Skinny Hips // Ashton Irwin

three // heroine

It was four days later until I saw Annie again, at group of course. I stood against my car, fag in my mouth, struggling to light it with my shitty lighters as usual. Groaning, I gave up on my the cigarette and decided to head inside.

I walked out of the shade of my car and into the burning sun. Gripping the hem of my tank top, I shook it, trying to get a breeze blowing but it was pure heat. It was definitely the hottest week we were having all year.

I turned the corner from the parking lot to the steps up to the building, stopping dead in my tracks at the sight of Annie sat on the top step, about to finish a fag. I cleared my throat, grabbing her attention. 

Her head jerked up from the spot that she was staring at on the ground, and she stared right at me instead. For a few seconds it was silent, until I decided to make the move of continuing up the steps towards her. Once she noticed me approaching her she threw her fag away, grabbing her box of cigarettes from the ground and jogging inside. I watched her turn the corner and go up the stairs, hearing the door to our meeting room slam shut from the steps outside where I stood.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair and pushing it out of my sweaty face. I reached the top of the stairs, but abruptly stopped when I noticed a lighter lying on the ground. I picked up the silver zippo lighter and read the underneath, seeing the name Annie carved into it.

That wasn't all that was written on the lighter, though. I read the side, seeing it say; if you want to fuck, smile when you give this lighter back, in tiny, black, carved letters.

I chuckled at the writing, gripping the zippo in my hand and continuing into the building.

Once I reached our meeting room, the first person I saw was Maxxie, crying in the corner with Tina trying to calm her down but failing. I sighed, and then noticed Annie, sat with her legs pulled tightly into her chest and watching the panic unfolding in front of her. I made my way straight over to her.

When I was close enough, I tapped her on the shoulder lightly. She jumped before turning to look at me, something between anger and sadness coming over her features. Ignoring this and hoping to get some kind of laugh from her, I handed her back her zippo. She held it in her hand tightly before looking back at me, taking in all the features of the smile I was sending her way before I had to turn and see what was happening with Maxxie and Tina.

I could feel Annie's stare burning into the back of my head the entire time.

Maxxie was fifteen and had severe PTSD. She was triggered so easily that she never really left the house; this was the first time she had come to group in about a month. She always tried to talk, but she could never get the words out without bursting into tears.

"Ashton!" Tina hissed as I took a spot next to her to try and help calm Maxxie down. "You're so late, Ash!"

"Be quiet, Tina," I replied, taking her spot in front of Maxxie. The girl looked up at me, her eyes pure red and puffy. Her face was blotchy and had makeup smeared all over her cheeks. "Do you wanna come for a walk, Max?" I asked quietly. Not because I wanted to listen to Max sniffle while walking around the parking lot in the heat; only because it was my job.

Maxxie looked at Tina, as if waiting for her to answer, but Tina stood still, not knowing what to do. Maxxie wiped at her cheeks again before turning back to me and nodding. I smiled at her and nodded too, moving aside to let her pass. 

I grabbed a water bottle from the snack table next to us and turned. Not to my surprise, Annie was watching me, and quickly looked away when I caught her eye. I smiled and continued to make my way out of the room and to the hallway where Maxxie was waiting for me.