on the other side • muke

t e n.

i want to crawl in a hole and die i fúcking hate parents. let's all keep our kids bottled up inside and only let them out when they need to be thrown into the back seat of a car and threatened to be dropped off at some prison or highway.

oh, but no, they're your parents you give them your full respect at all times and everything they say is what's best for you

michael tho

+

i hummed softly as the familiar sound of rain hit my windows. opening one eye, i bent down and grabbed a cigarette from the pack that was laying on the floor and lit it with a nearby lighter.

it's been a week since i last hung out with calum or ashton. i said i was sick and didn't want to infect them.

the only one that's going to be infected is you, you're sick in the head and that elf might make you fix a toy or something. not to mention that calum one, he looks like he hits the bongs in china for a living

i chuckled at the thought of calum being one of those bong hitting people.
but quickly shrugged it off as they were both my friends and i shouldn't be making fun of them behind my back. i took one last long drag of my cigarette before throwing it down and stepping it into the floor.

after making sure it was completely out, i walked to my kitchen and grabbed myself a glass of water. my eyes caught the now slightly darkened drenched wooden fence that was across from me. standing proud and tall it mocked me.

i wanted to know so badly who lived there, but the voices just told me no. or worse. i sighed and shut the blinds, not wanting to think about it too much. maybe taking a nap would clear my mind.

i agreed to the thought and went to my bedroom, plopping myself down on my new improved mattress and closing my eyes. at first nothing happened, but then i slowly snuggled my head into my cold pillow and fell asleep.

+a few months after the last dream

"god, i've been trying to fücking call you for half the year, luke, half the year. and now you call back?" lily practically screamed into the phone. i hadn't called her since i left that night.

"i-i'm sorry i didn't meant to." i lied. i looked around, getting awkward glances from people at the dirt covered boy at the pay phone. "is michael okay?"

"he's fine, well not really but how are you doing? where are you?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. michael was doing bad? i silently hoped he didn't start his old ways again.

but you do luke, don't think that way

shut the fuck up i'm on the phone

"i don't know, but i need to go. i have a long run to take." i said, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat.

i hated running, but i couldn't stay here forever. i had just stole from a nearby bank a couple hours away from here. i didn't exactly have the money for transportation and i'm sure they wouldn't mind lending me some money.

i refused to walk too, after the last time i got in someone's truck. i shifted uncomfortably at the feeling, trying to forget the thoughts like i've been doing for the past couple months. in all honesty, i hated this. i hated the way i ran away and i had no idea where i was going.

my thoughts snap from someone yelling into the phone.

"lucas robert hemmings if you fücking even think about hanging up this phone without telling me where you ar-"

i hung up the phone before she could finish.

keep her out of your life yeah? she's just going to tell michael where you are and we don't want that now so we, luke

most defiantly

"luke?"

i shot up from the couch, clutching my chest with wide eyes.

"calm down, it's just me." calum laughed. i shook my head and let my hands fall to my sides.

"how did you get in?"

"you forgot to lock your door."

i groaned and mentally face palmed, how could i forget that? i nodded slowly before rocking back and forth on my heels slowly.

"i was wondering if you wanted to hang out with me and ashton later?" he asked, a hopeful look in his eyes.

no.

"can't, i uhm, have to work." i told him. calum nodded in understanding. i took in his appearance for a second, noticing his baby blue raincoat and matching boots.

he's a smurf

i found out that he had a thing for skirts and all that stuff but didn't mind wearing boy clothes. i didn't care though, i found it slightly adorable. his hair was slightly damp due to the storm that still continued outside.

"i should get going before this gets any worse." calum told me, motioning to the heavy raining outside. i nodded and he made his way to the door. "oh, and lock your doors next time!"

i chuckled and nodded before saying goodbye. the door closed and i sighed, laying back down on my bed and sighing.

drink tonight, you know you want to forget

so i did.

+

"fuckfuckfuck fuck!" i groaned, getting up and rushing to the bathroom. i threw up half the alcohol i had last night and breathed heavily.

i don't even remember what i did but it was probably nothing as i woke up in my own bed. i brushed my teeth and decided i needed breakfast.

i lazily dug through my cabinets and pulled out some bread. toast would have to do for now. it seemed to have finally stopped raining and my eyes darted over to the clock. shít, i quickly left my toast to burn and darted off to get ready.

i threw on whatever i had on the floor considering i woke up in my boxers and headed out the door. my keys and phone were safely in my back pocket as i made my way up the steps to the store.

"you're always late." abbie chuckled. i rolled my eyes and fixed some of the shelves. "luke, it's fine. he's not going to care."

"but i care." i frowned. she scoffed and went back to playing on her phone. after fixing the shelves, i sighed and took her place behind the counter.

"just go, i can handle it." i smiled, in which she hesitated before getting up and walking out the door.

the day went by quickly to my luck, only having a couple customers. it was now almost eight and the store would close in only five minutes.

the little bell above the door went off snapping me from my gaze at staring at the floor.

"arctic monkeys?" the boy, who looked almost six asked. i nodded and pointed to the right shelves. he thanked me before rushing off and grabbing an album.

after he was done he gave me the money and left. i closed the store up, jamming the keys in the door to lock it. how could i lock a record store up, but not my own house?

because you're insane and insane people can't do those things

that's not true

then why wasn't your door locked?

because-

you're insane, i would take that asylum offer up if i were you

i blanked, stopping in my tracks under a street lamp that gave off a dirty yellow glow. what if they were right?

you're crazy luke, we're always right. just listen to us and everything will be okay

+

lmao i'm so mean

but who knows, maybe ashton •L• will talk to luke

if he can leave the house