A/N: lol the dude in the back who sees the camera and waves

ASHTON

I sit beside Michael at work, drumming on my knee and messing with the collar of my black button up. It's a slow day today and no guests have arrived yet, leaving all the employees in the break room trying to pass time.

Michael does a pretty well job at keeping everyone entertained enough, telling stories and cracking jokes, but I'm only half-listening. My mind is somewhere else, drifting apart from everything else in the room.

Ever since a few weeks ago with Calum's brochure, I can't get it out of my head that perhaps I shouldn't be a waiter during the years before I go to college. I haven't even thought about what I'll study once I get there. It's messed with my head, making my purpose here at the restaurant seem little to nothing. Even so, I can't seem to bear leaving, for whatever reason.

I hop off the table, gaining Michael's attention. The red haired boy looks at me. "Where are you going?"

"Just walking around," I mumble, leaving the break room. I slip around the corner and head into the dining area, still empty. My boss is in the corner, doing some paperwork on the bar table.

I'm about to turn back around and head into the back again but then the front door opens, and in walks Calum. He's dressed in his usual all black uniform, with his necklace still wrapped around his neck. He looks down at his feet as he walks towards the back, and I notice he looks a little paler than normal, like he hasn't slept much. I touch his arm as he passes, and he jumps in fright, looking up at me in alarm.

"Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you," I say hurriedly, and Calum's eyes soften. He gives me a smile.

"Hey, Ashton," he says softly.

I walk with him to the break room. "How was that Christmas party?"

Something in Calum's face changes, and he falters for a moment before walking again. He bites down on his lip before saying, "It was fine."

He looks down, and I glance at where he's looking, down at his hand. For a moment, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking at, and then I see it. And after I see it, I wonder how I ever could have missed it.

A ring is placed on Calum's left hand, fitting snugly on his finger. A diamond that could probably pay for my entire college tuition sits on the band, and it glistens in the light. My chest deflates, and it feels like someone has punched me in the stomach.

"Luke," is all I can think of to say.

"He proposed last night. At the party," Calum tells me. I can tell he's trying to hide the slight shock in his voice as he talks, and he plasters a smile on his face that I see right through.

"You said yes?" I say unhappily. I can't help it. I know how Luke is and I never knew that their relationship would have grown this far this fast. If I did, I would have fastened Calum in my car and drove him away before Luke had the chance.

"I did," Calum says, his voice lifting a bit. He looks me in the eye. "I'm happy. Luke is very excited."

I can't quite tell if Calum is telling the truth, but before I have time to question him on it, a very familiar figure walks in through the front door. I stiffen my jaw as Calum's boyfriend-- fiancé-- walks toward us. His chin is held high, a confident look in his eye as he smiles at us.

He doesn't look at all angry at me, which is even worse than if he was. He just throws his arm around Calum's frail shoulders and gives me a look that is almost smug. "Hello, Ashton."

I want to punch his smirk right off his face. "Hi, Luke."

"Did you hear the news? We're getting married," Luke says, joy clear in his voice. I know for sure that Luke is just as happy as he is letting on, but Calum isn't. One look at his wide brown eyes can tell me that.

"Calum told me," I say, flashing a forced smile. Luke squeezes Calum closer to him and Calum shifts uncomfortably. I rock back on my heels. "Well, I'll leave you two alone. I'm going to head on break, anyway."

"Nice talking to you," Luke calls as I turn away. I grit my teeth and keep walking, straight ahead until I walk out of the restaurant. My boss is fine with me leaving on a slow day, as long as it's only for a half hour or so.

I leave the restaurant, crossing my arms when a gust of cold wind hits my face. I hurry across the parking lot, feeling my cheeks flush from the chill. I unlock my car and get inside, starting it up and blasting the heat. The old car doesn't get warm very quick, but I do my best to get it as warm as possible.

I don't realize how upset I am until I'm driving across the highway to get to the hospital, my jaw clenching and my knuckles turning white from the grip on the wheel. I'm furious at fucking Luke for proposing when he knows very well that Calum will do anything he says out of pure fear of being hurt. It makes me want to go back into the restaurant and smash his head against the wall, but I know fighting won't fix anything.

A sinking feeling sits in my stomach at the thought that there isn't much I can do. Calum won't openly admit to anything Luke does because he believes he deserves it, and he for some reason loves Luke despite all the things he does. And Luke is way too respected in the community for people to easily believe anything I said, and Andy works for the government and apparently has all the police officers wrapped around his finger.

My head spins. I have the uncontrollable urge to protect Calum and get him away from his bastard of a fiancé, but it's proving difficult when not even the victim wants to part with the abuser.

I shake my head. I shouldn't be getting involved with this. I'm an adult who simply got a job at a restaurant until I can afford to go to college. I shouldn't be getting all worked up over other people's business.

I pull into the parking lot of the hospital, closing the door and locking it. I hurry into the building, walking past the rows and rows of seats in the waiting room, and I go straight for the stairs. I hurry up them, remembering vaguely when I brought Calum up here. Which leads me to remember how angry Luke was when we got back. I huff at the thought and keep going.

Once I reach the floor that my mum works at, I step into the landing and head over the the desk where she normally is if she isn't treating anyone. I breathe out in relief when I see her, writing something down on a clipboard around a few other nurses.

"Mum," I say, grabbing her attention. She looks up in surprise.

"Ashton," she says. "Are you okay? You look upset."

"I--" I stop, frustrated. "Can I talk to you? Just for a minute or two."

My mother seems to sense my frustration so she nods, putting down the clipboard and pencil and walking with me to an empty corner of the hallway.

She looks at me expectantly, crossing her arms.

I close my eyes. "This is going to sound ridiculous."

"I'm sure I've heard worse," my mother says, which is probably true.

I take a breath. "Okay. Calum-- Calum and Luke are engaged."

I expect my mother to be surprised, but instead she just nods. "I know."

"What do you mean you know?"

"Ashton, you've met Luke, haven't you? The Hemmings are very open about things like this. Word spreads," my mum says. I press my lips together.

"Luke isn't a good person, Mum," I say, my voice quieting. "He hurts Calum."

My mother's face falls a bit, but she doesn't look overly shocked. "I was wondering so. But Ashton, what are you planning on doing? This is an engaged couple. You can't break them up unless one of them wants to be broken up."

"Well, I can't just sit around and do nothing! I see Calum every single day, and he doesn't exactly look happy," I argue.

"Be friendly to him and try steer him in the right direction. Maybe all he needs is some courage to stand up to Luke," says my mum. She puts her hand on my shoulder and smiles. "And maybe you can give that to him."

I stare at her helplessly as she squeezes my hand and returns to work. I frown unhappily. I've tried giving him courage. So far, all he's done is deny anything bad of Luke and push me away.

I close my eyes and rub my hand over my face. I can still see Calum's ring in my mind and Luke's smug expression. I let out a long sigh, praying that I'll somehow be able to come up with something to protect Calum before it gets much worse.

---
A/N Hamilton came on shuffle while I was driving today and I got way too hype and nearly ran a stoplight

ALSO IDK IF YALL WATCH THE OLYMPICS BUT IF YOU DO can we take a moment to appreciate Nathan Adrian he is my love (plus he looks kinda like calum) <3

thanks for reading!! hope you liked it. please comment what you thought and vote maybe :)

I love u to the moon!

bye