The Only Reason

Chapter 3

All Time Low was playing from Ashton's phone. He pulled my hair playfully, smiling at me. He had perfect teeth.

"Morning, sis."

"Hey, Bro-Bro." I mumbled. Mallory stood in front of the mirror, doing her makeup, tossing her hair. I had to hand it to her, the girl was amazing with eyeliner. I could never figure it out.

"She's awake!" Luke beamed at me.

"The beast rears her mighty head!" Michael said, pretending to be afraid.

"Grrrr." I growled playfully. "Ashton, I slept in my clothes, and they're still clean. Is it okay for me to wear them twice?"

"I am." Ashton shrugged.

"Okay." I made sure my bracelets were covering my wrists, and then pushed myself up, smiling. Calum was eating toast and Vegemite.

"Ew." I wrinkled my nose. "Vegemite's nasty."

The boys pretended to be offended. Luke stroked the jar and said to me, "Shush, she can hear you, you know."

"You're a terrible Australian." Michael told me. Calum indignantly took another bite of his toast and Ashton laughed.

I got out of bed, going to my suitcase, retrieving my hairbrush and makeup bag, being careful to keep my cutting supplies out of sight. Ashton sat in a chair behind me and started to run the brush through my hair. 

This was something we had done forever. Ashton would sometimes brush my hair in the morning, making sure to work out the snarls and knots carefully. Somewhere along the way he had also learned how to braid, and gave me fishtail braid that traveled down my back, leaving my bangs free.

"Thanks, Bro-Bro." I smiled, getting up. His clever fingers made sure that the braid was tight enough to last all day and night. When I took it out tomorrow morning, my hair would curly. 

"No problem, sis." He grinned at me.

Of course, Mallory then made sure she got her hair done, too. I scowled and started doing my makeup in the mirror. I usually did light purple eye shadow, mascara, foundation, and clear lip gloss. I never went for the more dramatic look, like Mallory did. I wouldn't be able to pull that off.

"We're going to go down and grab some breakfast, you girls can wait up here." Calum said. "We're just gonna get pancakes or something."

"That sounds nice." Mallory smiled.

"Yeah, actually. Hurry back. I'm starving!" I grinned, even though my heart sank at the thought of being up here with Mallory.

"We'll be right back." Luke added, and Michael stuck his tongue out at me playfully.

Ashton left with them, and the door closed. It was really quiet. Mallory played with the french braid that Ashton did for her, staring daggers at the back of my head. I hunched my shoulders up to my ears, hoping she had nothing to say.

"Listen up, bitch." She snapped. "I'm here to hang out with Ashton and the rest of the band, not you. I don't want to even look at you, hoe, unless I have to. Don't bother me. Stay out of my way, and we won't have a problem. Okay?"

"Whatever." I murmured.

"Otherwise, I might see a scar or something peeking out from behind your bracelets. I'll have to tell Ashton that his baby sister is hurting herself, because it feels wrong keeping secrets like that, and it really isn't healthy. Do you want that?"

"No."

"That's what I thought, so stay out of my way, and feel free to keep slitting your wrists. Don't feel bad if you go too deep or anything," Mallory finished, "Sweetheart."