a fan in the hospital that saw you guys brought in." i nod, that makes sense.

"i think you should call your mom and write something to your fans before people assume the worst." He tells me. i nod and dial my moms number, not looking forward to the conversation ahead.

"Luke! oh my god are you alright! John Called me and the media has been all over it." my mom shouts frantically through the phone when she picks up.

"i'm fine mom. Just tired, Michael is still in critical john says." i tell her.

"what happened Lukey?" she says softer. i can feel the tears start to well up in my eyes.

"some people that don't like Mikey set fire to the barn, a girl told me we were going for a ride and she laughed and pontied to the barn that was on fire." i explain. i can see the shock in Calum and Ashton's faces, they didn't know this.

"No one knew he was in there. it was an accident that he got hurt but it was my fault. the girl thought i wanted this to happen. Just because i don't want to be here doesn't mean i want to see the people i love hurt." i'm crying now.

"this is not your fault Luke. you listen to me right now! this was no ones fault but those people who set the fire. There was no way for you to know what they were going to do or that Michael would be in the barn. you get better and make sure Michael is ok. you stay with him as long as he is there you hear me?" i silently nod.

"i have to go but send everyone my love ok baby? and you tell that boy you love him as soon as he wakes up you hear me?" she says a bit louder and Ash and Cal start to laugh telling me they heard it. i blush and look down.

"yes mum. i love you too" i hang up and playfully glare at them.

"see even you're mom knows!" Ashton laughs, i throw a pillow at him.