Te Amo

16~Better Man

With your love, your love, I'm a better, better man

"What the fuck are they doing?! They can't arrest him! He didn't do anything!" Ashton cried, panicking.

"Mikey..." Anne whispered as she slowly sat down in the chair Michael would sit in and stared off into the distance, clearly in a state of shock.

Ashton grabbed his phone and repeatedly clicked the off button, hoping it would find just a shred of battery to send a quick message.

Surprisingly, it worked, the bright Apple logo illuminating his screen before his wallpaper of a smiling Ashton and Calum popped up. He quickly tapped in his password before he opened up his text conversation with Calum.

Ashton: Cal send joy to RT65b

Calum: What for?

Ashton groaned as his screen went blank for a moment before a little dead battery logo showed up in the middle of the screen.

He stared at the ceiling, not bothering to try and stop the tears from flowing down his face.

"Ashton? Ashton, what happened?"

Ashton wiped his eyes quickly and looked up at Joy.

"Joy! Come on, help me out of this bed!" Ashton begged.

"Ashton what did you do?" Joy asked.

"I'll explain on the way. Just help me!"

Ashton sat up slowly and looked around the room for a wheelchair or something he could use. Thankfully, there was a wheelchair tucked away in the corner.

"Joy, pass me that wheelchair, yeah?"

"Ashton, I don't think it's a good idea to get up." Joy says stubbornly.

"Please! It's only my knee that hurts! I have to go down to the station!" Ashton begs.

"Ashton. It's not safe."

Ashton groans in frustration and slams his hand on the call button. A nurse rushes in moments later, ready to be at his aid.

"Everything alright in here?"

"I have to go down to the station to talk about my case." Ashton replied.

"Ah, okay."

Joy is surprised to say the least when the nurse helps Ashton out of his bed. She brings the wheelchair over and slowly helps him into it, slight grunts coming from Ashton whenever his knee was moved.

When Ashton was properly seated in the wheelchair with the nurse elevating his leg, she put the leg rest up and let him rest for a moment.

Ashton squeezed his eyes shut and leaned back. That's the most- only proper moving he's done since the park. It hurt to be sat up but he had to help Michael so he just had to bear with it.

"Okay, we're going to send a nurse with you just in case something happens but you should be good to go and to be back at 4 for your surgery." The nurse explained.

Ashton nods softly as the nurse walked out to grab another one. Noticing the discomfort in his face, Joy leans down and softly places a hand on Ashton's shoulder.

"You're a good guy Ash. Cal's lucky he has such a great friend." Joy whispered.

Ashton smiled slightly.

"How is he? Is he okay?"

"Yeah he's doing much better. Quick thinking on your behalf. He keeps saying he wants to come and visit you but he can't leave until next week."

Ashton smiles just as another nurse walks in.

"Okay I think we'll walk, if that's okay? I think it'll be too much of a struggle to get in and out of a car. The station's just down the road anyway." The nurse explained.

"Sure, that works." Ashton smiled.

"Do you want me to come?" Joy asked.

"Please," Ashton whispered.

Joy smiled gently and the three walked slowly to the station, stoping occasionally whenever there was a rough patch that jolted Ashton.

"Excuse me," Joy spoke up. "Can I have a moment with Ashton? I can push him."

The nurse nods and lets go of the wheelchair before taking a few strides ahead so she'd be out of earshot. Joy grabbed hold of the handles and continued pushing him down the street.

"I want to know what happened." Joy said softly.

Ashton nodded softly and begins explaining.

"Luke's the bully of the school, as you know. Huge homophobe too. Him and Michael are like best friends so when Michael became my boyfriend then well... This happened." Ashton whispered bitterly.

"Ash, I'm so sorry," Joy whispered.

"Don't be, I'm fine." Ashton smiled softly. "I just want to help Michael."

"You're a good guy, Ashton."

It was hard to admit, but Ashton hated that phrase. In truth, he wasn't a good guy. What kind of "good guy" doesn't trust his friend and isn't there for him when he needs it? What kind of "good guy" ignores everyone's protests against going to meet up with Luke? What kind of "good guy" hasn't even properly thanked his best friend for helping him through every tough time?

He wasn't a good guy at all.