"you're in a coma, okay?!"

i don't even know how to respond, so i just kinda stand their, awkwardly. "what?" i ask, confused as to what she just said.

"you're- god, how do i even begin to explain this?" she mumbles, running her hands through her hair. she looks at me and smiles, but it's not genuine. she's nervous. "you're...asleep, ashton. this- us- everything...it isn't real."

"alright, charlie." i chuckle, putting my arm around her shoulder, "how about you go get some sleep aaand-"

"ashton, i'm serious!" she interupts, looking quite annoyed and throwing my arm away from her shoulder.

"are you on drugs, charlie?"

"what? no-"

"meth? coke? whatever it is, i can help you-"

"look, just let me explain and then you can make fun of me, okay? you don't even have to believe me. it'd be nice and a lot easier if you did, but you don't have to!" she asks, and i don't aruge. i'm really interested in the bullshit story she's about to make up.

"fine. it's a boring day, anyway." i reply. she nods, rolling her eyes in the process. she sits me down on the floor of the living room, crossing her legs, just making herself comfortable. she then takes a deep breath, holding my hands in hers, making me really uncomfortable, and begins to explain.

+

luke's pov.

michael is asleep; he's taking a nap in his room. calum went out to get dinner.

perfect.

i don't even bother to turn off the t.v, i just slip on my shoes and quickly, but quietly, make my way out the door and i don't even think about it before i run over to ashton's door and knock on it. after so many knocks that i actually lose count, the door opens, exposing the curly haired boy i've missed so much. a smile comes onto his face and before i even realize it, he's hugging me. his hands grasp the back of my shirt so tightly. like if he lets go i'll disappear. i don't hesitate to hug him back just a much. i hum with happiness as i hear him sniffle. i close my eyes and smile.

"i've missed you." i say into the crook of his neck. he chuckles, but doesn't pull away.

"i missed you. where did you go, oh my god." he asks, hugging me even tighter, if that's possible.

we're interrupted by someone coughing a bit too loud, making ashton pull away quickly and avoid all eye contact with me as he stares at the floor and fumbles with his hands, smiling like a dumbass.

"nice to see you, luke." a feminine voice says. charlie. oh, ok.

"charlie? long time no see." i smile, sarcasticlly. "how have you been? any kids? married? a farm?"

"some pigs?" ashton adds in, earning a glare and an eye roll from charlie but a smile from me.

"ha ha ha very funny." she spats, crossing her arms, "actually, i was just telling my good friend ashton here how he's in a coma."

"yeah, luke, i'm in a coma!" he giggles, but my heart almost completely stops. charlie, what the fuck are you doing?!

play it cool, luke.

"in a coma? really, charlie? are you that bored?" i give her a smug look but my eyes are begging her not to say anything.

"that's what i said!" ashton chuckles, "here, come in." he pulls me inside and shuts the door behind me. i take in the familiar surroundings; the kitchen is a bit dirtier than i remember, though.

"she was just about to explain to me how i'm 'in a coma.'" he giggles once again, adding air quotes with his hands when he says in a coma. i try my best to play along and pretend that charlie is just insane but in reality, my hearts beating a mile a minute and i really don't know how i'm not on the floor crying and panicking right about now. kinda proud of myself for being so collected, honestly.

"okay, charlie. let's hear it." i chuckle, walking into ashton's oh so familiar living room and sitting on his blow up mattress that is a bit deflated. i look up at charlie who refuses to sit down, then at ashton who happily sits next to me. quite close, i might add. wink wink.

"i don't know, luke. you know more about this than i do, why don't you explain?" she smirks, crossing her arms once again. i swear, my heart jumps out of chest. but, i just do my best to play it cool.

"nah, i'm pretty sure you got this, charlie, go ahead." i give her a thumbs up, trying to make my tone as sarcastic as possible. she sends me a glare, but to my complete horror, she tells him the truth. about everything.

"this isn't real, ashton. you made it up. we're all basically a figure of your imagination. in the year two thousand and fourteen you were in an accident; don't ask me what the accident was, i'm the part of your brain that can't remember. i do know that you're twenty three, though. it's two thousand and seventeen now. harry, your brother, he's in high school, i believe. and lauren is graduating next week. speaking of that, michael is the part of your brain that remembers everything. but you barely talk to him, meaning you don't remember much. calum is the part of your brain that doesn't want you to wake up, and can't store memories in his brain. that's why you spend so much time with him. you can't remember. and luke, well, he stands for your worst memories. your accident. your cause for being in a coma. your heartbreak."

"stop." i blurt, tears filling my vision. but she just continues.

"we all stand for something. this house, your job, your family, the dreams-"

"y-you know about my dreams?" ashton asks, looking horrified. charlie nods.

"of course i do. everyone does. it's a part of waking up."

"what does my job stand for?" ashton asks, tears falling down his cheeks.

"luke, your boyfriend in real life, used to work at a record store. but he quit." charlie answers.

"l-luke?" he looks over at me, such curiosity in his eyes. i just nod, and he looks back at charlie. "he's my boyfriend?"

charlie nods. "three years strong, you two. you really love each other." she smiles, and that only makes me cry more. but ashton smiles.

"and...and my house?"

"you and luke live here. i really don't know why you chose to sleep on a blow up mattress, but it's your brain, not mine." she shrugs.

"you're...you're serious, aren't you?" he asks after a couple seconds. charlie chuckles, nodding and leaning down to ashtons level.

"one hundred percent." she says, and ashton nods.

"so, i made you guys up? you aren't real?" ashton slumps, fumbling with his hands.

"oh, honey, we're real. we're your friends in the real world. we visit you every week. those are what those dreams are; you're hearing us. but your brain just couldn't process all of it in the beginning, so you made up your own little world. we're just kinda like the main characters. michael was your best friend and he lived down the street. calum was also your best friend, but he lived across the street. and luke simply used to live next door. which explains why he does in this world." charlie replies.

"that's...awesome." he chuckles, "but i have one question." ashton says, turning to me and glancing at charlie.

"anything." i answer, putting my arm around his waist.

he bites his lip, hesitating a bit, and wiping some of his tears off his cheeks, sniffing here and there, but soon asks, "how do i wake up?"

+

- haley.