Dyed Hair Rock Show [Michael Clifford]

String // Part 28

I woke up to my home phone ringing and stumbled out of bed, picking it up. "Hello."

"It's almost 10. Where are you?" Luke whispered.

"Shit." I went into my room and threw on a pair of shorts and the misfit top I bought last weekend. "I'll be there in two."

I hung up, grabbed my keys, and fixed my hair and was out the door. Hazel had went home a little while after dinner.

"Yo, we're gonna be late if you don't get in," I said as I pulled up to Luke's.

He got in and sat down, "I'm sure this is more your fault than mine."

"It might not have even happened if you didn't tell him you had a key to my house."

Luke rolled his eyes, annoyed. "Really?"

"Joking," I smiled. He smirked, and I drove until I parked in Mike's driveway. 10:02.

I went up and knocked on the door. There was maybe thirty seconds before it opened.

"Hey," Michael said and moved his hand back, motioning us in.

I set my keys and wallet on the ledge by the entryway then went into the living room, sitting across from Calum on the other couch. Luke sat next to Calum.

"Where's Ashton?" Luke asked as the door opened and there he was.

"Sorry I'm late, I was downtown," he said, then sat in the empty space on the other end of the couch I was on. Michael sat in another chair, to the side of the couch Calum and Luke were on.

"So what're we here for?" Calum asked.

"Yeah, weren't you going to explain something?" Luke chipped in.

"Yes, yes, I'm getting to that," Michael said, turning on the fan.

We all looked at each other, then at him, waiting. He finally started to explain. "Well, I didn't really know what to say when you guys showed up. I mean, I didn't think you guys would care so much."

"We never said we were worried, we just wanted to know where you were." Ashton said.

Calum and Luke looked at him, I flashed him daggers.

"After you left, I took a long way home. And, yeah. I guess I just wanted us all to be in the same room to get things out, because I feel that there's some sort of weird strings between us," he said, looking at all of us, even though we knew it was directed toward Ashton.

Obviously they still had something to sort out.

Calum got up, "I'm glad to be here, but I have to get going, I have to go to my new job." We said bye and after he left, the session was soon-to-be starting.

"I honestly have nothing to say, I'm good with all of you guys. But I would like to know as of why you're being so rude and uncooperative," Luke said, looking at Ashton.

"I'm not being uncooperative, I came here, did I not?"

Luke shrugged, "Well, then explain the rude part."

"I can't."

"Excuse me?" Luke asked calmly.

"I can not."

"If I can explain why I had such a hard time with my very screwed up emotions, you can explain this," I piped up.

"Not in front of Michael. Not in front of you," Ashton finally got out.

"Really Ashton? You can call her a slut and whore and tell Michael he doesn't love her, to their faces, but not tell us this one little thing?" Luke was getting to the point where he wasn't going to take Ashton's shit anymore.

"He doesn't."

Michael had been sitting there while we discussed why Ashton just "can not" and now spoke up, "At least I talk to my girlfriend."

"Oh, are you two still a thing?" Luke asked, curious.

"Yes," Ashton said. "But she said she's been really busy and hasn't had the time to do anything with me."

"Maybe you should check up on that. I saw her yesterday at Walmart," I said nonchalant.

"She was probably just going on a quick run for groceries."

I nodded, "Yeah, if you call going to the mall and having a day with her friends that."

He rolled his eyes, Luke stared at him.

"Really, Ashton. Just say it. I'm over whatever it was earlier," Michael said sincerely.

He finally gave in, sighing after a minute. "I don't talk to Kara because she's been cheating on me. I can tell. I've been in a bitter mood, because it seems when I find happiness, it always gets crumpled from one person."

I didn't believe that. He wasn't an asshole before.

"I don't have feelings for you, I rather dislike you."

Me? Ashton dislikes me?

"And Michael. I don't like him."

"Oh, come on. Michael is your band mate," Luke said. "Stop this. It's stupid."

"No, actually I don't think it is, Luke." Ashton said. He meant it, too.

"Ashton, no. I'm sorry for whatever it was that I did, why don't you like me?"

"Well, you dropped me for him. We had a spark, Rachel. And I can't get it out of my head."

My emotions started to kick in. I couldn't help but feel like shit, because I knew exactly how that felt.

"So I take it you never really wanted to date her in the first place, you just wanted to see how I would react?" I had to ask, even though I knew the answer would hurt.

"No. I did want to get better, and happier. But she realized that I needed time, that's why we've been so distant. And I really need to stop hearing about her from Michael, or anyone, for that matter. I need two weeks. Two Weeks, that's all I ask. No form of communication from her or about her, whatsoever."

I nodded, Michael sat there, and Luke nodded too. "Okay."

"You don't love her! You don't! And it's not fair to her or anyone, not even yourself! If you really loved her, you'd be there for her! YOU DON'T LOVE HER!" He put his head in his hands, arms bent and leaned on his knees, a frustrated tear fallen down his face. Tears fell down my face, as I watched him go crazy.

Luke ran over to Ashton, and leaned in front of him, grabbing his arms and wrists, "Ashton, we're taking you to a therapist."

Luke looked over to us as he motioned Ashton out the door. He mouthed, "I'll call you."

I sat there tearing as Michael tried to process what just happened.