Wait (Lashton)

19

"Ashton, how could you get suspended?! Do you realize this goes on your record?!" Ashton's mum shouted. "Yes mum I realize, along with all the other things I've done." He rolled his eyes at his mum. Every time he gets in trouble his mum always acts like this. "No, you don't understand Ashton, and you never will! This is the last time I'm playing nice! Next time, there'll be consequences! Do you understand?" Ashton nodded frantically, he's seen his mum mad but never like this. He couldn't help but wonder if there was something more behind all her anger.

For now, he shrugged it off, so he texted Luke in hope that he'll calm him down. As always, Ashton asked if anyone was being mean to him, and as always, Luke replied with 'no'. But that wasn't the case at all at school, yet Ashton believed him.

After school, was bad. Luke had never seen so many angry football players in his life. So many furrowed eyebrows and furious expressions. He wanted to ignore them and continue on his journey home but they pulled him behind the school.

"This is all your fault fag!"

"Because of you, Ashton isn't allowed to play the first game!"

"You deserve this!"

One punch, two punches, three punches, four. So many in his face and so much more. They all yelled horrible things, called him awful names.

Luke wanted to fall to his knees after so many blows to the stomach, but they wouldn't let him. Two of them held him up while one kept punching. The rest just stood there, some with blank expressions and others with sad ones.

Finally, he stopped. They all left, but not without saying a few things before.

"You're so weak and pathetic."

"All you do is ruin things."

"Faggot."

"You're so worthless."

"Go kill yourself!"

That last one stuck. It stuck inside Luke's mind like glue and it wouldn't come out. He did feel worthless at that moment. All he wanted to do is curl up into a ball and just cry, but Luke didn't want anyone seeing him like that so he got some energy to walk himself home.

35 messages from Ashton

45 missed calls

10 voicemails

Ashton was beginning to grow worried. He was on the edge of driving over there to see if anything happened but Luke texted him.

"Sorry to have worried you and I know I did, I was getting some help with homework."

In that single text, those 17 words, Ashton knew something was wrong. Because Luke doesn't ever get help on anything, only when he's missed school. He's too smart and understands everything. With that, he got in his car and started driving to Luke's house.

When Luke got home he immediately went to his room and locked himself in his restroom, in tears.

'Maybe they're right. Maybe I shouldn't live.'

'Maybe I really am worthless.'

Those thoughts kept running in his mind and wouldn't slow down. He scrambled through his drawer to find that one piece of metal. He's never tried it before, but he's had friends who've harmed themselves. They said it helps with the pain, that it releases everything. So he pressed it against his skin, in shock that he actually did it. When he saw the blood flow and drip from his skin, he wanted more.

Luke had cut himself 5 times, going onto his 6th one but the banging of his door stopped him from continuing.

"Luke? Baby? Are you in here?"