aisle 6 || lrh

4.0

Of all the things I wanted to forget, my ex topped the list. He single-handedly ruined my life, and I've basically been broken to an extent ever since. Try having an abusive senior boyfriend as a sophomore; it was incredibly, undeniably stupid on my part, and I've never really forgiven myself. I managed to get my shit together and call it off with him, Jackson, but he never really left me alone. I ended it with him six months ago as I endured his abusive habits for basically a year. Not only do the memories of him stay etched in my mind, but the marks he left on me covered me as if I were a paint canvas. 

Something in me just flashed bad memories in my mind, and I panicked. I'm sure Luke wasn't a bad guy, but I just didn't want to find out the hard way. It's better if I just kept a boundary. 

Here I was, panicking in Ashton's living room on his birthday, where he could be having much more fun than comforting me. 

"I'm so sorry, Codie," Ashton apologized again with a frustrated sigh. "I wasn't thinking."

"It's okay," I muttered and lifted my head up from my hands. "I don't know what happened, I just got skiddish. Go make out with your girlfriend some more, it's your birthday."

"As wonderful as it sounds..." he began. Before he could finish, I interrupted. 

"No. It wasn't a suggestion. Go eat her face," I commanded as I let out a small laugh at his surprised reaction. 

"Codie-"

"Did I fucking stutter?"

"Jesus Christ," Ashton laughed before standing up and walking back out into the garage. I followed not long after. As soon as I made it back out to everyone, Michael was yelling at Luke for God knows what. 

"Oh, look, the Code-meister is back!" Calum called out as he caught my glance. 

"Oh, God," Ashton scrunched up his face and laughed a few times. "That was repulsive."

"Calum, that was awful. For the love of God, please, never say that again," Michael commented after he finished yelling at Luke for whatever he was yelling at Luke about. 

"The sad part is that he came up with a nickname for her that quickly," Talia chimed in from her spot in between Michael and Ashton.

"Sorry, Calum, I don't think I'm gonna associate myself with you if you're gonna call me that," I laughed. 

"Jeez, wow, okay, I get it, fuck you too," Calum said with a wave of his hand. 

"So," Michael spoke up once the reactions to the nickname were over with, "what now?" He looked at everyone gathered in the garage, but we all just shrugged in response. 

"I think that's up to the birthday boy here," Calum said, nodding to Ashton, who just shrugged a second time. 

"No, he just wants to kick us all out so he and Talia can do the dirty in peace, don't even ask him," Michael retorted with an amused huff of hair. 

"Mikey!" Talia gasped and hit his shoulder. 

"What? We all know that's what the both of you want," Michael replied, obviously not phased by the hit to the shoulder. 

Ashton and Talia exchanged glances, both of their cheeks reddening. Ashton cleared his throat awkwardly before saying, "Well..."

"NO," Michael waved his hands to signal Ashton not to continue. 

"I was just gonna say that Talia and I are just gonna head out," Ashton said with a sarcastic eye roll. 

"To bang," Michael concluded, already slowly backing towards the exit of the garage.