Tale Of An Outcast

Chapter One:

I opened my eyes to that familiar mess of shaggy hair that belonged to my best friend. Smiling, I ran my fingers through the long curls while soft snores emitted from his open mouth. I propped my head up on my hand and watched his eyes move back and forth beneath his eyelids. He smiled, his arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me against him, mumbling quietly. He pressed his face into my chest and I laughed, tugging on the ends of his hair gently. I said nothing, not wanting to disturb his slumber after the night he had last night. Although I should. I told him to take it easy, that we had school tomorrow but someone didn't listen to me.

With a quiet mumble and the soft sound of his lips smacking together, his eyes opened. He tilted his head up, his cheek still pressed against my chest and I looked down into pools of liquid green. He smiled a goofy, still half asleep smile, and nuzzled his face against the fabric of my shirt.

While this seems romantic, it wasn't. Ashton had been my best friend since forever. I stayed at his house more than my own, and since he didn't have an extra room, I slept in his bed with him. Neither of us wanted to take the couch or the floor so we eventually just gave up arguing, and compromised to half of the bed apiece. Of course most of the time Ash had me trapped to his body in a bear hug. I felt honored because I was the only girl to ever have slept in his bed, or be in his bed period. Not even Coryn, his awful girlfriend, had been in his bed.

In fact, she'd never even been inside his house. But that was her fault. He brought her over once and she totally turned up her nose in disgust at Ashton's tiny little home. It may not be in the best of shape but it was more of a home than the mansion she lived in. You could feel the love and cosiness when you walked in. That's why I loved it so much. I might as well just move in with him. I already had a drawer and some of his closet to myself. Having some of my clothes there made it easier to stay the night. I didn't have to worry about packing a bag and carrying it all over Hell and half of Georgia. I stayed so much to get away from my parents who constantly tried to belittle me and turn me into something I wasn't: a clone of Coryn. No thank you, Satan. I'd rather not.

"Sleep well?" I asked. Ash grunted and hugged me tighter.

"Shh, don't talk. Headache."

"I told you not to drink that much, Ash. We've gotta go to school." He groaned.

"No. Lets just stay. At least until I feel better. Please, Am?" He asked, looking up at me through his eyelashes. I shook my head.

"Ashton, you know you're on thin ice as it is."

"Exactly why I need to stay home. I'm still halfway fucked up. If I go like this, they're gonna get pissed at me again." He said. I sighed. He was right. Either way, he was risking getting get kicked out. He was in trouble for truancy and coming to school so fucked up he didn't know which way was left. His grades weren't the best on top of that, and the principals told him if he didn't get his shit together, he was gone. He'd been doing slightly better though, so maybe they'd cut him some slack. He was in better shape than Mikey at least. Michael's grades were so low, they were debating putting him in special ed classes, for people who weren't academically talented. However, certain teachers were doing their damnedest to get him kicked out. Which I thought was complete and utter bullshit.

"Fine. We'll get there by lunch time, though. I have to turn in an English essay." I finally gave in. With another goofy grin, he grabbed my chest and moved his hands around. "Ash, what the hell are you doing? That's my boob." I asked, watching him.

"Fluffing it."

"It's not a fucking pillow, you dilhole."

"But it might as well be." He grinned and nuzzled his face into my chest again. I rolled my eyes and watched his eyes close.