Green Light ✓ || Ashton X Reader

Chapter 5

It's kind of surprising that the COO of the Magnificat's parent company is in charge of employee mental health and safety. But that's exactly what Emmaline Wheaton has chosen to do.

"Come on in," she says, making time for your personalized meeting. Emmaline's office is simple, with beige walls and a few platinum records hanging on them. "I always have time to speak regarding mental health concerns."

"Can I ask why that is?" you ask. "I mean...the Magnificat seemed really safe on TV. That's why I came here."

She doesn't bat an eyelash at the beginnings of your story. "I lost a best friend to suicide in high school. Since then, I've been a big supporter of mental health awareness. About six months after we first opened, we had an artist walk out of the Magnificat intending to self-harm. We thankfully caught him, but because the situation was mishandled so inappropriately, I decided to take over on my own. I do remember your mental health check from your initial application, and I was going to speak with you at your first follow up meeting two days from now. But we can talk about it now."

And so you do talk about it now. You tell her everything that you had just told Ashton. "I'm obviously not a licensed therapist," Emmaline continues, "but I do want to be involved in my employee's professional lives, as much as they will let me. Your mental health affects your employment, more than you think. I will not bother you, since that violates HIPPA, but you can come to me with anything, as you are now. Based on what I'm hearing today, I'm going to make an appointment for you to see one of our on-site therapists, at the time two days from now that we were originally scheduled to meet. They can certainly take this further."

"If you don't mind asking," you say, "what do you think about this situation?"

Emmaline thinks to herself for a moment. "If I were a passerby on the street, and I saw the behavior that you are talking about, I would say he is abusive. Please ensure you make your therapy appointment."

You nod and thank her for her time. You're stuck in your own head all the way up the elevator. It's the first time anybody else has called you out on it. I would say he is abusive. You take a deep breath, and then you feel the tears spring to your eyes. Emmaline just told you what you already know.

Somewhere inside your mind, you know that you deserve better than him.

You make sure your phone is safe in your pocket and make your way back up to your room. Your bed is made, with sheets in your favorite color. A brand new brown teddy bear sits on your pillow. It is adorable, with a smile on its face and a green ribbon around its neck. You pick it up and notice how soft it is.

He threw out all of your childhood stuffed animals. This bear that 5SOS probably got you won't replace them, but it's a gesture you weren't expecting.

You jump a foot in the air when you hear and feel the buzz of your phone. Instant dread floods your body. It's him. But when you unlock your phone, the Magnificat app has the notification. Ashton is messaging you through the app. How do you like your room?

You bite back tears again and text back. It's lovely. You guys didn't have to do all of this.

Of course we did, love! You're our friend now. We have extra takeout. Wanna come down and get some?

You smile, and decide that might be a good idea. You take your phone with you and head downstairs to room 602, where 5SOS is staying. For once, you don't feel so afraid. For once, you don't feel like he will show up and ruin everything. You are safe in a building where people care about you.

Maybe this could actually be fun.

"Hey!" Luke calls out when you answer the door. "Welcome to the shindig! Got a box seat right here for ya." He shows you to the couch, which is smack dab in the middle of the suite. There is Chinese takeout everywhere, from General Tso's to lo mein to things you've never seen before.

You haven't had Chinese takeout since you met him, unless it was from a chain restaurant. He always said it wasn't safe. And so you take a little bit of everything, asking ingredients to make sure it fits what you can eat. Meanwhile, Michael turns on the TV, and something random plays in the background while Luke grabs drinks.

And you sip and you listen to their banter. You have no clue why they're including you in their world. You figured that you would eventually find friends in Los Angeles. You just hadn't bargained on your first friends being 5 Seconds of Summer.

You eat as much as you possibly can, and then you sit back and watch the endless barrage of TV shows. At some point, you end up falling asleep on the couch, because you feel someone putting what has to be a blanket on you. You open your eyes. It's dark. "Hey, it's just me," a voice whispers, and you strain to see it's Ashton. "You fell asleep. Do you want to go back upstairs?"

For a moment, you consider it. And then you decide to stay on the couch. "Is it okay if I stay here?"

"Love, nobody's going to tell on you. It's not like there's going to be a scandal. Would you like us to charge your phone?"

"Sure?" You fish for it and realize it's disappeared into the couch somewhere. When you finally find it, you unlock it, out of habit. There are no new notifications. Maybe...maybe you could get used to this. You hand Ashton the phone, and you fall back asleep on the couch.