Sorry for the wait on the update. Just, personal things going on, school, etc. It's really making me lose energy to write lately to the point where I want to quite. But I won't. The updates will just come slower. I guess it's better than not updating at all, right?

I know some of you find this story funny bc of what happened with the last chapter, but honestly it's not meant to be a funny story. It's supposed to be dealing with serious issues that teenagers actually go through including myself. Sure, I'll add the funny bit here and there bc I like a bit of humour to my stories as well as keeping them dark, dramatic & tragic (lol that rhymed). So yeah. Thought I'd let you know.

Anyway, enjoy!

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Guest: I'd tell you the name of the story, but you're not logged into your account haha. & I don't fancy having to post it on here in case they see even though they already know bc I called them out haha.

Disclaimer: I do not own R5, The Vamps or 5 Seconds Of Summer, all rights go to Hollywood, Mercury/Virgin EMI & Capitol Records!

Chapter 2
Life Problems

When the support group had finally finished, everyone was more than relieved.

Even Riker himself was and he use to enjoy doing this more than anything. But, you know... After running a support group for more than three years and having teenagers who stay for only six months, who you get close too, and in the end they either leave because they got better (which rarely seems to happen here), left because they were moving away from LA or they killed themselves because no matter what Riker did it just wouldn't help them. And after a while of doing and putting up with that, it gets boring and depressing after a while.

But this group of people, Ross, Brad, Ellington, Ashton, Luke, Savannah and Alexa, seem like fixable people.

He knows that he's said that about previous people who have gone and killed themselves, but all you have to do is look at their situation and think of simple ways to fix it.

Lets start with Ellington.

He's got problems at home with his parents because they keep on fighting and he gets ignored by them for the majority of the time like it's his fault. He is old enough to move out and get his own place, but he's too scared to incase his parents forget about him completely. But he doesn't have many friends, and even the friends he does have they'll always pick someone else over him. He's basically like the rebound if any of his friends fall out with one another. And all he has to do is find the right friends and right people that will hopefully make him happy and motivate him to do stuff without being scared of his parents reactions – or he could just knock his parents into some sense, it would be far more easier.

Riker would describe other people's situations, but he can only describe Ellington and Ashton's and find solutions to fixing them. As for Brad, Ross and Luke, he has yet to find solutions for them as well as find out more about what's wrong with them. It's going to be more difficult with Luke because when he got sent the paper from whoever it was that sent it for Luke, they didn't put down his reasons for being depressed they said just to go easy on him and he might open up. Might.

Because apparently it took him a very long time to open up to his friend Michael.

Ashton's situation is probably the easiest to fix out of everyone. It has to be.

2 months ago someone he loved very, very, very much died in a car crash, and Ashton blames himself for it even though he wasn't actually in the car with Calum when it happened. Apparently, they had been dating since they were about 16 or 17 – and Ashton's 20 now, so that is a very long and good time. Riker can understand why he's so upset and broken about it. But Riker's solution, like everyone else's, is to find the right person for him that will make him forget about what happened 2 months ago, get over it and go back to being the happy and cheery Ashton he was before all that.

At least that's what his Mom said he was like when Riker met her.

Riker doesn't think Ashton will be here for the whole 6 months, he reckons that Ashton will find someone to move on with or find someone who will help him forget about Calum and he'll be out of here and better in no time. Riker gives it about, 4 months at the most. 3 at the least.

But hey, time can only tell. Riker doesn't have a crystal ball he can look into and see what the future holds for each and every individual that sits in this room. He wishes he did. That way he could save himself from whatever heartbreak he would have to witness between these people in the next few months.

When the group had finished, Ross hung back a little bit whilst everyone else left. Once everyone was out the door he left slowly, walking behind them as they all walked down the hallway. They weren't walking or talking together. The only people who were talking were Ellington and Ashton but they weren't talking a whole lot, they were just asking how one another was getting home. Luke and Brad were being anti-social towards them.

Though Ross is basically being anti-social now by choosing not to walk with them.

But it's not his fault. Having an anxiety disorder makes you really uncomfortable and scared around people, no matter how big the group of people. It could be two people and he would be cowering like a dog in the corner. That anxiety makes him depressed too so that doesn't help. He doesn't even know when it started. One minute he was happy with his friends and boom. Here he is now. An anti-social freak who's only wish is to die basically. And if it wasn't for his sister Rydel being around, he probably would have been dead by now.

When Ross got outside he expected to see them all leaving the car parking lot of this place in some direction, but they weren't. They were stood outside like they were waiting on something. Ross looked around nervously for Rydel to see if she was anywhere in the car park to pick him up, but he couldn't see her. Ross sighed as he knew this meant he had to wait on his own.

He glanced over to where they were stood and went over to the bench that was a short distance away and sat on it. He lifted up his head and discretely watched as Ashton left and Ellington going over to his car and getting into it. Ellington threw Ross a smile as he done so which left Ross feeling uncomfortable, so he looked away so that Ellington couldn't see him. He waited till he heard Ellington's car drive off before he looked up, seeing Savannah leaving too.

Which meant Brad and Luke were still here somewhere, or they had gone and Ross hadn't noticed.

Ross looked up to see if Rydel had pulled up or was coming into the car park, but he almost jumped out of his skin when he saw Luke in front of him looking down at him. "Don't you go to my school?" Luke asked, slightly suspicious.

Ross knew that he, Luke and Brad went to the same school as each other (and he was definitely not expecting them to be here) because he's seen them around. But he hardly see's Luke around because he doesn't bother to show up half the time, which probably has something to do with his 'depression'. Ross shrugged and looked down again, pretending to play on his phone as he took it out of his pocket "I-I don't know..." Ross said nervously.

"We do. I know we do. You probably don't know because I'm never there," Luke said, still looking down at him. He knew fine well Ross was pretending to play on his phone to avoid a conversation with him. Luke coughed to try get his attention so he would look up "Or maybe it's because you're always hiding and cowering in the corner away from everyone when I'm there," Luke said harshly, starting to get annoyed that Ross wasn't engaging in any conversation what so ever "dude, I know you're pretending to play on your phone. Put it away."

Ross sighed and put his phone back into his pocket and looked back up at Luke, not saying a word to him. Luke smiled in satisfaction a little bit "That's better. Don't act scared with me. It's not like I'm going to tell people from school you're here. I barely talk to anybody at school, and even if I did tell people they'd connect the dots and figure out that I go here too and I'd get questioned and well... you get my point," Luke explained with a sigh "yeah. It wasn't my choice to come here. I was forced to by my brother and my best friend. My only friend, really. I'm taking it you were forced, too?" he asked.

Ross nodded. Luke rolled his eyes "You can talk you know. It won't hurt. I know I sound insensitive towards you when I shouldn't but..." Luke shrugged "so, who were you forced by?" he asked.

"My sister. She was supposed to be here to pick me up but, she's not..."

"Was she that worried about you that she sent you here?" Luke asked, Ross nodded "eh, same here. Except with Jack and Michael. They were deeply concerned—but whatever, I won't go into detail. It's not exactly something you wanna hear."

Ross went to go say something but stopped, Luke noticed and stood there waiting for him to say what he was going to say. "I... I heard you talking to Ashton, if that's his name..." Ross said, reluctantly, nervously and quietly "I heard you tried to kill yourself but got caught."

Luke lifted his hands like he was weighing something out "Getting caught, failed attempt... same thing." he dropped his arms down to his side.

"Is what you're going through that bad?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Well... I'm sorry. I won't ask you what's it's about just... I'm sorry for you having to go through whatever you're going through. Whatever you get my point." Ross said, putting his head into his hands. He fucked that up. At least he thinks he did.

Luke nodded "Yeah, everyone is who knows about it," he said, becoming sadder suddenly and swinging his arms a little bit "but it doesn't matter. I'll see you next week. Probably." he didn't say anything else to Ross, he gave him a small smile and quickly walked off.

Ross watched as Luke walked off, not being quite sure of what was exactly wrong with Luke and why he is depressed. He had a couple of ideas, but he thinks they're way off. Maybe. He looked back in front of him where he saw Rydel's car parked up and she had her window rolled down, looking at him. Ross sighed and walked over to the car, getting in at the passenger side.

Rydel turned her head from the window seconds after Ross had gotten into the car "Who was that?" Rydel asked, with a smile on her face and gently.

Ross shrugged, putting on his seat belt "Some guy from my school called Luke," Ross told her "he's never at school. I was surprised he was there. There's someone else from our school there too, Brad he's called. But yeah. I'll explain more when I get home." he said to her. Rydel is the only person he can actually talk to without being nervous or scared. She's the only person he can be himself around. He can barely be himself around his parents.

Rydel pulled away from the car park and started to drive home "So, are they new friends? I mean, I'm taking it you made new friends. Did you?" Rydel asked, starting to bomb bard him with questions. She didn't mean to. It was just she wanted her baby brother to be happy again and have friends that were nice to him and he could rely on. Unlike others that he's had in the past.

Again Ross shrugged "I don't know. They're mainly guys in there. There's two girls but one of them's not there because apparently she tried to kill herself. That would be Alexa. Savannah's the girl who was there today. Ashton... seems like... I don't know. He seems nice. But he's been through a lot as I over heard. Brad, I haven't really talked too.. Luke seems okay I suppose. Savannah does too. But there's another guy called Ellington and he makes me feel really uncomfortable."

"What do you mean? Do I have to turn this car around and go kick his ass?" Rydel asked, starting to feel slightly protective – which is something she had been doing a lot lately.

"Calm down Rydel, he isn't being mean. He's just... he's bi sexual... and... he kinda started flirting with me and... I didn't know what to do but sit there like a duck."

Rydel smiled "Awe. That's sweet. Is he attractive?"

"Rydel! I'm not gay! I'm not bi! I'm straight."

Rydel shrugged "Alright, I'm only asking. But don't think this is over. We will talk more about this when we get home."

"Trust me, I know."

Lonely wasn't even the word to describe his feelings every time he came back to the apartment.

For 2 months now ever since Ashton had been going out and coming home to what use to be his and Calum's apartment, he'd walk through the door and expect him to be sat watching TV, passed out on the couch or passed out in bed. Or just in the apartment doing something like he usually did. But no.

He would walk in and it would be complete silence. Nothing. The only noise you would be able to hear is the footsteps on the hallway of people walking about. Nothing more. Unless Ashton hadn't switched off the taps properly and they were dripping. But even when the taps were dripping Ashton would get his hopes up too much that he was imagining things and Calum wasn't really dead.

It sucked and hurt so much.

And if it wasn't for the fact his Mom and Lauren, his sister, came round almost every day to check on him and make sure he's okay and doing fine – Ashton would have really let himself go by now, the place would be a mess and he probably would have hung himself off the nearest tree. Or swallowed a bottle or 2 of pills, just so he could be with Calum again.

He'd be lying if he said he hasn't tried. He tried an overdose on pills but he ended up throwing them up which was basically someone's way, Calum, of saying Nope. That, and Lauren kinda caught him and with her being younger than he is she told his Mom and well... That's why he ended up in that support group.

One day though. One day that failed attempt might not be a failed attempt.

When he got into the apartment he went straight into the bedroom he use to share with Calum. Ashton collapsed onto the bed and sighed. He wasn't even lying correctly on the bed, he just fell into the middle of it and decided to lay across it. Because what's the point of doing anything right any more when nothing is going right?

Wow he's a mess.

Ashton sighed and looked over to the bedside table where there was a photo frame facing down so you couldn't see the picture. He lifted himself up on the bed a little and grabbed it, taking a look to see it was a picture of him and Calum from about a year ago. He smiled a little looking down at it, remembering how happy and perfect everything was back then. He stroked the glass on the photo frame of it for a little while, staring at it, before tears started to form in his eyes "I'm sorry," he whispered, beginning to hug the picture "I'm so sorry." he whispered again, this time with tears falling.

Luke decided to take the long way home (a/n: lol accidental puns) after leaving the support group, as he didn't really want to go home. Sure, there was nothing bad awaiting him at home. After all, he lived with a very loving and caring brother along with his best friend Michael after Jack had decided it would be a good idea if Michael would live them as well just so it's more support for Luke as he's the only other person in the world who knows everything about him pretty much.

He just didn't want to go home because he didn't want to be suffocated with questions from them both about how he's been feeling today, if everything went okay etc, etc. Don't get him wrong he loves them both to pieces and he appreciates everything they've done for him, but lately he's been getting so stressed out.

And it's only been 3 months ever since what he was going through stopped happening for good. But it still haunts him and follows him everywhere he goes which isn't nice. The poor guy has nightmares about it every night. That's not normal for an 18 year-old.

Is it?

He stood outside the door of the house they lived in and stared at it for a moment. He had his sleeves pulled over his hands because it was cold, and it was a really bad habit he was making. Luke pushed the door open, deciding not to put off going inside any longer, and shut it when he got inside. He knew that Jack and Michael were both there stood behind him as he faced the door, but he didn't want to turn round and face them.

It was like as soon as he stepped inside this house he became an angry, irritated, emotional (mainly that) wreck. He breathed deeply. "Luke..?" Jack asked, calmly and gently "are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Luke said, obviously on the urge of breaking down emotionally or angrily. And also lying. He was not okay. He was far from okay and they knew that.

"How did today go? Was it okay? Did it help?" Michael asked, trying to be gentle too. But sometimes he could say the wrong thing and it would set Luke off. But hey, that's Michael Clifford for you ladies and gentlemen.

Luke came off the door and turned around, facing them "No. It did not help. It's not going to help no matter how many times you want to send me to the place." Luke said, his voice starting to shake with sadness a little. He didn't know if he was going to be angry or cry. Maybe he was going to do both.

"Hey, we only made you go for your own good. We don't want you trying to hang yourself again." Jack said.

Luke shrugged "Do it. Let me do it," he said, making his way towards the stairs as his voice completely broke "least that's one less person in the world you have to worry about."

Michael reached out for his arm to try get him back so that he could talk to him nicely in some way or give him comfort before he broke down for the 5th time this week (baring in mind it's only Wednesday) "Luke—"

Luke pushed Michael away from him as soon as he touched his arm "Don't fucking touch me." he snapped before running upstairs and slamming his bedroom door shut.

Once he slammed his bedroom door he slid down it and put his head between his knees, beginning to cry. Why him for? Why couldn't this have happened continuously to somebody else? Why him?

Hope you enjoyed this :)

I don't know how interested you guys are with Calum & Ashton, so... I don't know if you want any flashbacks of them or what. Do you? I mean, I don't mind doing them I have a couple of ideas. I just wanna know how interested you are to know more about Calum himself as well as Cashton.

Thanks for reading!

PLEASE review! :D