Chapter 4

   Ash’s point of view.  I didn’t eat anything so I grabbed some crackers. Waylen helped me get some stuff out of my locker but it turns out we have different classes, except one which is next hour, he walks off and waves bye to me. I start walking to my class when Subree trips me and the rest of the group from breakfast laughs, except for Jay, he just watches silently. She picks me up by my shirt collar and throws me into the lockers knocking the wind out of me making it hard to breathe. “You know what? we are never going to be friends with you and we’ll make sure Waylen isn’t either, so you’ll be all alone, you might as well go back to cutting and go die, fag.” she throws me against the locker again and walks off laughing with the rest of the group, Jay hovers there before following.

   After sitting next to the lockers trying to catch my breath. I walk into the classroom and of course, everyone laughs pointing at me and calling me names. I sit in the back and listen and do my work, I've always been a straight-A student. I can’t wait till the next hour when Waylen is in one of my classes.

   Waylen’s point of view. The class was boring and I was glad to get out but when I'm walking to my locker Ash is already there but not trying to get into his, he’s sitting in the corner sobbing and crying. I stare in shock and run over. “Ash, what's wrong? What happened?” He looks up at me and I notice the bruise on his neck and the collar of his shirt is wrinkled, but he just looks back down and shakes his head without saying anything. I look at him while trying to think of what to do until he gets up and hugs me, I hug him back feeling him shaking. 

   We get to class and everyone points and laughs at Ash who looks fed up until I give them a glare and they stop, guess having my dad's genes pays off for something. This is the only class I have with Ash and honestly is my favorite-even though I hate science- Ash is there so it’s fine. 

   Two boring hours later it was lunch and Ash and I walked down to the lunchroom.  “Do you want to sit with our friends?” I ask Ash.

   “YOUR friends, not mine.” he takes a sip from his water bottle. I can tell that the group must have done something to him, and I didn’t like it.

   We make it to the lunchroom and sit at a completely different table away from everyone else. Ash looks up at me but then looks back down as if he wants to say something but is too scared to. “What’s up? I can tell you want to tell me something.”  I say with a comforting smile. He stays silent for a moment but then tells me everything that happened at the lockers. I lift up his chin and look at the bruises. I feel anger rush through me but also confusion. I don't know why I'm overprotective over Ash but I am and I feel like I always will be.

   We finish eating and start telling each other jokes, but Ash only gives small smiles, making me miss his sunshine smile. “Hey uh, Ash?”

 “Yeah?” he looks at me a little confused.

 “I have two questions, first: do you wanna go to a coffee shop after school, and second: are you actually gay, or is that just a rumor?” he’s silent for a moment and looks up at me to reply.

  “Uh yeah...for both” he gives a small smile but stops when he notices Subree standing up and cuffs her hands around her mouth and yells.

  “HEY EVERYONE ASHEN HARIS JUST CAME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND HAS A DATE!!” Everyone starts laughing and Ash runs out of the cafeteria. I chase after him but by the time I catch up he’s already out of the school and across the street, running home-even though it will take two hours on foot- I keep running until I'm next to him and can grab his wrist.

   “Hey, I didn't know she was listening to our conversation, I'm sorry.” he stops trying to run after I say that.

   “I know, it's fine,” we kept walking.

   “So, I guess we’re skipping school,” I smile as I say it but he doesn’t look up.

   “Yeah, I guess.” he kind of mumbles it. I notice I still have a hold on his wrist and blush a little. I move my hold down to his hand causing him to tense up and look at me, he gives a nervous smile and laughs.

   “You don’t have to be nice to me.” he looks away and puts his other hand in his hoodie pocket.

   “I know but it's not me being nice, I want to be with you.” I see his face go red and a small smile twitches the corners of his lips. I hold his hand as we continue walking but instead of walking home, we walk to the cafe. When we make it to the cafe I open the door for him.

   “Ladies first.” I joke and he smiles and sticks his tongue out at me. 

   “I’m no lady, I'm a queen!” he says and walks into the cafe. I laugh and walk in as well. I sit next to him at the booth in the corner near the window as we sip our coffee. I stare at him for a bit until he looks up and I turn away. I look at the bruise on his neck and think back to that group I thought could’ve been my friends but I guess at this school I'm only going to have one, and that one I feel like I want to be more than just friends. I shake my head at those thoughts. I take another look at Ash as he takes a big sip of his coffee, he catches me looking at him and he gives me his sunshine smile. 

   “Why do you keep looking at me? If you want to tell me something you can.” I lean closer to him lifting up his chin but this time not to look at the bruise. I lean closer to his face and he blushes, I give him a small kiss and lean back up.

   “I actually do have a question,”

   “W-what is it?” he stutters and I smile.

   “Will you be mine?” I place my hand on his as I say it and he looks at me shocked and then he smiles.

   “Of course.”