rumor has it. ➵ lashton ✔

16.

every unfinished story of mine will be updated today. >;)

-

Luke walked through the hallways for the rest of the day, ignoring every stare and gasp he was greeted with.

He knew he had better friends than Ashton did, by a long shot.

He didn't even need Ashton.

Luke Hemmings did not need a pathological liar.

-

After the day was done and Luke had proven his point thoroughly, he walked home with Michael and Hannah and Calum.

"I oughta punch that kid in the balls." Hannah had been grumbling since they'd gotten out of the school.

Death threats, violent torture, everything.

"Hannah, calm down," Luke finally sighed, "you don't have to do anything to him, alright? I think he gets my point. I don't think he'll be pining for me anymore."

"What the hell did you say to him?" Calum asked, incredulous.

"I told him that what happened to my legs was exactly what he'd done to my heart, and I think he got the point. Least I hope so."

"Listen, let's all just get pizza, and play video games, yeah? Forget all about it."

"I like the way you think, Michael, really I do."

Michael gazed in to Luke's eyes dramatically.

"Really?"

Luke's clasped both hands over his heart.

"Really!"

"Okay, one, he's straight, and two, what the hell even was that?" Hannah asked.

"I call it muke."

-

The four friends had settled down with three boxes of pizza and four video game controllers, Hannah beating them all in Mario Kart.

"Is this all you guys ever play?" Hannah asked.

"Seriously, I think it's just a feminine thing. Maybe it's in their estrogen or whatever it is we learned in health." Calum muttered, throwing the controller to the ground.

Hannah fell back on the ground, shaking her head as her chest heaved with laughter.

"I think we should go outside," Luke shrugged.

"Outside?" Came Hannah's disgusted voice.

"Outside!?" She shouted.

"Yeah, sure, okay," she smiled immediately, crawling in to Michael's arms.

Luke stood up and tightened his flower crown over his hair and ran out the door, tumbling in to somebody's arms.

"Ashton? What the hell? Get the fuck off of my property!"

Michael put a hand over Hannah's ear and Hannah covered the other ear with her hand.

"Luke, please, I know you're mad, please just let me explain!"

"Explain what, that you're a pathological liar and you don't care about anyone but yourself? I think I understand that now!"

"Lukey," Ashton took both of Luke's hands as the younger boy raged.

"Let go of me, now!"

"Luke, I know you are upset, but I need you to listen to me for just a moment," Ashton murmured.

Luke's anger had turned to sadness and loneliness and tears were now sliding down his cheeks.

"I don't want to listen to you!" Luke wailed. "You're always telling me to listen to you and that what you say is always right, but you know what, Ashton? You're not right! You ruined my life! Everybody thinks I'm a drug addict now and it's all because of you!"

"It's just a rumor, Luke..."

"A rumor that ruined my life! Do you do this to all of your boyfriends? Torture them socially and ruin them mentally until they don't even want to function anymore?"

"Luke-"

"Don't even! Hear me out, right now, okay? Rumors aren't okay! Rumors spread and rumors hurt other people's feelings and you've got to know that I'm sick of it! I love you, Ashton, but I can't be with you if you're going to keep doing this to me."

Ashton was shocked at Luke's admission of his love and he bit his lip.

"Are you going to fix what you did wrong, or leave? Because those are your choices right now." Luke said, shaking his head as he wiped away his tears.

He was stronger than Ashton, now. He wasn't afraid of Ashton's bad boy persona.

Not Luke.

Ashton pulled Luke in to his arms and Luke tried his hardest not to hug Ashton back with everything he had.

"I'll fix this. I promise."

Luke closed his eyes, and wrapped his arms around Ashton's waist.

"No more rumors?"

"No more rumors."

Hannah, Michael, and Calum all stepped out onto the front porch.

"Rumor has it," Hannah smiled, "Luke's got a boyfriend again."

-

that's the end.

sorry.

i know it's shitty.

this story will possibly go under editting when i have free time? there might even be a sequel if that appeals to you??? i felt like the story really wasn't going anywhere and i won't have time to update during school.

cliche.

how wonderful.

love you.

- auuudrey