Perfectly Unseen

56: Incendiary Dumb Giant

Combustible: the word played in my head as I found myself blindly walking the school halls. His lips had left a permanent echo on my own as my fingers brushed against the ghostly reminder again and again. After what felt like hours debating with myself, I decided fireworks was too safe of a description to explain Ashton.

Combustible. Inflammable. Explosive. Incendiary.

Yes, that was it. Ashton Ryder was my personal incendiary. He had set a fire to my insides and with the spark of his lips, it had now turned into a raging fire that seemed very incurable.

"Earth to Ailie?" a snap of fingers suddenly pulled me out of my thoughts. Emma looked at me expectantly as I blinked my mind clear. "What did I miss? I missed something, didn't I—"

"Ashton," a whiny voice suddenly pierced my ears, interrupting Emma as I turned towards the doors of the classroom. "Why are you being so cruel?"

Instantly, my breath caught in my lungs as the six-foot giant—currently occupying all of my available brain space—walked smoothly in with one hand stuffed into his pocket while, with a model-like easiness, holding onto the strap of his book-bag; slung over his broad shoulder lazily. Immediately his posture showed off how annoyed he was becoming with the blonde on his tail, tugging at his shirt shamelessly.

"Ashton!" She stomped her foot frustratedly, trying to get his attention.

His jaw clenched as dark tresses fell into his cloudy face. His steps came to a standstill abruptly, causing Kaitlyn to run into his tensed back. "Shut the fuck up already, for gods sake." He spat, not even wasting energy to look back at the pouting girl. "You're annoying me." He said coldly to the deflated girl before running his hand through his hair agitatedly.

At the motion his dark unforgiving eyes caught hold of mine.

Combustible.

"Little creep." He purred out, all annoyance from just seconds ago nowhere to be found as he watched me watch him. His dark eyes held mine knowingly as the flames enveloped me.

"Idiot." I mumbled, looking down as my cheeks began to show the warmth inside of my body.

"Sit with me, princess." His large hand was suddenly wrapped around mine as he pulled me towards the back; Kaitlyn gaping at us.

I pulled back, my thoughts conflicted as I looked back on the seat my adorable football player was supposed to be. Where was he? My gut ached with unneeded guilt, the thought that he knew what I had done putting out the fire instantly.

"He's with his team. It's an important game and they need to get ready for it." Ashton said without warning, tugging me back to his side while Emma rolled her eyes disapprovingly.

I took the chance to study Ashton; his hand so simply holding mine without a thought. Was he feeling all the matches being struck under his skin too? His arm was smooth with the ridges of veins climbing up his well-defined muscles. His hands rough on my skin—but a good rough. He was in need of a haircut, he was beginning to look like a straggly little kid always pushing his hair back from his eyes. Then there were his lips; his perfectly soft and lovely lips...

My face once again burned as I looked down at my feet, my heart doing backflips inside of my chest. Stupid.

"You're cute." He mumbled suddenly, my eyes flickering up under my lashes to see him looking back at me with an intrigued expression.