Souvenir [Complete]

Thirty-eight. The Family

The first day in Brightwitch, they spent it asleep. Ashton got them delivery from the Everything Cuisine, and Luke thought that was just like old times. They ate out of the container instead of plates, but Luke was hungry enough that it didn't matter. He wasn't sharing if he didn't have to.

By the time they left the hotel, it was bright and early the next day. Late September cast a golden hue on the town in the soft glow of the morning. It hadn't rained near as much here, and Luke could smell the changing of the seasons. It was already colder.

Luke got his coat. The one he'd left in Ashton's car on their first trip to the city. Now it was embedded with the smell of old leather seats and sunlight and pine air freshener, but Luke was so happy to have it again. Found, and safe.

It pained Luke's chest to smell it. He had tied those scents to Ashton, but Ashton was still here. Still around him. How could the smell hurt worse than the person.

His memories were always dramatic.

They looked like a little family, walking two and two  out of the hotel. Luke was convinced that every eye would be on them, especially him, since he was back. The choir boy. The preacher's kid. Whatever name they had for him, he was back.

Luke instinctively reached for Ashton's hand and dropped it when he realized he had no reason to instinctively do that, since he had never really held his hand in public. Not to mention, their hands couldn't be together in that way.

They were friends. Or...friendly. Luke could take that. But he wouldn't push it. No knuckles brushing this time. He was serious. He had shit to deal with for himself.

"So are you gonna try to work at the diner again?" Luke asked lightly.

"I don't know how long I'll be here this time," Ashton sighed.

"What about school, they can't just miss all of this school..." Luke asked.

"I'm working on it," Ashton promised.

"Okay."

Luke had to admit, it felt a little strange to be back. Especially after being in New York. The walk felt so short and yet so horribly long. It felt like a nightmare. Surely he'd wake up, and there wouldn't be cornucopia adornments on every other lamp post.

The people on the streets noticed them, but didn't say anything. Luke saw the store, and a smoking Calum on the outside and suddenly had an idea. "A picnic!" He cooed.

"A what?" Ashton asked.

"I'll run in, get the stuff we need. You guys can hang out with Cal. And then we'll have a picnic by the duck pond," Luke smiled. Plus this would be the way to get over Luke's nightmare. Face it head on right? No one's amputating anything today. Not if he has something to say about it.

"Yeah, I'm gonna bow out of that one, but you guys have fun," Ashton hummed.

That stung. "Yeah okay. You do whatever it is that you do. Are you guys okay with that?" Luke asked Lauren and Harry. He was just fragile enough that if they said no, he'd shatter like a glass figure dropped on concrete.

"Yeah, do you think there will be ducks?" Harry cooed.

"Probably. Or swans," Luke grinned.

"Swans are really mean," Lauren pouted. "At least the ones around our house are."

"Oh yeah, these are, too, but typically they won't bother anyone. And there's a giant fish that likes to eat the bread you toss in the water." Luke hummed.

Harry gasped. "Oh cool!" He grinned. "This is the coolest pond ever!"

Luke smirked. "I knew you'd think so, I'm gonna go get the stuff real quick," Luke hummed. He waved at Calum before going in the store.