Protect Me

~Andy~

"here, let me take your bag." Ashley hefted the duffle bag away from me before I could tell him no. He lead me to his room where one neatly made bed and a cot where set up. i sat on the cot.
"Oh, no. You get the bed." Ashley told me, dropping my bags.
"I don't want to-"
'No, really. I usually don't even sleep in my room anyways." I nodded, looking down. Why dd that bug me so much? I had Juliet.
"Off at your girlfriend's place?" He started laughing hysterically. "And what's so funny?"
"I haven't had a girlfriend since I was nine."
"You're gay?"
"Yeah, And he's... perfect." Ash got this goofy grin and plopped down on the cot I had just vacated.
"what's his name? What does he do?"
"Johnny. He goes to the high school with me."
"You're in high school? How old are you?" I demanded.
"Seventeen. Eighteen in three months. You?"
"Nineteen. i'm a Freshman in college." He nodded, but just then a phone sitting on the window sill went off. Ash dove for it quickly picking up.
"Hey baby....nothing much, my grandmother's friend's kid just got here.... Yeah, Andy... No, you're the only one for me babe... yeah I can go out tonight." he looked up at me. "Want to come to this club we got? It's not exactly up to New York standards, but it's not bad."
"Yeah, sure. Your grandma won't mind?"
"Naw...yeah he can come... love you. Bye." he seemed to expect something but the phone just beeped off.
"He seems-"
"I know he seems rough around the edges."
"Just.... just a little."
"It's just-"
"No, I'm sure he's fine." Ash smiled and nodded. Carla shouted from downstairs.
"Come on, let's go eat." We ran downstairs to find Carla and an elderly man who I assumed was George, sat at the table.
"Hey Gramps. How was work?"
"Good my boy. And how was school?"
"Good." Ash suddenly looked down.
"Andy dear, this is my husband. You'll have to start school with Ashley tomorrow. I'm sure they told you."
"That they did Ma'am. And nice to meet you sir." He nodded and smiled at me.
"Grams, can I take Andy to the park?"
"Oh, of course dear."

~Ashley~

After dinner I took Andy with me outside and over to my pride and joy.
"Is that a Harley?"
"That it is."
"Nice."
"You'll be riding bitch. I hate people driving my baby." he nodded in understanding and I handed him my helmet.
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine." I told him, throwing my leg over.He got on behind me and tentatively put his hands on my shoulder.
"If you don't hold on you'll go flying." I revved the engine and he threw his arms around my waist.
After a few minutes he calmed down enough to loosen his grip and we arrived at The Scene. Johnny was waiting outside for us.
"hey babe." He told me when I got off pulling me close.
"Johnny, this is Andy." He nodded, and ignored him completely. "he's starting at Beverly high tomorrow. We have almost the same classes."
"Ash, I don't care what city kid does." I nodded and looked down.
"I'll go.. get a drink... of some liquid." Andy muttered, walking away.
"Why can't you be nice?"
"Because I don't want to."
"Why? he's not a bad sort." A sharp pain came from my cheek and I slammed into the wall.
"How often do I have to tell your dumb ass? You're mine, and only mine. If you leave me, especially for that creep, I'll kill you."
"But you can fuck whoever you want?"
"Yeah, and you know why? Because you're too weak and pathetic to deal with it." I nodded and stayed down.
"Why don't you just go home you piece of shit." he kicked me in the stomach and walked off.
I just lay there, hurting. I tasted blood and knew my lip was busted. Crap, how am I supposed to hide that?
"Ash? Come on, let's go." I moaned, but one eye was already swollen shut and the other had blood pouring over it. I felt myself being lifted up carefully.
"But... I have to wait for-"
"No, you sure as hell do not." The guy went over to my bike and pulled me onto his lap before starting it.
A little bit later we pulled up to my house.
"Alright, come on Sweety." Andy picked me up. and brought me back inside. Luckily I guess my grandparents were in bed. Andy sat me down on the bathroom counter and grabbed a wash cloth from under the sink. He got it wet and leaned over to pat my face.
'No, i can do it."
"Ash, let me help you out here."
"No no, I- I can do it." He sighed and ignored me completely.

~Andy~

I washed all the blood and dirt from Ashley's face, but there was a red mark that looked scarily looked blood on his shirt.
"Ash, I'm going to-"
"No."
"I'm just trying to help you." Tears tracked down his face and he curled himself up onto the counter.
"No, nononono. Don't cry, what's wrong?"
"I- I can't- please he'll-"
"Who?" He just shook his head and cried harder.
"Alright. Just tell me later." I just picked him up and carried him to our room. I put him on the bed and pulled the covers up around him, starting to set up the cot.
'No, I'll-"
"No, you'll not."
"Fine. come sleep with me then." My mouth went dry.
"Well Ash I.. um.."
"You don't want to?"
"No I do. Trust me I do, but... you know what? Yeah, let's do this."

Notes