chapter two ayee
[ UNEDITED ]
Luke and Ashton didn’t talk much longer after Luke responded with something that could be interpreted in many different ways. Ashton was just lying there in his bed, watching Luke continue to read with an incomprehensible expression on his face.
“Hey blondie, want to be a dear and save your pills for me? Michael and I are willing to give you something in return,” a random person stood in the doorway with a smug look on his face. Ashton watched as Luke rolled his eyes, setting his book back down.
“As if I ever were to be that stupid, what would you give me in return?” Luke demanded to know, but the mysterious boy only smirked and advanced into the room. He crossed his arms, taking pride in his ability to aggravate Luke without even putting any effort into it.
“Maybe, if you’re lucky, I could get you a better chance at getting a heart,” the boy continued. “I know people who could get you up higher on the transplant list, but that’s only if you’re willing to provide me with some pills. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that you are a sick human being,” Luke snapped. “The only people you know are people involved in your little crime ring. Deny it all you want, Hood, but I can just see your face on world’s most wanted. Participating in such a thing is illegal and that would only lower my chances of getting a heart. Don’t think you can convince me to harm you in any way I could be charged for; you’re good, but you’re not that good. Now move it or lose it.”
“Woah woah woah there’s no need to get snappy. I’m just a seventeen year old minor with a desperate need to get what I want, and I must say I’m great at it—I’m sure you of all people can relate.” The boy tilted his head a little, giving Luke a wink that told him he knew what he was doing.
“Yeah, well I’m good at getting what I want, too. Right now I want to to leave.” Luke narrowed his eyes, but the other boy wasn’t caving in.
“No.”
“You do realize I can get the nurse to drag your desperate ass out of here with a simple press of a button, right?” Luke threatened, his finger hovering over the ‘help’ button that was supposed to be used in case of emergencies.
“Alright fine, you win. This isn’t over.” The stranger turned to walk away, not looking back.
“I think it kind of is over! Nice doing business with you!” Luke called after him, leaning back against his pillows.
“Okay, who was that?” Ashton had to ask, wanting to catch up on any information he missed. Luke sighed.
“That, Ashton, is someone in which I had the disadvantage of meeting in my life. He’s just trouble, and nothing good ever comes out of his actions,” Luke bit his lip. “He may be trouble, but he prefers to go by Calum Hood.”
“Have you met the Michael guy he mentioned?”
Luke let out a bitter chuckle. “Michael Clifford? Yeah, I know the guy. I personally can’t stand him; he’s like a clone of Calum. Why do you ask?”
“I ran into someone by accident today with a bottle of painkillers hidden in his coat pocket. The pills went everywhere, and nurse Jade caught him in the act,” Ashton explained thoroughly. “He didn’t seem too friendly.”
“That’s because he isn't. He only cares about himself and drugs. He couldn’t act like a decent human being even if it resorted to somehow putting his life on the line,” Luke sighed. “They’ve both been here for as long as I can remember—Michael was here first for his drug addiction, and believe it or not, Calum is not here for drugs. He is here due to his severe level of depression and his addiction to smoking; he didn’t get into abusing drugs until he met Michael two weeks into his stay.”
“How do you even know him?” Ashton had to know, standing up off of his bed. “I would like to think it would be easy to not make any friends or enemies in this building. No matter what the issue, we are all here for the same reason—to get better. Couldn’t you just avoid people like him?”
“You sure do make a good point, but around here, it doesn’t work that way. You’re paying to be treated and checked up for as long as needed; other people are going to get lonely and are going to want some sort of interest in their life. They’re going to want at least one reason to fight another day, and for some reason, socializing is the way to go. I guess it’s just part of human nature; they say reality wouldn’t exist without interaction.” Luke glanced over at Ashton who had just decided to take a seat down beside him.
“I’m hoping things will turn around for me and finally be good for once,” Ashton stared down at the floor, his shoulders dropping a little from slouching.
“They will,” Luke bit his lip. “I know you probably feel like you’re dying, but you’re not, you know. I’m dying, Ashton. Every day that I am able to wake up in the morning is something I am very grateful for. I’m aware that I don’t have much time, but you do. You’re not dying—at least not physically—and you can get through it. I’ll be here, you know.”
Ashton smiled. “Thankyou, Luke. I just want you to know I believe in you, too. I believe you can make it through this.”
“You’re a great friend. I just wish you were here before Michael and Calum; they’re just bastards.” Luke chuckled, shaking his head.
“Wait, we’re friends?”
Luke smiled. “Of course.”
wow this was short and dramatic af
anyways, please comment/vote/fan ily babes xx
