The Foster Kid

3

  The next morning at around 4.30 i decided to try and sneak out of the house. school doesn't start until eight but i won't be able to leave the house without a black-eye if my father is up , I went out through my window since i didn't hear my dad move yesterday i assume he's still passed out next to my door and that is way too risky. 

I made my way to a park only  few blocks from my house, this is where i come on mornings like this or if i'm too scared to go home i usually just sleep on one of the benches.

I go straight up to my favorite bench which is the one kinda separated from most of the people but really close to the duck pond. i don't know why but i have always found ducks so... calming, sometimes just sit on the bench,staring at them while they just swim around without a care in the world.

Why couldn't I be a duck.

with my knees towards my chest I cover them up with my hoodie which is way too big for me but it keeps me warm on chilly days like this. I put on my hood too so no one will recognize me from the distance between me and the path through the park. 

As i snuggle myself further into the hoodie my mind drifts off, Why couldn't i just be normal? then maybe my father would be proud of me. But no, i had to become "special" I can't help my anxiety or depression. maybe i would just be better off without all of this... And that's the last thought before i'm pulled into the land of dreams, where everything can be okay for once.

*********

I wake up to someone shaking my shoulder. First i don't think about it ,just assuming it's my dad or something. Then i realize i fell asleep and i flinch away from the person so hard that i end up on the ground.

"Oh, sorry you okay there?"

Wait a minute, i recognize that voice...

"Love? you alright?" he repeats himself

I quickly look up to the man and immediately recognize his hazel eyes from the school. He looks me straight in the eyes and i remember i never answered his question.

"I-I'm F-fine thank you" i curse myself for my stuttering and lower my head so i'm staring at my shoes.

"Well if we're going to continue meeting like this i think i'm gonna need to know your name."

My green eyes slowly raise from the ground once again to see him with a soft smile playing on his lip

"I'm M-Michael sir."

"well hello there Michael. It's nice to meet you again, My name's Ashton" 

I give him a small smile before my eyes land on my shoes once again. But after only a few seconds he extends his hand to go under my chin to get me to meet his eyes.

"you know it's rude to not look people in the eye as they talk to you" he says with a chuckle but I can't stop my brain from thinking he's mad. I quickly snap my head up to look at him with, what can only be described as terror written across my face.

"I-I'm S-Sorry sir I-I won't do it a-again I promise" my eyes welled up with tears by the thought that I disappointed the only one who is nice to me.

Ashton let's out a coo while crouching down to my height and gently grabbing my shoulders

"aaaw i was only kidding Mikey, i'm sorry"

I let out a sniffle as Ashton rubs my shoulders in a comforting manner. i lean into the affection since it's something i haven't experienced in a few years.

No ones pov?

 Ashton notices this and carefully brings the little boy in for a hug since he just couldn't resist it. And that's all it takes for Michael to break.

The young boy let's out a choked sob as he can't remember the last time he got a hug and grabs on to Ashton as if he was the last thing keeping him sane, which at the moment he kinda is.

Ashtons eyes widened at the boys reaction but he quickly composed himself and swiftly stood up with the boy -who is still bawling his little eyes out- he managed to get Michael situated on his hip much like you would hold a toddler. Ashton starts to softly sway and bounce a bit on the back of his heel to calm the little boy.

"Michael, Michael baby you have to calm down okay? C'mon let me see those pretty eyes huh?"

Michael slightly eased up the grip he had on Ashtons jacket-he wasn't sobbing anymore however tears constantly poured down the pink haired boys face, some small sniffles along with them- He lifted his snot covered face from Ashtons neck to look up at the still swaying man.

Ashton cooed at Michael's face when he looked up to Ashton with such an innocent and tear drenched face.

"there you go love,you're okay. " Michael wasn't okay though. and he was beginning to fear he never will. Michael had always seen things from the positive side for example michael would always tell himself he deserved his fathers beatings or that he did it out of love. But this time around he just couldn't do it anymore.

He lost his hope, and that was the absolute last Michael had left.

Now he was nothing.

With Michael being exhausted from the breakdown and Ashtons safe and bouncing embrace it came to no surprise as the young teen fell asleep on Ashton's shoulder.