High School Survival Theory

Chapter 58

"Are you ever going to stop?" I ask him and he shakes his head, wiping a tear from his eyes.

"At least get a shirt on," I try not to stare at his body and sit on the couch. Ashton pops down seconds later with a shirt at this time.

Shame that body belongs to this jerk.

We don't say anything for a while. Ashton doesn't seem to mind and continues reading his book, ignoring my presence completely.

Finally, having enough of it, I sigh and snatch the book from him and hide it behind me.

"Hey, I was reading!"

"Oh really? I didn't notice," sarcasm drips my voice.

Ashton turns towards me completely. "Okay talk."

I cross my arms. "I came to apologize," I mumble. "For the other day."

Ashton's feature softens and he draws closer. "Ki-"

"I know it was wrong of me to accuse Cora," I confess. "You have no idea what she had made me go through. She was my best friend. But after what she had done to me, there's no way around it."

"I heard," Ashton says. "There were some rumors about it. But not as many as there's about me."

I chuckle unintentionally. Ashton smiles. "Wanna talk about it?"

I shake my head. "Recalling the past only hurts more," I say. "Also, I had enough talk about it today."

He furrows his brow. And so I end up pouring out everything Natasha told me earlier. Why they did what they did. And also that all this time, Natasha knew where he lives.

"I always knew there's something not right with her," he grumbles. "The way she looks at me in the hallway all the time."

I chuckle. "You know the big bad captain was scared of a small nerd?"

Ashton narrows his eyes. "What did you say?"

I shake my head and try to contain my laughter. He jumps on me and starts to tickle. How does he know I'm very ticklish?

"Ashton-stop," I say between my laughter. "Please stop, I'm sorry."

He grins wickedly. "Not before you say Ashton is the most fuckable guy I've ever laid my eyes on and he's not scared of anything."

"Okay," I laugh. "Ashton is the most fuckable guy I've ever laid my eyes on and he-he is a small scared cat."

Ashton growls and attempts to pounce on me. But I quickly sprint past him.

He chases after me in his massive room. But I don't stop and jump from couch to couch to his bed without making the mistake of running out to the balcony or the closet. After a while, Ashton surrenders. We both hop on the couch while still panting and laughing.

"So what'll you do about them?" Ashton asks after a while. "Are you ever going to forgive them?"

"I don't know," I say honestly. "I think I'll need more time."

Ashton nods and wraps an arm around me. "Do what you think is best for you."

I smile. "Thanks."

Ashton smiles too. "Anytime."

Then we fall into an awkward silence. No one says anything. Our breathing has returned to normal by now.

"So..." I try to start a conversation. Ashton turns to look at me. I gulp when I look into his eyes and start speaking, "Just to let you know, I never slept around-as those rumors say about me."

I know I was just blabbering but Ashton chuckles and faces me fully. He snorts and says, "Obviously, you think I believed you're anything less of a virgin?"

I glare at him. But Ashton moves away quickly when I try to punch him.

"So I'm guessing your ex-so called best friends were the reason you made that survival theory?"

"Yeah," I nod. "But the last two months made me realize how stupid it was."

"Snow I-"

"You were right, Ashton. A set of rules didn't change me. What happened was just me and me only," I look at him and smile. "That's why I came today to thank you."

"Thank me for what?"

"For opening my eyes and teaching me to live again. And I also want to apologize for being rude. I was being so self-centered the other day. Of course, your issue was bigger than mine."

Ashton's eyes search for something on my face. "You-did you-"

"Meet your biggest secret yet?" I ask. "Yes, I met Ezra. I almost thought I came to the wrong house until I saw the wall of memories."

"You did?" Ashton blinks. "Then why are you still here?"

"What'd you mean by why am I still here?" I roll my eyes. "Why are you trying to hide it from everyone that your parents are gay? Is it because you're ashamed of them?"

"What? No, that's not it," Ashton closes his eyes. I stare at his poster. I can see the newly-born dark circles under his eyes which weren't there when I saw him last time.

So he hasn't been completely on a vacation.

"I'm never ashamed of the people who raised me," he mumbles. "In fact, I love them so fucking much and I'm willing to do anything for them. But-"

"But what?"

Ashton opens his eyes. He sighs and shakes his head. "You won't understand," he says. "It's-it's complicated."

I cross my arms. "Humor me."

Ashton sighs and turns to me. "You never give up, do you?"

"I'll take that one as a compliment." At this, the corner of his lips turns up, but that's only for a moment.

"It's just not always so easy to grow up in a gay family and sophisticated society at the same time." His eyes refuse to meet mine.

I scoot closer and take his hands in mine and entwine our fingers. "Wanna talk about it?" I ask in a voice I never thought I was capable of speaking...

Ashton remains quiet. Then, when I was about to give up my hopes, he rests his head in the crook of my neck. I close my eyes and inhale the warmth of his body against me.

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