on the other side • muke

t w e n t y.

i rubbed my eyes, slowly sitting up and looking around my half empty room. i didn't have much furniture still but i didn't mind. i looked at the clock and jumped, bolting to the bathroom and brushing my teeth before fixing my hair and getting dress.

i chose a simple pair of black skinny jeans and a white and black checkered flannel. i shoved my house keys in my back pocket along with my phone and slammed my front door behind me as i left.

as soon as the small store came in view i slowed down, trying to catch my breath as my hand clutched my stomach. i opened the door and walked in. the bell going off made abbie turn around.

"hey, you okay?" abbie asked curiously, i nodded. "fine, just running a bit late." i smiled and walked behind the counter.

"you can go home if you want, i'll cover for you." i told her and she nodded. abbie grabbed her purse that was sitting on the chair and smiled a thank you as she left.

the store was completely empty. i fixed a couple of cd's that were on the floor but got bored again and ended up rearranging all the shelves in alphabetical order.

what? they bothered me.

i plopped myself down in the uncomfortable brown chair behind the counter and closed my eyes. everything felt at peace until someone reminded me i forgot to take my pills this morning.

oh luke, don't you know what'll happen?

+

"are you guys open?"

the familiar voice had me out of my seat. the guy stumbled back a little, putting his hands up in defense. a smiles tugged at my lips as i looked up at the now silver-ish blonde hair. it's been almost a month since i've seen him again.

"yeah- of course, do you need anything?" i asked. i took in every inch of this guys face, who seemed to be uncomfortable under my stare.

"n-no, are you okay? you're kind of uhm-creeping me out?" he said, i leaned back onto my heels and clapped my hands together.

he had a small stubble that made him look a bit older. and at the same time, made my knees go weak because he looked so much like-

you don't even know his name

"right, well, i'm going to close up the store so could you leave?" i asked, the smile falling from my face a little. i hated when they talked to me, it was annoying and i just wanted to be left alone with- this guy.

"it's only four." he said, playing with his thumbs and gazing down at the floor.

"right." i mumbled to myself. we stood in an awkward silence. his hands tapped the counter softly to an unknown beat.

"so," i said quietly. "what's your name?"

his eyes widened and he stepped back a little. did i do something wrong? i've never met him before how cou-

"i should get going, maybe another time?" he smiled. i shook my head no.

"can you at least just say your name before you leave?" i pleaded. he was already at the door, his hand holding it open just a crack. i bit my bottom lip nervously waiting for an answer.

"it's michael, my name is michael."

michael? it's not my michael. i mean, not my- just- it's not michael. he left after that, and i was alone with the voices.

luke

what

i think it's time you get a little light headed, don't you think?

what?

my eyes closed, my body slowly falling apart as i fell to the floor. my head hit the chair making me scream out in pain.

don't worry, you'll forget about it soon

the last thing i heard was the little bell above the door going off.

+

calum and ashton were standing in front of me when i woke up. "thank the fuckin.g lord." ashton breathed when i opened my eyes fully.

"how are you feeling?" calum asked. my throat felt dry, i reached my hand over to grab the small paper cup that was by my bed before downing it and placing it back down.

"i don't know, everything hurts." i told him. he nodded in understanding as a doctor came in.

"oh." he smiled. he placed his clipboard down on the small white table next to me and took his glasses off. "how are you feeling?"

how many times am i going to answer this question?

"i'm fine, just a bit of pain."

"well i'm doctor sade, are these your-?"

"friends." i finished. he nodded and picked his clipboard back up. "it took a lot to let them in here, luke." he chuckled fondly and i nodded.

i looked up to see calum biting his lip nervously, ashton mumbling some things to himself. what was going on? i rubbed the back of my head softly, the rough texture of the bandages making me pull my hand away in discomfort.

why am i in the hospital?

you don't remember? that's good

don't remember what?

before i could get an answer from the voices they stopped and the doctor started speaking. "a boy with silver-ish blonde hair brought you in, under the name michael-" he stopped himself and flipped through a couple pages on his clipboard. "clifford? do you know him?"

time do go back to sleep don't you think? because i do

+

this was a shitty ending but ehheehheheehe

also luke was so dazed he had no control over them okay? so don't you be correcting me on my writing