Paint Stain <Lashton>

XVII

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still. ~Dorothea Lange

Ashton's POV

I stood at Luke's apartment door, and when I knocked it took a few moments before he opened the door. He let me walk in as he walked away and began to pick up a bunch of photos spread across the floor, I did not ask what they were. Rather I left the entire thing alone. At this point, Luke turned to me and spoke. "Did you need something Ashton?"

"Um..No." I shook my head. "I mean, yes. I did."

Luke cocked an eyebrow. "Alright, go ahead then. I'm a busy man and I was just about to head out. I mean, you're plenty welcome to come with me, I was just going to the office."

"Am I allowed in there?" I asked.

"Of course you are." Luke laughed. "Especially if you're with me. Come on, we can talk on the way there." I followed Luke out of his apartment and noted that he left it dressing in the way he was most comfortable in. His glasses on, a light blue sweater and black ripped skinnies and a pair of worn out Vans.

"Do you ever go to the office dressed like this?" I asked.

"Not usually, but it's later in the day and I just have to get some reports off of my desk." Luke explained. We walked out of the apartment building and Luke shoved his hands in his jacket's pocket as he pulled out the car keys. I walked around and got inside as Luke ducked down into it.

"So, what did you want to ask me?" Luke asked as he pulled out from his parking spot.

"Um.." I trailed. "I just was wondering if you wanted to come hang out with Esther, Michael and I." I gave a smile and Luke turned to me with a grin.

"Kodi set you up to this?" He asked.

"How did you - "

"She told me about it earlier." Luke shrugged. "If you don't actually want me to go with you, then I won't go. I totally get it if you don't like me that way."

"Well it's not that.." I said. "I just thought that you wouldn't want to go with me. Cause I mean, you're a guy, I'm a guy."

Luke bit down on his lip. "You know, I thought that too." He let out a sigh. "But.."

"But..?"

Luke dug around in the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his wallet before handing it to me. "There's a picture in there." I opened his wallet and could see he was not lying. "It's one of the photos from Kodi's photoshoot. She gave it to me."

"Why do you have it in your wallet?" I asked.

"Ever since I met you, and Michael and all your friends, but especially you, I've been a lot.. Happier." Luke said. "It puts a lot of things in perspective, gives life meaning. You're all really incredible people, and if I could do my life over, I know what I would do." Luke's face fell slightly. "I know that it's not possible now, but it's really great to see you all do things you care about. And I sat with Kodi and watched you all run around and have fun together, I wish that I got to experience it, in the end, none of you know how lucky you are for the life you have."

"I'm glad I decided to go to college in the end." I shrugged.

"You only took off one year, right?" Luke asked.

"No, I took off two." I said.

"When we first met you said - "

"I know, I said I took off one year. I should be a senior right now though." I said, cutting him off. "Originally, I didn't even apply on time and I was going to have to take a third year but they gave me the exception."