little love

16

"maybe we need a break."

calums world crumbles.

"n-no," calum gasps, completely blindsided by ashtons statement, "thats, no ashton, n-no you know i-i can't live without y-you."

"maybe...maybe you need to," ashton says, keeping his voice soft and calm, "you need to learn to live without me. and, no, im not saying we need to break up, calum."

"then what are you saying?" calum asks, his voice merely above a whisper.

"i love you," ashton says, "you're my whole life. but, i just...i don't know whats happening between us...i just think we need some time apart."

calum stands up, and has to keep his hands on the table since he was shaking so bad. ashton slowly follows his lead, and stands up. calum takes slow steps until he's in front of ashton...and then, he's embracing him.

"shh," ashton whispers softly, holding calum tight against his chest, "its alright."

calum lets himself sob against ashtons chest. the one thing that scared him the most was coming to life, and calum wasn't sure how he was going to handle. a break, from the one thing he's known since high school....yeah, that was gonna hurt real bad.

"i-i love you," calum whispers against ashtons chest, pulling on ashton tighter, like he would leave if he let up too much.

"i love you too," ashton whispers, placing a soft kiss on calums head. they stay in their tight embrace for what felt like hours.

it was ashton who pulls away first.

"why dont i call mikey for you?" ashton whispers, running a hand through calums hair, "i know you'll be able to stay with him for a bit."

"i-i dont..." calum whispers, having to swallow the tears that were shooting up his throat, "ash, please...i can't-dont leave."

"im sorry," ashton whispers, using the pad of his thumb to wipe at the tears that started to fall down his cheeks. calum would do anything for ashton to not call michael...

"i call," calum whispers, choking on his own words, "i'll call...when do y-you want me o-out?"

ashton gulps, "by the end of the night, if that works for mikey."

calum nods, gulps, and slowly steps away from ashton.

it felt like he was stepping away from everything. with every step away from ashton, was another hard tug on his heart. yes, they fought. yes, they made up. but this, this was different...calum prayed that they would come back from this.

of course they would, calum knew they would...they had to. they had been in love for years and got married - calum wasnt about to give up, and he knew ashton never gave up either.

calum pulls out a suitcase, and starts to pack his things. something he never imagined doing alone. once he's got a bunch of random clothes and other necessities in his bag, he pulls his phone out and dials mikey.

"hey cal, what's up?"

calum bursts into tears, "can...can i s-stay with you f-for awhile?"

"what? why? whats going on? did ashton hurt you?"

"no, i'll e-explain later," calum hiccups, "just pl-please..."

"i swear if ashton hurt you i will rip his own dick out and then shove it down his throat!"

"mikey!"

"okay, im on my way, calum, okay? just hang tight."

"can you...s-stay, please, i-i cant..."

"of course, calum. im with you, don't worry."

_

michael glares as ashton as he climbs in the driver's seat, next to a completely broken, sobbing calum. ashton had watched with sad eyes as calum walked out, hugged michael, and cried into his chest for twenty minutes before michael had got him in the car.

ashton contines to watch with sad eyes as michael drives them away, away, and away until ashton could no longer see the car.

it hurt ashton.

it was weird, being alone. yet, ashton knew they needed it. even if it was just a couple days apart...ashton needed some space. so did calum.

ashton shut the front door, locked it, and then decided to go take a hot, relaxing shower.

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since y'all have been troopers
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