The Garage Band》A.I.《

Chapter 8

The date was perfect. I'm still reeling from the feeling of having Ashton close to me and it's now three hours after it was over.

When the clock hit 5.00 Ash decided it was time to take me home. As he pulled up outside my house, I stared out the window at the door. I really didn't want to go in, and honestly just sitting here twiddling my thumbs I was trying to bide time, because as soon as I got out of this car I knew I'd be alone.

"I'm glad I asked you out." Ash says quietly, trying to make conversation as we sat in his idling, car.

"I'm glad too." I say matching his tone, the house before me still demanding my attention. The large house looked empty and barren as it sat before me.

"Are you alright?" Ashton questions, sensing a change in my demeanour from the bubbly girl I was this afternoon to this unresponsive clone, giving three-word answers. I could feel him growing more and more concerned as I took my time to answer.

"I'm sorry," I say shaking my head, as I began to look down and cover my eyes with my hands. I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders pulling me closer as I start to sob.

"Shhh...Love, it's alright." he hums, soothing me. Resting his head on top of mine as he continues to hush, sweet nothings into my ear. Trying to calm me, rocking the both of us back and forth.

 I've always felt saddened coming home to an empty house, but never to the point of sobbing. "This is really embarrassing." I say when I've calmed down enough that Ash loosened his back-breaking embrace.

"It's okay, I understand.", he says which was all I really needed to hear to be lifted out of the darkness that was dragging me under by my ankles. "I hate coming home to an empty house too. When I lived in Melbourne my mum was a News Director. She worked really strange hours." As I watched him recall these memories of his life in Melbourne, his face started to drop. "I used to come home to dinner in the microwave. Sitting at the kitchen table, on my own. I'd long given up on waiting up for her to come back at three in the morning..."He trailed off, breaking through the surface, of whatever river he was drowning in.

 He looked so broken, It made me wonder what happened in Melbourne. He doesn't talk about it much, closing off when the topic gets too close to home. After listening to him, I can tell he's still holding the rest of the story back, but I understand, his scars are on the inside and are his alone.

"Do you want to come in?" I ask, regaining my voice. Maybe being in the empty house with Ash, will make it feel more full.

Ashton nods, but stays silent. I understand, his silence telling me a million words.