No Strings Attached

Chapter 3

Ashton chuckled as he stuffed his hands in his jean pockets. “You know, normal girls wouldn’t just tell a guy their beauty secrets. Especially not something as weird as that!” He kept laughing at me while my lips twisted into an even bigger pout. “But I like it.”

“Me being weird?” I questioned incredulously. I was dreaming, right? No one liked that. No one liked me.

With a nod, he shot me a smile. “That, and the pigtails. They make you look even more innocent.” 

I blinked. Just this morning he had been insulting them, and now suddenly he approved? 

“Please don’t blink like that.” 

Again, I blinked, my brows furrowing. “Like what?” 

“Like a lost puppy. Seriously, stop it. It’s adorable.” I must have died and gone straight to heaven. I’d just received my first bloody compliment from Ashton March. “Now, this walking thing really isn’t for me. Can we take my car now? I promise you can play whatever you want.” 

My tongue felt like lead in my mouth, I couldn’t speak. Pressing my lips in a firm line, I nodded and followed quietly behind him. 

“Good girl.” He winked as we stepped back into the school parking lot. 

~ 

“Where have you been?” 

I hadn’t even shut the front door behind me when my brother spun around in his chair in the living room. Cyrus’s head tilted to the side as he continued to scrutinize me. “Well, Sky? It’s four in the afternoon. Where were you?” 

“I-I had detention.” I mumbled, shifting my weight between my feet. I couldn’t handle a Cove interrogation. Much less one coming from Commander Cyrus. 

Leaping out of his seat, Cyrus seized my shoulders, his eyes wide as saucers. “What do you mean detention? You don’t get detention!” He shouted, slightly shaking me. 

Hanging my head, I placed my hands over his. “I deserved it, Cyrus.” 

He scoffed, his lips curled in a sneer. “Sky, you don’t deserve a detention even if you murdered someone in the school. You don’t ever get in trouble.” He snapped, shaking his head. This boy deserved a gold star for his ability to exaggerate everything. I pressed my lips together, fearing the worst. Knowing how determined Cyrus became when he was enraged, I wouldn’t doubt he’d go to the school and sue.

“I cursed, big brother.” As his eyes widened, I slowly nodded. “Yes, I cursed in Mr. Abbey’s room and I received a detention. So, it was my fault.” 

“The old fart gave you a detention for that?” Again, I nodded. Clearly the term of endearment Ashton bestowed his uncle with had rubbed off on my brother. “I mean, you did curse… Whatever, I was just worried as to where you’ve been.” 

Slipping past him and starting my ascent up the stairs, his hand dropped on my shoulder. “Who dropped you off?” 

Oh, no. 

“I-I walked home.” 

“Seriously? Ash couldn’t drop you off?” He couldn’t know that I had received a ride from his best friend. He would become suspicious of absolutely nothing. And yet, I still couldn’t believe it myself. “God, he’s such a tool. And we’re late for practice.” Cyrus was snarling as he stormed back into the living room, his phone now pressed tightly to his ear. 

“Where are you, Ash? We’re late and---” I paid close attention to his hisses as I lowered myself on to the first step to watch him. It was such a sight to see Cyrus fuming. He would agitatedly run his hand down his red face, the vein in his neck would poke out of his pale skin and his voice progressively rose a decibel higher with each word that left his mouth. As long as his blinding wrath wasn’t being aimed at me, I found it humorous. 

The front door swung open then and Ashton’s beaming face appeared behind it. “Honey, I’m home!” He sang, already wearing his skin-tight trunks. I glanced over at Cyrus, wondering why he wasn’t already dressed. And he had the nerve to rush his friend? 

My brother charged at his best friend, seizing him in a choke-hold. “You little shit, you never tell me anything! I need a damn warning before you pick me up! We’re late and I’m not ready yet and it’s all your fault!” He growled, ruffling Ashton’s already messy hair. 

Shoving Cyrus away, Ashton’s hands flew up to his hair rather than his bruising neck. “How the hell is this my fault, you dick? You’re a man, Cy! Get your shit together and let’s go!” With another slight push, he lead Cyrus towards the steps. “We’re late!” He sang as my brother clambered up the stairs. “We’re late! For a very important date!” 

Rolling his eyes, Cyrus flipped Ashton the bird before hurrying past me into his room. 

The silence immediately hovered between us at the slam of his door, plunging Ashton and I into an awkward tension that was tangible. Or rather, I was the only one mortifyingly uncomfortable, fidgeting with my fingers and staring at the ground. Ashton just leaned against the back of the sofa, his hands crammed into his team jacket’s pockets as he looked around. 

“Hey, Pigtails,” I looked up at the sound of him clearing his throat. His grey eyes were already on me as he smirked down. “What are you doing right now?” 

About to go into cardiac arrest. “H-Homework.” 

His gaze shifted towards my clammy hands fumbling in my lap, a dark smirk curving his full lips. Why was he looking at me like that? Blinking up at him, I slipped my hands beneath my bum. I must’ve been getting his attention somehow with these weird hands.

“I don’t see you doing any homework right this second, Pigtails. Come to practice with us.” 

I swallowed, shaking my head vehemently. “I really do have homework, A-Ashton. And then I’ve got last week’s episode of---” 

“Forget that. You’re coming with us.” My breath caught as Ashton crouched down in front of me, his forearms resting on his knees as he leaned forward. I could vaguely spot several purple bruises scattered beneath the collar of his jacket. Had my brother strangled him that hard? 

“But---” 

“No buts.” He shot me a wink before standing up straight. “Unless, of course, you’d like to give me a little striptease before practice…” At my puzzled head tilt, Ashton laughed with a shake of his own head. “You really are clueless, kiddo. Oh, my god.” When he finally quit chuckling, he reached forward and tugged gently on my ponytail. 

“I’ll be waiting in the car. You better come out with your brother.” Grabbing Cyrus’s duffle bag from the foot of the stairs, he headed towards the door. As he walked out on to the front patio, I took in a deep breath, only to have him poke his head back in. “We’ll go get some ice cream after practice---” 

I was out the door before he could even finish.