City of Angels. || Ashton Irwin

Chapter 23.

Lucy's POV:

I woke up to the familiar sound of beeping and noises that should only occur here. In a hospital. I'm confused as the last thing I remember is Ashton carrying me to here I suppose?

Ashton.

I look around the room I'm in, similar to Ashton's. He's not in here. Where is he? I'm slightly afraid to move. In case.. He's here. That stupid asshole.

I'm literally terrified. The thought of him touching me sends shivers all around my body. I look to the right and I see a mirror. I look different.

In the mirror I see a pale, with purple blotches on her face. Bruises. I see bags under her eyes and I see a girl who's crushed. Who desperately needs her boyfriend? Yet is too afraid to be touched. Her face is drawn and she looks, scary.

I look scary. I look sick and I look ugly. I feel it too without a doubt. I literally curl up into a ball in my bed and begin to cry. I just cry.

Until I hear footsteps.

"Lucy?" a soft voice calls me.

I look up to see Ashton. He has flowers. They're daisies and bluebells. And hes wearing the biggest smile I've seen in him. He's beautiful. He's wearing a beanie which makes me melt, and his traditional pair of skinny jeans. Black skinny distressed jeans.

I can't believe he bought me flowers. I smile at him and wipe away my tears. I look a wreck. How can he stay with me?

"You look beautiful." He calls and I just laugh.

"Are you serious? Are you blind? I look like a witch!" I sniffle and begin to tear up a bit but I bite my lip and look up to try and stop myself from crying.

"Hey, hey, babe don't cry. Stop it your beautiful to me. I.. I got you some flowers." He scratches the back of his head. He catches my eye but quickly I look away.

"They're beautiful. I love them. Thank you." I smile at him. And he puts them beside my bed on a table.

He then pulls over a chair and sits directly beside me. And takes hold of my hand and kisses it. Sending a whole bunch of butterflies flying around in my tummy. I stiffen with his touch, yet I relax a bit. I feel safe when I'm around Ashton. Like come on! Look at him! His biceps and his image. You wouldn't want to mess with him.

I just look at him, study his face. Not like staring at him. But just admiring him and just his presence even if he was mad. I'd still just fall in love with him more.

I'd say I was looking at him far too long because he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"How you feeling?" He asks.

"I've a massive headache." I moan as I massage my head.

"The doctors want to keep you here overnight. I didn't tell them what.. Uh happened." He looks sideways avoiding eye contact.

I sigh with the images haunting me from last night. I just wish I could erase them.

"Thanks." I rub his arm and I didn't realize he was stiff, 'cause I felt him relax from my touch.

"Erm, do you wanna talk about it? You do know I'm here for you and I'm not leaving. I'm staying, for good I promise I won't run away." He looks deep into my eyes with.. Love? He says his statement and means it. I know he does. Those few words melt my heart and warm me. He leans in for a kiss but then hesitates.

"Are you ok? .. Like with this?" He bites his lip. Looking adorable as ever.

"With what?" I say confused with a puzzled look on my face.

"Like us? Are you comfortable with me like, touching you? Not in that way but I can sense when I first held your hand there you hesitated to let me do it?" He still doesn't look me in the eyes.

I lift his chin up so he can look at me.

"Baby steps." I put a smile on my face and he does the same.

"Can I kiss you?" He blushes. He must be so embarrassed.

I just laugh and nod.

He kissed me softly. A few pecks and he pulled away. I pouted.

"What?" He laughs. More like his little giggle. He has many laughs and I love each and every one of them uncontrollably.

"What was that?" I tease.

"Baby steps Lucy, baby steps." He winks at me.

I stare at him with fierce eyes but he just rolls his eyes. Everything disappears when I'm with him. Thank God I have him.

"I'm just gonna run to the bathroom, I seriously need to take a piss."

"Ok, I laugh."

As he leaves My mind races back to Mum and Richard and Cameera. Shit. I didn't ring them and I turned my phone on silent. I see my purse at the end of my bed. I quickly grab it and root through my bag for my phone. Wow I really do have a lot of things in here I don't need.

Finally I find my phone. "Gotcha!" I say to myself.

10 missed calls! Fuck! They're probably worried sick about me, I'm gonna have to tell them what happened. I can't. No not now. Ashton is the only one who knows and it's gonna stay that way. For awhile at least. I sit up in my bed blankly thinking of an excuse to text them.

Nothing.

I can think of nothing. I go through my messages. I have 7 from Cameera and about 20 from mum and Richard.

It's mostly *Lucy why aren't you answering your calls, what's wrong are you hurt* those kinda things.

I feel my stomach turn. I feel sick and I hate lying to them. But I can't tell them. No it's too much. They'll treat me differently. No. No. No. I begin to overwhelm myself and breathe uncontrollably. And I sob and cry. I wish Ash would come back. How long does it take to piss?

Immediately he rushes into the room. He must have heard me. He runs over to me.

"Shh, shh babe it's ok, I'm here it's ok." His words slowly calm me and I grab him to hug him. I need to get used to his touch and not be afraid of it. The only way is to force myself into it and do it myself. He slowly puts his big hands around my bag and gently squeezes me. I cry into him and I sob. He strokes my hair.

"Shh, Lucy Babe it's ok I got you." He says in a serious but warming tone.

"I can't tell anyone what happened Ash. I can't go through it. Not even mum or Cameera or anyone. They texted and rang me so many times and I don't know what to say." I ramble and I panic with my breathing.

"Shh Lucy it's ok I sorted everything out while you rested."

"Y.. You did?" I struggle to say through my sobbing session.

"Yes, I rang your mum and told her that I was a transfer student and you had to show me around and stuff. I don't know how but she bought it. Cameera? I told her we were sorting things out." He smiles. He's pretty proud of himself. That takes so much weight off my shoulders.

"Thank you." I barely whisper.

He just kisses my forehead. "You need sleep. You look exhausted."

"No, no I'm ok..."

"No your not your tired, now sleep, don't worry I'll be waiting here. It'd be good for us both to sleep." He yawns.

I give in. I'm too weak to fight and I just don't have the energy.

Within minutes, my eyes are getting sleepier and soon I'm fallen deeper and deeper into sleep.