we were born sick. || lashton ✓

8

luke.
..
When I wake up the next morning I'm alone in the huge bed with a sore bum. I sigh softly and stretch before sitting up and looking around the room. There's a note on the nightstand so I assume it's from Ashton.

Hey babe. I went to get breakfast for us since you're still sleeping. We're going to be doing a lot today so wear some comfy clothes and shoes. Also, take this Advil for the pain in your bum.  I love you and will see you when I get back.

- Ashton

I rub my eyes and take the Advil like Ashton instructed. I then get up and browse through Ashton's bag looking for a shirt to wear. Just to have a little piece of him since I can't hold his hand. I then pull on my comfiest skinny jeans and slide my feet into my Vans. Once I'm dressed I pull Ashton's grey beanie on as the door opens.

"Lukey? Are you awake baby?" Ashton says walking into the room.

"Yea, I'm up. What'd you bring for breakfast? I'm starving." I sit down at the desk by the window and Ashton sits across from me in a chair he pulls up.

"I have for my lovely boyfriend his favourite Starbucks drink, a blueberry bagel with blueberry cream cheese and," Ashton leans over the desk and places his soft lips against mine, "a kiss." I smile and open the package my bagel is in.

"You'd be surprised at the strange looks I got ordering a blueberry bagel with blueberry cream cheese. The woman in the bagel shop was astounded." Ashton chuckles, "But I explained to her that it's the way my baby likes his bagels. And she just smiled and nodded, discretely flashing me her rainbow bracelet and it got me thinking."

"About what?" I ask, mouth filled with the blueberry goodness.

"I think we should get matching bracelets or something with rainbows on them. You know because that's the gay pride flag, but if anyone asks we can just lie and say it stands for the rainbow that was saw on Noah's Ark." Ashton explains, sipping on his Starbucks. I think over the idea for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"I like that idea." I smile, finishing my bagel and downing half of my coffee. I then get up and walk over to the trash can where I throw out everything from breakfast.

"Do you feel okay?" Ashton asks, walking up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Yea, I'm fine now that the Advil is kicking in."

"I'm sorry it hurts." I turn and look at Ashton, seeing a solemn face.

"It's fine. I don't mind it really. Everything felt so good while it lasted. I'd do it all over again."

"I'd hope so!" Ashton chuckles, kissing my cheek. I roll my eyes and we gather our phones and wallets before slipping on jackets and walking down to Jenny's room. Everyone else from our church has gathered around and is taking paper schedules from Jenny. Ashton grabs two and hands one to me so I begin looking over it. First we're going Times Square where everyone will be free to roam around and do some shopping. We're then going to Central Park for a picnic lunch and some down time. After that we're taking the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty. Then for dinner we'll be going off on our own again.

"Date again tonight?" Ashton asks in a whisper, leaning over to me. I smile and nod quickly as we begin walking to the elevator with the rest of the youth group. We walk down the street for a ways until we reach the subway. I'm actually pretty interested in riding the subway since I've never been on one before.

Just as we get to the platform a very cute gay couple walks past us and I nearly cry at what the kids in our group start yelling.

"Jesus can't those animals find a deserted island to go to so they're not acting so disgusting near me?"

"They're abominations! It's so horrible that our world has come to this. It's a disgrace!"

"I hate seeing faggots walking around holding hands like they're better than everyone else."

I turn and look at Ashton with eyes filled of tears and I can tell he's tensed up. He looks over to me and quickly kisses my cheek before anyone could catch us. The small gesture makes me feel a bit better, but it can't heal every wound I have from hearing the words of hate.

Just then the subway train pulls up and we all climb aboard. Ashton and I stand near the back of the group so we can be more to ourselves. I go to sit down, but then I see a pregnant girl walking toward me and I immediately stand up. Ashton stands as well and helps the girl sit down as her wife sits in the seat beside her.

"Thank you so much." The pregnant girl smiles.

"It's no problem. When are you due?" Ashton asks, wrapping his pointer finger around mine absent-mindedly.

"She's due in a week." The wife says, smiling widely.

"Congratulations." I smile, loving how cute the girls seem to be together.

"Are you two...?" The wife asks, looking at Ashton and I's entwined fingers. Quickly we both pull away, but nod gently.

"It gets better." The pregnant woman says, looking mainly at me.

"Thank you." Ashton smiles. We then wave goodbye and walk with the group of the subway since we're at Times Square. As we're walking up the stairs, Michael Clifford turns and glares at us along with his best friend Calum Hood.

"Why the fuck were you guys being nice to those dykes?" Calum sneers.

"Yea, don't you know being a fag is wrong and disgusting?" Michael agrees.

"We're just being human beings. There's nothing wrong with treating a person like a human." Ashton says, defending us both.

"Of course you would say that. You know if you two don't want to be killed, I would suggest stop acting like you're gay. There's already rumors spreading at school you two like it up the ass with each other." Michael chuckles and walks away with Calum. I roll my eyes as we reach the top of the stairs. Jenny explains to us that we're free to roam around, but we need to meet back at this subway at exactly 12:00 so we can head to the park for lunch. Once she's done with her speech, Ashton and I break off from the group to begin our own shopping. Once we're a few miles away from the group Ashton slips his hand into mine and I swear I feel lightning run through my veins at his touch.

We walk along for a while quietly until we reach an interesting store simply called "Julie's". Ashton pulls me into the store and we begin looking around at all the neat stuff in the store. It reminds me sort of like Earthbound Trading. Soon I come across a spinning jewelry stand where they have a sign that says "gay pride jewelry". I begin spinning the stand until I find a bracelet that is black down the middle and rainbow down the sides. I pick up two and take them to Ashton.

"Look, babe. I found some bracelets." I smile, holing out the weaved strings.

"Oh wow, those are cool. You want to get them?" He asks, taking them from me. I nod and Ashton smiles, walking to the cash register. He pays for them then we help each other tie them on our wrists.

"There, now we'll always have a piece of each other no matter what. Even if we have to hide or keep it a secret. We'll always have this to remember the truth." Ashton says, kissing me softly. I grin into the kiss and hug him tightly.

"Want to keep walking?" I ask. Ashton nods and we continue walking around through random stores. Everything is going good until I get a call from Jenny.

"Hello?" I ask, answering my phone.

"Luke! Where are you and Ashton? We're already on the subway!"