No Worth

Guard Down

Adam's POV

I return from shopping, and I'm quite appalled by the sight that waits me. When I open the door, I see Jerome in the same chair as I last saw him, except this time, he was sliding out of it, doubled over in laughter. As for Mitch and Ashley, they were the sight that shocked me the most. Ashley was laying down on the floor on her back, and Mitch was literally on top of her, their bodies touching with their faces just inches away from one another. Not only that, but their hands were intertwined as well, their faces red as tomatoes.

So I reacted the way any normal person would.

"What the hell happened here?" I exclaim, dropping the bags of groceries I held in my hands. "Mashley" separates as quickly as they were on top of each other, turning even deeper shades of scarlet. It takes them a while to notice me, because they're all laughing so hard.

"Oh hey Adam." Jerome greets me, out of breath.

"Why hello Jerome," I say, then looking at Mitch and Ashley on the floor. "and Mashley." I glance at their still intertwined fingers, and both of them turn an impossible shade of red, hastily pulling their hands away from each other. Mitch looks embarrassed, and so does Ashley. Yet she also looks slightly...guarded?

"T-that wasn't what it looked like." Mitch says, getting up off the floor, still red and out of breath.

"Well do explain." I say, picking up the bags I dropped, smirking at him.

"I may have tripped...and by doing so, brought Mitch down with me." Ashley says, looking down.

"That was one hell of a trip." Jerome says, his face red with how hard he was laughing.

Ashley's POV

I let my guard down again. As soon as I realized this, I had to remind myself that I couldn't let myself be hurt again, or led on only to be broken down. Yet I had trouble ignoring the sensation that was brought when Mitch's body connected with mine, our faces only inches apart, yet not close enough. If I hadn't known any better, I would've thought there was a spark between us, just as I had many months ago. For some reason, I felt a little emptier when Mitch snatched his hand away from mine, me doing the same to his.

"Where's Alesa?" Mitch asks, trying to change the conversation and color of his face. I keep my head down, not wanting any more emotions to be shown tonight.

"She's in the room." Adam replies. "She had to go to the bathroom so I came over to see if you guys were ready for dinner."

"I don't know, are we?" Mitch says, staring pointedly at Jerome.

"Sure." Jerome breathes, still attempting and failing to stop laughing. "Just give me a minute." He puts his finger up, hiding his face with his other hand.

"More like an hour." I mumble, chancing speaking. Mitch and Adam chuckle, and I put on a fake smile. I was so pathetic. I couldn't even spend an evening without hurting myself emotionally by letting my guard down. The thought makes tears spring to my eyes, so I quickly yawn loudly so no one will notice.

"Well we better go now, Ashley might be falling asleep over here." Mitch says, and I make the mistake of looking at him without composing myself first. I flash a weak smile and look away, hoping he didn't see through me. Oh god I hope he couldn't see through me.