Project Fuckboy || a.i

Chapter 15// Calamity

Double update today because I love you

ALSO UNEDITED YO I'M TIRED

[Project Heartbreak]

Step 4: Detach her from Michael. Forever ✔

+

Ashton's POV:
[present time]

I look over at the clock by my bed. 2:14 AM. I sigh, rolling over again.

I can't get the faces of my family out of my mind, when I'd come back home to dinner without Azalea.

When they asked, I mumbled an excuse about Azalea developing a strange reaction to the beef, and having went home not feeling well.

There wasn't much conversation after that. I sat down at the table, pretending nothing had happened.

After dinner, the Dashners left swiftly. My parents grabbed the keys, telling me to keep watch on my siblings. They planned to go out for a drink with Mrs. And Mr. Dashner. They left with loud conversation and smiles on their faces.

I grabbed Violet before she walked out the door.

I knew she'd wanted to interrogate me ever since I came back without Azalea. She knew her sister wasn't sick, and that there wasn't anything wrong with the beef.

"She's in a bad state right now. She's at home. Don't question her," I told Violet, and she nodded dutifully.

Then, grabbing Jake's hand, she walked out of my house. And for the next few hours, I was left home alone with my siblings.

Awoken from their sleep, the two of them hid out in their tent again, and managed to make me join them. They quickly noticed that I was distracted and slightly out of my mind, and tried everything to get me enthusiastic about playing House.

Within five minutes, my patience ran short. They were babbling into each other's ears and taking turns changing the plastic baby's diaper. I couldn't stand sitting in the cramped space anymore. Especially when I was already stressed out of my mind.

I was halfway through the flap when they stopped me with their wide puppy eyes. I sighed.

"Why are you leaving?" Harry started to whine.

"Sorry, guys." I shrugged, forcing a smile. Then I told them the first excuse that came into my head. "We can't play House without a mommy, and Azalea isn't here, so-"

"Then can Azalea come over? Would that make you happy?" Lauren asked childishly, drawing her eyes back to the plastic baby in her arms.

"No. She's not feeling too well right now," I said tiredly, rubbing my jaw.

"But would it make you happier if you saw her?" Harry pressed.

"I don't know. Probably not," I said, my expression hardening.

"Mom said when people really care about each other, they get sad when the other person is sad," Lauren added, pulling a tacky yellow dress through the baby's arms.

I laughed a little, but they didn't seem too convinced.

"You're right," I told Lauren. "Mom's right."

"Then why are you still sad? You can stop being sad," Harry said matter-of-factly.

"It's not that easy, Harry." I sighed, pulling my fingers through my hair.

"Yeah, it is, go see her!" Lauren said, shrugging. "Mom also said when the person you care about is sad, you need to tell them how special they are."