Something Beautiful

↠t w e n t y - s i x ↠

Song of the chapter:
Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers

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Do you remember the first day of elementary school? Being nervous, clinging to your mother or father's leg, that anxious feeling in the pit of your stomach?

I wished my parents were with me on my first day of university. I was going to the Emily Carr art school. And I was nervous. I wanted to hide away and not come out, afraid that I'd screw something up. I also wanted to jump for joy and tell the whole world that I was finally going to university. Just a bunch of confusing jumbled up emotions cooped up in my body, begging to come out.

Luckily, Ashton was there for me. He stuffed all my belongings into the back of his Jeep, having to make a few trips, and brought it to the dorms right behind the university.

"Nervous?" He asked me as we carried the last two boxes up the stairs to my dorm room. Luckily, I had a dorm room to myself and didn't have to worry about getting along with any roommates.

"No, not really." I lied, as I opened my door. My bed hadn't been put in there yet, Jim and Ashton were going to bring it over later. Everything else sat in boxes which covered the floor and counter tops. I had a small kitchen and enough room for a bed, a desk and a small walking path. To my dismay, I had to share the showers, which were downstairs. I hated community showers because hardly anyone seemed capable of cleaning up their own messes.

"You're lying!" Ashton exclaimed, and started laughing. "It's okay to be nervous." He set the box he was holding down on the floor right beside the door, against the wall. I set my box down on his.

"Maybe I am." I admitted.

He sighed. "It's going to suck not having you around the house anymore."

I frowned. I hated the fact that I had to leave Lizzie's house but I decided that it would be best to move out. I didn't like to say it, but if I stayed there, Ashton would be too much of a distraction. "I don't like it either."

He pulled me in for a hug. I held onto him tightly and kissed his collarbone lightly. "I'm going to miss you so much, Hazel." He whispered in my ear, making me shiver.

"Luckily, I live by myself so you can drop by anytime you want." I said as I pulled away.

He raised his eyebrows and grinned. "Anytime?"

I groaned. "You know what I mean. When I'm not busy."

He started laughing again. Its funny, his laughs change all the time. Sometimes its a deep hohoho, sometimes its a raspy hahaha, and sometimes he's teeheeing like a little girl. He definitely sounded like a girl now.

I started laughing as well. "You're so cute when you laugh like that."

He blushed and looked down.

"Aww," I lifted my hand and ran my fingers through his curls. Then I pulled his head toward me and kissed his forehead. "Why are you embarassed?"

He lifted his head and grabbed my free hand, sliding his fingers through mine. "Nobody ever calls me cute. It's weird." He giggled. "But I like it when you say it."

I smiled and stared into his eyes which seemed to twinkle.

"Hazel?" He whispered, suddenly looking serious.

"Yeah?" I asked.

He leaned his forehead against mine. "I--I think I love you."

My breath caught in my throat. "Ash--I love you, too."

Ashton pressed his lips against mine, just a nice soft and gentle touch and pulled away, grinning at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bright red bandana wrapped around his wrist. My stomach lurched.

"Ashton--" I hesitated. I didn't want to ruin the moment between us but I just had to ask, to make sure. "Do you still cut?"

I saw him swallow slowly, and frown. He shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "Ever since you and I started--started becoming closer, I haven't even thought about doing that."

I smiled. "That's good."

"I have you to thank, you know." He stared into my eyes. "You're the reason I've stopped." He whispered.

I said nothing but instead, kissed him.