Oops... slipped.

Thanks already to brightyeolie and jueka1

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As expected, the moment Callie, Sara, and I approached our history class after leaving homeroom, Ashton's gaze immediately sought out my sister.

"When do we enact the plan?" Sara said in a low voice as Ashton and Luke watched us coming closer.

Callie fidgeted with her hair, beyond mad about the mark Ashton had left at this point—mostly because too many had already teased her for it in homeroom, let alone the storm that was last night around dad.

'No daughter of mine is getting pregnant before she finishes school,' he hypocritically shouted even though both Callie and I had told him in three hundred ways that it was just a kiss.

'Just a kiss?' dad had retorted last night. 'Yeah, I can see that, Lexi. Just a kiss... on my daughter's throat.'

Of course, I wasn't going to bring up the dinner table that he knew I had done more with Mia... though the benefit of being a girl and only liking girls is that pregnancy was not a concern during sex.

Yet as we came nearer, Ashton put his books back on top of his bag—because Miss Brooks wasn't here yet—and confidently walked straight up to us.

And rather than being mad or trying to have a go at her like I expected, he immediately enveloped Callie in his arms, head burying into her neck.

"I missed you," I heard him breathe into her, and Sara and I shared raised eyebrows. Because the dude didn't even know my sister...

He pulled back, eyes searching her face.

Then finally, Callie let out a, "How are you even talking to me?"

His expression wavered, but he threw it away with a grin. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... after the weekend..."

He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, revealing the hickey he had made for everyone to see, and said, "Of course I want to talk to my..." But he cut off, warily glancing at us. "Can I talk to you in private, actually?" he then said, a little more quietly.

But while Callie's eyes blew wide, we were thankfully saved by the teacher approaching the room.

Reluctantly, after Miss Brook's words to 'know the time and place, Ashton', he released my sister and forwarded back to his bag, grabbing his books once more.

Yet unfortunately that wasn't the end of him.

Callie forwarded in first, and Ashton quickly darted past before Sara or I could make it in. Immediately, he pulled up the chair next to my sister, and she craned her head, sending Sara and I a 'help me' look.

We both ended up taking the seat behind them. And as Miss Brooks called the roll, Sara leaned over and said, "First break, save Callie."

"I agree," I said in a low voice.

And as we watched Ashton's hand grab Callie's under the desk, Sara then whispered, "Good thing she has maths with Flynn next..."

Ashton tried and failed to walk Callie to class. As she slowly made her way—Sara and I warily tagging behind her this time—it didn't take long for Flynn to come rushing our way, almost crash-tackling Callie from Ashton's grip.

"Do you mind?" Ashton hissed at Flynn.

Raised eyebrows with his arm still around my sister, keeping her on the other side of his body away from Ashton, Flynn replied, "Mind what?"

"Getting your hands off my..." But again, Ashton trailed off.

The truth was, we all knew what word Ashton wanted to say both times he almost referred to Callie as his 'girlfriend'. But he hadn't asked her... and this douche unfortunately seemed to respect that at least.

Flynn grinned at Ashton and tauntingly raised his eyebrows. "I think I can hug my best friend as much as I want, thanks," Flynn said, throwing his other arm around Callie as they came to a stop now.

To our dismay, Sara and I kept walking—slowly, not wanting to miss the drama about to ensue, but still knowing we had to get to class.

"Sara is Callie's best friend," Ashton retorted, also coming to a stop.

"Yes. But Callie is mine," he said back, though removing the other hand he had thrown around Callie as her face turned bright red.

Yet whatever Ashton said back, unfortunately we didn't get to hear it. Now out of distance, Sara and I picked up the pace, knowing we were already late and going to cop the wrath of our teacher the moment we got there. Ashton, who was also in our class, was going to be in bigger trouble at this rate.

And while it would make me happy, if he got detention first break... Well, it would only further delay Operation Save Callie.

When maths ended and Sara and I served our five minutes of detention—Ashton stuck for ten—we slowly lingered by our bags, packing things up while I quickly sent a text to Callie, letting her know I was going to try the moment he was out. 

She responded almost instantly.

Callie: How soon? I'm at our usual spot, so at least a five minute walk...

Me: Good. Get up now. It will only take a couple minutes once he's out. If you pass Sara on the way, that means I've started.

And as I was texting, we finally heard our teacher give the final lecture to Ashton about tardiness as his chair groaned against the floor in the room.

"Good luck," Sara whispered, quickly darting off as Ashton forwarded out.

A part of me was worried how my plan would go ahead if the teacher followed him through this exit. But to my luck, she went out the teacher hallway, meaning when the door closed behind Ashton, it was just us in this alcove by the bag racks.

He cocked an eyebrow at me as I waited by his bag—mine already on my back.

"Why are you still here?" he asked.

"Waiting for you," I countered, tilting my head to the side and pressing my lips together.

He paused for only a moment as he put his books in his bag. "Why?"

"Are you..." I started, taking what I was pretending to be a 'shy' step closer to him. "Are you really planning to ask out my sister?"

He zipped up his bag, eyes flickering to me then back to his bag as he pulled it off the rack. "I am."

"That's a shame," I muttered, snagging my lip between my teeth as I looked up at him between my lashes. At times like this, I was so glad I took drama—and that I had taken part in many plays back in Melbourne. It was certainly coming in handy for all these dumb boys who fell for the simple batting of lashes and biting of lips.

But while Ashton did falter slightly, his gaze peering down to my mouth for a moment as though he was considering it, he then met my eyes once more, a dullness in his gaze. "I don't know what you're doing here, Lexi... I get we maybe had a bit of a thing when you turned up—"

Oh please, I thought, but didn't let my internal puking show.

"—but I'm most certainly devoted to your sister, even if we aren't official yet. Maybe if you confessed sooner we may have had a chance but... I don't want to mess this up with her."

Glancing up at him once more, pretending to be hurt, I used the opportunity to quickly look over his shoulder, noticing Callie had arrived. She shot me the thumbs up, miming 'do it', and so I took a step closer to Ashton.

"What are you—" he started, voice catching in his throat as he took a step back.

Plan A in Operation Save Callie was hoping the guy was Fraser-enough—considering he hung out with the jerk—to just take the bait. But apparently Ashton had somewhat of a moral compass. So Plan B was just to go for it anyway.

Hand fisting his shirt before he could get any further from me, I closed the distance between us, smashing my mouth against his.

At first he went still, as though he were in shock as my mouth moved against his. But wanting to make it seem 'as real as possible' and knowing he technically had to kiss me back, I continued to move my mouth over his despite the fact he stayed still.

When he seemed to compute that yes this is really happening, his hands shot up pushing at my shoulders first, attempting to pry me away.

But in response, I wrapped my free arm around him, weaving my fingers through his hair. Then slowly, I softened my grip on his shirt, resting my hand against his chest.

And the boy was that dumb.

At my looser hold, he finally caved, arms wrapping around me, pressing me against the bag racks as his tongue ploughed into my mouth—tasting a lot like spearmint gum. Which would have been nice... until the gum in question suddenly made an appearance. Though, in his defence, he didn't know I was just going to assault him like this.

But then the testosterone-induced confidence kicked in, and his hands began to roam over my sides, digging into my hips, fingers dipping under my shirt. Then as we pulled apart for air—me more than done with this makeout session—he went back in, kissing my neck as I turned my head away, too scared that the gum would enter my mouth if he kissed me again.

Like my gosh... boys are so gross.

As he began to kiss my neck, completely unaware of our audience, my eyes met Callie's as she shook her head.

She wasn't hurt. 

I mean, it helped that Sara was only a couple of steps away, peering around the corner, and Flynn was sitting at the very edge of his seating area—still with his mob, but eyes locked on my sister, warily, worryingly.

'Come closer,' I mouthed to her.

And thankfully our wombmatedness was still intact. Despite the distance, she knew exactly what I said, taking shaky steps and doing her best to start forming her 'shocked' expression.

"Ashton?" she then asked when she was a couple of steps from us.

The boy—who was still nuzzling my neck, leaving a disgusting trail of saliva there that I don't think enough showers could ever wash away—froze.

"Lexi?" she then added for extra effect.

And then I thought, Go sis. Get out those acting chops.

Ashton slowly pulled away, eyes hesitantly meeting mine. And for a moment, I saw it all—the utter regret that he had caved. The lack of care he had for me. The anger. And the slight welling of tears before he turned and met my sister.

"Why... what..." Callie took a step away, trying to pretend she was heartbroken.

Ashton let go of me immediately, backing away and shaking his head. "Callie, it's not—"

"What it looks like?" she spat. "Because it looked like you were fucking making out with my sister?"

Someone please give her an Oscar already, I thought, crossing my arms over my chest.

Hand pointing my way, he said, "She made—"

"Made you?" Callie scoffed, flicking her hair away, revealing that damned hickey he gave her. Whether it was intentional or not, I watched from the corner of my eye Ashton's gaze become fixated on it... pain swirling on his face as he realised he may never get to do that with her again. "Really? That's what you're going with?"

Jaw clenching together, he stepped away from me and closer to her. But I didn't have to see his face anymore to hear the sorrow. "It won't happen again... Please, Callie... I promise," he croaked, as though tears were fully in his eyes now, if not coming down.

I felt a little bad for the guy, to be fair. He did like my sister. But not enough. Because he never would have kissed me back if it was enough...

"I thought..." Callie said just loud enough for me to hear, "I thought you were going to ask me out."

"I was... I want to... I still do." 

He reached for her. But again, she stepped out of his grip.

"Callie... I really do like you."

"Yeah? Because that's not what it looks like."

"That's not fair. On the weekend you were with Noah—"

"Is it my fault that my best friend's big brother tries playing jokes?"

Oh go Callie...

He opened his mouth again to retorted, but she turned on her heel, walking away from him. 

He started to follow, but before he could go further, Flynn and his cousins walked over, forming a barricade as Sara ran after Callie.

Ever so slowly, I walked past them, listening to Flynn and Ashton go off at each other—Flynn also doing his part in playing the 'defensive friend'.

"Lexi!" Ashton hissed as I walked past him, spotting me trying to sneak away.

Ever so slowly, I turned to meet his gaze.

"Why?" he asked. "I like your sister... why would you—"

"Not enough to not kiss me."

"You kissed me!" he whined.

"And you kissed me back."

"But you started—"

Though I closed the distance between us, not stopping until I was breath from him. This time, instead of hesitating by my proximity, he squared his shoulders, venom seething from his eyes.

"Next time you like a girl, Ashton, don't think you can gossip about planning to take her virginity with the boys," I threatened. "Women deserve better than being 'locker banter'."

His pupils blew wide as he took a step away from me. "How did you—" But he cut off, glancing Flynn's way. "Did he rat us—"

"I'm in your class, Ashton," I said. "And Fraser talks." Of course, Fraser didn't talk to me... But I had to save Flynn from getting into shit from the guys.

Face falling, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "It wasn't my idea. I wasn't going to... I would never force Callie to—"

"But you should have cut off the discussion if you really cared."

"And what? Say I want to take her to movies and give her flowers and all that gay shit?"

I winced at his word choice, crossing my arms over my chest. "Yeah, all that gay shit, Ashton." I shook my head. "My sister deserves better than this."

"This is ridiculous, Lexi. You don't get to—"

"I do!" I snapped. "I was gone for five years and not once did anyone try to make a move on her. Then Fraser gropes her and you plan to—"

"He did what?" he demanded, like it was news to him.

I snapped my mouth shut.

"What did he do?" he pressed, eyes narrowing in concern.

But I shook my head. "My sister needs me right now. I don't owe you explanations."

"Lexi!" Ashton followed me, grabbing my wrist and bringing me to a stop.

"Let me go."

Thankfully he did, but I turned and met his wary face. "You know, your sister wouldn't be sad right now if you left us—"

"I cannot have someone like you use and abuse her. Her confidence is already in pieces because all of you thought she was too scary to date. She deals with enough fear knowing she's different, and you're only going to break her heart. None of you even tried to get to know her when she was in her chair."

His face wavered as he evidently knew I had hit a nail on the head. Whether he knew he'd hurt her eventually, or because he felt the guilt knowing it was only because she had a somewhat 'normal' appearance now that he had started pursuing her. Nonetheless, he tried again to argue with me. "She wasn't really—"

"Stop with the excuses Ashton and just grow up. You don't need to follow the boys. You don't need to give into toxic masculinity. And you can openly tell people that you want to respect and treasure someone you're interested in, even if society is trying to scream at you that it's an insult to your 'masculinity'."

And before he could get another word in, I took off in search for my sister.

Though I already knew exactly where she was.

Heading straight to the bathroom, I walked down to the final stall where Sara and Callie cramped onto the closed lid of the toilet, giggling over some YouTube video.

Sensing my presence, they looked up.

"How'd it go?" Callie asked, a little concerned.

I shrugged. "I think he's learned his lesson."

And she bit her lip in response.

"He needed this. Maybe you feel bad but... you're saving many other girls, Cal, but teaching him how to treat a girl he's interested in correctly."

She gave me a small nod, but then her eyes flickered back the phone, corners of her lips turning up slightly.

"What are you watching?" I asked, cramping myself into a stall.

"Cat videos," she said, and that was all I needed.

It would have been nice to go back to our normal spot, but in fear Ashton would be waiting, we hung out in there until the bell.

Then even in the second break, we chose another spot in the school to hang out, avoiding the boy in question in the hopes tomorrow all of this would blow over.

Did we break Ashton enough?

Meme: