71 parts Complete Ashton's glare flicks between the beer bottle and the commotion outside before settling on me. He takes a slow step forward, and I unconsciously take two back until I'm flat against the wall behind me. His body is flush against mine. Our lips centimeters apart as his knuckles drag across my cheek. It takes an incredible amount of strength to resist the urge to lean against them.
"You know, you have this really annoying habit. This habit of sticking that cute little nose of yours..." He flicks my nose and I smack his hand away, meeting his glare with my own. "...into shit that has nothing to do with you."
All this time I've forgotten who I'm dealing with. I met Ashton as the composed new kid. A random person with a random story completely separate of mine. But as he inches forward, angry blue eyes illuminated by the fireworks outside, I'm reminded of just how dangerous Ashton Brooks really is.
And just how much both of us have to lose.
"And you know what they say," he whispers, tilting my chin up. "Curiosity killed the cat."
***
Where two broken souls meet to repair the damage inflicted by their intertwined pasts.