A
Ashton P.O.V
When this week started, the very last thing I saw myself doing was spending it with Luke, let alone shirtless on my bedroom floor.
He seemed so awkward the entire time he was here, I couldn't help but grin. Maybe for once he was on the receiving side of torture. It wasn't until the sun was completely behind the horizon that he started asking questions.
"Damn, this is a lot of writing." He mumbled, looking over the sheet for the hundredth time. "Ugh. Okay. What is your earliest childhood memory?" He asked, clicking his pen.
"Do you want the honest answer or the happy answer?" I asked him, picking at the carpet. I didn't bother putting a shirt on yet, it was too hot in my house and I didn't feel like hiding my scars from him was nessecary. I needed him to see the pain he helped cause.
"Honest answer." He flicked his lip ring with his tongue. As much as I despise him, I couldn't help but notice how adorable he was. I grinned wider.
"Well," I thought for a moment. "When I was four my dad came home drunk, again, and started yelling at and hitting my mother until our neighbors called the cops. I cried for about three days." I probably sounded more calm than I should have, but it stopped bothering me a long time ago. His abuse turned into a normal thing.
"Oh." That was his only response. He scribbled something into his paper. "Next question, what do your parents do?" His face looked so somber.
"My mom is a nurse, she's gone for full weeks at a time. My dad is supposed to be taking classes online, but really he sits on his ass drinking all day." I answered.
Once again, he responded with "Oh," and wrote it on his paper. "Why do you hurt yourself like that?" He looked straight up at me, his face sad. He almost looked like crying too.
"What?" I stared right back, my arms now folded across my bare chest. He didn't say anything. "Well, my life kinda sucks, but not that you care. You're a cause of it."
That seemed to destroy him. I was fairly surprised, he actually seemed like he cared a bit. He didn't speak for a minute.
"Luke?" I reached out to poke his hand. He flinched.
"It's getting late. Maybe I should head home before my mum starts to worry." And with that he stood up, ran downstairs, and skipped through my door without the slightest goodbye.
________________________
That next day at school, Friday, Luke seemed to be everywhere, but never actually talked to me. Even when I went to my locker that first time, instead of the usual visit from Luke I only saw Jess.
"Hey Ash!" She squealed. I swear the girl was always happy.
"Hey Jess." I collected my stuff and stood up to face her. "I assume there's a party tonight, because that's the only reason you ever visit my locker."
"Oh my gosh, yes! Michael Clifford, you know him, he's throwing this huge party tonight and everyone is going to be there! Which means you're coming!" She used big hand gestures to emphasize the details. Jess never really gave me an option on parties, just told me when to show up. "Be there at eleven!"
I rolled my eyes on continued on to class.
In language class I was forced to talk to Luke again. He wouldn't even look me in the eye. I groaned and poked his cheek. "What's up with you?"
He groaned. "Just.. A bit tired, that's all." He shifted positions to where he was slightly facing me. "I guess it's time for more questions then, right?"
