Secrets|| l.h.

"failed suicide attempt"

"Arden this is Ashton"

my heart stopped.

the doctors said I had amnesia but they didn't say that I would recognize the man who raped me.

I was frozen.

"Arden", Luke  repeated and I snapped out of my trace and looked at him then back to Ashton. he was smirking.

"hi Arden", he said reaching his hand out for me to shake.

"can I use your bathroom", I asked quickly ignoring his greeting.

"um... sure", he said still smirking.

he knew the affect he was having on me and I hated it.

Ashton lead me to his bathroom. I followed him even though I was well aware of where I was going. I felt my stomach clench and a shiver run down my spine at his familiar apartment.

"right in there", Ashton said.

"thanks", I mumbled and brushed past him

his hand slyly brushed against my hip and I almost started right there.

one I closed the door behind me I lost it. I was hyperventilating and crying.

I just couldn't believe this was the lovely friend Luke wanted to meet. how were they even friends?

~

after about 5 minutes I decided I had to go out there.

I stood up from my sitting position and looked at myself in the mirror. my cheeks had mascara running down them but I quickly wiped it away. my mascara was slightly different but not too noticeable so I decided to actually exit Ashton's bathroom.

"hey baby girl, are you okay", Luke asked as I walked into the living room where the boys were sitting.

"yeah just needed to use the restroom",I said.

I made my way over to Luke after he patted the spot next to him. I sat much closer than necessary but I wasn't taking chances.  Luke snaked his arm around my waist and I leaned into even more grabbing his other hand and holding onto it for dear life.

"baby girl, it's okay", Luke whisperer in my ear without Ashton noticing.

I just looked at him. I'm sure he could see the worry in my eyes because he smiled warmly and kissed me.

"okay love birds, let's watch a movie", I looked over at Ashton and he looked annoyed but once he caught me looking at him he smirked.

I just looked away and pushed myself into Luke making him wrap both his arms around my waist.

~

Narrative POV

an hour later Arden was asleep in Luke's arms. they were half way through The Lion King, which was Ashton's pick.

Ashton and Luke were both awake just talking about whatever came into their  heads. Ashton and Luke have been friends for a little over a year.

"so, where'd you meet her", Ashton asked Luke, keeping his innocent act going. 

"it's a funny story actually", Luke chuckled.

"enlighten me", Ashton chuckled along. Ashton was a sincerely sweet guy. he just had a dark side.

"I met her at the hospital", Luke said.

"oh", Ashton said almost as a question.

"yeah, I was visiting Michael, you know him right", Luke asked. Ashton nodded his head in response.

"well i was getting all stressed out so i wanted a smoke so I went to the roof to smoke and she showed up a little bit after I got there in a hospital gown. she still looked beautiful. we both smoked though ", Luke shrugged.

Ashton was beyond confused but he did know one thing for sure, he hated when Arden smoked. when they had met she wanted to smoke and she kept telling her how it was gonna kill her. it reminded him of his father.

the person he hated the most. he also hated himself for becoming heartless like him. but he was working on it.

"why was she in the hospital", Ashton asked almost concerned for her.

Luke looked down at the sleeping girl in his lap, trying to decide if he should tell Ashton. he didn't want to loose her trust, but he could trust Ashton.

Luke side and began to stroke her hair back," failed suicide attempt."

Ashton nearly choked on his water," what, why would she ever."

"some horrible man did a horrible thing to her", Ashton could see Luke's eyes darken and his voice deepen.

Ashton gulped, he knew it was him he was talking about. he could help but feel extremely guilty. but he deserved it.

just then Arden began to move in her sleep furiously. the boys both focused their attention on her and Luke let out a string of cuss words.

"shit, she's having a nightmare", he said panicking.

"a what", Ashton questioned standing up.

" she gets nightmares about the man who raped her", Luke said still panicking.

Ashton's heart dropped," wake her up!"

"Arden sweetheart, wake up", Luke pleaded shaking her.

Arden shot up breathing heavily.

everything was a big mess then. everyone's mind blurred.

Luke was focused on getting Arden out of there and home. he was yelling "let's go Arden" and "I got to get her out of here"

Arden was trying to fix her breathing and stop her crying.

Ashton was trying to help calm Luke down. he didn't know what to do but he felt like complete and utter shit.

Luke was the first to actually succeed in his actions my grabbing Arden and pulling her out of the apartment quickly telling bye to Ashton.

once in the elevator Arden broke down again falling into Luke's arms.

they both slid Down the elevators wall, Arden in Luke's lap.

Luke could only do one thing, hold her and tell her it was okay.

and that's exactly what he did

////

SO I SAW ONE DIRECTION LAST NIGHT SO IM NOT STABLE. AND CLEARLY ASH ISNT EITHER. HIS EMOTIONS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. LIKE GET IT TOGETHER. BUT YE, DO YALL LIKE? IM GONNA GO SLEEP NOW

-GRACE