Catharsis || Lashton AU - boyxboy

8. rilascio

"If you're gonna fall,
I'll let you know,
That I will pick you up,
Like you for I,
I felt this thing,
I can't replace."
Angels And Airwaves, The Adventure ☯

l.h.

I unlocked the door and opened to let Ashton in first, and I chuckled lightly under my breath as this grubby teenage boy so strongly contrasted against the dullness of my apartment.

"Wow," he breathed, "wow, do I feel out of place."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Oh please," he scoffed, "like you weren't already thinking it. I'm this trashy kid from the slums standing in the middle of an apartment that probably costs more than my whole family. This place is gorgeous."

I didn't like to hear him say that. It felt very acidic on the inside of my being hearing him talk as though he were less important than something as materialistic as this apartment.

"I think you're way prettier." I blurted, fighting with all of my willpower not to slam a hand over my mouth as I blushed harder than I think I ever had.

"What?" Ashton turned from the window to face me, his cheeks red but not likely as red as mine.

"I--" I froze. "I don't even know what I meant by that. I didn't know what to say. I'm sorry."

He released a breathy, somewhat awkward chuckle before turning back to the picture window that overlooked the skyline and shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Do you want a drink?" I spat, rubbing the back of my neck uncomfortably.

"Hell yeah, now you're speaking my language." he turned around, a much less uncomfortable-looking grin on his face. "I know you're rich, so you should know that I'm on a strict whiskey-only liquid diet."

I chuckled inwardly, pulling the whiskey from the shelf and pouring Ashton a glass (a small one at that; I didn't need a drunk eighteen year old boy with aggression issues on my hands all night).

He threw it back in one swift motion, setting the glass down next to me.

"I think I might just stay here forever." he said nonchalantly. "It's so... Calm."

I scoffed. "It's boring and lonely. You'd hate it here. I hate it here."

"It wouldn't be boring and lonely if I were here with you." he grinned, dimples protruding from his cheeks before he lifted himself up onto the counter near where I was standing. "Besides, you have a really hot girlfriend. I'm sure it can't get that boring around here."

"We haven't fucked in like, a month." I scoffed. "I was supposed to get some earlier, but I forgot my keys at the shop and you know, you know where that went."

He chuckled quietly, allowing his head to fall and his gaze to land on his lap.

"Yeah, my bad." he joked. "She seems like a bitch anyway. It's the name Cassie, I'm telling you."

"She's not that bad." I scolded, laughing lightly. "She's just a bit uptight. You know, business major and all."

I poured a bit more whiskey into his glass, keeping to myself to avoid giggling at how quickly he downed the glass he didn't even ask for. He was practically a kid and was already facing a life of alcoholism; and what a wonderful life to lead.

"You ever kissed a guy, Luke?" he asked abruptly, no change in his persona as he picked at a hole in the thigh of his jeans.

I coughed awkwardly. "No."