The Great Album Escapade [Lashton]

My world is crumbling without you

"Leave me alone Calum! I'm fine!" Ashton yells, obviously not fine.

"No you're not Ashton and we all know it." Calum replies calmly.

"Just leave me alone." Ashton sounds defeated and he truly is. The past two weeks without Luke have been hell for him.

"It feels like the sky is falling down around me." Ashton whispers as he collapses onto his bed. "And the earth is crumbling from under my feet."

Calum's leaves Ashton to cool off even though he knows he probably shouldn't. Ashton just needs Luke back but it doesn't look like the blond boy is coming back any time soon. Calum goes to Michael's room and gently nicks on the door seeking comfort.

Michael opens the door and pulls Calum into a hug the second he sees his face. They stand hugging in the doorway to Michael's room for probably longer than necessary but they both need the extra comfort right now.

"Come on," Michael says gently pulling Calum into his room. "We can get through this buddy."

"I don't think he's coming back Mikey." Calum whispers tears gently rolling down his face.

"He is Cal, I know he is."

"How can you be so sure?"

"He knows what I would do to him if he didn't come back so he is going to come back. He has to Cal."

"Doesn't it just feel like the world is crumbling without him here?"

"Yeah Cal. It really does. Nothing seems right without the whole band being there."

"I think we need a little vacation of our own." Calum whispers. "A little trip to get our minds off everything."

"You mean we gotta get out?" Michael asks smirking causing both boys to laugh.

"Yeah Mikey, we gotta get out."

"Oh shit." Michael gasps sound like a weird mix of shock, understanding, and hate.

"What is it Mikey?"

"This is all part of his fucking plan." Michael grumbles.

"What? What are you talking about Mikey?" Calum asks not catching on.

"Luke! This is all pert of his stupid song thing! He's probably not going to some back until we've suffered through all the sad songs we've written." Michael explains.

"He wouldn't do that." Calum says, sounding unsure "would he?"

"If he was mad enough he would. When I talked to him last week he seemed like he regretted his decision to leave though."

"Maybe when he started he was mad enough to put us through all that but now he just misses Ash and is suffering too."

"That's probably what's happening actually." Michael says, "good job Cal." The younger of the two smiles enjoying the praise.

"Should we tell Ash?" Calum asks.

"No because then he won't play along and Luke would never come back."

"So were just going to let him suffer?"

"We have to Cal. There's nothing we can do but be there for him."

"I don't like this plan."

"I don't either but it's the only one we've got so we haven't got much of a choice."

-----

"Ashton get up, were going on an adventure," Michael says pulling the older boy out of bed.

"I don't wanna." Ashton says clinging to his blankets. "I just want my Lukey." Heads under his breath hoping the two boys who have invaded his room didn't hear.

They did hear but decided to ignore it and force Ashton on the adventure. After quite some time persuading and Ashton's longer than necessary shower the three boys are off on their adventure.

"Where are we even going?" Ashton asks.

"No clue, our plan was to drive until we find something interesting." Calum replies.

"Well that is a stupid plan." Ashton grumbles.

"Ashton, stop being such a downer. We all just need to get out and have a little fun." Michael says, becoming frustrated with Ashton's constant negativity.

"Having fun is hard to do when it feels like your entire world is crumbling down around you." Ashton snaps back at Michael.

"Well-"

"Oh look a fair! Let's go there!" Calum says cutting off the conversation before it could lead to any more arguments.

"Sounds good Calum." Michael says ignoring his anger.

-----

The fair was boring, well at least Ashton thought it was, Michael and Calum were having a blast. The three of them were now on the ferris wheel and Ashton was bored out of his mind so he decided to try texting Luke even though Luke never replies. He only answer Ashton when he calls for some reason.

To: stupid blond kid
My world is crumbling without you

No reply.

To: stupid blond kid
Lukeyyyyy I'm bored and Cal and Mike are being annoying.

From: stupid blond kid
I'm sorry Ashy. What are you doing?

Ashton almost screams because Luke replied to him. He has a huge smile on his face and he continues to text Luke that causes Michael and Calum to smile as well.

To: stupid blond kid
We're at some stupid fair. Cal and Mike thought we 'needed to get out'

From: stupid blond kid
Oh well fairs are fun, why aren't you enjoying it?

To: stupid blond kid
I have no one to win me any stuffed animals :(

That's where the replies end. Apparently Luke will only talk to him if it's not about Luke.

-----

As Ashton lays in bed that night after his call with Luke he thinks for a little bit.

He decides that he really did need to get out.