Pieces of Time

21

Ashton's POV

After Winter told me the shocking news of what truly happened in that hospital with my family, I entered a state of shock. I must have looked bad because Winter grabbed a handful of my face and my eyes met hers.

"Is anyone there at all?" She said softly as I got lost in her gaze.

I immediately broke from my state and anger filled me. I grabbed her wrists and pushed them away from me as I stood.

"What! What do you mean they just left me there?" I shouted. "What the fuck?! That's not a family. My family stayed with me in that hospital and it was my mates!" I yelled.

"I'm sorry I told you, but you needed to know." Winter said softly.

"No, don't apologize. I'm glad you told me. I'm just fucking pissed." I shouted.

I had heard the hospital stories from my mates during the past week. They told me how they spent endless amounts of time watching me, and I was tempted to ask about my family. But now, I'm glad I didn't. How can a mother leave her son in a hospital and take her other children with her?

"Please come sit down." Winter said shyly.

I let out a shout and sat back down beside her. "I don't mean to yell at you but I just don't understand it." I sighed.

"I don't understand it either. We spent a lot of time with both of our families and your mom wasn't terrible. She loved you Ashton." She started fiddling with her fingers which, from what I had observed, is what she does when she is nervous. "When the boys told me that, I couldn't believe it. But that's all in the past and you have a new family." She smiled up at me.

"It includes you Winter." I smiled wrapping my arms around her. "Why didn't you ever try to tell me how close we were?" I asked. "In those pictures, over the many years, and the way you look at me, we must have been close."

"Well, I cant make you feel something you don't naturally know. With time, I hope you will remember." She smiled as she softly rubbed my back.

"Let's go with the others. They must be curious." I laughed as I stood.

---

"What the fuck? You were so young!" Michael shouted as he looked through the old pictures with Luke and Calum.

"Winter why did you hang out with Ashton if he looked like that?" Calum teased.

Winter laughed and then her phone rang out. She looked down at it and smiled, "I'll be right back."

She quickly rushed out of the room as she answered.

"I wonder who that was." I shrugged.

"An old boyfriend back home." Luke smirked. "Ashton's got competition!" Calum added.

"Fuck off." I groaned taking a seat on the floor.

"Ashton is grumpy." Luke teased. "Do you need a hug?"

"No! Don't touch me!" I yelled. I was still thinking about what Winter told me about my mum. Even though I cant remember her, it pisses me off.

"What's wrong mate?" Michael asked in a more serious tone.

"What did Winter tell you?" Calum added.

"She told me about what my so-called, family, did when I was in the hospital." I put air quotes around family because I had decided to disown them. "She told me how they packed up and left without even checking in on me once!" I yelled.