Boomerang ≫ Lashton AU

o n e

+Ashton+

I'd always hated the concept of college. The way that you'd go to some classes, return to your dorm and then go to some classes again. Meanwhile, in between having to listen to obnoxious people chatter about things that really didn't matter or make sense. I hated how people were so judgmental, and prowled around campus like hungry sharks, waiting for someone to show a weakness, of any kind, so they could pounce and rip them to bloody shreds.

It was disgusting.

But, I wanted a good education and to get away from my delusion family, so college was the answer. I'd only been at this new one about 3 months, part way into the already started school year(another thing I hated) and I was already dragging a suitcase of exhaustion behind me every second of the day.

I'd made two good friends though so far, and we all shared the same interests and clicked fantastically. Their names were Michael and Calum, forever only a strong duo until I came along, and then everything mashed in a beautiful way, and now together we were a strong trio.

I'd met Calum in my painting class. I'd accidentally stumbled over someone's messenger bag that was thrown on the ground carelessly, and sloshed a stunning sky blue paint on his flawless Green Day shirt. I still regretted it, even if it did lead to our friendship...that was a pretty rad shirt.

Meeting Michael was normal. He'd sat down next to me on my first day in my music theory class, and we talked about..well, music taste. Once we found that we had the same musical interests he invited me to sit with him in the library at lunch. When I entered the quiet, hushed, large room lined with books, books, and more books, I'd been pleasantly surprised to see Calum sitting there as well.

So there were some good things about college, and I was glad that I'd moved here and started attending this one instead of my small, cramped, boring, old one back in my home town. The only reason I'd packed up and traveled the four hours here was because of a training opportunity I'd looked into and been accepted for at their local mental hospital. I was studying to be a psychologist so it was kind of perfect. At first I had been wary of the idea because there honestly wasn't that many hospitals for only the mentally ill around anymore, it was more just wings in regular hospitals for that. But, Sunshine Meadows(I secretly thought they should come up with a better name) was a nice place, so here I was, taking my classes and working/training.

~*~*~*~

"You gonna eat that?" Michael asked, eyeing my last Oreo cookie laying all abandoned on the wrapper. I arched an eyebrow at him, and looked between his desperate eyes and the small, basically empty package of cookies.

"How bad do you want it?" I teased, lips twitching up with a smile when I seen him throw me an annoyed glance.

"Oh come on, you haven't touched it for the past half hour. Throw me a bone here, Ash." He begged, even tossing in a little pout to try persuading me.

Aw.

"Fine, whatever. Knock yourself out, I'm not gonna eat it." I mumbled, laughing when Calum flinched in surprise as Michael practically leapt forward to fumble for the cookie. Cal looked a bit exasperated to be distracted from his book, yet again.(seventh time in the last half hour)

"Oh, just put the book away Calum. I don't even know how you thought you'd get anything done with Ashton and I around." Michael unattractively mumbled around a mouth full of Oreo, causing me to cringe. 

"Yuck, close your mouth you moron." I reprimanded but laughed a bit anyway, and he merely rolled his eyes in response.

And then him and Calum started blabbering on about who knows what,and I chose to ignore them, eyes scanning the relaxed, peaceful library. The first thing I noticed was the slumped over librarian that I swear was at least a hundred years old of something, she was absolutely ancient which was kind of cool in a way. She was resting her head down on a stack of books on her desk, obviously asleep. Or dead..

There were a few other clusters of students sitting around, studying quietly. Not many people came to the library for lunch, which I was kind of grateful of. People usually annoyed me..

The next thing I noticed, well, it intrigued me. A boy was sitting across the section of the library with all the tables, off to the left of our small table, eating a sandwich and reading. But damn, he was beautiful. He had a sharp jawline and a small, cute nose, hair tucked away in a beanie. Part of his roots showed from the front before it was hidden in the hat and I could tell it was a nice shade of blonde. I'd never seen him around before, but maybe Calum and Michael had.

He was really attractive. I reached across the wood table and jabbed Michael in the arm , crooking my finger to show that I wanted him to lean closer. With an reluctant and wary look, he did. "Who's that guy?" I whispered, discreetly pointing across the room. Michael glanced over his shoulder and I noticed his mouth settle into a firm, tight line when he looked at the boy with the beanie.

"That's Luke Hemmings. Why do you care?" He asked, his tone somewhat chilly. I raised my eyebrows and shook my head a bit.

"I've never seen him before, just wondering who he is." I replied, watching Michael's reaction closely.

"He's weird, Ash. Like, really weird. No one likes to talk to him..I suggest you stay away. Wouldn't want him pulling a knife on you or something equally psychotic." The colorful haired male had a displeased, scrunched up look on his face and I nibbled down on my bottom lip anxiously. Pull a knife? I scoffed inwardly, that guy..Luke, looked too delicate and innocent to be anything like that. Michael was wrong like everyone else here who apparently didn't like him, I just had a gut feeling about that.

Calum had been listening in, and could tell he wanted to say something, give his input.

"He's nice." Calum suddenly blurted, and Michael's head whipped around so fast Im surprised he didn't break his neck or something.

"How the hell would you know?" Michael demanded, green eyes ablaze with curiousity. In response Calum merely shrugged, not looking too interested in discussing this.

"We were partners in photography class. He's smart, nice, funny. And okay, Im gonna be honest here. He is completely adorable. Cutest person I've ever met." Calum said, fiddling with the cover of his now abandoned book.

"I can't believe this, you're friends with the weirdo." Michael mumbled, but didn't look angry. Mostly concerned.

Calum threw him an exasperated look, "We're not friends and he's not weird. Just misunderstood." My gaze had slowly turned back to Luke whom was nibbling on a few pretzel sticks now, eyes still sweeping over the pages of his book. He looked so happy, and peaceful with that little half smirk on his face.

"He looks so cute."

I didn't notice I'd said it out loud until Michael sputtered next to me, and I turned back to them, afraid to see their reactions.

"Leave it to Ash to like the kid everybody avoids like the plague." Mikey shook his head with a small sigh. But Calum was staring at me with a smile on his face.

"Talk to him then!" The Kiwi urged, looking way too excited and giddy over this. Panic swirled through me at his words and I shook my head quickly.

"Oh no, no, no. I can't do that, wonder if he thinks I'm a creep or doesn't like me or-"

"Stop. You're freaking out over nothing. I suggested simply talking to him, just look at it as a start of a simple friendship, nothing more and it won't seem so daunting, right?" Calum cut me off, and I blinked a couple times, the seconds melting by as I processed what he had said.

"No, I still can't. I'll screw it up somehow, I know it." I argued, beginning to drum my fingers on the table, an anxious twitch of mine.

"I'll help you, Luke already knows me. I'll start talking to him, check him out and then I'll introduce the two of you if he seems like a good guy." I must of looked uneasy because he gave me a reassuring look and reached across the table to pat my hand, "It'll be fine, what's the worst that can happen?" What he was saying made a lot of sense..I had to view this like a new friendship, not a crush. That way the situation didn't appear so scary.

Maybe this wouldn't turn out as bad as I thought...

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