Social Casualty

Luke*
2015
Have you ever felt like you are being crushed under the pressure? Have you ever felt that someone doesn’t want you? Have you ever felt like people want to crush you? This is bad but have you ever actually experienced them? Because I have. I have been crushed under the pressure. The pressure of everything. School, my brothers, the feeling that I need to be perfect. I’ve been told that I’m not wanted. Reign has said it straight to my face. We fought and she knew the truth so she told me. People have wanted to crush me. And they have. They’ve called me stupid and have tried to hurt me. Physically.
They couldn’t have though. No one can. Not anymore. The pain is just numb. I don’t feel it anymore. Everyone thinks that “popular” people have the perfect life. They misunderstand everything they see about me. I put a smile on my face, for my family, my friends, for Reign. I’m being crushed from the inside. I was depressed for a long time. I’m over it. I tried to be anorexic. Tried. It’s hard. Life is hard.
“Luke?” I hear a voice ask. I turn to see Adelaide, Reign’s best friend.
“What?” I snap.
“She didn’t mean it. Any of it. She says that she’s sorry,” Adelaide walks over and looks at me. I fought with Reign. Again.
“She didn’t mean that? Wow. She said that no one loves me and no one ever will, Adelaide. How does she expect me to forgive her after she said that about me?”
Adelaide lays her hand on my shoulder. “I don’t know, Luke. But I do know that she’s sorry. She never meant to fight with you.”
I roll my eyes. “This is always what happens. We fight. We make up. I’m tired of it. I don’t know if I can forgive her again.”
“You can’t blame her all the time, Luke. You do it sometimes,” Adelaide says, like I’m crazy for blaming Reign.
“I know that. Adelaide, I just need time to think. Can you understand that?”
“Yes. Luke, just…can I tell you something?”
“Of course,” I answer quickly.
“When I was young, my grandfather used to say, ‘Sometimes the hardest decision is the right decision.’ I just want you to remember that. Don’t make the wrong decision just because it’s easier.”
“Adelaide, you don’t understand how hard this is,” I say.
“Seriously, Luke? You think I don’t f*cking understand? Do you know how hard it is for me when Calum is gone? When Ashton’s gone?” she shouts.
“Calm down. I’m sorry. I don’t know if I can do this anymore though. She’s just so controlling.”
“Well, do you still love her?”
“I’ll always love her, Addy,” I say. “I just don’t know if she’ll always love me. I mean, did you see her? With him?” I ask, tears welling in my eyes.
Addy chokes on her tears. “Luke…I…I. Yes. I told her to stop. I swear, I did. I knew it would hurt you. She said she needed love. She said that you didn’t love her. That he did.”
“That’s f*cking sick,” I say, collapsing on the floor. I hold my face in my hands, thinking about what I saw. I can’t believe she kissed him. Adelaide sits beside me and wraps her arms around me.
“I know. I told her that I was done for some time. I knew she needs to think as well so I’m done with her for now. It’s tearing me apart though, Luke.”
“Me too,” I say.
“I love you, Luke,” she says.
“Love you too, Addy,” I say. We’ve always been close in that way. Saying I love you without meaning that we’re dating.

*Adelaide*

I walk into Calum’s bedroom at Reign’s house. “Cal?” I say as I break down into tears. He sits at his computer. When he hears me, he turns around.
“What is it, baby?” he says, standing up. I collapse into his arms and sob.
“I can’t do it anymore.”
“Do what?” He carries me, bridal-style, to his bed and holds me in his arms.
“Reign. She’s ruining me. And Luke. She’s ruining us,” I sob.
“Shhh, baby, it’s gonna be okay. She’s going through a tough time. We all are. I’ll fix it. I promise.” He kisses my forehead. “It’s late. You should be in bed.”
“What were you doing on your computer?”
“N-nothing, Addy,” he says, laying down beside me on the bed. He wraps his arms around me and whispers in my ear.
“It’ll be okay. I’m still here. I’m not leaving you. Never. Don’t worry.” He kisses my cheek.
I stare at his MMXII tattoo and lightly touch my fingers to it. He smiles. I grab his arm to study his other tattoos. I pull my shirt back a little bit and show him my tattoo. Ashton’s name. I also show him my tattoo on my hand, C. T. H. Calum Thomas Hood.
He kisses my hand and stares at it.
“I love you so much, Addy.”
“I love you too, Cal.”
I hear him singing Stay With Me by Sam Smith before I fall asleep in his arms.

*Ashton*

“What the h*ll are you doing, Michael?” I say. He’s doing some kind of weird dance. Amber and Hayley are on the floor, laughing.
“I made up a new dance. It’s called ‘We’re already f*cking crazy Australians so why not make up a weird dance’.”
“That’s a long title,” I say.
“So?”
“So, one, it’s stupid, and two, this is how you dance.” I grab the remote to the radio and turn on Light Em Up by Fall Out Boy.
I start doing ballerina twirls across the floor. I fall over dizzy and dying from laughter. Michael shakes his head.
“Amateur,” he says.
“Whatever, you just don’t know how to dance,” I say.
“I think you don’t know how to dance, Ash,” Amber says.
“Let’s have a dance-off then,” I say, excited. “Hayley, you have to dance with me!” I say.
“Ash!” she whines. “I hate dancing!”
“Please!” I look at her with sad puppy eyes.
“Ugh, fine.”
“Yes!” I shout.
“Shut up, Ashton! It’s four in the morning. What the h*ll are you doing?” Calum walks in and says. Adelaide trails after him.
“Hey, Addy,” I say. She gives me a small wave.
“We’re having a dance-off. Duh,” Michael says like it’s the most normal thing to do at four in the morning.
“Well shut up. We’re trying to sleep and blasting Fall Out Boy does not help.”
Michael flips him off. “Well, sorry,” I say in my best sassy, girly voice. “We didn’t realize that Ms. Calum needed her beauty sleep. We’ll be quiet because Ms. Calum gets everything she wants.” Hayley laughs.
“You guys are f*cking idiots,” he says, before walking off, Addy behind him.
“Back to our dance-off,” Michael says. “What should we dance to?”
“Uptown Funk!” I shout.
Michael turns it on and I scream the lyrics as loud as possible.
“Gotta kiss myself. I’m so pretty,” I blow a kiss. “I’m too hot. Hot d*mn. Call the police and the firemen. I’m too hot. Hot d*mn. Make a dragon want a retirement. I’m too hot. Hot d*mn. Say my name. You know who I am. I’m too hot. Hot d*mn.”
“You sound like a f*cking little girl singing,” Michael comments.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Hayley says.
“You’re supposed to be on my side!” I say.
“Sorry, babe. I’m on Michael’s side for this.”
“SHUT THE F*CK UP!” Calum screams from his room.
“Jeez, talk about rude,” I say.
“What do you expect?” Amber says.
“I don’t know, he could be nice once in a while. That won’t ever happen though. He’s just an old grouch except when it comes to Addy and Reign.”
“He’s so weird,” Hayley says.
“Wanna play video games, Ash?” Michael asks.
“Sure, Halo?”
“Yeah.” I plop down on the couch while he turns the T.V. on. The girls sit down to watch us.
He hands me a controller.
“Get ready to be owned,” he says.
“You wish.”

Notes

Hope you like it!
-Emily x