the hammock (lashton au) hiatus

chapter 13

I'm still crying over 2.5k ily guys so much I pee

that's awkward oops

dedicated to otakuwaii because shes perf and my sisters boyfriend is my life

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Ashton's POV

"Are you sure you're alright?" Luke asks me for the one billionth time.

I groan as we make our way to our respective jobs. This morning I had woken up with a pounding headache and raw throat, then I threw up all the contents of my stomach. Luke woke up to the sound of me dry heaving and when I tried to greet him my throat was so shot I couldn't talk.

When I whispered to him that my throat felt like I had allergic reaction to something then swallowed a cheese grater,  a look of guilt clouded his face but it was gone before I could react. He told me that I was wasted last night and that I most likely wouldn't  remember anything, which I didn't.

I must've been pretty wild if I feel this shit. Luke has been hovering over me and pestering me all morning. I couldn't even make my toast without him watching me like a hawk.

"Luke. For the gazillionth time, I'm fine. Jesus. If I need you, I promise I'll text you alright?" I whisper shout at him, We've reached the hole in the wall pinball arcade he works at. I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his chest. I really just want to go home and cry in my bed but I know I can't do that, so I take a deep breath and  reluctantly pull away from him. “I’ll see you later, alright?”

He starts backing away, still facing me, as he nods. When he disappears around the corner I let my body slump and lean against the brick wall behind me.  

Im so tired. My throat is killing me and I haven't spoken above a whisper all morning. I'm seriously considering skipping my job at the library and going home. No one is going to die if I don't restock the shelves. Unfortunately, I know no one would be able to take my shift because, the only other person working tonight is an elderly old woman who refuses to switch shifts at all because shes hateful. I swear that woman has a death wish, everytime I ask why she won't switch she says “Because if anyone crazy comes in on the night shift, they kill me not you.” She either has a death wish or a mean way of being nice. She’s old and Im young. It makes sense for her to go first because she’s already lived her life.

Whatever. I just really don't want to go to work right now.

But I need the money so I let out a long suffering sigh and push myself off the wall, starting on the short journey to the library. I’m supposed to be in by one o'clock but no one bats an eye if you're a few minutes late. All the ladies that run the library are really nice and I literally feel like I'm about to keel over and die so there’s no need in rushing when its right around the block.

I shoot a tired smile to Shelly as I walk behind the counter. Shelly is an empty nester who volunteers here during my shift. She reads books to all the little kids that come here for story time. I think she does it because she misses her own babies, and she’s really good with kids. They always leave here in a flurry of giggles and tiny bodies racing ahead of their parents because Shelly makes everyone happy. She makes cookies for us to share during our lunch break and she’s so nice to me, she has that all around mum feeling.

The day goes by faster than I expected. I was still tired and my throat still felt ragged but the workload today was fairly easy. After I clocked in I restocked some books that had been in the cart and organized things that were already on the shelves until my lunch break. I ate cookies with Shelly in the lounge area by the front desk and she told me a story about one her kids when they were little. Then the rest of my time was spent manning the front desk. Checking out books and answering questions wasn't really that taxing. I was still whispering, which earned me a few glares but I dont care.