Off Ones Rockers II • Lashton

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-six

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As he walked along the hallways back to his room Luke smiled at other patients as he passed, they were not certain if he was smiling at them or just in general, or that he was on some type of medication that made his air brained. 

For one Luke was proud of himself that he had managed to cluster up the confidence to even attend the yoga session, but he also managed to follow everything without feeling like he was the elephant in the room, both literally and metaphorically.

 Likewise, he felt just as Sid had suggested,  he felt calmer. He couldn't determine whether it prevented or help prevent his outburst but at present, he felt content and calmer. All thoughts about his body that often loitered in his mind constantly were suppressed.

The blonde beamed at Ashton as he entered their room and sat down on his bed, slipping off his shoes. 

"You look happy," Ashton stated, putting his book down and looking at the blonde. It was rare that he saw the blonde smile and he liked it when he was happy.

Luke nodded. "Sid recommended that I try yoga to help with my psychosis," he said. "I feel lighter."

Ashton nodded understandingly before remarking. "You know you're even more attractive when you're confident."

Luke bit his lip and blushed. Luke disliked being complimented, he never felt worthy of them. But, whenever Ashton praised him his stomach flipped and his cheeks always went slightly red.

The curly-haired boy continued to stare at the blonde, Luke glancing up slightly to do the same thing. Although he would never say it to the blondes face, Ashton had noticed over the past week that Luke had now gained a significant amount of weight. His cheeks were beginning to fill out and despite his still long and thin limbs, he had a tiny amount of fat around his midsection. 

It made Ashton feel calm knowing that the blonde was no longer wasting away, that his body was readjusting. He still couldn't look at the blonde when he was changing in and out of his clothes because his ribs and collarbones were too prominent but both boys were growing more comfortable with each other's presence as well as more attached to each other.

"Um," Ashton muttered, looking away from the blonde once their eyes made contact. "I was um wondering if maybe you'd like to, um like, lay with me and cuddle or something."

Luke looked down once again and laughed nervously. It was rare he let Ashton touch him, they hugged and kissed occasionally but he didn't want to repulse Ashton. But, he always wanted to be in the older boys arms, and to fill the warmth of his body. Luke nodded sheepishly but remained where he was seated.

Ashton laughed awkwardly and opened up his arms for the blonde to join him. Slowly Luke slipped off of his bed and onto Ashtons. Ashton slouched down into a semi lying position and patted his chest for the blonde to put his head on it. Luke did so and exhaled deeply, feeling his body relax.

Both boys lay there silently, smiles tugging at both of their lips. "This is nice," Luke whispered, looking at the ceiling and playing with his fingers.

Ashton hummed in response. "You can tell you've never been in a relationship before," he said, picking a strand of the blondes hair and wrapping it around his finger.

Luke quickly sat up, worried he was doing something wrong. He winced when Ashton pulled his hair whilst doing so, clutching at his head.

"Sorry," the curly-haired boy apologised, sitting up too, and taking both of the blonde's hand and holding them loosely but with sincerity in his own. "You didn't do anything wrong, Luke, you're just new to it, you just don't know how to act. You're a little awkward, that's fine. It's cute."

Luke smiled to thank the older boy, and Ashton stared at him adoringly. He let go of one of the blonde's hands and ran a finger down one of the blonde's cheeks, it was cold yet smooth. "I never realised how beautiful you really are."

The blonde shook his head and ran his index finger over a small dent above the older boys left eyebrow. "How'd you do that?" he asked curiously. 

"I fell over whilst playing football and split it open," Ashton shrugged like it was no big deal. He scanned the younger boys forehead in which there were a few inconsistent marks that he'd witnessed the blonde create.

"You play football?" Luke asked, wanting to know more about his roommate.

Ashton shook his head. "No. My mum just signed me up to the local club when I was young you know like they do, but didn't really enjoy it so I just started to refuse to go."

 Luke chuckled and continued to watch the curly-haired boy, before yawning. "You tired?" Ashton asked, knowing it was common for the blonde to take a short nap during the day, that he wasn't quite strong enough yet to survive the whole day.

"Yeah," Luke murmured, rubbing his eyes. Ashton slid back down and patted his chest once again for the blonde to rest on it, Luke did so and let his eyes flutter shut. Ashton let him be, he just drew small patterns into the blonde's shoulder.

After a little while, he picked up his book and began to read.

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When Sid entered the room fifteen minutes past one he was not expecting to see the two boys laying together. He had not realised Ashton had not shown up to dinner, but it was acceptable for him to miss one or two. Yet, the blonde was obliged to attend. He hadn't thought Luke was purposely avoiding, but it was common that he falls asleep.

"So the reason Luke never turnt up for dinner was that you're using him like a book rest," Sid remarked sarcastically, with with a serious tone as he leant against the door. Ashton jolted at the voice, causing the blonde to stir.

Ashton tilted his wrist to look at his watch before his eyes widened. "Shit, sorry, forget to check the time."

Luke groaned, but his eyes remained closed. 

"Is he okay?" Sid asked, quietly. He knew the blonde had gone to the advised yoga session yet didn't know how he took it. 

Ashton nodded. "He was smiling and everything earlier said something about yoga."

Sid stood up straight and looked at the pair once more. "Wake him up and make sure he's in the dining hall in ten minutes."

Ashton rolled his eyes and gently tapped the blonde who groaned. "Luke, we're late for lunch."

Luke shook his head but slowly sat up, running his hand through his hair before heading over to how own bed and putting his shoes on.

The pair walked down to the canteen together, got their food together, and then sat and ate together, exchanging small chit chat, both eager to gain new information about the other. Luke eating without a doubt due to Ashton's presence is a distraction, whilst both also failed to miss Sid watching them from a few tables down. 

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