The One I Cant Have (a Michael Clifford Fanfic)

Chapter 35

A/N: I'm gonna be switching POVs a lot so... hope you like it!

Ashton's POV

I was sitting on the outdoor steps playing my guitar. Yes. I can play guitar, drums, piano, and the saxophone.

"here comes the rain again, falling from the stars, drenched in my pain again, forgetting who we are."

I sing.

I feel the roughness of the strings since I left my pick inside. The skin around my nails slowly tears away, but it feels kind of good. 

"as my memory rests, but never forgets what we lost, wake me up when September ends" 

I close my eyes and absorb the lyrics. I always knew this was a sad song, but I never fully felt the music flow through me and wrap me around in the precious message until now. 

A familiar red jeep emerges from the evening light and pulls up into our giant driveway, and a very urgent-looking Mirthe runs out.

"ASH!" she screams, nearly tripping over her own feet as she bolts towards me.

"Yeah, mate?" I ask, pulling her in for a hug. I kiss the top of her head.

 "I found Carter." she says, dragging me to her car.

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"Are you sure we shouldn't tell Michael?" I ask, as Mirthe swerves left.

"Nah, let's surprise him." she smiles at me.

"How do you know we're even going to be able to bring her back?" I question her.

"I don't." she states.

And in that moment, I don't know why, and I shouldn't have, but I trusted her.

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Michael's POV

I don't wanna do this. This whole living thing? I don't wanna do it. There are demons in my head, eating me from the inside out. I don't wanna be here. I don't wanna be anywhere. I. Don't. Want. To. Live.

And who's making me live anyway? No one. There is absolutely no reason to live anymore. Not without Carter.

I give up.

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Ashton's POV

We arrive at an old house. It looks no different than any other, except for its garden has clearly not been cared for in years.

Mirthe brings her hand up to the door to knock.

"WAIT." I say. Her hand stops mid air. "Her father will never let us take Carter away."

Mirthe contemplates this. 

"Let's climb the fence to the back." she instructs, halfway to the fence.

"Wait up!" I chase after her. I give her a boost over the fence, then get a running start and throw myself over too.

My adrenaline is rushing. The cool fall-almost-winter air sends shivers like a wave throughout my body. 

We spy a boarded up window on the very top. That must be Carter's. 

"Get some rocks." I say. "We're gonna smash it."

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Carter's POV.

I'm not gonna get caught. I'm not gonna get caught. That's what my father screamed to me as I stormed off.