Chapter 4
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*THURSDAY, MARCH 13th*
"So you really just ditched detention?" Calum asked me, sipping at his drink. We were on break and sitting at a table in Starbucks, discussing random things. It was nice, Calum was actually a really nice guy. Which I always knew, but I never payed any attention to his personality, just his looks, and I hated myself for doing so.
"Yeah, it was pretty funny actually. You should've seen Mr. Miller's face."
He laughed, choking a little on his drink and started coughing in between his laughter, "Trust me. He's my math teacher and the faces he makes while marking tests are priceless. But I wouldn't blame him, there's a bunch of dumbasses in my class." He shrugged, coughing one last time before clearing his throat.
I blushed, knowing I was also one of those dumbasses. Thankfully he didn't know I was being tutored, even though he wouldn't care. Calum wasn't the type to make fun of people. Except for what he had just said, that was a little harsh, even though it sounds like something I'd say.
We continued slurping up our drinks and eating our sandwiches until his watch made a beeping noise. He looked at it and brushed off his shirt, causing the crumbs to fall off.
"Well, time to get back to work," he informed me, while getting up and pushing in his chair. I did the same and threw away my garbage, then went back behind the counter and took numerous orders.
Java chip frap with extra coffee and a chocolate chunk cookie.
Vanilla bean frap with caramel sauce.
Bacon egg sandwich and an iced coffee.
Mocha frap and a slice of banana bread.
All these orders and more spinning around my head, making me feel very dizzy as more and more people walked in the store and to the back of the line.
"Miss, are you ok?" An elderly women asked me, waiting for me to take her order. I shook my head trying to get the dizziness to go away.
"Yeah yeah I'm fine. Erm, sorry. What would you like?"
Another order for me to write down, another bag for me to fill, how do people do this daily? I've only worked here for a day and I'm already sick of the job.
"Here you go. Sorry, I was a little dizzy and wasn't paying attention." I handed her the bag and she nodded, giving me a reassuring smile.
"It's alright dear, here's a tip just for you." She said handing me a twenty dollar bill. My eyes went wide and I gave her a big smile.
"Thank you! Have a nice day!"
As I was shoving the money in my pocket, an all too familiar voice filled my ears, "Hey Jess."
I looked up and met the same bright blue eyes I had seen a couple days ago.
"Hey Luke. Well, what'd you want?" I asked, picking up a pen ready to write on a cup or bag.
"That was a rude way to acknowledge your customer," he teased, biting his lip a little. I rolled my eyes waiting for him to give me his order, "A lemonade. Extra sweet," he said, handing me a bill. He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels as I got him his order.
He was wearing a black beanie today and had his hair spiked up as usual. His shirt was plain white, and he wore on black skinny jeans with holes on both his knees.
I had to admit, he was fucking attractive.
I grabbed his cup and walked back over to the counter.
"Here, and aren't you suppose to be working?" I asked while handing him the cup and his change.
"I'm on break," he said with no emotion at all, then walked out the store saying nothing else.
•••
"Ok, I'm out. See ya Calum!" I yelled, making sure they knew I was leaving work. It was now 5:21 and my day had been long enough. I already got yelled at for being late again, but I didn't care, I was used to it.
I pushed open the door to the mall letting the cool breeze blow my hair back and fill my nostrils with all different sorts of smells. I took out my phone and responded to a few texts, nothing much though.
I sat down on the nearest bench at a bus stop, waiting for it to come. Hopefully I hadn't already missed it, but there was a good chance, considering there was no one else waiting. But no matter what, I was not taking the subway, it took way too long.
My stomach growled signalling that I was hungry, and I was. I hadn't eaten since 2:00, it was about time I eat.
I tapped my foot eagerly waiting for the bus.
Fifteen minutes later it still wasn't here, and I started to give up on my hopes of it coming.
"Need a ride?"
I turned around to see Luke standing behind me. He had his keys in his hand swinging them back and forth, waiting for my answer impatiently.
"Well, do you?" He asked again, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Oh, yeah that'd be great. Thanks."
•••
"Why'd you do that?" I asked, staring over at Luke who was driving me home. It had started raining out now and the sky had turned completely black, grey clouds scattered across it.
"Do what?" He questioned, but didn't take his attention off the road.
"Ask to give me a ride home. I mean, since when do you care about other people?" I smirked, causing him to roll his eyes.
"I don't. It's just I knew the bus wasn't coming, and you didn't have a car, so how else would you get home? It's not like you'd take the subway." He shrugged, his voice filled with annoyance.
"I take the subway, that is only if I really need to. But thanks for driving me home I guess."
I looked out the window, watching rain drops race each other down the glass until they splashed at the end. I did it for awhile until the car stopped, when I looked up I realized we were in front of my house.
I thanked Luke for driving me home again and slammed the car door shut once I got out.
As I headed up the driveway, Luke rolled down a window, getting my attention. I turned around, Luke smirking, "Oh by the way, say hi to Lauren for me will ya?" He asked, winking after.
I rolled my eyes and continued walking up to my house. He didn't drive away like I expected him to though, instead he waited to make sure I actually got inside my house. Once I did he sped off, not waving goodbye or anything.
I threw my stuff on the couch and ran into the kitchen to get food. It was now 5:47 and I was starving. When I got in the kitchen Ashton was there leaning against the counter top talking to Lauren.
"I know right, it's just so stupid I mean why would he cheat on this?" Lauren gestured toward her body, making Ashton's eyes go wide as he stared at her chest, but then shot his eyes back up to hers.
"He lost a lot. Stupid guy, he obviously wasn't worth it," he said, then bit into his piece of toast, Vegemite spread across it.
I was honestly disgusted by Lauren, but this is what she does when a guy breaks up with her. But that barely happens, she'll usually break up with them before they even get the chance. People call her a slut and a heartbreaker, and I can't even argue with that, because it's true.
"Hey guys," I mumbled, their heads turned to face me, obviously they didn't even know I was there when I walked in.
"Hey Jessy," Ashton smiled, opening his arms and embracing me with a warm hug. He looked me in the eyes and mouthed a ''thank you'' afterwards, signalling I practically saved him by coming home so he could end the conversation with Lauren.
I grinned at him and walked over to her.
"How you doing?" I asked, taking her hands in mine. She got that I was talking about her breakup thankfully, but tilted her head down while answering.
"Ok I guess. I'm better. I'm not really sad anymore, just pissed off. I was actually just talking to Ashton about my breakup before this one, you know Jared? The dick who cheated on me," She reminded me, biting at her lip piercing.
I nodded, "Yes but may I remind you, you cheated on him too."
She went wide eyed, "Yeah but he cheated on the same person I cheated on him with. And may I remind you that person was a dude. My ex before my new ex is fucking gay!"
I laughed and ran up the stairs with Ashton, but before I got to my room I yelled down, "Oh by the way, your boy toy says hi!"
•••
Ashton and I sat on my bed, we didn't even talk, all we did was stare at each other. It was awkward at first, but I liked it later on.
After awhile of staring and playing with our fingers, he finally spoke up, "I talked to my mom today." He spoke quietly, like if someone heard him he'd get into trouble.
"She was home?" I questioned, playing with his fingers still.
"Yeah, she came home drunk, as always. She slept for a long time, but when she came down stairs I made her sit down at the table. I tried talking to her about her problems, you know, drinking and doing drugs, and in the end she ended up doing this to me." He finished. He turned around so his back was facing me, and pulled his shirt over his head. There was a huge mark on his back, bruises scattered over it also, and what looked like four little indents too extending down to his lower back.
He got up and headed over to my mirror, I followed. He started pointing at the marks after his eyes scanned over them.
"This one's from her punching me, along with these," he said, pointing to the big mark and bruises, "And this one's from her jabbing a fork into my back," he stated, putting his index finger over the four lines. "I don't think she meant to drag it down my back so far, I think it got caught in my skin. It ripped my shirt pretty bad though." He said while chuckling.
My hand was tracing all over his back, my eyes wide. Who would have the guts to do that to anyone, let alone their own son. It was horrible, terrifying, and I hated the fact that my best friend had to go through it.
Ashton turned around to face me, his eyes glossy, but he still held on to a small smile. It was a well known fact that Ashton hated crying, especially in front of people. He tended to do whatever he could to show no sad emotions around people.
I threw my arms around him, burying my head in the crook of his neck. By now I felt tears drop down on my back, signalling Ashton had given up on holding them back. He wasn't the only one crying though.
"I'm so sorry Ash. I hate that you have to go through this, you don't deserve it." I sniffled, not bothering to move. He rubbed my back and held onto me tighter, now trying to calm me down.
"Shhh it's ok. Listen, things will get better, and sure, I have to go through shit, but in the end, it may be worth it."
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(A/N: I feel bad for Ash:( and bad for making Ash go through it! But, it's just part of the story. Sorry this chapter was so short, I just didn't know what to write about in it. Hope you liked it though, please comment/vote, it means a lot! Once again, sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes! Love you guys xoxo)