Ash

Day 4 - Part 2

AJ chatted with the pretty brunette cashier as she scanned his items. She was tall, taller than Ash, and her silky brown hair swayed elegantly with every giggle.    

Mildly annoyed at the sight, he ran his fingers through his coarse hair, tucking a stray blonde curl behind his ear before clearing his throat.

With his eyes glued to the pair, he struggled to put away his wallet; after missing his pocket twice, he finally succeeded.

She looked to be about 16.

Ash chewed his bottom lip as he threw his purchases into a bag. What was taking them so long? He was already done paying for his stuff, and AJ hadn’t even swiped his card yet.

This was their first meeting outside of the bar. He thought he would have liked to see AJ, but the longer Ash was here, the less he liked it.

Slowly, Ash steeled his nerves and stepped up to the next lane’s bagging area. Noticing the faint stubbles on AJ’s face, on his jawline, and down his neck, Ash patted his own cheeks, and it was still the soft peach fuzz that he’s always had. 

Curiosity got the best of him, and he peeked into the bag that hung on the carousel. It looked like AJ purchased a roll of gauze, antibiotic ointment, several different painkillers, and— a notebook, no, two notebooks. They were a lot bigger than the one he had, around the size of the composition book that he had when he was homeschooled. 

AJ handed the cashier his credit card, and she held onto his hand for a few seconds too long. After she returned his card, AJ sharpened his eyes at Ash while tucking away his wallet before returning his attention to the overly-flirty cashier.

Of course, AJ would rather look at her, a pretty girl wearing a shirt two sizes too small instead of him. Without giving Ash a single glance, AJ thanked her then snatched his bag from the carousel.

Just as Ash thought AJ would leave without him, he hooked his arm around Ash’s left arm. He all but dragged him past the other shoppers and through the exit. 

Once several feet away from the entrance, they stopped under the store’s awning, and Ash let out the breath he held. Displeased with Ash, AJ aggressively withdrew his arm.

Tilting his head down, AJ pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing his sunglasses down until they almost fell off his face. 

He pulled off his sunglasses and clipped them to the collar of his shirt. His eyelids were a bit swollen.  

Annoyed at their chance meeting, AJ asked, “what the hell do you want?” 

“I-I have something for you,” Ash hiccuped as he thrust the grocery bag at AJ.

SMACK!

AJ slapped Ash’s hand away, promptly refusing his gift. Both their bags dropped onto the pavement.

“Tch. I don’t want your….” He paused, then waved at the bag, dismissing it, “frozen vegetables and ramen.” 

Embarrassed by his foolishness, Ash immediately hid his bag behind his back and fixed his eyes on the concrete sidewalk. 

“Hey. Look at me,” said AJ as he looked down on Ash’s face and took hold of his chin, “it’s rude to turn away when someone’s talking to you.”

A terrified sinking feeling grew in Ash’s stomach, causing him to pull away and run around the building.  

“I wasn’t done talking,” AJ stomped around the corner and was now in front of him again. 

Taking a step back, he bumped into the wall. AJ took one step forward, closing the gap that Ash desperately tried to maintain. 

Drenched in dread, Ash grasped the rough bricks behind him for support; it scratched up his fingers, but it kept him sliding down the wall.

A tenuous silence followed before AJ’s cutting words shattered it. “I don’t ever want to see you again.”

Ash blinked.

Ash opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He wanted to run, but his strength was gone. He wanted to cry, but his eyes were empty.

AJ’s voice had broken him.