Skinny Love | l.h.

12

(a/n: unedited so sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes)

"Hey, no fair!" Ashton whines when Calum successfully kills him in whatever game they've found themselves so absorbed in. I want to say it's Call of Duty but I can't be sure since I don't play video games like this.

"Oh, suck it up Ash." Calum gives him a small eye roll, which I doubt Ashton saw since both of their gazes are glued to the screen in front of them.

It's been 4 hours since Luke stormed out of Michael's house. I'm not sure that the fact that I've been keeping track of the time passing by is a good or bad thing to be honest.

I was going to just stay with Michael and eat my body weight in junk food to make myself feel better about this whole thing, but all he seemed to do was continuously make me feel guilty. He never mentioned it again after asking me if I was sure of my decision, but I could see in the way he would look at me from there on that he wanted me to change my mind. I just couldn't do it, so I left.

I didn't warn Ashton before coming over, I just walked over to his house and rang the doorbell. It was a little surprising to see Calum answering the door instead of Ashton, but he was more than happy to let me inside.

That was about a half hour ago. I kind of caught them in the middle of playing their war game so I've just been watching as they curse at each other and yell at the TV screen. This has only caused me to be left with my thoughts, which hasn't helped at all. I just can't seem to get the expression Luke had on his face a few hours before out of my head. It showed nothing but complete and utter sadness. I'm sure I'll get over it soon enough but I can't push the guilt I feel away at the moment.

"Bree, are you sure you don't want to play? We can add you in." Ashton turns to say for maybe the third time since I got here. I know he's only trying to make me feel apart of the fun since I'm sitting here all alone on the couch.

I shake my head and force a small smile, "No that's alright. I suck anyway, I would just ruin the fun."

I expect Ashton to just turn around and continue on with his game like he has the past two times he's asked me, but he frowns, probably taking notice at my down-in-the-dumps attitude for the first time. He pauses the game, standing up from his spot on the floor and walks over to where I'm sitting.

"Hey! I was on a roll you dick!" Calum whines, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Calm down, Cal. Just play on your own." Ashton groans. "I hate playing with you anyway."

"Don't hate the player, hate the game." Calum says smugly as he starts a new round on his own.

"You alright?" Ashton takes my hand in his.

"Yeah, fine." I watch him play with my fingers as he always seems to do when we talk. I don't know what's so entertaining to him about it but I don't mind.

"Are you still mad at me about the other day?"

I shake my head, "No, of course not. I know me being around Luke bothers you so I'm staying away from him."

"You don't seem happy about it." His frown deepens and his gaze is still on my fingers.

"Maybe it bothers me that you don't trust me about this..." I mutter.

Ashton tears his eyes away from my fingers and looks at me, "I trust you, Bree. I don't trust him."

"What happened wasn't just Luke, I was apart of it too."

"Please don't say his name." He groans.

"I wish you two would stop fighting, it's getting ridiculous." I sigh, with a small shake of my head.