Everyday Amnesia

0.9

"Ashton!" He hears someone yell his name, and he already knows who it is. Ashton gets tackled into a hug, stumbling in order to keep them both up.

"Mike," He greets happily, the over-eager redhead giving him a cute little smile and plops down on the grass.

"Did you get a vision last night?" Michael asks, a little too cheerfully for Ashton's liking. He supposes after spending so much time in a hospital bed, anyone would be cheerful.

"Yeah," Ashton says quietly. He tells Michael about the grave, the gloomy weather, and finally what was engraved in the dark stone.

"Oh," Michael says unintentionally. It just kind of slips. The park looks nice, and there weren't many people around. Probably because it was seven am on a Saturday, but still. It was sunny and quiet and both boys were sitting in the shade of a large tree.

"Did you enter the skate comp?" Michael asks, changing the subject. Ashton smiles and leans back, the soft grass tickling his skin.

"Yeah, I did," Ashton replies.

"Oh, we'll have to go to the skate park so you can practice," Michael says.

"We?" Ashton teases. Michael lies back too, head on top of Ashton's arm. He doesn't say anything for a moment, just stares up at the branches of the tree.

"We," Michael says. "Because I'm your best friend."

"More like my only friend," Ashton corrects.

"You have Niall, and Calum," He protests.

"I barely know Niall. And Calum is more interested in you than me," Ashton giggles. Michael smacks his cheek lightly before falling silent.

"I'm not going to die, y'know," He says.

"I know," Ashton says. "You promised."

Michael kisses his cheek. "And I never break my promises."

They lay together for a while, until their pointless conversation is interrupted by two boys that seem kind of familiar to Ashton. He had a vision about them being together. What had Michael called them in the vision? Jack and Alex? Yeah, that was it.

"Hi Jalex," Ashton greets, combining their names.

"Hey," They say simultaneously.

"Um," Alex begins. "I know you guys aren't on the best of terms right now, but Luke really wants to talk to you."

Ashton sighs. "Fine then, I'll talk to him at school on Monday."

"Shit, Alex, I gotta get going," Jack whines.

"Okay, okay," Alex says, looking at Ashton and Michael. "Bye guys."

"Bye," Michael and Ashton wave and the two boys disappear to god knows where. Ashton's phone buzzes with a text from Hannah.

"I gotta get going too, Mike," Ashton says, shoving his phone back in his pocket. He kisses Michael's forehead and leaves, walking rapidly. When he arrives home, Hannah and Daniel are waiting for him.

"Did I do something wrong?" Ashton asks nervously.

"What? Oh no. We're going to the beach, and I want you to come. And yes, you can bring Michael," Hannah adds, knowing he would ask.

To: Michael

You still at the park?

From: Michael

Yeah, why?

Ashton doesn't reply and tosses his phone on the coffee table, running out the door. He arrives at the park and his eyes widen when he nears the tree to see Michael clutching his face and Luke standing in front of him, fists clenched.

"Michael!" Ashton yells, running over to his friend. He glares at Luke, who raises his hands in protest. He ignores him and pulls Michael's hands away from his face. His cheek is bright red. "What happened?"

"Some guys from our school came," Michael says softly. "They weren't happy that I'd "ditched them for you" and I told them to fuck off."

"I chased them away," Luke speaks up, staring at his shoes as if they were the most intriguing things he's ever seen.

"Thank you," He says honestly. "Mike, wanna go to the beach?"

"I don't like the sun," Michael whines.

"Please I'll get Calum to come," Ashton begs. Michael's eyes light up and he agrees. Feeling awkward, he invites Luke too, and he accepts. They part ways, planning to meet at Ashton's house in twenty minutes.

"Oh, Hannah," Ashton says when she leans in his doorway and watches him pack. "Luke and Calum are coming too."

He quickly explains the situation about not wanting to be rude, especially since Luke helped Michael at the park. Hannah nods and leaves his room after reminding him to pack sunscreen. Ashton rolls his eyes but makes sure he has everything. Towels, sunglasses, sunscreen, a book, his iPod, thongs, his phone, swim trunks and some money for food. He knows Michael will get hungry and if Ashton doesn't get food, Michael won't eat anything.

Ten minutes later, Michael, Calum, and Luke all show up at his house. Luke and Calum are holding bags but Michael isn't.

"I'm excited," Calum grins as he steps inside.

"Yeah me too," Ashton agrees. "I haven't gone to the beach in forever."

"I don't like the beach," Michael complains. "It's too sunny."

"Oh shut up," Ashton teases. "You're like a vampire."

Luke chuckles at that and sits on the floor, since Michael had taken up the other couch and Calum and Ashton had taken up the one behind him. They talk about Ms. Saymen and how rude she is, and then they talk about the endless amount of homework teenagers get.

Once Hannah and Daniel are ready, they all pile into the SUV ("Ow Michael, you're squashing me.") and play a game of ABC Slap until they arrive at the beach. Immediately, the boys all go up on the cliff used for diving, except for Calum.

"I can't swim," Michael says. "So why am I up here?"

"You guys left me," Calum pouts, once he arrived. Nobody answers Michael's question, since half of them didn't hear and the other half didn't care. Daniel dives first, then Luke, and then Ashton. Michael's about to turn around and walk back to the beach when he hears "Calum, no!"

And he finds himself over the edge and hurtling towards the water.