notice • lashton

eight.

-Ashton-

"Ash-"

"I have to leave."

"What happened?"

Calum looked at me, as panic was clearly written all over my face.

It was one of the rare times where I actually showed some kind of emotion, which worried my best friend, to say the least.

"Nothing, I just have to leave. Somebody can drive you home later, right?"

"Nonsense, I'm coming with you." He insisted, grabbing me by the arm. "Let me just say goodbye to everyone, okay?"

"I don't want to ruin your nig-"

"Shut up, you obviously need me." He stood his ground. "Go turn the car on, I'll be right outside."

I shot a weak smile at him, which he gave back. We both went our separate ways afterwards, as I made sure nobody I know saw me leaving.

God, I can't believe what happened tonight.

I'm so stupid. I'm so fucking stupid.

I saw Calum running in my direction when I went into the driver's seat, speeding away once he got inside the car.

"Your phone is ringing." He pointed out, making me hold onto the steering wheel a bit tighter.

"I know, just leave it."

He glanced at me for a split second, before snatching it from my pocket.

"Calum-"

"Why is Luke calling you?"

"Leave it."

"Why do you even have his number saved?"

"I said, leave it."

He watched the call go to voicemail, giving me another muddled look. "I didn't know you guys were close."

"There is a lot of things you don't know."

"He's calling again-"

"Oh my fucking God." I groaned, angrily grabbing back my phone and turning it off.

My best friend just stared at me in shock, as I threw my phone in the back seat.

"What the hell, man?! What's going on?!" He asked frustratedly.

I ignored his question, pulling inside our garage. I quietly parked in there, getting out of the car as he followed me inside our house.

"Ashton?!" He called out my name when he saw me rushing upstairs. "Hello?! Where are you going-"

"Wait for me in the kitchen!" I yelled from my room.

"But-"

"Kitchen, now!"

I heard a loud sigh and a few footsteps while I searched my desk drawer.

He's going to be mad, that's for sure...

But at this point, I'm fucking stuck.

I took a deep breath before going back downstairs, soon joining Calum. He was just sitting on one of the four chairs, his leg repeatedly tapping the ground.

He looked at me with confusion in his eyes, eager for any word to come out of my mouth.

Come on, Ashton.

You can't keep this to yourself anymore.

"Here." I simply stated, throwing the notebook on the table.