Lost.

Chapter 14 // Love Hate

Kylie laughs as I tell her what happened to Ash and I, leaving out the kissing part. I think that will personal for a while. Her family gets quite the laugh out of it too, and I blush ferociously at their guffaws towards Ash and I. Leslie scowls at me, and I give her a blank smile. Kylie sits down on the picnic blanket, motioning for me to sit down beside her, which I oblige to gratefully.

Ash's family I find out, are huge eaters. They pull out almost seven dishes of different foods, and it takes me a while to figure out what to put onto my plate and eat. It all looks so delicious, I may have a heart attack.

"So how'd you find your way back son?" Ash's father asks him jokingly, digging a spatula into the large bowl of macaroni. I follow after him, speculating Ash, just in case he tells his family that he kissed me. That would be extremely awkward and I don't think I'd be able to live with myself.

"My car obviously, what else?" Ash spits rudely, and everyone gasps, excluding me, because of his sudden rudeness.

"Ashton." His father says again, sternly. I was pleased, as bad as it sounds, that his father was actually taking authority towards his son. I've seen so many similar actions, and all the parents did was kept quiet and walk away to hibernate in their room, just like my dad did. Eventually, he'd come out and it'd end up being hell for my sister and I when she was still around.

"Fuck dad, then don't ask stupid questions." He booms, as I watch the angry boy beside me become more infuriated. He flails his arm in the air to exaggerate his point, but instead, he snacks me accidentally on the face, causing me to cringe and cup my cheek. It stings unbearably, and I feel the heat pool in my cheeks.

"Shit Ash! Watch where you fucking throw your hands!" Kylie scolds Ash, as I notice Leslie's laughter fest. Matthew glares at her, defending me. At least one of the McArthur's has a heart.

"Leslie you stop that now!" Her father tells her, angry.

"Watch your dirty mouths Kylie and Ash, I did not raise you like that!" Susie screeches at her kids. Then, that's when the bickering begins.

I'm silent, and angry at myself, that I've caused this ruckus among this perfect family. I've caused everyone to go crazy, and I'm beginning to think my insanity is contagious and rubbing off on anyone I come into contact with.

"Shut it! All of you!" Leslie's mother booms and everyone silences, earning a grin from her husband and a kiss on the cheek.

"You're right. Grey sweetie, I have some ice in the car, let me get you some." Susie sighs. “I’m sorry."

"No mum, I'll do it." Ash declares, snatching my wrist and dragging me up with him harshly, causing him to get several disapproving looks from his family. I stare bashfully at the grass, cupping my cheek with my other hand possessively.

"You be nice Ash!" His father scolds.

How can Ash possibly live like this? So angry at the world and filled with hatred? I mean, for what reasons? Sure, I'm angry at the world too, but I'm trying so hard to ventilate it elsewhere, just so loving everyone can come easier to me even if their mean to me rather than hating them like Ash does.

Once Ash and I are out of eyesight from his family, I snatch my hand back from his violent grip. He glares at me angrily, snatching my arm again, leading me towards the car.

"Ash, you're going to hurt me further if you keep holding my arm like that!" I protest, taking my arm back, and holding it to my chest as Ash rolls his eyes with no sincerity or sorrow.

This boy is so infuriating, but it's so hard to stay away from him when you have to live with him the entire Winter fucking break! Why did I have to repel against everything my father says and go anyways! He gave me the fucking choice and I was being a stubborn little butt.