honey ◇ ai

needs

"Ashton? Is that you?" Helene questioned the figure lying outside of the library, "I don't want to impose, but what are you doing?"

"Waiting Helene, waiting for you." The man had sat up at this point, his back against the glass door, whiskey is his left hand.

"Ashton it's eight in the morning, how long have you been out here?" Her eyes saddened as she glanced down to his hand, "More importantly, how much have you drank?"

He sighed, setting the bottle on down on the pavement, the pungent substance sloshing from the bottle's neck. Ashton attempted to stand up although his movements were much less swift than usual, "Mm, I just wanted to see you, I'm sorry you have to see me like this," he groaned, reaching out for Helene's hand.

"When do you have class?" she interrogated.

"It's Saturday, I just knew you'd be here, you're always here," he smiled softly, "I needed to be with you."

"You also need to toss that poison you're loading into your body, we need to get you inside," she sighed, pulling Ashton upward from his slack state.

His body was resistant yet he didn't have a choice. He was going inside, even though the library probably wasn't the best option for his current state, "We need to get you sobered up because this isn't okay," she sighed.

There was no reason for her to be taking care of this man yet she was easily compelled to do so. It wasn't out of pity though, he wasn't a helpless individual, he just needed someone to help him along.

Ashton coughed over the deadened silence of the campus, "Where are we going."

She laughed a bit, squeezing his hand, "You're the first guy I'm bringing back to my dorm, but don't get your hopes up."

The stroll back to Helene's dorm was a drag, literally. Helene used all the strength in her small stature to pull her counterpart along. He was leaning down on her, apologizing with every step he took, "You don't have to do this, I can take care of myself."

"It's clear that you can't, don't worry about it. This can be our little secret," Helene reassured as she unlocked her dorm room.

It was spotless, pristine, elegant. Her bed had been made to perfection, her clothes hung in accordance to their color.

"You have a single room." Ashton stated plainly although it was a mere observation, "Don't you get lonely? I do," he sighed.

"You can sit down Ashton," Helene motioned to her bed, "I'll be right back," she smiled before rummaging through her belongings.

Ashton's eyes wandered every inch of the room, taking in the soft vanilla and amber that wafted through the air. It smelled like her, something he wouldn't be able to forget.

She returned with a washcloth and water bottle in hand, deciding to sit beside the man in her bed, "You don't have to tell me anything," she sighed, "Because I have no reason to know. We all have demons behind our backs, as do I."

"You can't though, you're so pure, perfection," Ashton smiled as Helene ran the damp cloth over his skin.

Helene shook her head, handing him the bottle of water, "If you knew everything, I'd certainly fall from grace," she sighed. It was like a weight lifted of his shoulder as she spoke. Her statement was vague yet it allowed him to feel human, it allowed Ash to feel sane.

"Just know you don't have to get drunk on the library pavement to talk to me."

"Fine then give me your number Helene," he smiled softly although in response to her words that dripped with sarcasm.

"No you're giving me yours," she shrugged, "What is it?"

"Let me just type it in," he prompted, reaching out for the device in her hand although Helene's grip remained tight to his surprise. The nod of her head implied she was not willing to hand her phone over, but she couldn't be blamed for her secrecy.

Phones held it all, they were lifelines. So much could be hidden behind the fluorescent screen yet so much could be given away. That's what Helene had worried about.

"Ashton you'll probably drop it, you're not completely sober," she stumbled over her words, her chest tightening. It's sad how much anxiety the phone prompted within her, but it seemed to be a common one.

He smirked softly, brushing a curl strand of hair from his forehead. "You're scared, aren't you. I doubt you have a stock of nudes on there," he urged on.

"Well there's not even a chance you'd get any considering I don't have your number Ashton," Helene groaned before quickly having a change of heart, "Forget it."

"No, what was that again, I can't believe you'd consider that," he smiled, "I'd certainly be one lucky man but I'd never expect that."

Ashton's words weren't eloquent, they weren't bore from his regular thought pattern. He never anticipated that Helene would say such a thing. His only thoughts now were on how bad she truly was.

She was more than perfect to begin with but knowing there was a chance she would accept Ashton for who he truly was and for what he truly wanted.

"What if I give you my phone and you put in your number," Ash offered pulling his phone from his jean pocket, "I've got nothing to hide."

He had far too much to be ashamed of although he could hide it much better.

Helene's small hands wrapped around the black casing of the device, "You don't have a passcode?"

"I told you Helene, I have no need," he shrugged, far too trusting of the world.

Ashton truly had no needs, except for her.

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Hey Babes, so like I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long and that this is so short. (And I didn't proofread yet)

But I graduate tomorrow and am Salutatorian of my class. I'm just happy that it will all be over.

Stay beautiful.