Friends?

Eighteen

Taylor

"Ash.. Can you stay over again?" My face turns a bit pink as I ask him this.
"Yes, love." He giggles at my shyness.

Ash

Of course I wouldn't say no to him.
I don't want him to be left alone, especially since Amanda keeps to herself, except when it comes to Taylor and I being alone together, Of course.
Soon,Taylor and I are walking to his house together.

"Ash!!" Amanda giggles, hugging me quickly.
"Heey! Paws Off, Little one" Taylor kisses my cheek.
I turn and press my lips to his and slowly begin to kiss him.
I run my tongue over his bottom lip, making him shiver.
"Get a room!" Amanda laughs.
Taylor blushes, making me laugh too.

He takes my hand and leads me up the stairs to his room.
"Ill be right back." I whisper, pointing in the direction of the bathroom.
He nods and goes into his room.

Taylor

I go to my desk drawer, silently and search for the small, tin box in its hiding spot.
I pick up the familiar box and open its small lid.
I pick out the small, cold piece of metal, and hold it between two fingers.

I feel two hands wrap around my waist and cringe. Fuck. Why did I do that when I knew he'd be coming back so soon.
He turns me around and looks at me sadly.
"I-Im..sorry..." I force out.
He holds out his hand, but I clutch the small box tightly.
"Taylor please..." He whispers.
He kisses me deeply before prying the small box from my little hands.
He hugs me tightly, and slips the tin box into his back pocket.
I sigh.
Amanda knocks on the door.
"Y-yes?" I say quietly.
Ash places an arm around me and draws circles with his finger on my shoulder lightly.
It is oddly calming.

She opens the door to where Carter is standing beside her, smiling.
"Oh, I thought they were making out again." She giggles.
Carter smirks at Ash.
I smile nervously and look at Ash.
"So, whats up?" Ash changes the subject.
Carter holds up some money and explains that their Father wants us to get something to eat.
Uh oh.
"Do we have an option..?" Ash asks hesitantly.
"Nope." Carter says, making a popping sound at the 'p'
Amanda giggles.
He turns to her and gives a questioning smile.
She covers her mouth with her hands shyly.
"Yeah, we need to get a room..." Ash nudges me.
I giggle loudly, making Amanda turn into a tomato.

Once at the coffee house, Carter finally asks.
"Oh yeah.. Where did the room thing come from?"
Ash almost chokes on his drink laughing.
"Wow.. Slow..." He explains.
"Amanda can't handle a little kissing" I wink and put a hand on Ash's thigh, making him blush.
"Kissing? You were trying to swallow each other" She giggles.
Now its my turn to blush.

"Hmm..." Carter gives a mischievous grin and pecks Amanda on the cheek.
She turns bright red and wide-eyed.
"I think she took it well." He jokes again.
Ash and I burst out laughing.
She glares at us but it doesn't last long until she begins to giggle too.

Once back in the car, Ash is very happy that I didn't 'get sick' and I think Im a little happy too.
Carter drops us back off and says a quick goodbye.

Carter

When I arrive back at home I see a small, shiny box in the back seat and pick it up.
Once inside my room, I open it to find a few tissues and two small, thin piece of metal that looks as if they had been broken out of a shaving razor.
Oh no..

Ash

"Text me when your Mum gets home, okay, babe?" I kiss Taylor's forehead
He nods and smiles.
We hug before heading to our separate homes.

Once unpacking my bag, I hear a knock at my bedroom door.
I turn and open it to find a serious looking Carter in my door frame.
"Can we talk..?" He asks quietly.
I motion him to my bed and close the door.
I sit beside him and watch him as he pulls a small, familiar tin from his back pocket.
"Fuck." I hiss.
"W-what is it.." He whispers.
"Its not mine." I say firmly.
"Then whos?" He looks straight at me.
"I can't say.." I drop my eyes to my hands in my lap.
"Please just tell me, I don't want you doing this to yourself..." He says.
"Its not mine, Carter."
"Until you come up with a real answer, it is. Ill give you until next week."
"Before?" Im worried now..
"Dad."
My heart drops. He wouldn't.. Would he?
"You wouldn't..." I force.
"We'll see." With that, he leaves.

Oh no, oh no, oh no.. I can't give Taylor away.
He'd never forgive me.
My phone buzzed.
Taylor:She's still not here :(
Ash:Can you come over?
Taylor:What about Amanda?
Ash:tell her to tag along
Taylor:Be there in a bit xx

My doorbell rang15 minutes later.
Carter looked puzzled but I head for the door.
I nod from Carter towards Amanda.
He nods and takes her hand, showing her the game room.
I drag Taylor to my room quickly.

"Carter found the box." I explode.
"What happened?"
"It fell from my pocket in his car and he's gonna tell my dad its mine next week."
"Thanks for not ratting on me" He tries.

"Carter.." Taylor peeks into the room.
"Be right back." he smiles at Amanda.
"Yeah?" Carter steps in the room and I close the door behind him.
"Look..T-that box..Wasn't Ash's box.."
I can tell he is very nervous.
"Taylor you don't have to-"
"Yes I do." he cuts me off.
"The box was mine.. Ash took it from me, okay?" He flips over his arms to prove his words.
Carter pulls Taylor into a tight hug.
"You're good for each other." Carter whispers.
They pull apart and Carter reaches for Taylor's right arm -Taylor is left-handed- and turns it over.

I walk over and study his small arms as well.
I look at every time he has felt so alone, or stressed out, or nervous that he had to result to self-destruction.
"Look, I won't tell your Mum because I know my baby brother will take care of you, but just please, if you ever need help, we're here" He gives a sad smile.
"D-dose Amanda know?" he whispers.
Taylor and I both shake our heads.
Carter and Taylor hug again before Carter kisses Taylor's forehead, making me giggle.
"Shut up.." He shot a look at me.
I cover my mouth to muffle my giggles.
"Ill give you two a ride home.. and I assume twinkle-toes wants to ride along." Carter smirks at me.

I grab Taylor's hand and walked out to the car with him while Carter get Amanda.
I pull him into my lap and we giggle and kiss for most of the drive to his house.
"Bye, baby doll" I whisper in his ear.
He shivers, making me smirk.
"See ya" he pecks my cheek.

The next day at lunch Taylor and I sit under our usual tree.
"Can we have a sleep over?" I giggle.
"Sure." he laughs.
"Come over after school?"
"Deal" he pecks my cheek.

Taylor

"Yay!" Ash pulls me inside his house and laughs.
We go up to his room after stopping to say hi to his brother.

We decide to watch a movie because its beginning to storm.
Im a little nervous because of the lightning but cuddle up with Ash.
We aren't as interested in the movie as each other and end up kissing quietly.
I kiss his jawline before thunder strikes, making me jump out of my skin.
"Shh.." he coos.
I shiver at his breath against my neck before he begins kissing it softly, trailing down my collar bone.
I shakily breath out before the thunder hit again, much louder.
I whimper and Ash wraps his arms around me.
We never really get too far, but we don't want to push anything too quickly.
We cuddle closer before happily falling asleep in each others arms.