Safety Pin • Luke Hemmings

Chapter 6

When I was 7 Ashton pushed me down the stairs and broke my arm.
I hated him after that and told him I never wanted to be his friend again because I couldn't go swimming for a whole summer.

When I came home from the hospital in my cast there were wilted, old flowers on my porch. They looked as if they had been there for a few days or so, probably the time I had been at the hospital and surgery.
I had recognized them as the ones from Ashton's flower bush in his front yard.

Ashton ended up getting grounded for destroying his mom's flower bush but ever since that day, whenever Ashton would "mess up' he would bring me flowers.

I guess that's why the front doorbell rang this morning.

I was still in my pajamas as it was only 10 in the morning. An iced Coffee in hand as I hid behind the wall not wanting for the unknown salesman to see me. The no soliciting sign in our neighborhood meant nothing to those guys.

"It's me Gi." A faint voice called from behind the door.

I sighed as Ash's voice came out behind the wall and walking to the door.
I know I shouldn't be upset with him, he just wanted to hang out with all his friends on Friday. But it was hard not to blame him for all the re opened wounds. I should blame Hemmings, not Ash.

I unlocked the door and opened it seeing Ash stand there, a half dozen flowers in his hand as he kicked his shoe against my house.
No longer were the flowers Ashton gave me from the yard but normally from the local store.

I smiled lightly as he turned to me holding them out.

"Come in," I said holding the door open alittle wider. He smiled largely as he walked inside the house and took off his shoes at the door.

I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a vase for the flowers and filled it up with water.

"I know you said you and Luke weren't good, but I just wanted, I Don't Know, to have my friends back," Ashton said sitting down at the kitchen table. "I should have asked you how you felt before I invited him."

I shook my head and sat the flowers to the side, "I'm sorry me and him can't get along. And I'm sorry that I took it out on you. there was no reason for me to be upset with you over wanting your friends to be friends."

Silence filled the table as we both felt guilty. Just because I couldn't stand Luke Doesn't mean I should put ash in the middle.

"You Wanna go get lunch?" He asked making me smile.

"Of course." I said standing up, "My treat."

"I'm supposed to buy you lunch, not the other way around." He said following me up to my room.

"I have band practice at 4 so gotta be back before then." Ignored his previous comment as I walked into my room and opened up my closet.

"I have it at 4 also." He said

I grabbed some jeans and a t shirt and threw them on as Ashton lay face down on my bed. What a gentleman.

After I was dressed I walked over and pulled his head up by his hair. He sent me a smile which I returned before I dropped his head back in the pillow.

"So where are you thinking? Marcos? Snags?" I asked walking back down the stairs.

"I just want pizza," Ashton said shrugging.

"You always want pizza."
Ashton and I both slipped on our shoes and walked outside to Ashton's car parked in my driveway.
It was... weird seeing his car parked in my dad's spot.
Not that my dad was ever home to park in it, but a car never filled the spot when He wasn't home.