Tears in our Hearts

First Meeting - Aster's POV

Aster dodges two stumbling drunk girls, cringes past a tone deaf dude slurring a Taylor Swift song and coughs through a cloud of vape on his way to the kitchen. It's like a fucking obstacle course avoiding the drunks and the dumbasses. As he makes his way into the brightly lit room - a distinct difference from the dark haziness of the rest of the house - he catches sight of Ash.

"Yo, Ash! You seen Daisy?" she told him to meet her in the kitchen, but he wasn't surprised she wasn't where she said she'd be. An unfortunate habit inherited from their dad, not that he'd say it to her face.

"Heyyyy, Asterrrr! Yeah, yeah, I seen her. Where's she at?" he looks around confusedly, Aster's pretty sure he's high and isn't going to be of any use. "I know! She's... she's upstairs... uhhhh... I'll just go get her."

Aster takes note of his shifty behaviour; knowing his sister she's probably hurling her guts up in a bathroom. Hopefully she just gets it all out of her system before he has to let her in his car. On weekdays the picture of a responsible student, yet the minute the weekend begins she becomes a different person. He doesn't approve, and she knows it, but he'd rather she call him to drive her home then risk her driving drunk or getting in a strangers car. He knows he should talk to her seriously about this, but then they would have to talk about Mom too: a conversation they'd been purposefully avoiding having since everything went down.

Just as Ash is leaving the kitchen, another dude stumbles past him to halt in front of the fridge. He's a big guy - the type that Aster would usually take a detour around - but his pouty face as he glares at the fridge is an adorable contrast to his intimidating figure. A low chuckle escapes Aster, before he forcefully twists his face into a grimace and shoots a questioning look at Ash.

"Oh, don't mind Elliot. He's a big softie." Ash laughs before slipping out of the room.

Now it's just Aster and the big guy - Elliot - in the kitchen as Ash is supposedly dragging Daisy out of whatever toilet bowl she's occupied so he can take her home. Bored and tired, he leans against the counter and observes Elliot.

The guy really is massive. Aster's a tall guy himself, but where he's lanky and awkward in his grey, oversized hoodie, this man is all confidence and rippling muscles undisguised by a tight black t-shirt. At least, Aster imagines he usually oozes confidence when he isn't acting like a drunken, sulky toddler. How could he not, bronze sunkissed skin and entrancing iris's the murky blue of a stormy sky.

Only now he realises Elliot is looking back at him, watching Aster stare at himself. Warmth rushes to Aster's face as butterflies flutter in his stomach. It must be nerves, totally just nerves and NOT shyness. Who wouldn't be nervous with a big, gorgeous guy like Elliot staring at them. Ugh, he always made a fool of himself around strangers, especially attractive ones.

"Woah... you're hot, wanna make out?" his words are slow and stilted, but rise flirtatiously at the end. His out of the blue proposition is telling Ash this guy must be blackout drunk, because guys who looked like Greek Adonis' carved from marble would never be interested Aster sober. Yet, despite his rational reasoning in his mind, heat still rushed to his face and he began to fumble over his words like an idiot.

"U-u-ummmm, m-maybe not?" he cringed at his own lameness. Ugh, seriously, what was wrong with him? He watches Elliot pout become more exaggerated as he blinks his sad puppy dog eyes at him.

"Not even a little?" And Aster's so lost in those mesmerizing eyes he doesn't even remember to respond until Elliot steps forwards and grabs his wrists. He frowns uncomfortably, ready to pull away until Elliot pulls his hands up to grabs his face.

"What... are you d-doing?" Fuck, he's stuttering again. But how can he not when he's holding this beautiful man's face in his hands?

"Convincing you." And he's staring at him with those sad puppy eyes, that Aster is already alarmingly weak to. And goddamnit this guy is smart because it's working, he's becoming more convinced that his rational sober thoughts are stupid and making out with this gorgeous stranger is a great idea.