Awkward (Cashton)

Chapter 20 Home

*Three days later*

Calum POV

After Luke called me I couldn't sleep that night.   All I could think about was Ashton and how bad I felt about this whole thing.  I roll over to look at my clock and see it's  9:15. I drag myself out of bed and go downstairs to find my mom in the kitchen.  " Hey, mum?"  She looks surprised to see me.  "Morning, what are you doing up?" "I was wondering if you could drop me off at Luke's house?  I wanted to see Ash."  "This early?" I contemplate telling her about what Luke texted me but figure I should. " Ash um went to his sister's graduation dinner last night and his dad hurt him and I just want to make sure he's ok." 

"Do you know how badly he was hurt?" 

"Not really, Luke just told me he was hurt." I reply   " Well let me find my keys and we can go." I feel nervous during the car ride hoping that his dad didn't hurt him too badly. Now everything seems to make more sense on why he hates being touched. "You look worried." My mom observes.  " I just hope he isn't hurt too badly," I reply. We arrive at Luke's and I unbuckle my seat belt and tell her I'll call her later before I'm out of the car and sprinting to the front door. 

"Cal hey."

"How's Ash?"

"Alright, his arm is broken pretty badly, he had to stay overnight at the hospital.  "Luke?" Ashton calls from upstairs.  "I'm in the lounge!"   I  feel myself tense slightly as I hear Ashton coming downstairs. " Oh hey, Calum"

"Oh man.." I breathe. Yes, I knew he would look bad but not this bad. His right eye is a dark purple toward the corner of his eye and expands to his cheekbone where it seems to fade to pink.  You can tell his lip was busted as it's slightly swollen.  "I'm okay really." He says following my gaze that goes down to his arm that's in a cast and at the moment in a sling.  I want to speak but can't seem to find the words to say so I'm quiet. 

"Don't worry I'll be fine, this eye will look better in a few weeks and this cast should be on for a few months. "I heard the break was pretty bad?" Ash nods. " Yeah, you should see the x-ray." I feel numb knowing that his dad hurt him again.   "I'm just a little scuffed up." He reassures me.  I'm still shaken by how bad he looks. "I was going to make some food but I can't one-handed so.."  He smiles at me.  

"Oh! I'll help pancakes?" 

"Waffles."   Luke nods in approval before following Ash into the kitchen.  I follow the two of them and feel really bad that this happened to him. "You want to hang out later? " He asks looking at me. " You should rest I mean you just broke your arm like  a day ago?" " Yeah, but I wanted to see you since we're not having rehearsal for a while." He looks at his arm with annoyance before looking at the waffle iron. " Has anyone talked to Michael by the way?"

"I meant to call him yesterday but I'll go call him now," Luke says and leaves. 

"At dinner, my dad brought up me being gay and my aunt was highly offended and left." He says sadly with his free hand he flips the waffle over and opens it with difficulty. " I'll get it out for you." I  offer. " Thanks."  " Are you living with Luke forever? You don't have to live with your dad I'm assuming." " No I don't and yeah  I am, but dad agreed to help out with school stuff for me but not much else, my sister hates me she said I ruined her graduation  and then left  her own dinner."   I follow him to the living room and sit on the couch waiting for him to continue telling the story. "What happened after she left?" He sighs deeply and avoids eye contact  and  eats his waffle "My dad yelled at me and I knew he was going to hurt me, I thought that night was different but it wasn't."  He looks over at me and my heart breaks seeing him so upset. " I'm glad he didn't hurt you too badly."  "Me too, I  was afraid that he was going to do some serious damage, and he was going to except for the fact that Luke was there."   Ash says  " Is there anything I can do?"