Where The Lines Overlap

Chapter 8.

A few days after I'd gotten the call, I was on edge, old feelings had resurfaced. I seemed to have drifted from Luke a little, he didn't come over as often as before and I missed most of his phone calls. The path we were headed on was too familiar. Not that we were anything really serious, I didn't consider Luke my boyfriend, the title was too overwhelming and it didn't suit him.

Once I was back in the comfort of my apartment and the day was coming to a close, I put on another one of the records Luke had bought for me. It felt strange without him here beside me, enjoying the music but I knew it was better for the both of us.

The knock on my door came as a surprise, seeing as no one hardly ever visited me anymore besides Luke.

I turned off the music I'd just started getting into to answer the door. Not bothering to see who it was, I opened the door to reveal someone I barely recognized.

My heart inflated and popped as if it were a balloon. I took in a breath, taking in the view of him as well.

His mesmerizing hazel eyes remained the same. His brown hair just brushed over the top of his eyebrows and a playful smile tugged at lips. He definitely looked different since the last time I saw him, his appearance made him seem older than he truly was, most of that due to the growing stubble on his chin. It suited him though, Ashton was always more mature than people his age.

"Hey Paige, is this a bad time?"

I gulped, feeling myself tense up at the sound of his voice. Ashton always made me feel cautious and like I had something to be afraid of.

"What do you want?"

I say with false confidence in my tone.

I know he can see right through me and I hated that. He had a way of getting under my skin, but I wasn't the same girl I was when we were together and I wanted him to know that.

"Paige, I know you don't hate me like you say you do. I can see it in your eyes."

It was true, I didn't hate Ashton. I did at one point but I had gotten over it. I just wanted to keep him out, keep myself from making the same mistakes.

"Ashton, I-" I sigh, he cuts me off by raising his hand.

"I just wanna talk, that's all."

Hesitantly, I lead him into my apartment where he stares in amazement at my paintings, the same way Luke did when he first came over. I find myself looking for ways to spot the similarities between the two but it's impossible, they're too different to be compared, which makes me relieved.

We both sat down on my couch, immediately realizing how awkward this is. It's weird, I used to be able to tell him anything and feel so close to him, like nobody could ever come between us and now we were as close as strangers.

Ashton is the first to speak, his gentle voice breaking the silence.

"I've uh, I've missed you Paige."

I would be lying if I said I didn't think about him from time to time, he was a part of my life for some time. Little things reminded me of him and most of the memories were of the better times we had, few were of our darker days.

"You look good, I like your hair, the darker color brings out your eyes."

He leaned in, taking a piece of my hair and tucking it behind my ear. His hand stroking downward, caressing my cheek. The gesture is too familiar for the situation we're in and I flinch at his touch.

He seems wounded by my action, although I'm not sure why seeing as he was the one who left me. I turn away, not wanting to look him in the eye, I couldn't afford to let myself do something I'd regret later.