Lost - LRH

Chapter 10

Ding

I walk into the cozy café and look around for a familiar face. I spot Michael standing by the counter with his phone in his hand.

"Hey." I draw his attention from the phone.

"Oh, hi." He puts his phone away and brings his hand to his now blonde hair.

"Look I'm really sorry about whatever I said last week," I recall the disturbed and confused look his face displayed when I brought up Calum.

"Hm? Oh. Right, right. Yeah er no, it's fine," Michael says as he rubs the back of his neck, he is clearly uncomfortable.

We stand in silence. I began debating whether or not I should bring up the sensitive topic. In the midst of my thoughts, I hear a warm chuckle.

"Oi mate you have got to see what L-" Ashton stops his sentence upon seeing me.

"Well hello there Miss Cynthia," he offers me a warm, dimpled smile.

I nod at him, "Hi Ashton."

"So what brings you here, want something to drink?" Ashton says as Michael draws out his phone and begins to text someone.

"Um no actually," I hesitate, "Well I was hoping you could explain some things to me?"

Ashton raises a brow and looks over to Michael who nods and walks to the back, "Uh, er I have to do inventory-and stuff," he leaves.

Ashton gives a small sigh of defeat, "If it's what I think you're talking about, I recommend you not ask too many questions. Wouldn't want to dig up too much dirt from the past."

I remain silent, the atmosphere has shifted, although his words were warm as they always are, there was seriousness present as well.

"Well then, I'll limit you to three questions," he holds up three fingers, "Like a genie of sorts," he smiles.

Oh god where do I begin.
"What happened with Calum that would cause you all so much discomfort?" I wait for his response.

He looks at me, "Well, that's a pretty heavy question," he chuckles, "Let's just say that we all used to be best buds back home but something happened."

I look at him confused, "That doesn't really answer my q-" he cuts me off.

"Ohp well it did, though not in detail. I never said I would go in depth."

Wow he is like a genie, tricks and all.

"Okay fine. How about this, why would Calum tell me to be cautious around Luke?" Ashton stiffens at my question.

He leans over the counter until his face is inches from mine, "Listen to me closely," his voice deepens as he peers right into my eyes. I gulp, the seriousness in his voice made me very afraid to hear his answer, "There are things in our past that we can never escape, things that will hurt us and those around us. Whether it was our own doing or something we had no control over, we must bare the pain," I stare at Ashton's green eyes as they fixate on mine, "Don't go digging up the past. Don't go bringing back the pain. And most importantly, don't judge anyone for what they may or may have not done."

He leans away from me and grabs a cloth from his waist. He begins to wipe down the counter, somewhat breaking the tension around us. I stand in place, speechless from what Ashton had just said.

He looks up at me, a look on his face that I know all too well, sympathy, "I'm sorry for what you have gotten into but Calum's words are true. Be cautious of Luke but also be cautious of Calum, too. Even me and Michael."

My mouth is dry as I nod my head. He looks up at me, "You still have one more question, but you can save it for another time."

I nod my head, "Thanks."

"Cynthia, listen. I promise we're not bad people, we just have rough pasts."

I nod once again, I know the feeling.

I say my goodbye and walk out of the café into the snow.

Fresh snowflakes still fall from the sky and as I look up, some catch on my eyelashes. The begin to walk home as I hear the snow crunch under my boots. I breathe out a sigh as a cloud forms from my breath.

Today just lead to more questions but now, maybe I don't want to know the answer.