{Banana Smoothie} ✔️

Chapter 56

October 16th

Grayson- 26 weeks

Asher's POV

I don't know why I bothered coming to school. I knew I wasn't emotionally or physically ready. "Hey" a voice whispers breaking me out of my gaze. I turn to the side not bothering to focus on my notes. It was so rude of me.

Am I a bad person? "Hi" I whisper back to Thomas. "You aren't okay, Asher you look exhausted" he talks through his teeth trying not to get caught. I look forward shaking my head no. "I'm okay" I whisper.

He lets his head fall onto the deck with a low groan. With a deep breath, he picks it back up and looks at me. "Asher" Thomas whispers as I try my best to just smile and look forward. He repeats my name attempting to get my attention.

I felt incredible guilt and a pang in my heart. A few silent minutes go by as I tug at my hair, mad at myself. All the words that Mimi said went in one ear and out the other.

Some more time went by when a noise wakes me out of my trance. Thomas stands from his seat and walks over to Mimi who was now sitting at her desk writing. My eyes follow wondering what he could be doing.

Mimi looks up from her work and he leans in to whisper. Is this considered eavesdropping? I can't hear anything. They talk for a minute before both turn to look at me. I quickly look away lifting my quill to pretend to work on whatever was in front of me.

Once I can tell they moved I shift my gaze back at them. Mimi was nodding and then pointed out into the hall. He nods quickly... thanking her maybe? I couldn't quite tell.

Thomas walks back to his desk grabbing his stuff. "Let's go" he whispers and I looked at him shocked. Giving him a confused look he sighs. "Ash, I'm taking you to our common room" he mumbles so nobody can hear.

"No, Thomas" I wave him off. Mimi coughs and I look up at her. She gives me a sympathetic look mouthing the word 'go'. I shake my head no practically pleading with her only to get a stern face in return. Sighing I pack up my stuff and stand out of my seat.

Ignoring the stares I hug my bag to my chest. Two boys leaving a class early together what kind of great rumors is this going to start. Thomas opens the door and I step out waiting for him.

"I'm fine really" I groan once he closes the door. "Nope, I'm not forcing you to tell me what's wrong, but I am forcing you to sleep" he lectures me.

Our walk was mostly silent, as I let my head hang. I was tired, but I need to go to class. I trudge along realizing I was close to breaking down. "Vanilla bean" Thomas uses the password and the door opens for us. I was so lost in thought I hadn't even realized we were here.

"Where is your room?" He breaks the silence, I point to the left side. We go up the few steps and then it divides into three different dorms. I tug him towards the middle one and he smiles.

"So you're the empty bed" he chuckles and I nod. "Should have known" he continues chuckling as I drop my bag next to my already made bed. "I've never actually slept in this bed" I smile looking at it.

"Welp, come here" he smiles jumping onto my bed. I sit on it as we just stay there awkwardly. "Do you want to talk about it?" He questions me. "No" I shake my head and he nods biting his lip.

"I probably should though" I chuckle sadly. "You really don't have to" he reassures me. Taking a deep breath I hug myself knowing I was about to go through an emotional whirlwind.

"As you know, I'm extremely sick. Always have been. I can't be like normal kids... I never will be" I smile a sad smile and Thomas puts a hand on my knee "normal people suck anyways" he smiles trying to make me feel better. I giggle before starting again.

"My birth parents hate me, so I hate me... constantly doubting myself... why couldn't they love me... what did I do?" I bite my cheek holding back tears. He moves his hand from my knee to rub my shoulder gently, attempting to comfort me.

"I'm just always stressed... a few- do you remember the week I- uh was just- really struggling?" I ask swallowing my cries. He nods his face concerned and worried. "Of course, you didn't talk or eat at all that week. All I could do was hold you while you cried" he mutters his voice dropping.

Thomas's hand moves down to my back in the same motion as before. "H-he touched me... I got- again... it's always me" I cry weeping into my hands now. He freezes before pulling me into a hug.

"Who touched you!" He shouts before sucking in a breath "Asher, what do you mean again?" He asks holding me in his arms.

I sobbed not wanting to relive it. "One boy- last year... and an- older man, he wouldn't stop! He thre-threaten to kill..." I suck in a deep breath going back to hugging myself.

"Bloody hell, Asher... you didn't deserve this, give me their names" he growls growing angry. I shake my head turning to cry into his chest. "No, they-they already got in trouble" I sob gripping my shirt.

"I don't care... I'll give them a reminder" he sneers as I just shake my head crying. "Then- Atlas, I'm so scared... what if something happens! What if he gets hurt! Or Iris... They mean the world to me" I sob my heart racing.

I suck in my breath, realizing how uneven it was getting. "Your family is one of the strongest families I have ever met... they will easily win this" he smiles wiping away some of my tears.

I just continued to cry as he lays me down pulling me under the blanket. "I'm going to sit right here... you did so good, I know you're scared" he whispers rubbing my cheek.

I shift to my side hiccuping. "Just get some sleep cutie" he continues now rubbing my back as I nod closing my eyes. Clinging to the blanket I begin to remember how tired I really was. Exhausted, from crying and trying to avoid all my problems, pretending they weren't important or that I was over them.

I didn't even remember falling asleep.

*

"Hey Angel" the voice of my boyfriend wakes me up and I jump turning to my side. I was still in my dorm bed the curtains were now closed and instead of Thomas sitting next to me there was Atlas.

"Oh, you poor thing" he whispers finally seeing my face. He wipes my tear-stained cheek. I pull away sniffling and wiping my nose. It doesn't take long for him to pull me into a hug. "What happened? Why are you here?" I ask cuddling closer enjoying his warmth.

He chuckles and I pull myself out of his chest to look at him. "I was leaving Gramps's class and, your friend was standing there waiting for me" he sighs as I crawl further into his embrace.

"He told me that he took you to your room, and man was I about to jump him when he said that" he groans as I smile at his protective side. "He quickly added that he brought you to rest and left once you had fallen asleep" I can hear the happiness in his voice while he cradles me refusing to let go.

"It's a lot harder sneaking into this dorm room... everybody wanted to talk to me" he chuckles as I giggle a sad laugh. "Your people are way too nice it's scary" he shivers as I try to hold in my laugh. "No I'm serious babe, I practically got offered a whole meal and some flowers" he makes a gagging noise.

I couldn't hold it back anymore and burst out into a fit of giggles. He's not wrong. "We can be scary when we need to" I smile, happy he was here "Thank you" I whisper and he nods. Thank you to Thomas as well.

"Anything for you" he mumbles leaving kisses all over my head. "Now next time, I tell you you're not ready to come to school, you are not going to school" he warns me and I slump into his arms. "You didn't listen to me about putting your name in" I shoot back pulling away to cover my mouth.

"That was so mean I'm so sorry" I start to cry again. "Ouch, don't worry I deserved it" he chuckles a sad laugh pulling me back into his arms. "No more crying" he teases.

That was so idiotic of me. I try to ignore it and perk up, kissing his cheek "Does this mean you like Thomas now?" I question him while he swept some of my curls out of my face kissing my forehead.

"Nope, I just hate him a little less"