The Prince's Curse

Chapter 21 - The Ball

~Chapter 21~

*The Ball*

"Here, let me get it for you," Luke reached for the phone that Ashton was stretching for, leaning across the bed but still just missing the device.

    "I said I got it," Ashton snapped. He was still in a horrible mood, Luke thought it was from missing his friends and that neverending fear he constantly felt. Luke pushed it towards him so he could actually take it. "Thanks," he grumbled, looking away from the guard.

    Luke sighed, getting up and pacing around the room. He knew Ashton was nervous about the ball later in the evening. He hadn't even wanted this to happen; having Ashton in an open room with hundreds of strangers was an invitation for this witch lady to show up and try to harm him. But apparently this was a tradition the royals couldn't get around, so Luke prepared his best to make sure Ashton would be okay.

    "It's time to get dressed, Ash."

    "My name is Ash-ton, and do not use contractions, it is unbecoming."

    "Oh, sorry," Luke muttered. Give the kid a break, he didn't mean to lash out. He's frustrated and has no outlet for his emotions—he's been forced his entire life not to have emotions.

    If an encounter like this had happened even a few weeks ago, Luke would have been just as nasty back to Ashton, but since going to Eastover, Luke thought the two of them had a better understanding of one other.

    Ashton didn't reply, instead opening his phone. Luke knew he was probably either looking at his photos or playing some video game Michael showed him that his phone had. Michael was a huge gamer.

    "Hey, uh, I need to just go check on something, I will be right back," Luke told the prince. He was worried what his reaction was going to be to Luke leaving. "I'm going to get Brendon to come in here and stay with you,"

    Ashton just shrugged. He didn't really care. He wasn't sure what was going on with him. Sometimes he felt like someone flipped a switch in him and everything was just turned off. Nothing bothered him, he didn't feel anything. It was just hollow. When he got really scared or upset, that usually happened after. He knew he needed to act composed in front of others, but this was something new. Sometimes when he thought about his friends too, his heart would clench, but he didn't understand what was bothering him so much.

The guard Luke asked to watch over the prince stood at attention by his door inside the room, but Ashton just rolled over and took the covers with him. He didn't want to be around anybody at the moment.

Luke came back about half an hour later, dismissing the guard and walking over to Ashton's bed.

"I do not think I want to attend the ball tonight," Ashton said as Luke sat down next to him.

Luke was shocked.

"Ash, you have to go. You've been planning this since you arrived back!"

He only shrugged.

"But, think of your people. They will want to see you and know that you're okay, don't you think?"

"Perhaps. But really I do not feel like going, it will take so much effort and..." he trailed off. And I'll have to pretend I feel fine and dance and smile and talk to other people. He would much rather sit in the darkness of his room with Luke than entertain a couple hundred people.

"Ash, I think it would be much better for you if you went. I know you aren't feeling right, but trust me. You need to go, if not for yourself, for your mum and sister and the people." Ashton groaned, rolling over onto his back. His eyes were closed, but when he felt Luke run his fingers through his curls, he relaxed at the comforting touch.