Her Knight In Rusty Armor

Chapter XII

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Much Too Cliché
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"Up on the hill across the blue lake,

"That's where I had my first heartbreak...

"I still remember how it all changed.

"My father said,

"Don't you worry, don't you worry child,

"See, heaven's got a plan for you..."

My body was nestled beside his, my arms tightly wrapped around him. He looked down at me with felicity swirling through his lovely green eyes. Bringing his lips to my cheek, he placed a small kiss there, his beard lightly prickling at my skin.

I grinned at him.

"I love that song so much!" I excitedly blurted out. He chuckled at me, gently running his hand through my dark hair.

"I know you do. That's why I sing it to you every day, Ashy."

Looking up into the cloudless blue sky, I couldn't help but bask in my dad's warm company. My mom walked out into the sunlit porch, carrying a small tray with four glasses of lemonade resting on it.

"Lemonade, everyone! Liz, get out of the hedges and drink your lemonade before Ash does!"

Elizabeth squealed and scuttled towards Mama, not wanting her lemonade to be devoured by me. I laughed at her, picking my own glass up from the tray.

"Don't spill it on yourselves! Hold it steady..."

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"Is he crying?"

"I-is who crying?" I heard myself croak.

I focused my eyes on the three girls sitting on each edge of the round table, their eyebrows knotted together in anxiousness. I glanced at Kate, whose eyes were wide, a frown distorting her pretty features.

Blinking my eyes, I felt something watery trail down my cheek. I brought my hand to my face and smeared the drop across my skin. Examining my hand, I realised that...

It was a teardrop.

"Are you alright, Ashton?"

"Did one of those night bugs bite you?"

"U-um, Ashton?"

I missed him. I really missed him.

"Miller?"

My eyes gradually met hers, the latter swirling with concern. She stretched her hand out to hold mine, clutching it for dear life.

"Tell me," she whispered as the world fell silent. "What's wrong?

Never, as long as I had remembered, had I shed even a single tear throughout my life – excluding the times when I was a toddler. I couldn't understand what had happened to me today.

Wiping my eyes hastily before gently pulling my hand away from her touch, I rose from my seat, looking anywhere but at the trio of girls sitting before me.

"I'm fine, don't worry," I mumbled, though I knew they weren't the smallest bit reassured. Of course I just had to ruin their night.

"Bathroom," I raspily muttered while clumsily pointing towards somewhere inside the dorm, rushing away from their – perhaps judging – gazes and jogged towards my desired destination, where no one would be able to see my stupid self.