"What are you guys watchin'?" I ask groggily as I shuffle into the lounge room in nothing but boxers and one of Michael's sweaters.
There is a moment of silence before Ashton says "If I Stay".
"Why does that sound familiar?" I ask in confusion as I flop down onto the couch beside Calum.
Again... Another moment of silence.
"It's about a girl-" Ashton mumbles.
"As are a lot of movies" I say quietly.
"Who ends up in a coma" Ashton finishes awkwardly.
"Oh" I choke out.
They are watching a movie about someone who ends up in a coma... WHILE MICHAEL IS IN A FUCKING COMA?!?!
"Bad movie choice" Calum says nervously, "I'll turn it off".
"No" I say, stopping him as he tries to stand up, "It's okay". Calum hesitates before leaning back against Ashton again.
"You sure?" Ashton questions me curiously.
"Yeah" I say in uncertainty, bringing my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.
I'm not sure who is who in this movie, but I take it that the older couple talking to the girl, who is unconscious in the ICU, are her grandparents. Her grandpa just told her it's okay to let go, I think, I'm not really paying attention.
"She wakes up" I announce after a few minutes.
"Spoiler alert" Ashton mumbles, dismissing my comment, "How would you even know?".
"Are you kidding me?" I say in annoyance, "It's such a cliché movie, they aren't going to have her not wake up, that would be too realistic".
"Realistic?" Ashton asks, raising an eyebrow as he glances over at me.
"I'm talking about Michael" I mumble, "It's been months, he hasn't just woken up, but this girl-".
"Mia" Calum interjects.
"Mia, is going to wake up, it's obvious" I mutter.
"Do you know how she ended up in a coma?" Ashton questions me.
"No" I reply.
"The same way as Michael" he tells me, "A car accident".
"Oh" I say quietly, looking down at my sweater paws in my lap.
For what reason, I have no idea, I remain where I am and watch the remainder of the movie.
As the movie finishes, something sparks in my mind, and though I can tell it's a stupid idea, I need to act on it.
"Luke, it's just a movie" Ashton says in a sad & sympathetic tone as he stares up at me after I had jumped to my feet, announcing my brilliant idea.
"But I need to try it" I say desperately, "Maybe it's not such a stupid idea".
"Luke-" Ashton sighs.
"Please!" I beg.
There is a moment of silence while Calum & Ashton exchange a look. "You know we can't go right now, we have to call the hospital and make sure it's okay" Ashton reminds me.
"Yes, I know! But-" I reply before he cuts me off.
"If you go have a shower and get cleaned up, I will call the hospital and if it's okay to go see Michael, we will, and then we will go get food" he tells me.
"Fine" I agree, "Thank you!".
*Later*
"I still think that this isn't going to work" Ashton mumbles as we walk into Michael's room in the ICU.
"Have a little faith" I say nervously, my eyes glued to Michael.
"I don't think it's going to wake him up" Calum says quietly, "But I do think it's going to help him".
"That's good enough for me" I say as I pull Michael's iPod out of my jacket pocket and start untangling his headphones.
"How?" Ashton asks Calum in confusion.
"You heard the doctors- the real ones, not the movie ones- hearing familiar voices can sometimes help comatose patients wake up" Calum explains, "Why wouldn't the patients favourite music help as well?".
"I guess, okay, I get it now" Ashton admits.
I give Ashton a small I-told-you-so smile and gently put Michael's headphones into his ears before picking a random band Michael loves- All Time Low- and setting his iPod down beside him, I then pull a chair closer to the bed so I can sit down.
Half an hour, that's how long we sat there with Michael, just hoping that the music was helping.
"Come on, Luke" Ashton says reluctantly, "You haven't eaten in hours, let's go".
"I don't want to leave him" I choke out, secretly disappointed he didn't wake up.
"We can come back tomorrow, I promise" he whispers, slowly helping me to my feet.
I just stare at Michael for a few more seconds before leaning down and giving him a kiss on the forehead. I pull his headphones out and wrap them around his iPod.
"Love you, Mikey, see you tomorrow" I say softly, shoving his iPod back into my jacket pocket before letting Ashton & Calum lead me out after saying bye to Michael themselves.
YOU ARE READING
Stay With Me (Muke)
Random"I didn't want to believe what I was hearing when Ashton called me, crying his eyes out about what had happened to you... But you're going to be okay, I know you will... Because I need you... I need you to stay with me"
