Silent Scream

4.

Ashton's Pov:

'I had a good dream last night' I thought when I woke up. Dylan was laying on his stomach on my bed. I blew up an air mattress beside my bed. Whenever my dad loses it, Dylan always stays in my room because it's too painful to move.

I woke up and found a pair of black leggings and one of Dylan's hoodies. I like wearing his hoodies because they're big in me and make me feel less self-conscious.

After I finished changing I walked back into my room to find that Dylan had just woke up. "Morning Ash."

'Morning' I signed.

"Is that my hoodie?" He asked, his voice raspy and a bit deeper than usual, but he still managed a small smile.

I nodded. It made his smile grow a small bit. 'Your back feeling better?' I signed.

"Yeah. Still a bit sore, but I can get to school." I helped him stand up. He used me and the wall as a crutch to get to his room to change.

I stood outside the closed door while he changed. When he finished he told me it was okay to come in. He had his shirt off so I could change the bandages on his back. 'They're not bleeding anymore' I signed to reassure him.

I put more medicine on his wounds, then put more bandages around his stomach before helping him pull on his shirt. "Thank you Ash.. so much.."

I brushed out my hair and despite the pain I know he's in, Dylan still did his hair like always.

After we both finished, we made our way downstairs and got a quick breakfast.

From an outsider looking in on our lives they would ask, "why don't you tell someone about what your dad does?" The answer is rather obvious. It's that we're both too scared. He's always said what he'll do if we tell and neither of us is strong enough to disobey him.

We finished breakfast and started our drive to school minutes later. Like always, we got there early. I don't like leaving Dylan all day at school as he's the one person that's always been there and will always be there. I feel unsafe.. vulnerable even, when he's not around.

"You gonna be okay Ash?" I nodded. I could tell he didn't believe me though.

"Well I'll see you after school okay?" I nodded again. He pulled me into a hug. I hugged around his neck to avoid hurting him.

He started limping towards his first class while I heading to advanced art once again.

"Morning Ashton. How're you?" I've never even told Mr. Johnson about dad. Which is hard because I really trust him.

I put in a fake smile and signed that I'm good.

"What's up? You really expect me to believe that's a genuine smile?" I shook my head no.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I once again shook my head no. He respected it and the conversation ended.

I pulled out my drawing from yesterday and continued it. After about 15 minutes I had finished it. And just in time too because now kids started walking in.

I had my usual seat on the back. No one ever sits in the last row which is why I was slightly taken aback when Nate came and sat two seats away from me. In the last row, in the back.

I chose not to look up, but instead grab a new paper and start a new drawing of a sunset over an ocean. Nate was watching me. It really made me nervous. I could feel my anxiety levels rising by the second. "You're really good." He said, more like mumbled.

'Thank you' I signed.

"Have you ever talked?" He asked. Does he not see that I don't want to talk.

'I stopped talking in 7th grade...' I signed.

'Why am I telling him this. He's a bad boy. I can't get attached.. even though I like him.' I thought.

"Oh.. soooooo you enjoy drawing then?" He asked. I nodded.

"I enjoy song writing and singing and playing the electric guitar." He said.

'I don't play any instruments or sing or write songs.' I signed.

"Why are you nervous?" He asked.

'How did he know??!' I thought.

'You make me nervous..' I cautiously signed.

"My rep right?" He asked looking down at his lap.

'Rep?' I signed.

"Reputation.. my reputation makes you nervous. Tell me I'm wrong." He looked me in the eyes.

'You're a bad boy. And I don't talk..' I signed looking back at my drawing.

"Let me explain myself. Joey, Ryan, Adrian an I aren't bad boys. Yeah sure we look like it, but he really aren't. I write, sing and play songs for YouTube. I basically do them all on my own. I don't try to get in trouble I just do. I have gauges and I wear all black so people assume I'm bad and leave me alone. In reality.. I'm not. I swear." After he finished speaking, I was speechless.

'Well your reputation is better than mine. Mine is that I'm mute and have an absent mother.' I signed.

"I have a question. Would you maybe like to-uh-maybe like hang out later? Like after school."

'I'll have to ask my brother, but I'm pretty sure it's a yes.' I signed. He had a piece of paper and and a pen writing something.

"Here take this." He handed me a piece on paper with his number on it. It read call me.

A/N
Hey guys!!! I'm actually writing all these a long time before I publish them. Lol. This story is just great. Sad, but great. Thanks so much for reading. Comment. Vote. Follow. Thanks again!! Bye!!! :)
-Bluejay