Trigger warning: mentions of abuse and alcohol usage (plus swearing)

Ashton wandered into his house after Jaxon had dropped him off. He sighed throwing his leather jacket onto the armchair and collapsing face first into the couch. He felt his body sink into the cushions and it didn't even take minutes before he fell asleep.

He woke up two hours later to the sound of a buzz.

His eyes slowly opened they felt dry and weighted, he coughed a little as he noticed his dry throat, and now found it more difficult to breath from his nose. Great. He thought sitting up. Now I really am sick... I guess that's what I get for standing in the rain in December. He heard another buzz and stood up to get his phone from his inside coat pocket.

Unknown: Hey Ashton, it's Jaxon!

Unknown: Told you I would text 😉

Ashton shook his head, quickly adding the number to his contact list before responding.

Ashton: It's literally been a couple hours, I'm fine 🙄😠

Jaxon: Hey I told you I'd check up on you, and I am. No need to be such a tsundere 😝

"Tch." Ashton clicked his tongue in annoyance before quickly typing.

Ashton: I'm sad I know what that is... and I'm NOT ONE!

Jaxon: Yeah Yeah... sure. Hey I'm going out with some old friends tonight, wanna join?

Ashton: No thanks...

Jaxon: awe, how come? You don't want to see me again? 😏

Ashton: 😒 Definitely not. Besides I don't like going out in general, let alone with people I don't know.

Jaxon: Ouch! I'm wounded... 😣  lol That's fair enough I suppose... tell me if you change your mind.
Btw you're still in high school right?

Ashton: I'm a senior, yes.

Jaxon: That's What I thought, what school do you go to?

Ashton: Elmwood High.

Jaxon: Hey! I went there too! My brother still does. He's a junior I wonder if you know him!

Ashton: I doubt it...

Jaxon: His name is Patton Sanders. Sound familiar?

Ashton froze upon reading the name. He sat there and just stared at his phone screen in disbelief for a few seconds. It couldn't be right, he was seeing things, it was impossible that the person who just so happened to be driving by to stop him from jumping off a bridge, was none other than Patton Sanders' one and only older brother. Patton Sanders, his ex-best-friend who he just so happened to basically drunkenly force himself upon, and ruin their relationship forever.

Apparently he'd been taking a while to respond after he read it because Jaxon started typing again.

Jaxon: Ashton? You still there?

Ashton: I have to go

Jaxon: why? Is everything alright?

Ashton: We shouldn't talk anymore... you should forget you ever met me...

Jaxon: What?? Ashton I cant just do that! What's going on??

Ashton just locked his phone not giving a response as he shoved it into his back pants pocket. He paced back and forth. It's impossible. It must be some sort of God given karma. He sighed loudly, painfully raking his fingers through his messy head of hair. I already hate myself enough about all of it, and now this..? I can't take this anymore!

His spastic thoughts were stopped when he heard someone stumbling through the front door, and into the kitchen.

"Ashton!" His dad's voice called. "Don't ignore me boy, I know you're here..."

Great... Ashton thought slowly making his way to the kitchen. "Dad."

His dad chuckled, leaning on the table for support as he brought a bottle of beer to his lips and finished it off. He slurred his remaining words. "You have the audacity to steal from me, and then just say 'Dad'."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Ashton responded calmly. Jesus Ashton keep your voice from shaking, be a man, you'll only make things worse!

He jumped as the empty bottle suddenly flew past his head and shattered on the kitchen wall behind him. After the initial shock he felt relief that is hadn't actually hit him in the head like last time. He stood his ground, knowing if he walked away he wouldn't be so lucky.

"DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT??" his father's angry voice boomed. "You little fuck! You fucking stole from me! Did you think I wouldn't notice my fucking alcohol missin' hm? You think I was fucking stupid?? You think you wouldn't get a motherfucking punishment for not keepin' to what's fucking yours!?"

I wasn't supposed to come back... The thought crossed Ashton's mind as he took a step back. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry??" His father laughed at that. "You're sorry... Well sorry to tell ya boy, but sorry doesn't fix shit!!" He quickly, and ungracefully made his way over to his son, roughly trapping him by the arm, he took Ashton's phone from his pocket and tossed it onto the counter.

Ashton panicked now, completely loosing any false sense of bravery he was trying to put up. He spoke quickly and desperately. "Dad I'm sorry! It won't happen again I swear! Please I'm sorry!"

"Stop FUCKING sayin' that!" His father yelled dragging him across the room and into the hallway. "Your lucky I don't hardly have any energy right now or I'd fucking beat your sorry ass, but for now I still gotta punish you."

"No! Dad let me go! Please!" Ashton cried out loudly trying, and failing, to hold back tears.

"Oh shut up you pathetic fucking child!" He yelled in response before swinging open the basement so hard is banged against and bounced back from the wall. He then threw Ashton down the first few steps, the teen luckily catching himself on the railing.

"Dad! No! Please! Stop! It won't happen again! Don't-!" Ashton yelled out, only for the door to be slammed in his face, and the sound of the terrifying locks turning to hit his ears. He tried to open the door despite knowing it wouldn't work. "Dad! Let me out! Please!" He banged his fists on the heavy wooden door till they turned red and ached.

"Shut the fuck up!" His father screamed. "I'm going to bed!"

Ashton stopped banging out of fear, and also the pain in his hands grew to be too much. His head was pounding now, and he felt like he could throw up at any moment. He sucked in a shaky breath, shivering in the cold air of the basement, before sinking down on the step and crying silently.

-&-

Patton woke up in the afternoon in his living room. He shifted on the couch slightly as he slowly opened his eyes, only to realize he was laying down against someone. "Sorry!" He sat up quickly feeling himself blush as Logan looked at him. "I um didn't mean to fall asleep..."

"It's quite alright. I didn't experience any discomfort from you being there," Logan responded.

"Oh... well alright." Patton smiled laying down on his boyfriend once again. He felt Logan put and arm around him and snuggled into his chest more. "You're so warm..." He closed his eyes again.

Logan smiled at the comment. "Patton, I have realized something."

"Hm?" Patton asked feeling his boyfriends steady breaths, with a content smile himself.

"Ever since we started dating, we have not actually gone on a proper date." Logan pointed out.

Patton opened his eyes and shifted so he could look his partner in the eyes. "I guess you're right."

"Don't get me wrong I do enjoy simplistic and elated moments such as these, but I would like to take you out on occasion," Logan explained.

"Why?" Patton smirked his voice taking on a slightly teasing tone. "Do you wanna show me off?"

Logan blushed a little. "That is not a phrase I would use to explain it."

Patton laughed lightly at that. "I'm only teasing you Logan, of course I want to go on dates with you."

"How about this weekend then?" Logan asked.

"Mmm..." Patton thought. "But Saturday is the opening night for the play. We need to support Roman and Virgil right?"

"Then it works out perfectly." Logan nodded. "Friday night we can go out for dinner, and then Saturday we'll accompany each other to the play to support our friends."

Patton nodded. "Sounds good to me, it's a date!"

Although he didn't show it much Logan seemed a lot happier than usual. "It is indeed."

Hey guys, official first dates are being made yay! Are you excited? And you got to see more of Ashton's side of the story. My poor child... what are your thoughts on all that? Vote and comment, bye!
~Hannah😋