Warning Signs || Muke Clemmings

Chapter Seven

Luke stood in the bathroom stall, fidgeting nervously. He looked down at his hands, watching himself tug at his long sleeved shirt. he could hear Michael open his stall and walk out, already dressed for the beach while he hadn't even taken off his shirt yet.

"Luke, you okay?" Michael's sweet, comforting voice echoed throughout the bathroom. Luke chewed on his lip ring, still nervous. Only his mom and dad had ever seen his cuts, and he was nervous what other would think. when his dad found them, he called Luke all sorts of names. which of course pushed Luke to do it again, and again, and again until he was sitting in a pool of his own blood and tears on the bathroom floor.

"Y-yeah.. I'll be out in a minute. just go down to the beach I'll meet you there." Luke forced a small, fake smile until he realized Michael couldn't see him. once he realized, he dropped it to a sad frown.

stupid, he can't see you.

the nagging voice at the back of his head whispered harshly, causing Luke to squeeze his eyes shut tightly and cover his ears with his palms. "go away." He whispered in a soft yet harsh tone. he wanted to try and have a good time for once, not be nagged by those terrible voices.

he finally tugged off his long sleeved grey shirt and dropped it on top of the bag. he looked at his left wrist that was covered in bracelets. Band bracelets, old friendship bracelets from early middle school, and a few random bracelets he found in his room. The bracelet that stood out to him though, was the red and blue thin rope bracelet that was tied tightly around his wrist. Michael had given it to him the other day.

Luke's dad almost beat him to death. he ran to Michaels house, tears streaming down his face and limping badly. multiple cuts on both his wrists had opened up again, blood dripping as he ran to Michael's. It was three in the morning but he needed to get out.

Michael had said Luke could come over at any time he needed, but he tried not to go. he didn't want to annoy Michael, but that night he needed Michael.

once Luke knocked on the door, he began to panic.

Its three in the morning idiot, what if you woke up Niall?

he's not going to care you, he's going to be disgusted with you. he'll hit you and kick you out just like your own father.

you don't need Michael to comfort you. you need to kill yourself.

Luke's sobs became louder and harder. his breathing was becoming heavier and more short and quick. he began to turn around, but was stopped by the sound of the door opening and a sleepy voice.

"Luke?" Michael spoke slowly, his voice deeper than usual. his eyes were red and puffy, he had been crying. he was wearing grey sweatpants and there was a spot of blood on his palms that Luke could see as he rubbed his eyes. Luke knew what Michael had probably done, and he didn't need to add to Michaels problems.

"I'm.. I'm sorry I panicked I'll leave." the words were rushed as Luke tried to take off. he could see Michael had enough stress to deal with and he didn't want to add to that, but he was stopped as Michael grabbed his wrist tightly and pulled him into his arms.

"No, don't leave.." Michael buried his face in Luke's neck, beginning to cry with Luke. "stay with me, Luke.. please." Michael spoke softly into his neck. "please.. I n-need you."

Luke's heart broke as Michael stood there in his arms, crying and begging Luke to stay. they both needed eachother, he couldn't just leave.

Luke nuzzled his face into Michael's hair and rubbed his back softly, both of them crying. "shh, it'll be okay.. it'll all.. be okay." he whispered in a soothing voice, calming both Michael and himself. he heard Michael sniffle as he pulled away slightly and looked up at the broken blonde in front of him.

after they'd calmed down enough, both of them went to Michaels room. Michael helped bandage up and clean Luke's arms, head, cheek, and ankle that had gotten cut pretty badly from his dad while Luke explained what had caused this all. once Luke finished, Michael untied the blue and red bracelet from his own wrist and retied it on Luke's.

"if you ever feel like no one cares," Michael had spoken, staring straight into Luke's blue eyes. He kissed the cuts and scars on Luke's wrist, never breaking eye contact. "remember I am here and no matter what," he slowly and gently placed Luke's left wrist onto his lap, picking up his right. "you can come to me." he brought Luke's right wrist to his lips. "whenever. wherever. for whatever reason. I am here, forever."

a small smile tugged at the edges of Luke's lips at the memory of Michael kissing every single one of his scars, each time telling him a reason he's worth all of this, every reason he deserves to be alive and loved. he finally pulled down his black skinny jeans, with a huge struggle of course, and grimaced at his scars covered thighs, stomach, and sides.

look at all those times you were too weak and broken to do anything but hurt yourself. you're just a broken, weak, ugly, worthless faggot.

Tears brimmed his eyes. The voices were right. He wanted to go home. He wanted to go home so he could go into his bathroom, dump out the bottle of pills he's been saving, and take all of them.

"Hey, Luke was it? are you in here?" a thick, deep, slow British voice echoed throughout the bathroom.

Luke shook his head, tears finally streaming down his face. "No, Luke's not here. go away." his voice cracked as he spoke. he slid to the floor, crying into his knees. he heard feet shuffling toward the stall he was in.

"Luke? what's wrong?" a worried Harry asked from right outside the door.

"n-nothing! go away." He hugged his knees tighter, his cuts pressing tightly against his bare legs.

"Luke, what's wrong? let me in." Harry's voice was soft and gentle. he stood centimeters from the door, his forehead pressed against it. Luke looked up shakily. he nervously scratched at his cuts as he watched the door. "Luke.." Harry spoke softly. Luke lifted his hand closest to the door, that was now bleeding from the cuts he had reopened, and opened the door. as it swung open, a shocked and genuinely upset Harry stood there. he knelt down next to Luke, wrapping his wrist with toilet paper.

"I'm sorry.." You could tell by the way his voice cracked he was broken.

"No, you don't have anything to be sorry for. Do you want to go home? I can drive you home if you want?" Harry offered.

Luke shook his head vigorously. "No i-i don't want to go home! don't take me home!" He buried his face in Harry's chest, sobbing loudly.

"You can stay at Niall's and Michael's? they won't mind I know they won't." Harry ran his fingers through Luke's hair slowly, which surprisingly calmed him immensely. Luke sniffled, now calmed, and nodded. Harry helped him stand up and get his jeans back on before leading him to their Challenger car, Luke letting out small sobs every now and then along the way.

--

once at Niall's, Luke insisted he went back to the beach, that he'd be fine alone. Harry hesitated at first but finally went back to be with his boyfriend. Luke made it seem like he wanted Harry to leave so Harry didn't miss out on the beach, but that wasn't it at all. he wanted to be alone. He wanted, no needed, relief. he needed to just end all of this.

he sneakily stood up from Michael's warm bed. his sheets were ninja turtles, which caused Luke to smile at his geekiness, and his comforter was thick and warm. it smelled like Michael, like strawberries. he loved the way Michael smelled everytime the two hugged. it was a warm and comforting smell that made Luke feel safe in Michael's arms.

Luke now stood in the bathroom with his beach bag. he slowly unzipped it, rung by rung. he dug through it for about half a minute before he pulled out a full bottle of pills and a razor. somehow, he knew he'd need them when he was packing his bag. his fingers wrapped around the hem of his left sweater sleeve tightly. he closed his eyes tightly, allowing warm salty tears to slip down his cheeks. "I'm sorry.." he whispered to no one before pulling up the black fabric to his elbow. he brought the silver metal to the top of his wrist and pushed down as hard as he could and slid it all the way across. he did this multiple more times before he could barely see straight. finally, he dumped the entire bottle of pills into his hand, that was now covered in his own blood.

although, right as he was about to drop the handful into his mouth, a loud knock was heard at the front door.