5sos Shorts

"Charity: Part Two" a.i.

The apartment Gwen lived in was decent-looking for the part of town she lived in. It was a quaint sort of place, grey-brown paint and deep green shutters on every window gave it a sort of dreary look but when she and I stepped into her place I was engulfed in warmth. I shut the door behind us and took in the small but cozy living room. There were small plants littered stylishly around the living area and a big ugly blue couch that somehow made the place really feel like home.

"That is the worst couch I've ever seen and I live on the streets." I stated immediately without even thinking about it. Gwen turned to shoot me a look before taking off her jacket and hanging it on the coat rack by her front door.

"Everybody should own a terrible couch when living in their first apartment." Gwen stated as though it was a matter of fact. "Sit down and get comfortable, I'm going to grab you some warmer clothes."

"You don't have to do that." I assured quietly, looking to the wall uncomfortably. It wasn't as though I was ashamed of living on the streets, it was a decision I'd made years ago. I didn't want Gwen to think less of me for it. I knew in my heart that she would never be so shallow, but my brain was working on overdrive telling me I was only here because she pitied me.

"Here, you can change in the bathroom. It's down the hall on the left side. You can take a shower if you want, too." She told me as she handed me a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. I stood up from the couch quickly, embarrassed.

"Sorry." I mumbled under my breath.

"Sorry?" She repeated, confused.

"I'm filthy. I didn't mean to track any of it into your place." I clarified. She did something I hadn't expected. She laughed. She laughed so hard that by the time she'd calmed down she was wiping tears from her eyes before she suddenly wrapped her arms around me.

"Ashton, I was only offering because it's freezing outside and I thought a warm shower might do you some good. Don't talk about yourself like that, okay?" She reassured me, pulling away and smiling softly up at me. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from outwardly reacting to the fact that my heart began beating rapidly against my chest

"It's been a long time since I was last invited into anybody's home." I explained curtly, looking at my shoes as I put the clothes she'd given me on the couch and shoved my fists into my jacket pockets.

"Take that off and go have a warm shower. I'm going to start dinner; how does spaghetti sound?" She asked, pulling my hand from the jacket pockets and sliding the article of clothing off of me and hanging it on the coat rack with hers.

"Spaghetti sounds great." I nodded, managing a small smile in her direction before heading off with the clothes she'd given me. Peeling my old, tattered clothes off proved to be harder than I thought it would be, provided that some parts were matted to my skin with dirt or hardened blood remaining from the cuts by shattered glass bottles. Eventually I was able to peel my clothes off and got into the steaming shower.

It took about half an hour of scrubbing before I felt presentable and then another minute or so to wash my hair for the first time in what was probably ages. I turned the shower knob to stop the water flow and stepped out, drying off before wrapping myself in a towel. I leaned against the counter, my hands pressed palms down on either side of the sink, and took a good long look at my reflection in the mirror.

I was tanned from living outside, and without all of the dirt and muck sticking to my face I looked halfway decent. Sure, I could use a shave and a haircut, but I was still in pretty good shape and with a decent nights sleep I could look halfway normal. I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut, letting my head fall slack and pursed my lips together. There was a knock at the door.