The next week drags into the next weekend painfully slow. With how the week had gone, I wanted nothing more than to hop into my bed and never come out.
Sierra and her friends had done nothing but make me miserable the past week. She did nothing but spread rumors about me and snicker at me in the halls. I should be used to this, unbothered, but I can't help but feel drained. I can't help but feel upset. Every word she yelled at me, whispered, laughed at me stuck in my head. I hear the things she says when I'm alone, echoing with bitter laughter.
Don't talk to her, she'll probably steal your man too.
No surprise she sits with her legs open.
Looks like she's had a rough night. Probably caught HIV.
At first I was pissed off, but after a while I had just gotten used to it, realizing there was no shutting her up, ever.
I look over at my nightstand where my phone is as it vibrates. I make a move to grab it and I'm not surprised to see who it is.
Ashton: Are you okay? 4:39pm
Ashton had made plans today to hang out with Michael and Calum. I didn't know what exactly they were doing but I didn't have the energy to care. I put my phone down before it vibrates again. I sigh and look at the next message.
Ashton: My dad isn't going to be home this weekend. I was thinking about throwing a party. 4:42pm
I read the message over and it's then that I realize Ashton has never told me what his dad does for a job.
Ashton: Why are you ignoring me? I see you reading these :(
4:48pm
I sigh as I read the messages. As much as I don't wanna speak to anyone, I find my fingers typing.
Me: I'm sorry, I might have to pass, I haven't been feeling myself lately.
Ashton has been texting me but I've been ignoring him. Selfish, I know. I just haven't been wanting to talk to anyone. I've just been to myself, I haven't been myself this whole week.
Ashton: What's the matter, bub?
I smile a little at the nickname and sigh as I type.
Me: Nothing.
Ashton: Talk to me, babe.
I didn't want to talk about it at all. Talking about my thoughts only depresses me more and I don't want to feel worse than I already do. My phone vibrates again soon after and I realize I've left him on read for five minutes.
Ashton: Alice are you okay?
Me: I'm fine. Perfect, I'm just napping.
It was a lie but I didn't want him to worry about me. He should have fun with his friends without having to worry about me trying to kill myself.
Ashton: Okay, please text or call if you need anything.
I let him know I will and lock my phone, putting it on the nightstand. I then pull the blankets off myself and close my eyes. It doesn't take long before I head into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
Ashton
I'm really worried about her. With the way she's been treated at school, I could only imagine how bad her depression is right now. I wanted to go back to her house, to lay in bed with her and hold her until she fell asleep in my arms. But she didn't seem to want me to, as much as that bothered me. I could understand her want for space.
"Ash." Michael places a hand on my shoulder for balance I assume. He had a cup of whiskey in his other hand, and this wasn't his first. I take a sip out of my cup.
"Mike." He stares at me, a smirk playing at his lips.
"Where's your kinky princess?" I give him a nasty look when he calls her that. He puts his hands up in defense, correcting himself. "Alice. Where's Alice?" I just shrug at him, not much sure of what to say so I just keep it simple.
"She's not up for a party." Is all I say and he raises an eyebrow.
"Alice Hood? Not up for a party? That just isn't like her." He chuckles and sips his drink, leaning against the wall. I roll my eyes, becoming annoyed. I wish Alice was here.
"Shouldn't you be upstairs finishing Calum off?" I snap and his brows furrow, his expression becoming hard.
"Lower your voice." He hisses and I shrug, sipping from my drink. I don't understand why he cared if I said it. Half the people here are drunk and it's too loud to actually hear anyone speak.
"Whatever you say, chief," I sigh, spinning the liquid in my cup. "So how are you and Calum?" I speak, ignoring his glare. I just give him a fake smile and he rolls his eyes.
"Non existent. He hasn't been himself, and I don't know why. He's plastered and every time I try to talk to him he just snaps at me." Instantly I think back to the dinner I spent with Allie, Cindy, Calum and their father. That was a terrible night, and I don't think Calum has gotten over it yet. This is his way of coping I assume, and I feel bad.
"Yeah, I don't know." I lie. It wasn't my business to tell. This was Calum's personal life, I wasn't going to throw it around like it's my own. I hear Michael groan as he sips.
"Well I want him to come back," He slurs. "I miss his goofy ass." I never bothered to ask how long him and Calum had spoken to one another, how long they've been hanging out.
"So how long have you and Calum been sneaking around?" Michael looks at me completely surprised. He raises his eyebrows.
"Uh..."
"I mean you don't have to answer." I say after I sense how uncomfortable he is with the conversation.
"It's been on and off, that's all." He says and I raise an eyebrow. Michael and I are best friends and he's neglected to tell me this?
"Wait... how long?"
"Uh..."
"Michael."
"A bit?" He scratches the back of his neck. "Never when I was with Crys, more like when her and I had our fights and we'd break up in heat of the moment. When that would happen, I'd go to Calum." Part of me wants to be angry with Michael that he had never told me about this, but I can't be really. It isn't my life, my business. I just nod, sipping my drink. This causes him to raise an eyebrow at me.
"Wait, you aren't mad?"
"No, I just wish you-" Before I can finish my sentence, I hear a familiar voice calling my name. Michael and I look over to the noise and immediately my eyes find their way to Luke. He pushes his way through the sweaty crowd of people to get to me. What was he doing here? I don't think I want to know considering the panicked look on his face.
Is he crying?
What the fuck is happening?
"Ashton. Ashton." He breathes, his voice shaking.
"Luke, what's wrong?" I want to be pissed at him for even setting foot in my house given our past, but whatever he wanted to say seemed pretty fucking important. For fuck's sake, he was crying.
Luke shakes his head. He runs his hands through his hair, almost ripping his curls out as he fights away a sob. I frown deeply at the sight of him. The look of him starts to send knots through my stomach. Something was horribly wrong.
"Luke what the fuck is going on?" His lip wobbles as he tries to get the words out, but they seem to hard for him to pronounce. I stand patiently and terribly as I wait, suspense of the soon to be situation killing me.
"Alice," He hiccups. "She's being sent to the hospital."
