Embers [Lashton]

Chapter 11

Ashton's POV

"Luke, where's your stuff?" I ask, trying to break up his and Calum's embrace. Yeah, it's nice Luke has stopped crying but back the fuck away from my boy.

"In my locker," he replies, wiping the last tear away.

"Let's go get it," I say before turning to Calum, "thanks man, I've got it from here."

Calum nods at me, then offers a sympathetic smile at Luke.

"Ash and I-"  I cringe at the fraternal nickname. "-are on this. We won't let you get hurt again."

Luke musters a tiny, close-lipped smile before grabbing his backpack. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, Calum," he admits shyly. 

Calum chuckles, "I wasn't very scared."

Luke pouts before turning to me, "Let's go."

I agree and guide him from the classroom, where the teacher is waiting patiently outside. He glares at me, false suspicions racing in his mind. I raise my lip in a slight snarl before my hand slips to my pocket. My knife sits impatiently inside, begging to be used again. It's been too long. I was itching for revenge, desperate to take out my frustration on whatever bastard hurt an innocent kid.

Luke is furiously scanning the halls and most likely praying his tormentors are absent. Not that I think they'd be dumb enough to attack at school. They want to keep him fearful. They want to scare him a bit more. If they beat him up this badly, it's not just about the drugs. They're playing a game. A game that they're 3 steps ahead in and rigged the deck.

Once we reach my car, Luke visibly relaxes.

"Not so bad, was it, Barbie?"

He glares at me, and I resist the urge to coo. No, Ashton. Manly. Tough. Emotionless.

As we drive, I think of what to do. I could drives us back to the temporary Hemmings home. But then I realize that Luke has most likely spent his entire life in his home. His father tries to shelter him so much, he never gets to live. Granted, his dad is a drug lord, but still. He deserves a chance to be 16.

I drive straight past the gravel road to get to their house.

"Where are you going?" Luke questions and sits upright in his seat.

I shrug. The trees blur around me as I continue. Luke looks around frantically and I snort at him.

"Calm down, would you?"

"Where are we going?"

"Wherever I drive."

He blinks at me before sighing.

"Have you ever had fun before?" I ask. He rolls his eyes.

"Of course I've had fun before."

"I don't believe you," I respond. I know I'm egging for a reaction, but there's something about him that I love. To annoy.

Luke turns to me, his blue eyes shimmering so brightly that I know he has a specific memory in mind. He opens his mouth to speak, but I raise an eyebrow tauntingly. He changes his approach. "You know what, Ashton, I bet the only fun you've ever had is snorting something. I bet you've never had real fun."

"Real fun? Like what, getting a blow job from Veronica Hughes?"

His face twists up in disgust, nose crinkling as he snaps, "please tell me you didn't."

"I might've," I say, "why, are you jealous, twink?"

"Ha ha. How funny, another gay joke," he grumbles, crossing his arms bitterly.