My Trip with Ash

Chapter 3

I SIT UP ALARMED as my phone starts ringing. I rub my eyes and take my phone out of my pocket. It reads "Ash". I click answer and rest the phone in between my shoulder and cheek.

   "Hey Alex, I have a question." he says kind of rushed. 

   "What is it?" Apparently today is a question filled extravaganza.

   "Can I stay a couple nights with you? My dad is being kind of.. touchy." I hear the cautiousness in his voice and I cant help but feel a slight panic forming in my gut.

   "S-sure. Um, when can you be here?" 

   "I'll be there in fifteen. If that's okay." he says. I can hear the relief in his voice. It makes me smile softly. 

   "Of course, I'll see you soon. You hungry?"

   He chuckles, "As always Alex." I laugh back and stand walking to the kitchen.

   "I'll whip something up. See you soon Ashton. Bye."

   "Thanks. Bye Alex, see ya soon!"

   I hang up and set my phone down on the black marble counter. Then it dawns on me. Fuck. I just invited my crush to come and stay with me at my house. My only safe spot in this world. Oh no. I shake my head and remind myself that its not a big deal. 

   I open the fridge and look at what we have. Yogurt, tomatoes, milk, butter, and half eaten Mac N' Cheese. Nothing suitable for serving. I sigh and walk to my room, phone in hand. I grab my wallet and order pizza. 

   When I'm done I sit and wait for ash.

   ...

TEN MINUTES PASS AND I feel my palms collecting sweat. I wipe them on my pants and take a deep breath. Nervous. I'm so nervous. What if he doesn't like it here? Alex calm down. Deep breaths. Then I hear it, a subtle knocking at my door. Pizza wouldn't be here quite yet. It must be Ash. 

   Ash. I Bite my lip slightly, a nervous twitch of mine. I use to bite the insides of my cheek raw. I was always a suspicious and nervous child. I get up and walk to the door looking up through the peep hole. Mhm, It's Ash alright.

   I unlock the door and smile shyly at him. "Hey there."

   His piercing blue eyes look me up and down, and a nerve deep in my stomach clenches. He shouldn't be allowed to have this much power in a single look, but he does. And he uses it well. "Hey Alex, can I come in?" He raise an eyebrow and I snap back into reality. 

   "Oh yea, s-sorry." My stutter takes its toll on my S's. Why am I so nervous. Ash smiles and slings his packed backpack over his shoulder. 

   "I left my school stuff in my locker today so that I would have it come Monday of next week. Thank god it's Friday." His soft, plump, pink lips twitch upward into a smile. And once again, my insides tighten. There is one thing I know and it's that I can't resist Ash and his presence. He is everything I need, and want. Everything I long for. My soul aches for his touch. Sadly, I'll probably never get that. And it sucks.

   "I'll sleep on the couch, you can have my be-" I get cut off by ash shaking his head.

   "No no no. You keep your room, Can I just sleep on the floor? So i'm not alone." He rubs his neck, which I know is his nervous twitch. Why would he be nervous? Him of all people.

   I smile shyly once more. "If that's what you want, then yes. Of course you can. My rooms down the hall, near the pictures of Barbados." I point in the direction. "Just set your stuff in there."

   He nods and does so. He looks around as he walks. Most likely taking in my house, to which he'd never been. Honestly, it makes me wonder why we never hung out at my house before. Lack of appeal to my boring life maybe. Maybe. It doesn't matter. What matters is not getting side tracked. Not thinking about... things. 

   I shake my head and mentally slug myself in the shoulder. My inner self is scolding me for even having to mention getting side tracked. 

   Ash comes back out holding up a piece of paper, examining it. It looks like, like, oh my god. It's the picture I drew of him. I must have left it out. I turn bright red, and feel the scorching heat rip its way across my cheeks. This couldn't get more awkward.

   He looks at me and shows his perfect sex appeal smile. Then he says, "Why are there hearts around my name?" Correction, this could get way, way more awkward. 

   "I-i-i .. I was j-just," I cant help but stutter. Its annoying and it vexes me oh so much.

   "Alex... do you.. like me?" he asks and he smile turns shy and his cheeks  pink.

   I bite my cheek nervously and fiddle with my fingers as I stare down. I don't know how to answer. Correction, I know how, but don't want to. Because confessing could mean losing him or worse. I shiver at the thought and take a deep breath, before I exhale the word, "yes."

   He walks a bit closer and I look up. I wince when were inches apart, thinking he might slug me or tackle me. But he doesn't. All he does when I look up is stare at me. I feel the heat spread to my ears and down my chest. He  lean close to my face. "I like you too." 

   I practically faint at his whispered words. Like I have adrenaline pumping into my lifeline. It feels scary but good. I like it. 

   He places his pointer finger under my chin and his thumb on my bottom lip and lifts my lips to his level. He runs his thumb over my bottom lip. He teases to much, as always. Like depriving a dehydrated puppy from water. Then he leans forward and brushes his lips against mine, and my breath spikes with pleasure. Until, he firmly plants his lips onto mine, and I melt into him. I cant help but savor this. To me this isn't real, can't be real. Its to good to be true. I don't understand how this happened. But I am grateful none the less.

   The door rings and he pulls away. Fuck. I stand there for a second motionless. Until he smirks and nods towards the door. I chuckle and nod, "s-sorry. I'll get the" He laughs softly and I walk to the door looking through the hole. The pizza is here and I hadn't realized how hungry I was until now. I open the door and pay then walk back in with the plain cheese pizza. Just the way Ash likes it. I set it down in front of Ash as he sits on the couch and he grins ear to ear.

   "Perfect." he says. I smile and sit down.

   We each enjoy our pizza and then we decide to watch a movie. Yay, a movie.