No Strings Attached

Chapter 5~

“I am now scarred for the rest of my life thanks to you, Ashton.” I mumbled as we stepped out into the autumn night, my hair slightly picking up in the cool breeze. He was snickering as I glowered up at him. “You really just said those things to gross me out, didn’t you?” 

Ashton shoved me with his shoulder as he smirked. “A cute little virgin like you is looking for experience, right?” My cheeks flared as his grey eyes flashed. “I can totally show you a good time, kiddo.” 

Shoving him aside, I marched past him towards his charger. “Can you please not talk about stuff like that? I’m trying to help you, Ash. Not corrupt you any more.” 

As I waited for him to unlock the door, I bit my lip, my patience wearing thin. I’d just missed my episode of Vampire Diaries thanks to him taking his sweet precious time during the session. We were supposed to have finished two and a half hours ago. 

His hands suddenly slammed on either side of my head and I spun around to feel my chest press against his own hard chest. He was snickering as he gazed down into my wide eyes, watching my bottom lip tremble. “I know why you’re doing this, kiddo.” I couldn’t speak. Not with him this close. Not when I could feel his chest rise and fall against my own. “You were jealous. You don’t want me with any other girl, am I right?” 

Mustering up all my courage, I slid out from beneath his arms and took a step away from him. “Ashton, please. Don’t get ahead of yourself.” When he snickered and leaned against my door, I sighed. “Can you just please take me home?” 

A sour pout twisted his rosy lips. “Oh, but why do you never want to hang out with me, kiddo? You always suck the fun out of everything.” I rolled my eyes as I slid into his car, fastening my seatbelt as he rounded the front. “What are you doing next Saturday?” 

I blinked, shrugging my shoulders. “I’ll probably just catch up on some Supernatural. Why?” 

He snickered, this time his turn to shrug. “I don’t think you’ll be a dweeb that night.” When I glowered over at him, he smirked. “Go to Homecoming.” 

My breath caught in my throat. W-what? “I-I’ve never been.” My gaze lowered to my hands, which began to tremble and I bit my lip. “I-I can’t handle being around so many people.” 

Pulling up to a red light, Ashton faced me, his dark brow arched. “Liar. You just don’t have a date.” 

“That doesn’t matter! I’m not going. I am going to spend my night in front of my laptop with a tub of ice cream and hunting down demons with Sammy and Dean, thank you very much!” 

Those grey eyes locked with mine, his iris’ spinning with sapphire. “I’ll be your date for Homecoming, Skylar.” 

Heart pounding in my chest, my eyes shifted towards the windshield. “The light’s green.” I breathed. With a nod, Ashton stepped on the gas and focused on the road. When his mesmerizing eyes finally released me from their hypnotic trance, I wiped at the sweat that had begun to develop on my upper lip. 

I was going mad. That was the only logical explanation for it. I was going absolutely, raving mad imagining Ashton saying such things to me. Maybe this was a dream? 

We drove on in silence until we pulled into my driveway and my hand shot towards the door handle. At the sound of the door locking, I bit the inside of my cheek. “Ashton, let me go.” I whispered as I unlocked the door, yanking on the handle. 

Again, he locked it just in time for the handle to jam, keeping me in the car. “You’re not leaving until you agree, Skylar.” As I peered up into those brilliant eyes, I whimpered as they narrowed on me. “We can keep this up all night, kiddo. I’ve got nothing better to do.” 

“I just want to go inside, Ashton, please.” I mumbled as I sat back, clutching my bag tightly to my chest. Resting his chin in his palm, he gazed over at me as I pressed my lips together. “Why are you doing this? Acting like this. Why now?” 

He blinked, those long, dark lashes brushing over his cheekbones several times. When that signature smirk was wiped clean off his face, panic sunk in. I’d finally broken Ashton from his foolish trance: he would realize who he was actually speaking to and kick me right out of his car--- 

His lips were moving slowly, his gaze shifting towards his steering wheel as he gripped the edges of it. When the ringing in my ears finally settled, I caught his last three words before he closed up again. 

“I need you.” 

My eyes were wide as he inhaled sharply, raking his hand through his black hair. “God, Skylar, can you at least say something rather than look like a deer caught in headlights? I can’t possibly tell you any more. I don’t know why myself…” 

“W-What am I supposed to even say?” I breathed, picking at a loose piece of fabric on my jeans. “No one’s ever needed me before in their lives. I-I don’t know w-what to do.” 

Leaning back into his seat, he pressed his lips together. “Me neither, kiddo.” Shaking his head, he sat up as his phone suddenly began to vibrate in the cup-holder. I caught a flash of an unknown number before Ashton’s face hardened and he hung up. “Listen, I’ve got to go. Night…” Sling the strap of my purse on to my shoulder, I stepped out of his car. “Skylar.” 

“Yes.” 

Ashton blinked as I shoved my hands in my jacket pockets, my gaze back on my shoes. “I’ll go to Homecoming with you.” 

For the first time tonight, Ashton’s lips broke out in a truly genuine smile as he started up the car. “I knew you would.”