Thorns (G/t) Chapter 12

My first reaction was to flat out scream, losing my breath for a second before whirling backwards, falling clumsily onto my back and scooting away as far as I could. My eyes were split wide open, heart thumping so wildly I was sure Ashton could feel it pulsing against his fingers.

What the…

“CHAD. You DICK. You scared her!”

I blinked several times, chest heaving and curled up as far as I could into Ashton’s palm, practically falling off the hand. He quickly gathered me up with a soft “shhhh” sound, holding me closer to his chest protectively, as if that would calm me. And in complete honesty and utter disgust, something about the gesture did feel reassuring, making my cheeks flush a little.

Chad. The other giant. How did I not see him coming from outside? As I managed to get a better grip on myself, I saw him standing outside the house, doubled over in muffled laughter blocked out by the thick glass. His short, dirty blonde hair was blowing sloppily in the winter wind, covering his face. A large, black backpack was strung across his back.

It took me a few moments to steady my breathing, as I lay there awkwardly, partially smushed against Ashton’s chest, and watching with wide eyes at the other enormous giant outside the house. I suddenly felt completely and utterly overwhelmed.

Two giant people? I could barely handle one!

“Chad! Go through the front door, you dickhead!”

Ashton yelled, trying to be heard through the thick windows. The noise pierced through the air, booming all around me and I instantly clutched my hands to my ears, ducking down further into the cup of his palm.

His eyes glanced down at me as a sulking, but still chuckling Chad sauntered away from the window, going around the house and thankfully out of view. He noticed my hands smashed against my ears, and I squinted as I looked up at him from the uncomfortable 90 degree angle, eyes pleading.

“Oh shit, sorry. You've got tiny little ears, I almost forgot.” His voice softened to a whisper unnecessarily, and I squirmed uncomfortably, still trembling from my scare at the window.

A sharp knock on the door a couple hallways down boomed through the house and I jumped again, breath caught up in my throat.

God dammit, why was everything so freaking loud here?

A soft chuckle rumbled thorough Ashton's chest and I flinched as I felt it vibrate against me, slowly being pulled away from his chest and back up to his face. The room immediately became colder without the intense body heat of  his sweater. An unconscious part of me kind of missed the warmth.

“You're so skittish...” He murmured with furrowed eyebrows, almost looking partially remorseful, but not enough to acknowledge. A slightly bitter smile met his parted lips.

“We’re really not all that scary, Rose.”

I simply glared at him, clutching both of my arms and trying to stop my quivering, partially from the cold, but mostly because there was another giant, outside the house and completely interested in getting his hands on me. I mean, was I all that interesting?

Then again, I imagined what it would be like if my world discovered a whole new, accessible place full of tiny people…

My stomach sank.

We’d probably want to do the exact same thing.

“ASHTON. Get your ASS over here! It's fucking cold!” A loud, muffled voice rang from the front door, and both Ashton and I shot our glances in the direction.

“Coming!”

Ashton yelled, cringing immediately after at the loudness of his own voice, which I had definitely, dreadfully, and painfully noticed. Clutching me back at his chest suddenly, he shuffled out of the room and down the hallways, until we were finally at the first hallway I had seen, the one with his and his father’s bedrooms.

I watched with wide, frightened eyes as he reached out to turn the knob and everything inside me began to crumble.

Another giant.

Probably malicious.

Right outside that door, just waiting to get his hands on me…


I'm not sure I could handle it.

“Wait!”

Ashton's hand froze, piercing blue eyes flicking down to me and I gasped under my breath, clutching one of his fingers as he raised me up to his face. His eyebrows were furrowed and lips softened, completely oblivious to my obvious discomfort with this whole freaking thing.
I took a deep breath, my hands still quivering.

“I-I, uhm, I…”

I swallowed taking a quick glance behind my shoulder at the door. I could practically feel the presence behind it radiate into my skin.

“I-I'm not sure I want, er, I'm ready to-”

“Ahh, I see what's going on. You're scared that Chad is gonna hurt you...”

I watched with terrified eyes as Ashton stretched out his hand back towards the doorknob anyways, a cry lodged into my throat. I felt myself being brought back down to his chest, horror taking a tighter grip on my gut. Before I could even protest, the door clicked open, and a smile rose to his lips.

“You've got nothing to worry about. I've got you.”


Dammit, that was the problem.