Fragile Bones

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Hello," I said, reaching a hand out for her to shake. Instead, she enveloped me in a bone-crushing hug. I wasn't used to hugs, so I stood a little awkwardly not knowing what to do. Soon enough though, she let go.

"It is nice to finally be introduced to one of the girls he brings over," she said with a tsk, either not caring or not noticing that I didn't reciprocate her hug.

"Okay we get it, Madeline is different. Mary you can go home early tonight," Asher quickly rushed out.

"You do not have to tell me twice," she stated. "Oh, do you want any leftover Halloween candy? We have a lot from last night. Apparently kids do not trick-or-treat as much as they used to." She gestured over to a couple bags of candy on a small table next to the door that I hadn't even noticed. Asher grabbed a Twix, but the sight of the candy made me feel queasy. Physically, I really wanted just a little piece, but mentally, I knew I couldn't. I shook my head, rejecting the offer. "No worries!" She said, and with one last smile at me, disappeared down some hallway.

"Let's go up to my room." Asher began bounding up the stairs, taking them two at a time while I walked at a slower pace behind him. I was still a little tired from my jog over here. He held his bedroom door open for me once we got there and I wanted to roll my eyes at his nicety. My mind flashed back to the Asher I knew when I first met him, all rough and intimidating. He was still both of those things, but now I know that he could be nice when he wanted to.

"Mary seems nice," I commented, looking around for a place to sit. Asher jumped onto the bed and pointedly looked at the spot next to him. I sat down next to him while he started scrolling though his phone. I huffed a little at his rudeness, but he started talking before I could say anything.

"Yeah, she is," he responded simply. I waited for him to elaborate but he didn't say anything else. When he saw me staring he sighed, and closed his phone. "I don't know what you want to hear. She's been our maid for a long time and helped raise me when my mom wasn't around."

I noticed he hadn't included his father in that statement, but chose something else to focus on. "Is your mom usually gone?"

"I guess so," he shrugged, looking off to the side. "She's in some organization, I never bothered to remember the name. But, it does make her leave, for sometimes a few weeks at a time. The only time it actually affected me was probably when I was younger, but now it's just something that happens. It's not like she doesn't care. Speaking of parents, how are yours? Do they still argue?" Asher directed his gaze back at me, and I began fidgeting with the ends of my hair.

"They're fine," I mumbled, not wanting to reveal anymore than that. I had spent so may nights wishing I had someone to tell things to, and now that I actually did, I refused to say anything. Funny how that works.

With a sigh, Asher turned his body so he was facing me a little more. I was sitting cross-legged and he was matching my form, but leaned his head against the wall next to his bed, and watched me. Green eyes bored into my dull brown ones, making me look away. Mentally cursing myself, I wondered why he always managed to make me so intimidated but entranced at the same time.

"You lie too much Madeline. How many times do I have to say that to you?" He muttered, watching my fingers twist around my hair. Reaching a hand out, he grabbed one of mine in his own, and laughed softly to himself.

"What?" I asked embarrassedly, worrying that he was laughing at something about me. I tried pulling my hand back, but he kept it firm in his own. Tingles seemed to shoot from my fingertips all the way up my arms to my head.

"Nothing. You just have super small hands," he responded, holding mine so my palm was aligned with his. He was right, my hand did look pretty small next to his, but it also looked extremely chubby. My face heated up at the small interaction, and I managed to pull my hand back successfully this time. The small frown that appeared on his face didn't escape my notice.