Behind Closed Doors // Lashton

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

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ASHTON POV

**3pm, May 18th**

It's official, I can't stand him. I hate his ego with a burning passion. He makes me want to pull my hair out and scream. He's a dick with his ego, he's got major issues I'm not prepared for without it. This is not what I signed up for.

"Hey Ash-"

"What?" I snap out. Oops. He cowers back as if I yelled at him like he were a dog.

"What did I do?" He asks.

"Nothing." I say. What happened to the boy who sent me dick pics for no reason and would talk to me like a normal person? There has got to be a middle ground between dick and emotional.

"If I didn't do anything then why'd you snap at me?" He asks me.

"Because you know I can't stand your stupid ego." I say. He sighs and plops down on the couch next to me.

"I'm not gonna do this if it's just gonna make you unhappy." He says.

"I know there's a middle ground." I say.

"There is?" He asks.

"Yeah. It's a you I've seen only a few times." I say.

"Are you gonna explain or do I have to guess?" Luke asks me. Don't hit him, not even if he deserves it for everything he's done today.

"The you that would send me dick picks and talk to me like a normal person." I say.

"The dick pics was my ego." He says.

"No it wasn't, trust me. I liked the you that would appear when you weren't in your act and your ego was asleep." I say.

"Even I don't know what you're talking about." Luke says. This is futile.

"You aren't thinking about breaking up with me are you?" Luke asks me. I turn and stare at him.

"I wasn't, so don't make me. I wouldn't anyways." I say.

"Good, because I wouldn't know what to do if you did. Literally my world would just stop." He says.

"Michael would be happy." I say.

"I've come to terms with the fact Michael and I will never be friends again." Luke says.

"Calum will get to him and eventually he'll soften." I say.

"I don't care." Luke says. Oh my god I'm a fucking genius.

"Can we try throwing out the ego again? I've got an idea." I say.

"Can you make me stop punching things? My hand hurts." He says.

"Yes, I can." I say. This makes him raise an eyebrow at me.

**6pm**

"Um, you never told me your idea." Luke says to me, staring at his feet while we wait.

"I'm not going to." I say. He glances up at me.

"I'm gonna die on this date." He says.

"No you aren't." I say.

I watch him as he looks around nervously. Most people don't pay any attention to us, some do. Not one person comes over to us because I glare them away. My plan isn't to rely on Luke to be the one to change. I have to change some. I need to be more protective. Nobody will hurt him as long as I'm with him. I'll make sure of it.