Under the Sea ⇔ Cashton ✓

Tired Of Waiting For The Sunrise

"Ashton," Calum breathes out in relief. He grabs Ashton's hand before he knows what he's doing, squeezing it tightly as Ashton blinks up at Calum. His eyebrows pull together as he slowly sits up, lifting a hand to press against his forehead. He glances around.

"Calum," Ashton says, but his voice raises as though it were a question. He glances around him in surprise. "I'm-- the net. I got out."

"Calum got you out, actually," says a small voice behind Calum. They both turn around to see Luke, who has a smile spread over his face and a small green basket full of shells and sand. He puts it down and shoves some rocks inside to keep it down, then he rushes to Ashton's side. "I'm so glad you're awake! We were so worried."

Ashton accepts the tight hug from Luke, but he glances over at Calum, locking eyes with him. "Calum got me out?"

Luke pulls away so he can look at Ashton. "He did. He went up on the boat and convinced the fisherman to let him cut you loose!" Luke flashes a big smile at Calum. The dark haired boy smiles back softly, avoiding Ashton's eyes that continue to stare at him.

Calum slowly drifts away from the two of them, allowing them both to keep each other company as he swims in the other direction, off towards where he liked to go in the early mornings to watch the ocean grow lighter with the sunlight. He felt too overwhelmed from Ashton's eyes so earnest and intense on him, like he was being studied. He can never tell what Ashton's thinking.

Calum rests his back against the familiar rock and watches the distant ocean in front of him. He admires the sunlight filtering through the water vaguely, his eyes starting to close from exhaustion. He feels like he could sleep for eternity from all the things that have happened recently. From Ashton being caught in the net, to meeting his father for the first time in his life, it's enough to make him want to go to sleep in peace.

"They told me everything you did," says a voice. Calum turns around to find Ashton leaning against the rock, his deep hazel eyes staring at Calum. He blinks in surprise, squirming a little under his gaze. "I can't believe you did all that just to get that net loose."

"It's really nothing," Calum mumbles as Ashton swims closer. He avoids Ashton's soft gaze.

Ashton smiles. "It's definitely not nothing, Calum. Neptune, you must be exhausted from everything that happened. I mean, you met your father, Cal. That couldn't have been easy."

Calum shrugs apathetically. "I'm fine. It was really not a big deal."

Ashton shakes his head, laughing a little. "Even if you won't admit it, I know it was. I'm trying to say thank you, Calum. I can't thank you enough for what you did."

Calum glances up at that, widening his eyes a bit. Ashton doesn't say anything for a moment, just staring at Calum with a conflicted look on his face, and Calum is trying to figure out what it means right when darts forward, leaning in and pressing his lips against Calum's.

To say Calum was shocked is an understatement. He almost coughs in shock, but Ashton keeps his mouth moving against his, making Calum slowly give in to the kiss. Ashton carefully wraps his arms around Calum's waist, pulling him closer.

Calum could definitely use some more air by the time Ashton finally pulls away. His ears burn red as Ashton smiles softly at him, his hands still at his waist. Ashton suddenly realizes exactly what he's done and he lets go of Calum, moving back a little.

"I'm sorry," he says quickly. "I shouldn't have done that, I just--"

"It's okay," Calum interrupts. His cheeks are still flushed. "It's okay."

Ashton blinks at him for a moment longer before nodding slowly, moving carefully beside Calum. He presses his back beside Calum against the rock, their shoulders brushing. He stares off into the distance of the ocean alongside Calum.

Neither of them say anything about the kiss, but Calum's cheeks continue to flush pink. Ashton glances over at him and notices, smiling a little.

"Tell me about Michael," says Ashton, the gentle firmness back in his voice. Calum glances at him in surprise.

"Michael?" Calum repeats lamely.

"Yes," Ashton says. "You talked about him a lot before we came here. You haven't spoken about him since. Something happened between you two."

Calum furrows his eyebrows and crosses his arms. "I had to leave him. That's what happened. I chose the ocean over him."

Ashton raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'chose'?"

"I chose the ocean. I could either stay on land with him or stay here and I chose this," Calum repeats unhappily.

Ashton stares at him in bewilderment. "You can't be serious."

Calum groans. "I know. It's horrible."

"No, Calum. You didn't 'choose' anything. You do realize this was your only choice, right?" Ashton says, staring sympathetically at Calum's frowning face. "You couldn't have stayed on land. It's not healthy for you."

"I know! That's why I'm here."

"Does Michael know that?" Ashton asks. Calum falls silent. His throat starts to close, eyes watering. He slowly shakes his head, turning a bit so Ashton can't see his face.

Ashton sighs, leaning back against the rock wall. He doesn't say anything for a moment, letting Calum get himself together before talking again.

"Why don't you go see him again when we get back?" Ashton suggests. Calum looks up at him in surprise. Ashton just smiles. "We don't need to worry about the nets anymore, do we? You can go back and see him if you'd like. If you stay safe, of course."

Calum nods, mostly to himself, and turns to stare out into the ocean once again. "Okay. I'll go see him when we go back. I'll go see him."

Silence fills the water between them.

Then Ashton rolls toward Calum again and frowns. "I'm sorry for being so rough on you since you got here. I shouldn't have been so hard on you. I know this was difficult for you and I didn't make it any easier."

Calum shrugs, looking awfully small and tired against the blue backdrop. "It's fine."

"It's not. I'm a jerk. I know that," says Ashton, "and I'm sorry."

Ashton wraps an arm around Calum's shoulders and pulls him close, letting Calum press his nose into Ashton's neck, his arms wrapping around Ashton's bare torso. Ashton presses his lips against the top of Calum's head, then he rests his chin over Calum's dark hair. He feels guilty for being so hard on him. He didn't deserve it, and Ashton knows it.

But in all honesty, Calum couldn't care less. He's exhausted, he misses his best friend at home, and for whatever reason, he was just kissed by a beautiful man with deep hazel eyes. Despite the aching sorrow in his chest, he feels welcomed and loved inside Ashton's arms. And that's all that really matters.

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A/N: what we've all been waiting for :))))

hope you all enjoyed looking at all the new stories that will be coming soon! they've been sitting in my drafts for months and months so I decided to just let you all see them. bc why not

what book are you reading right now? do you have any recommendations??

im reading the heroes of olympus series currently and its amazing.

also my friend got me a shirt that has a lil cartoon drawing of newt from fantastic beasts on it and I think I shed a tear when I saw it

hope you have all been doing well. stick in there if you are in the final throws of exams. you can do it. and if you're on break, hope you're having a good time!!

thanks for reading this chapter. just a little more before this story is completed. I hope ya'll have enjoyed it so far.

i love you to the moon. bYE