𝐀 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝 (𝐛𝐱𝐛)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒 - 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲

Thomas POV

After a while Ash finally stopped crying and fell asleep.

I let out a sigh, looking down at his sleeping form.
He looks so young and innocent while sleeping.

I gently lay his head on the pillow and try to stand up very quietly.

For a moment I think he is going to wake up, but I stroke his head and he settles down again.
After closing his door, I take a deep breath, thinking about my next step.

I look at the my watch and see that it is almost time for dinner.

"Should I confront Jack before dinner? That would probably be the best option..", but my line of thoughts is interrupted by Cole's shouting.

"Get your lazy asses down here.".

"Well, there goes my plan.", I say disappointedly.

I walk downstairs into the kitchen, where David and Cole are already sitting at the table.

Cole is already drooling over his plate of hot spaghetti.

"What is taking you so long? I'm hungry?", Cole exclaims, but there isn't real anger behind his words.

I just sit down without saying anything, I can see David giving me a worried look.

"Is everything alright?", he asks, already knowing the answer.

At David's tone, Cole looks in my direction with a frown.

I want to answer but I'm interrupted by Jack coming and sitting down at the table.

He is quiet and has a sour look on his face.

I glare at him, not trying to hide my anger. "Where is Ash? Didn't he hear me?", Cole asks Jackson.

"Ash isn't coming. He isn't feeling well.", I answer and in the corner of my eye I can see Jack freeze for a second.

"Why? Is he sick?", Cole asks, with a worried look.

I just give David a look and he seems to understand what I mean, he always does.

"Let's just eat.", he speaks, picking up his fork.

Cole clearly notices the tension and starts eating too, but not as fast as he normally would.

The dinner is quiet and awkward. Normally the kitchen would be filled with Jack and Ash bickering or small talk.

Jack breaks the uncomfortable silence, "Can i be excused?", he asks in a hushed tone looking at David.

"You only ate half.", David states.

"I'm not hungry", Jackson mumbles.

I hear David sigh and nod at him.
Jack puts the dishes in the sink and goes back to his room.

"So, what the fuck is going on?", Cole asks, when we hear Jackson's door close.

"Jack and Ash had a fight.", is the only thing I say as I continue eating my food even though I'm not really in the mood.

David nods at my words, clearly expecting something like that. "How bad?", he asks.

I already know what he means, "He cried.", I answer his question.

I see him clench his hand in a fist, very tight while Cole stands up from his chair.

They know that I wasn't talking about Jack.

"I'm gonna teach him a lesson.", Cole mutters, but a hand on his chest stops him.

He looks down and sees David but he is looking at me.