Tattooed Hearts (Lashton)

Chapter 23

Aston PoV

"Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself?" I asked Luke for probably the tenth time today. It's my first day after I took a little break to take care of Luke. He has nightmares every night and he doesn't want to talk about it, so I just stay in his bed until he falls asleep again and I usually fall asleep next to him. At least until a new nightmare shows up.

"Yes, Michael will be here all day, like you asked, so just go!" Luke said while pushing me towards the door. I was quick enough to grab my car keys before Luke pushed me outside and shut the door. I huffed, mumbling a small 'okay' before making my way over to my car. I got in and drove off.

When I walked in I was immediately greeted by Kai. He just got back to work a few weeks ago after his wife gave birth to a beautiful boy. He returned my 'Hi' and got back to work. I walked in the backroom to drop off my bag and phone in my locker. Kai handed me my appointment map and I got ready for my first appointment, a cute 16 year old girl who was getting her first tattoo.

-

I just finished up my last appointment and got ready to leave since my shift was almost over and I started to clean up my stuff. That is until I heard Kai call me over to the desk. I walked over to him and to say I was surprised to see Luke standing there almost shitting his pants and Michael with a grin as big as the Cheshire Cat, was an understatement.

"Uh.. Hi?" I said, unsure.

Good job idiot, now he thinks you're not happy to see him and make him feel bad

I ignored that thought when I saw Luke was going to speak.

"I uh... I wanted a new t-tattoo" He said, looking at his feet and his hands behind his back. Cute.

"Okay, I was done anyway so I can do it now if you want?" I said. Luke nodded and Michael's grin got even larger than it was before. I walked them back to my little table and made Luke sit on the chair.

"So, what do you want?" I asked curiously. He looked at Michael who nodded enthusiastically. He handed a picture to me and I looked at it. There were two swords who were placed in the ground. One black, one white. It reminded me to what Michael told me the other day in the hospital. About it representing me and Luke. He's the white sword in my opinion, he is still so innocent and he's so young and already going through so much crap. I on the other hand am not so innocent. I did a lot of things I regreted and still do.

"Where do you want it, Lukey?" I asked, he blushed at the nickname.

"On my wrist" He said and to my surprise he rolled up his sleeve, revealing thin and long white lines and some bruises which are turning a gross yellow colour. I gulped at the sight but nodded and got the transfer paper to draw the tattoo on. It was in anime style so it wasn't very difficult. I got everything I needed and started working on Luke's wrist.

Luke PoV 

I was nervous when I rolled up my sleeve. I hope no one would see the bruises on my arm. I saw Ashton gulp and I somehow knew it wasn't just from the scars on my arm. It has been a few days since Jake and I's 'sercret meetings' and I was happy he didn't know I was staying with Ashton. I finally got some space to breath, which was really needed.

Jake has been beating me since the first day he came back to school. Michael saw him and made sure he didn't harrass me again. Jake promised not to. If Michael only knew. But I can't tell him, he'll yell at Jake and hit him and make everything worse for me. Jake will tell my brothers and they won't be happy. I'm surprised they didn't try to find me and get me back yet, even though it has only been a few days. Two maybe.

I still skype with my mum and she made Ashton promise to take care of me when they first saw each other. We told her what we planned, that I didn't want to stay at home because the memories were still fresh. She understood and allowed me to stay at Ashton's place until I was ready to go back, since she's still my guardian my brothers allowence didn't count. 

Ashton soon wrapped up my wrist, rolled down my sleeve and told me to wait for him to get his stuff. 

"I'm heading home, my mum made lasagna and we don't want me to miss that, now do we?" Michael said while ruffling my hair. I shook my head, still a bit shaking from nerves for my new tattoo.

"You did good, Luke. I'm proud of you. I think I'm finally corrupting your mind" Michael snickered, assuring me I did a good job. I just waved goodbye at him when he walked out the door, not trusting my voice enough to speak yet. 

"Ready to go, Lukey?" I blushed at the nickname. I nodded and Ashton and I headed to his car, saying goodbye at the man at the desk. We got in the car and started our journey back to Ashton and Calum's place. I kept glacning at Ashton and saw he tightened his jaw repeatedly, like he was mad or trying to block something out.

"Ash?" I asked, my voice wavering a bit. He hummed, but didn't look away from the road.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah, why are you asking?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing a bit, but I could sense a little nervousness around him.

"You're acting strange" I said, eyeing him and seeing he was still clenching his jaw and he looked more nervous by the minute.

"How so?" He chuckled a bit. I didn't buy it.

"You're clenching your jaw and you look like you're really nervous. Almost like you have a secret you don't want me to know" I said suspicoulsy. Ashton froze, but didn't say anything.

"Ash?" I asked when he didn't asnwer.

"Just shut up okay, I need to concentrate" He snapped at me and turned up the radio. I slumped in my seat and looked out the window.

What did I do wrong?

Ashton PoV

I didn't mean to snap at him, I really didn't. I just don't want to tell him about the voices. How I'm getting worse while he's getting better. He's more important than I am.

You got that right, Ashy. Everyone's more important than you.

I know.

We taught you well. You'll see we were right, you're nothing but a waste of space. Filling up space you don't even deserve. You really should die.

I know I'm a waste of space and a piece of shit. But I can't die. Not yet. First I need to help Luke get better and make sure he'll survive without me.

HIIIII!!!!

I'm really sorry I'm late again but school has been bugging me a lot and I have testweek next week and I haven't done any studying for it yet. Also I still have to read a book for Dutch which has to be finished in like 3 days and I haven't even started yet. It's 160 pages.... Ooops?

Soo, what do you think? I apologize for so many PoV switches but I feel like it was necesarry. 

This was a filler, kind of? I mean there were a few important bits in it but most of it was just filler material. 

Thoughts on Luke getting a new tattoo? Jake beating him up now instead of Ryan and Adam? Not telling anyone about it?

Thoughts on Ashton? Him believing his demons? Wanting to make sure that Luke's okay? The snapping? 

Thank you for reading,

See you next time!

BUH BYEEEE, my lovelies, stay beautiful!