Born To Die Part Two - The Charm Of A Conflict

WAKE UP!

Kristoffer stirs from his sleep, feeling rather off. His head throbs oddly like someone was taking a plastic beach shovel to his forehead. He notices Ashton curled up in his chest and wraps his arms around him. Ashton stirs underneath him, groaning and rubbing his eyes.

'Ugh, I feel awful,' He yawns, looking up at Kristoffer. He smiles, pushing some of Kristoffer's hair away from his eyes. His expression changes from a smile to a straight face again, 'So, uhh... do you want to talk about what happened?'

'Yeah, I guess so,' Kristoffer rubs his temples, trying to make his mild headache subside, 'I don't remember too much, though.'

'Good, me neither,' Ashton humours. They laugh and find each other's hand, interlacing their fingers. They lay their hands on the pillow between their head. Kristoffer gets a sudden surge of pain through his head, making him wince and put a hand up to his forehead.

'Are you okay?' Ashton asks, knitting his brows together in worry.

'Headache. I'm fine though,' He replies, rubbing at his temples. Despite his dismissive attitude, he can't remember the last time he felt something this painful. It pushes at his brain, like there is a little person in his brain poking it with a sharp sword.

'I.. okay. Sure you're fine?' Ashton picks his glasses up from the side table, placing them on his face. Kristoffer nods. Ashton opens his mouth as if to say something, but hastily stops. He instead looks down at his hands and picks at his nails, 'I was going to ask a question, but I realise how dumb it is.'

'No, just ask,' Kristoffer tries to ward off his headache to listen to Ashton's voice, 'I'm all too used to dumb questions.'

'Well, I...' Ashton grasps for words, 'I'd prefer if this wasn't just a hookup we never talk about again. I know what Alexis would say if she found out, but... would you maybe want to go on a date sometime?'

*

Kristoffer lies in his bed that night, trying not to die from the pain in his head. Medication didn't work. He stares at his hand, which is tingling slightly. He sees his hand shaking violently. He notices a minuscule, frosty-blue dragon crawling around his fingers. It twirls around his fingers, tickling him with its prickly claws. It turns its sapphire eyes towards him and softly growls, before puffing away into a cloud of sweet-smelling smoke. He raises his eyebrows, confused. His headache eases swiftly, returning him to normal. The soft thrumming of the radiator becomes more a background noise than something pounding his head in.

This can't be real. Maybe today wasn't real. It was a dream. A really bad nightmare. A really really really bad one. One where he hurts people he loves. Words echo through his mind.

'I.. I would love to, but... I... can't.'

'...Oh. Okay.'

"Okay"? "Okay"? You're stupid Kristoffer. You rejected someone you really love. What kind of idiot does that? Niall's right.

'Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Get out of my head!' He yells, the familiar hot angry tears falling down his face. Ashton's voice echoes through his head. Every word ever said to him. Compliments, cheerfulness, his own name. Clingy much, 'Stop narrating my life!'

Wow. That's harsh. I don't see anything I've done wrong.

*

Ashton pokes at his dinner with his fork, stuck in deep thought. Cheri and Alexis are telling him about seeing Yen. He isn't listening but adds "yeah", "oh wow", and "cool" at appropriate times. Cheri stops and raises an eyebrow at him.

'Ashton. Give me your hand,' She suddenly demands, alerting Ashton from his thoughtful state.

'Why?' He asks, yet he still complies. He gives her his hand. She grabs it tightly, her eyes turning fully white. She floats gently above her chair as she does, her hair flying about madly. Her mouth moves, not forming words. She lets go of him, landing back in her seat with a soft thump.

'What the...' Alexis stops herself, from speaking fully, only swearing under her breath, 'What was going on.'

Cheri stares at Ashton, her expression only describable as bug-eyed, 'You have some serious explaining to do.'