literature

Thorns (G/t) Chapter 18

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I had only known Ashton for three days now.

And somehow, within these three days he had managed to go from a full blown creepy, way too touchy kidnapper to some weird, semi over-protective and “caring” kidnapper.

At this point, with the way my head was spinning constantly, I didn’t know which one I even preferred.  

There was something nice about him being a real jackass in a way, and I use the word “nice” tentatively. Really, it was just easier to full blown hate someone who not only took me from my home, but was a real dick that enjoyed picking me up and pissing me off all the time. Now, given his actions this morning, first the strange “wake up” where he didn’t just pick me up, and now the constant, overbearing “is it okay if I do (X)?” questions he'd been asking me, it was making things in my mind a little bit more complicated. Which was the last thing I needed.

The whole morning had been a series of Ashton’s frantic stuttering and mumbled curses, desperately trying be as gentle with me as possible. And sure, not getting plucked out of the bath half naked and being grabbed against my will was a plus, but really, Ashton was a tad late to the “gentle giant” party.

But it was fine, it didn’t matter anyways.

Because no matter what, I was getting the hell out of here.


“Wheres Chad…?” Ashton suddenly mumbled to himself, both of us standing at the door at the end of the kitchen, ready to go to school. His words jolted me out of the mostly fear induced trance that had began to build up in my chest, still terrified of what a school full of giants would be like. I had tried numerous times to talk him out of making me go this morning, and even tried to run once while Ashton was showering which…

I cleared my throat.

…Was anything but pleasant.

I looked up to Ashton from my current position in his hand, hugging my knees against my chest. My hair was still damp from the bath. He brought me up to eye level slowly, his ice blue eyes meeting mine instantly. I swallowed a shiver.  

“Are you ready?” Ashton asked.

I frowned.

“Literally this entire morning I’ve been telling you I’m not ready.”

Ashton opened his mouth to say something, but quickly shut it, itching the back of his neck and smiling awkwardly.

“You got me there.”

Just as I was about to retort with another snippy comment, a door suddenly slammed open from down the hallway. Our eyes widened and we turned to watch as a very frantic Chad bolted down the hallway, his khaki pants stretching dangerously against his thighs. I kind of felt bad for Chad, having to wear those pants, but apparently they went to a private school. Ashton was dressed similarly, in khakis and a navy blue sweatshirt.

“Ash!” Chad yelled in a hushed whisper tone, thundering down the hall and over towards us. My heart began to pound as I stared up at him, his hazel eyes wide and jaw clenched.

“He's com-”

“Ashton! Is that you?”

A new voice suddenly rumbled from down the hall.

W-what?

Everything happened all at once then. Another figure appeared in the hallway, and before I could even process what was happening, the hand around me closed in tightly and I was quickly shoved into a sweatshirt pocket.

“W-wha-?” I immediately yelled out of instinct before a finger slammed against my face, shutting me up.

My cheeks burst into flames.

I began struggling against the fingers that were lightly curled around me in the fabric, but it was no use. Ashton kept his finger pressed against my face, his other fingers snaking their way around my middle.

What the hell was he doing??

“D-dad!”

I froze, my face instantly draining of color. I felt my heart begin to pound, stomach knotting tightly.

I had completely forgotten about his dad.

“How was your trip?”

I heard footsteps thunder closer, shaking me to my core as each one rumbled closer until they were right in front of us. The finger slowly fell from my face, but still kept me locked tightly. Carefully, Ashton shifted his hand so I was pressed face first against his stomach. My face reddened and I tried to squirm away, but to no avail once again.  Warmth immediately soaked in through the fabric, suffocating me in the confines of his pocket.

No use.

Tiredly, I slumped over, listening carefully to the muffled words booming above me.

“It was good, busy. Feels like forever since I’ve seen you two! How has everything been?”


I heard Chad shift over behind Ashton, a forced smile laced into his voice.


“We’ve been well, Mr. Pierce.”

“Good! That’s good.”

There was a moment of awkward silence, neither party saying anything for several moments. I felt Ashton take a deep breath, turning around to exit out the door. Finally.

“Well, we’ve gotta get going! Don’t wanna be late-”

“Hold on Ashton, I need to talk to you about something. Chad, you can head on outside.”

Time itself suddenly whirred to a stop, Ashton’s body going cold against mine. My eyes went wide, going stiff against his stomach as we let the words sink in.

Did Ashtons dad…find out about me?

Oh no.


I heard a door close softly behind us, then Ashton’s dad cleared his throat, taking a careful step closer. His voice was low and deep, laced with exhaustion and strain.

“W-what is it, dad?” Ashton asked nervously, taking a careful step back and curling his fingers closer around me protectively. I wanted to slap myself.

Could he have sounded any more suspicious?

For a brief second, I considered my options. Maybe…if I started making a scene, Ashton’s dad would find me. But then what would happen? Would he let me go, or would he keep me captive like the other human? I felt a lump build up in my throat.

I don’t think I was willing to gamble.

“I want to talk about your mother.”

For me, the relief was tangible. So he hadn’t caught us. I slumped over in Ashton’s fingers, a tired smile falling onto my face.

But Ashton remained stiff.

“What about her?” He asked quietly, suddenly sounding choked up. My chest tightened and I sat back up, my ears perked and curiosity peaked.

I had never heard Ashton sound that upset.

There was a sour, all too familiar feeling building up in my gut, twisting my insides. A bitter realization dawned on me.

So he must not be the only one with mom issues.

“I’ve…I’ve tried to get back in touch with her…” His dad began carefully, piecing out each one of his words as if one slip up could combust the entire house.

“Why? There’s no point. It’s been almost 17 years, dad.”

Ashton’s voice suddenly bubbled up in anger, his fingers unconsciously rolling me around in his grasp, cupping me tighter. But I wasn’t focused hardly on that, for once. My attention was completely nailed outside, eyebrows furrowed.

Ashton’s dad’s voice sounded strained.

“I know, I know, but your 18th birthday as coming up soon, I just thought that maybe she’d want to see her son-”

“I haven’t seen her once, dad. Not once since she left. I don’t even remember her. I wish…”

Ashton’s voice suddenly cracked and I stiffened, eyes going wide. Something in my chest panged.

Was he going to cry?

“I wish you’d stop trying.”

I felt Ashton lean over to the ground, picking up his backpack and throwing it over his shoulder, taking a step towards the door. My jaw was still slack, ribs swirling in something I never thought I’d ever feel for the boy holding me captive. A strange, overwhelming sense of what almost felt like…compassion.

I must be crazy.


He stopped right before he opened the door, turning around to face his dad once again. He took another deep, shaky breath. I heard a sudden soft smile floating through his words.

“But thanks, really.”

I could almost feel the tension on the air simmer down, Ashton turning the door and stepping outside, calling one last time into the house before it clicked shut.

“Love you.”


~


Things were absolutely silent on the walk to school. Chad, sensing that Ashton wasn’t really up for talking, decided to give him some space, keeping several steps behind us and letting Ashton breathe. The only sound was the gentle rumble of Ashton’s footsteps hitting the concrete, creating an uneven rhythm with my own heartbeat. He still hadn’t let me out of his pocket, and to my slight discomfort he kept his hand in there was well, still loosely cupped around me. I could feel his middle finger ever so slightly trailing up and down my back, almost as if comforting himself by petting me. Any other time I would’ve snapped at him to stop, but the knot in my chest wouldn’t let me. My own brain was flooded with thoughts.

I never even thought about Ashton’s mom. I mean, why would I? Part of me wondered what had happened, why she had left and never bothered to get back in touch.  But…hearing all of that…

I curled my knees to my chest, taking a long breath and cautiously leaning back into Ashton’s hand, giving into his pets. I felt his hand flinch in surprise, stopping for a moment, but then ever so slowly nudging me into the cup of his palm, tracing a finger through my hair. Everything about it felt wrong.

No.

I swallowed.

I wanted everything about it to feel wrong.

But for some reason, my heart was aching, and giving into Ashton’s touch in that moment felt the most right thing to do in the world.

I hated myself for it.

But I couldn’t help it.

Myself of all people knew how hard it was to lose a mom.

And how no person in the entire world deserved that kind of pain, regardless of who they were.


“A-Ashton…?” I squeaked up carefully. No movement.

Sighing, I flipped myself around in his hand and patted the tip of his finger, nudging him for attention. The hand suddenly froze, then slowly cupped around me, creating a shell around my frame. I gasped as I felt myself being brought out of the pocket, the cold winter air instantly biting at my cheeks. Cautiously, he brought me up to his face, cupping me below his chin and keeping his fingers locked tightly, so nobody on the street could see. There didn’t seem to be many people anyway.

Ashton’s eyebrows were furrowed, his eyes still glazed over in a gentle sadness. The smell of lavender swam around me.

I cleared my throat.

“I-I’m sorry, about your mom…” I whispered carefully, watching as his eyes began to waver.

He looked away from me for a second, swallowing and trying to collect himself before looking back to me. I could see the ghosts of years of tears swallowed up in his irises. It was a look I knew all too well.

He gave me a small smile.

“It’s alright. I never really met her anyway, so it’s not like I have much to miss, right? I don’t know if you’d understand-”

“I-I do!”

My own words surprised me, slipping from my lips before they had even processed in my mind. My face paled.

What was I doing? Sharing personal info about myself to the man who kidnapped me…comforting him?


I really was going crazy.


Ashton’s blue eyed widened, staring down at me with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Well, there was no going back now. But if I was going to try and relate…

…I wouldn’t tell the whole truth.


I took a shaky breath, meeting Ashton’s eyes and speaking softly.

“I’ve never really met my mom either. She…left 16 years ago.”

Not technically untrue.

Ashton’s eyes continued to widen, his jaw going slightly slack. I continued.

“S-so I can relate to how you feel. I know it’s really hard…losing someone like that…”  I trailed off, my own chest beginning to turn and looking down to my lap, fighting off the hurt I felt beginning to swim through me.

“No one deserves to lose their mom. Ever. And I’m sorry that…you had to go through that too.”

I heard Ashton’s breath hitch and when I looked back up, I froze.

His eyes were filled with tears.

Ah shit shit shit, did I make him cry? I was only trying to help dammit I knew that I shouldn’t have-

The hand underneath me began to move. Upwards.  I whipped my head up frantically, heart racing as I found myself brought closer to Ashton’s face, closer than I had ever been before. His eyes were soft, a small smile on his lips. He looked…touched. He pulled me in even closer and my stomach began to unravel.

His lips parted just inches from me, warm air enveloping everything around me.

“Thank you.”


Then I felt it.

Warmth

Warmth pressed against my cheek or rather, the whole side on my face.

Soft…  gentle…plush…

Lips.



My entire body came to an immediate halt, eyes split open wide, air caught in my lungs. I could feel intense heat rising to my cheeks as Ashton pulled away slowly, a smile still dancing on his lips. I couldn’t move a muscle.

Did he just…

..Kiss me?


I stared up at him with wide eyes, jaw slack as Ashton looked back at me, his own face slightly flushed. My throat was lodged with words that couldn’t find their way to my tongue, blood pulsing in my ears.

It was just on the cheek. A friendly gesture. It meant nothing. Nothing at all.

Ashton saw my expression and chuckled, the sadness mostly wiped from his eyes. All I could so was gape at him like a sitting duck in his palm, staring up at him wildly. The heat wouldn’t drain from my cheeks.

With a small smirk he brought me back down to his pocket and snuck his hand inside, back where he had been before. Suddenly able to actually function again, I whirred back to life, attempting to crawl out from the confines of his hand but quickly found myself nudged back into his palm. A finger found my side once again and began its usual gentle strokes up and down, lightly grazing my face. I flinched. My cheek was still burning from his touch. I prayed to god he couldn’t feel it.

My heart was still pounding in my chest, brain turning to goo. I didn’t even bother to question why he did it. This is Ashton we’re talking about. It was just out of…gratitude.

Right?

Ashton’s steps suddenly slowed and then stopped, waiting a couple seconds for Chad to jog up to us. I felt his heavy footsteps reverberate through the ground.

“You alright, dude?” Chad asked quietly, not having been able to talk to him since the incident at the house.

“Yeah, I’m better.”

I could hear the grin in his voice. My face reddened.


It only took a couple more minutes before I began to hear it: the chorus of obnoxious students in the distance, the grind of cars against the street, the frantic shuffling of papers.


My chest tightened, suddenly painfully distracted with something even more daunting.


School.
This chapter was sooooo fun to write ahhhh I hope you all like ittt ;w;

AH, SEE! ASHTON HAS SOME F E E L I N G S! HE CAN BE KINDA N I C E ???

You'll definitly find out exactly why his mom left and omg guys, next chapter is going to be actual madness. Might do a POV switch halfway, might not??? Idk, but its going to be crAZY

Ahhh Ashton, he doesnt like to show weakness all the much. Hes not really the type to get angry at all, but more so he'll just get sad instead. Like at first he'll TRY and be like mad and stuff but it usually just ends up bumming him out ; ( Like hardly anyone has ever seen this boy actually seething mad af, like at the mOST he'll get irritated like he did with Chad a couple chapters ago lmao

SURPRISINGLY, Chad is the one who CAN get mad, although he hardly ever does it either. For the most part he stays all calm cool and collected in hectic situations, but obvs he'll be stern if needed. But hOLY, you do not want to seriously cross that boy. Like hurt someone he loves? U dead as shit.

Plus hes a big boy so no one even wants to mess with all dat anyways lol

Im not even gonna comment on that little Ro and Ash *cough* interaction eheheheehehe YOU GUYS tell me what you think!!

But oml this poor girl, she gets flustered so easily and it annoys her so much like literally the only person she doesnt get all flustered in front of is Kyle cuz theyre total BFFs and know each other super duper well like Kyle could literally body slam her and she wouldnt even blink not gonna lie

Tell me what you all think! Love you guys~ flying kiss  
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WhenOneHasFreadom's avatar
SOMEONE HELP ROSE WITH HER MENTAL STABILITYWaaaah! Rage La la la la I think I've fainted. 
But seriously, someone help this chickgravity falls bill cipher intensifies Angry sock gravity falls icon (broken)