Ashton’s eyes widened then, and he felt a strange sensation pass through him. He felt a tingle of nerves in the pit of his stomach, and he swallowed the lump in his throat, balling his fists.

‘Oh’ he croaked, barely able to speak.

‘Its good to finally meet you at last’ Edmund said.

‘Hu?’

Ashton looked up at Edmund then, for the first time fully taking in his features.

Edmund was nineteen, Ashton was seventeen. Edmund was a tall and lean figure, extremely handsome with hair dyed a deep dark blue colour and flicked outwards, a strand running across his forehead. He smiled widely at Ashton, revealing perfect white teeth as he gave a cheeky grin.

‘I’m so excited’ he said to Ashton.

‘Hu?’ Ashton said again.

Edmund only chuckled, reaching forwards and touching Ashton’s cheek tenderly.

Ashton flinched at his touch; eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights.

‘What’s wrong?’ Edmund chuckled again, noticing this. ‘Do I frighten you?’

‘W-what are you doing here?’ Ashton fumbled, clutching his bedsheets tighter to him now, shoulders hunched and body tense.

‘I came here to see you’ Edmund replied without a pause. ‘I am so excited to be married to you.’

Ashton pursed his lips, jaw clenched and eyes wide.

He could only stare mutely back at Edmund, completely lost for words.

It was only a short time later when the doctor arrived, and Ashton was surprised to see that she was in fact female, not male as he initially expected.

‘I thought it would be better for you to be examined by a nice young lady rather than a big strong hunk’ his mother gleamed at him, having regained her usual playful and childish composure.

‘Um’ Ashton replied awkwardly, as the female doctor stood behind her a little flabbergasted at this. ‘I’m not sure…. that’s how um…. they’re just here to do their job.’

‘Yeah but I don’t want you falling in love with anyone else’ Maya gleamed, poking him teasingly on the end of the nose. ‘I don’t want you to fall in love with any other man’ she glistened at him. ‘You’re getting married remember? To a man’ she added. ‘Because you’re gay.’

It seems like she deliberately said these last things to make a point, at this moment, Ashton was just trying to block her out, face in his hands and cheeks red as she flushed silently.

‘Come now my love!’ Isaac spoke then in his booming voice. ‘We have to put that face-paint on. That make-up isn’t going to apply itself!’

Maya shrieked in delight then, balling her fists over her chest excitedly, shoulders hunched as she bounced up and down.

‘EEEEEMMMAAAAAHHHHHGAAAAWWWWEEEDDD!’ she exclaimed. ‘Hurry! First one to the changing room gets to wear the dress!’

And without another word, without acknowledging anyone from that point on, Maya and Isaac both rushed out of the room, darting as fast as they could. Their footfalls could be heard quickly receding down the hall, and then, blissful silence.

Ashton finally glanced between his fingers, hands still over his face.

From his bed he could see the open doorway. His sister had appeared in view then, staring down the hallway in the direction their parents had gone.

She turned back to face Ashton with a smile.

‘Honestly’ she grinned, ‘I don’t know where they get their energy from.’

The female doctor still stood in the middle of the room, watching Alicia now, still looking a little confused.

‘I’m sorry’ Ashton mumbled uncomfortably to the doctor. ‘They’re always like that. And my mother is um…yeah.’

‘It’s ok’ the female doctor smiled encouragingly. ‘Now if you are ready for me to examine you?’

Ashton flushed a little awkwardly at that suddenly.

‘I was told that you fell while climbing?’ the doctor said.

‘Ah. Yes, I was um…you know I go climbing sometimes and uh…I was just a little distracted this time I guess.’

‘You mean with getting married?’

‘Hu?’ Ashton flushed brightly again.

‘It’s ok I’m only teasing’ the doctor grinned at him. ‘Sorry I probably shouldn’t. I should be more professional.’

‘No no its ok!’ Ashton spoke hastily, becoming a little flustered. ‘I don’t mind.’

Alicia who had been watching from the doorway, silently smiling at the two reached for the door handle then.

‘I’ll leave you to it’ she said to them both, before speaking directly to the doctor. ‘We’ll be in the kitchen when you finish, and thanks again for coming.’

‘No problem’ the doctor nodded.

Alicia closed the door. It was now Ashton alone in the room with the female doctor.

He smiled nervously up at her.

‘Now can you tell me where it hurts?’ the doctor began, placing her bag on the small table beside the bed. ‘I’ll give you a general check while I’m here, just check your heart and all the usual things as standard.’

‘Ok. And it kinda hurts…’ Ashton shifted a little, ‘everywhere’ he laughed sheepishly.

After removing most of his clothes, he was found to have bruises and cuts across various places on his body, as well as a small bump on his head, which was not noticeable beneath his hair.

‘You’re perfectly healthy’ the doctor concluded a short time later, beginning to pack away her things. ‘Nothing is out of place and nothing is broken.’

‘That’s a relief’ Ashton sighed, putting his shirt back on.

‘Everything else is excellent and you are perfectly fit. Do you work out at all?’

Ashton swallowed a little nervously then, thinking suddenly about his dancing. An obscure hobby, especially for someone like him. Not many would understand, and he wished he had the courage to tell people that he could probably crush their skulls between his thighs.

‘I don’t think I’ve seen anyone with such a wonderful build.’

‘Well’ Ashton went on, ‘maybe I do work out a little.’

‘Just stay away from the cliffs ok?’ the doctor smiled at him, taking up her bag.

‘I will’ Ashton nodded. ‘And thank you.’

The doctor gave him a short and respective bow, before turning and walked towards the door, no doubt heading to the kitchen to speak with his sister, and his parents, whatever state they were in.

Ashton let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in bed, thankful it was all over.

And then his heart suddenly tightened in his chest as he remembered something.

Opening his eyes again he looked across the room, mouth dry and break caught in his throat.

A figure made himself known then, coming out from hiding as he stepped out from behind the dressing room divider, set across from him in the vast room.

Edmund turned his head towards Ashton, a mischievous smile playing about his lips.