"Ashton?"
"You can't tell Delilah i'm here," Ashton pleaded, looking at the two boys, "She has to think i'm gone."
"What the fuck Ash? Are you seriously asking me to keep this from her— do you know what you've put her through?!" Luke exclaimed, glaring at the boy in front of him. How could he ask him this, he meant everything to Delilah and now he doesn't even want her to know he's alive?
"It's for her protection Luke, please.. I know you love her just as much as i do, don't tell her." The blond shook his head, looking over at Michael.
"What are you protecting her from exactly?"
"If i tell you guys you'll be in danger as well, Lilah can't lose anyone else."
"Why didn't you go to the cops?"
Ashton groaned, "You didn't think I tried? I wanted to stay, i wanted to live my life! I did everything i could but they always found a way around it." There was pain in his voice, one the boys had never heard him express. They wanted to be mad, and they wanted to yell at him but they just ... couldn't.
"You're jeopardizing her by still being in town Ashton."
"I was leaving tonight, i just had to make sure she was oka—"
"She's not. You broke her." The older boy sighed and nodded slowly, he knew what he'd done. "She won't talk to me anymore because of this, i hope you know that."
"Luke, I—"
"I don't want an apology, I want my best friend to come home. Whatever this is Ashton, we can get through it together." Luke, though he hated looking at the boy still cared deeply for him. Ashton stayed quiet for a moment, thinking to himself. Michael looked at Luke as they both waited.
"I can't," He spoke after what felt as forever, "I want you guys to forget you saw me here, if anyone asks all you know is that i'm dead. I'll try to find some way to contact you but very rarely. I really hope you guys understand."
Michael went to speak but Luke cut him off, "We understand." Ashton looked at Luke, "We understand that you don't care about us anymore. Good luck with whatever this is, I wish you the best of luck." The blond rolled his eyes and walked out of the cabin, Michael following reluctantly.
Ashton watched as the walked back through the forest to their cars, knowing that this would be the last time he saw them,
forever.
