The Cole Turns To Ash

Summary:

16-year-old Cole is sarcastic, apathetic, pessimistic, and just well...a lump of coal. The complete opposite of one Ashton Matthews...

Chapter 31: The Devil's Getting Married

A/N: Don't ask why I haven't updated in a month. Just don't. Because, honestly, there's no real answer.

Also, there's going to be a SEQUEL. So add me or TCTTA to your alert list because it's going to be after I post another story. Hopefully, the sequel will be up in two and a half months. I'll add a A/N, as a seperate chapter, to this story notifying you all when I post it.

And I have too many people that I want to dedicate this chapter to so I'll dedicate it to myself.

And I have too many people that I want to thank so I'll just thank myself.

This chapter SUCKS. I tried to make it serious but then it was all...lame. So I changed it to be mildly sarcastic. So...laugh at Ashton's misery?

I don't know.

Just...try to enjoy.

And if you hate this chapter, don't tell me.

I already know it sucks.

But hopefully you see a new side of Ashton/more of his personality.

I love this first part, though.

One of my favorite scenes.

Also, it's in Ashton's POV and MILD third person omniscient POV.

WARNING: child abuse

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Chapter 13:

I'm not going.

I'm not going back to that fucking house.

Not today.

Not the day of my Mo..Cecilia..no...that bitch's fucking anniversary of her goddamn death.

And have to listen to my stupid fucking father chatter on about how wonderful she was or whatever.

No. I'm not going.

"Hey..." I look up.

Cole.

Just what I need.

I try to hide the goofy grin that's trying to form on my face.

"Hey." I say and he sort of...pauses infront of the lockers.

What the fuck is he waiting for?

Take off your clothes!

He looks too adorable, though.

Biting his lip.

His hair hiding his face, making him all emo and cuddly.

Shifting away from me.

Even though I'm practically ten feet across from him.

I just want to throw him down on the floor and fuck him sometimes.

But then I also want to wrap him in my arms and whisper 'I love you' until he tells me to shut the fuck up for the fifteenth time.

"Not to sound rude but..." He pauses and then bites his lip. "..are you..are you leaving?"

"Oh..." I say. "...yeah. Yeah, I am."

"Okay." He takes a seat on the bench across from me. I stare at the floor, waiting for him to do something.

But he doesn't.

Do anything, I mean.

I look up at him and grin, "Scared to change infront of me, Cole?"

He scowls, "No."

"I think you are." He wrinkles his nose at me, obviously trying to sneer.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Not."

"Are."

"Not."

"Are."

"NOT!"

"Really? Well, prove it." I say.

"Fine." He says and stands up, taking off his tie.

VICTORY.

HUZZAH!

HUZZ-...

Yeah, okay. You get the point.

He's still trying to sneer at me.

Which...for some reason...makes me slightly uneasy.

"Cole..." I say.

"Yeah?" He answers bitterly and slams his shirt onto the floor, roughly. He's now taking off those stupid fucking required undershirts.

"W-..." Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I can't even say it. "Why do you hate me?"

I mean...no one's ever truly, honest to god, hated me before.

Well, except for Mo...

No.

I'm not thinking about her.

"Ashton..." He sighs and tosses his undershirt to the side, beginning to take off his belt. "I don't hate you."

Well, that doesn't make sense.

"Then why won't you let me fuck you or date you or whatever?" I fight myself to not say 'love you'.

"Because I don't trust you." He says like it's the most casual thing in the world. Atleast he's now taking off his pants.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because..." His pants drop to the floor with a clang, the belt hitting the tile. He stands there in his adorable happy face boxers, looking at me like he expects me to leave or something. Well, I'm not. Not now anyways. I cock an eyebrow at him, basically tell him to hurry the fuck up and take off your damn boxers.

He sighs, defeated, and takes off his boxers.

VICTORY.

HU-...

Okay, not going to do it.

"...because you're a whore."

"You're just a dirty fucking whore just like my goddamn sister."

"I'm not a whore." I mutter.

"Yeah, you are."

"Mom, we were just playing!"

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE! YOU TWO ARE DIRTY! DIRTY ANMALS!"

"Mrs. Matthews! We were just playing! It's my fault!" Marcus cries.

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"

"Marcus, please..." I tug on his shirt-sleeve. "You have to leave."

"But...I don't want to leave you here.."

"GET OUT! GET OUT!"

"Please, Marcus. Just get your shorts and get out of here."

"Please." I whine.

A flying book barely misses Marcus' temple.

"MARCUS, GET OUT!" I shout.

"F-fine..." He whispers and grabs his shorts, running out the door and not looking back.

"AND YOU..YOU DIRTY, DIRTY WHORE!" She shouts. "GET OVER HERE!"

"NOW."

"IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO FEEL WHAT REAL PUNISHMENT FEELS LIKE."

"I'M NOT A WHORE!" I shout and tackle Cole to the cold tile of the showers, grabbing him to face me and punching him in the face. Over and over and over. Barely noticing the water drenching my hair and falling into his cuts.

Jesus Christ.

What the hell am I doing?

I stop and just.. stare at him. He's not Mother. I don't want to fuck Mother. I don't want to kiss her...

I press my lips to his and he shudders. I pull back, trying to see if it's okay, and he wets his lips with his tongue. I pull his tongue into my mouth and lightly suck on it. He tastes heavenly. Sweet but bitter. Like...lemon or lime..or...I don't fucking care. I sigh into his mouth when he starts trying to kiss me back. Awkwardly and just too fucking adorable for words. Mmmm. My perfect, perfect Cole. So heavenly and kind and amaz-...

OH JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!

He bites down on my lip.

Hard.

I yelp and pull back and then that...that fucking BITCH scratches...HE SCRATCHES MY FACE! He tries to crawl away but I grab his leg and pull him back to me.

I hear nails against the tile as I pull him back over to me. I dig my fingers into his leg and then he kicks me in the face. I hear something snap in my neck and then I just sort of...get flung onto my back by the force of the kick. He tries to crawl away again and I jump on his back and then pull him back inside. I start punching him in the face again and then he opens his mouth and just...bites on my fucking knuckles. Hard. I yelp once again and then he grabs onto my wrist and...twists..

OH MY FUCKING GOD!

THAT...

THAT HURT!

SOMETHING POPPED!

HOLY SHIT!

He tries to get away from me, standing up this time. I grab his arm with my good hand, cradling my other one to my chest, and I scratch his arm while he tries to stand up. Tearing off flesh from what it looks like because now he's bleeding. I pull him down onto the tile, now that he's wounded, and climb ontop of him. I'll teach him to fuck up my wrist and call me a whore.

I move lower and lower down his perfect fucking body, licking at a cut near his hip bone along the way. He doesn't notice, though. He's trying to ignore me, staring at the the water raining down a little infront of his head. He finally looks at me and I flash him a devious smile. I keep my eyes locked with his while I stick out my tongue and give the head of his cock one long...long lick.

He squeals and his head lolls back onto the tile, his elbows giving out from their propped-up form. I give the head of his cock a few more 'kitty' laps with my tongue, loving the way my perfect Cole squirms with each lick. I start a zig-zag movement on the top, something I learned from Marcus, he shudders and tries to dig his nails into the tile when I rub my lips against the slit of his cockhead.

"Ashton...please..." He groans in that desperate, desperate needy voice. And I fucking love this because he really needs me and that's all I want. Someone to truly need me.

I take all of him into my mouth in one swift, quick movement. He gasps and his chest heaves, trying to arch into my mouth but I hold his hip down with my good hand. I start sucking at a slow pace, torturing him while I ease him down my throat. I hate deep throating but for Cole, I'll make an exception. He's half way down my throat and I end up gagging but my kinky little Cole shudders and moans. He starts whimpering and then full out...crying when I have all of him down my throat. I start sucking, slowly, and he makes a fist, his nails digging into the flesh of his hand, drawing blood. He gasps around the sixth suck and he unclenches his hands, grabbing at the tile, trying to dig his nails into it once more.

"D-...demon." He hisses and I chuckle. He shudders and tries to arch into my mouth, but I've still got him held in place with my good hand. He starts whining and thrashing when I suck a little harsher, his body practically lifting off the tile.

"Ahhh...shton...Ahh..shton." He moans.

"I'm gonn...gonna...gonna...oh, fuck, please...I'm gonna cum...I...Assshtonnnn." I start sucking a bit faster, because of that, and he mewls, his cock starting to twitch in my mouth and then...

"OH MY FUCKING GOD!" He comes.

I swallow his..'offerings' and savor the taste of Cole on my tongue. He tastes absolutely delicious. Almost as delicicous as his kisses. Well, maybe more..

I let go of him and climb back up his perfect fucking body, grinning up at him and licking my lips while I do so. He groans, in the annoyed way, right before I claim his lips. He doesn't open his mouth but he does return the kiss. So I just enjoy his perfect lips. His perfect Cole lips. I pull back and just stare at his lovely green eyes. My perfect, perfect Co-...

He punches me and I fall off of him, clutching my bloody lip.

He runs out of the lockers and I just admire that cute ass.

Well, atleast I got good seats.

--------------------------------

She was sitting in the library, legs crossed elegantly at the knee, twirling the champagne in her glass around...and around...and around. The rain was doing nothing for her mood. It only served to make her madder. Make her full of rage. Rage that had been inside of her for a very long time.

The boy was standing in the doorway, clutching at his gray sweater-clad arms, nervously, and biting his bottom lip. He was the perfect image of innocence, an angel, or in her mind..the devil reincarnate. With his pale skin, wavy blonde hair, beautiful gray eyes, full pink lips. He looked just like...her. Her twin sister, the bane of her existence. The little harlot that got...got knocked up by that heathen from the football team. The whore that had no morals, no reason for living.

She was glad when her parents kicked out the bitch, she thought they would forget about her. Realize how special she was. But they didn't. Her mother would just...whine and cry about their lost daughter, the one that got pregnant at fifteen and they kicked out. Her mother kept calling her Cathy. Cathy this, Cathy that. Her name was fucking Cecilia! Not Cathy. She never wanted to know Cathy. Never wanted to be near her, never wanted to look like her. And she proved this by dying her hair black, always wearing sunglasses and...when she got married, wearing green contacts. And her father, she hated her father. She'd hardly ever see her father. And when she did, he'd always have a drink in his hand and a belt in the other. So what if she was the same? Who the fuck cared? He trauma ran deep, very deep.

"M-..Mary Ann said you...you wanted to see me, Mother?" The child..no, the demon squeaked.

He knew what he did.

She took a sip of her champagne and asked, "Did you break the blue vase?"

"W-...what vase?" She hated the sound of his voice.

"The blue one in the foyer. The one that was a wedding gift from my mother." Her voice was icy and distant, she held no feelings for the boy. No motherly love. Nothing.

"N-...no. No, I didn't. I didn't even know we had a blue vase."

She took another sip, "Try again." she said simply.

The boy broke.

He started crying...no, no...bawling.

"I-..I'm sorry! Marcus and I were playing catch and I know we aren't suppose to do that inside the house but...but...I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" He said inbetween harsh sobs.

She ignored him, completely. What did she care about him? Nothing. She enjoyed watching him suffer. To her, he was a six year old Cathy. And he should be punished for looking like her. "No food for three days. Only water."

The boy finally shut up. That wasn't the worst punishment she could give. He could live with that. He could just get Mary Ann to sneak him some...

"And if I catch Mary Ann sneaking you some food I'll..." Her upper lip curled into a malicious sneer, "I'll...kill you."

The boy's heart sank and his hand tightened on the door knob.

"Now get out." She ordered.

"Yes, Mother."

Ashton sat up in his bed, clutching at his chest to control his rapid heartbeat. He had to get out of here. Get out of this fucking bed, this fucking house. It was driving him fucking insane.

"Do you love me, Ashton?" Dominic giggled from underneath the covers, his mussed green hair peaking out from the top.

"Of course I do." He started lovingly running his fingers through Dominic's green hair.

"How much do you love me?" He giggled again and continued playing footsie with Ashton from under the covers.

"..lots." He whispered into Dominic's ear, his warm breath tickling him and producing another small giggle from the green-haired youth.

"I love you, Ashton." Dominic sighed, and pulled the cover off his face to lean up and kiss those soft, petal-like pink lips...

"Jesus Christ." Ashton hissed and tried to untangle himself from the canopy, attempting to get up...

"Mmm...don't leave, Cole..." Ashton murmured into the pillow and lazily patted the spot where Cole just was, that warm spot... He missed the warmth of feeling him in his arms. Next to him...under him.

"FUCK!" He shouted, when he was on his feet, kicking the closest thing to him as far as he could.

Which happened to be a random shoe that was kicked towards the dresser on the other side of the room, the dresser with the jar of money. His money. The jar that's now on the floor, broken. Shattered from his sudden burst of anger.

Wait..

He bent over to pick up the crumpled dollars, moving the broken pieces of glass out of the way. That was it. He was going to leave. Find a bed that he had never slept in, or.. with someone...no memories of insane mothers. Or Dominic. Or Cole.

Cole.

He had to see him first.

--------------------------------

Well...

that was a mistake.

Maybe I shouldn't have seen him before I had a shower.

Changed my shoes.

Because I probably look like the zombie hobo.

I check how I look in the rearview mirror.

Yeah, I look like the zombie hobo.

Note to self: when sleeping in your car, make sure to check for mud when you get out.

Luckily, Eeerheart didn't see me. He'd probably try to hound me about charity work again.

'Skipping the last two weeks of school? Sure! Just as long as you volunteer at the hospital I'll keep this...between us.' Insert pedophiliac grin. 'But we need more partners! So...' Friendly pat on the back. '..get going!'

What a lovely fucking principal I have.

And he's fucking Cole...

Cole.

How can he fall for that fucking pedophile?

Spread his legs for him...

just like he does for Trent.

Even though Trent abuses him.

Verbally.

My poor sweet Cole.

So naive and young.

Rejecting me just like my fucking mother...

For Trent.

Always for Trent.

WHAT IS SO FUCKING SPECIAL ABOUT TRENT?

"YOU FUCKING WORTHLESS CHILD! YOU CAN'T EVEN CARRY THE DISHES TO THE KITCHEN WITHOUT FUCKING SOMETHING UP!!"

"I'm sorry, Mom! I'm sorry!" The nine-year-old cried, and tried to pick up the pieces of broken china off the tile, ignoring the fact that he sliced his finger on one piece. If he didn't do this fast enough...well, a sliced finger would be the least of his problems.

"HURRY UP, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!"

"Cecilia, please! Calm down!"

"CALM DOWN? CALM...DOWN?" Her eyes were full of rage, all she saw was...this...this...demon...infront of her. "JAMES, I AM CALM! I AM VERY CALM! BUT THIS...THIS...THING INSISTS ON FUCKING MY LIFE UP!"

"JAMES, TELL ME, PLEASE! WHY MUST CATHY RUIN MY LIFE!? WHY!?"

"Cathy..." James repeated, "Cecilia, this is Ashton."

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE! YOU TELL HIM TO HURRY THE FUCK UP OR I'M GOING TO-..."

Trent came down the stairs. In his pyjamas that Cecilia had hand made. He had only been there a week. And he was quite content, considering the fact that Cecilia had been treating him like he was God's gift to mankind. Far, very far, from the treatment Ashton had been receiving since he was born.

"I heard shouting so...I came down. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, yes, dear. Just a tiny argument between your cousin and I. No big deal." She said, simply and smiled at him, making sure to stand infront of Ashton, making sure he couldn't be seen bleeding and picking up pieces of broken china.

"Oh..okay...I'll just..go back to bed then."

"Alright.. I'll be upstairs in a few. I'll bring some cookies and milk!" She chirped.

"No, you really don't hav-..."

"No, no. It's fine. I want to."

"Oh...well, alright. If you want to." He said and sort of, cautiously, turned around, walking back up the stairs slowly.

Cecilia pursed her lips and tried to manage a tight smile until she was sure he was gone. And then...

"JAMES! If Ashton isn't gone in five minutes I'm going to-..."

"HEY, ASSHOLE! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE FUCKING GOING!"

"WHAT IS YOUR FUCKING PRO-..." Oh...I'm driving on both lanes.

-----------------------------------

I slam my car door shut.

I am officially 350 miles away from civilization. Well, my civilization. If it can even be called that.

I'm standing infront of some inn, in a dinky little town that I can't even remember the name of. The inn looks more like a barn than a hotel but whatever. I digress.

I glance down at my tennis shoes covered in mud. I need a bath. But first...

I push open the door that says 'BAR' on top in neon red letters.

The bar's pretty empty considering it's noon. I take a seat at the counter.

"What'll it be?" He says in a mildly redneck southern 'twang'.

"Anything." I say. "I'm not picky." I'm not looking at him, I'm staring at the counter.

"Mmhmm. You got an ID?" The bartender asks.

"Why? You gonna throw me out?"

"If I have to." He says.

"I'm just kidding." I say. "Besides, if I was a kid, wouldn't I be in school? It is noon." School's out for summer but he doesn't need to know that.

"Well.. I guess." What an idiot.

"And...there's not a school around for miles." He says.

"I wouldn't know." I mutter. Well, I'm not lying. I really wouldn't know.

"So, what'd you say you wanted again?"

"Doesn't matter."

"M'kay. Vodka on the rocks it is." He says and turns around through a door that I guess is where they keep their drinks.

"I haven't seen you around." Someone says and takes a seat next to me, "And I would remember someone this gorgeous."

I look up at the person and smile. It's a prositute. A male prositute in drag. A sleeve-less red dress and far too much make-up. She's not bad looking. She's not as perfect looking as Cole, but who is? She's alright I guess. Although, the 'Posh' style haircut and dyed blonde hair with red tips doesn't flatter her. Oh and that bad tan.

"You from around here?" She asks.

"No." I smile again and then turn my attention to the counter, playing with a coaster.

"Where you from then?" She licks her lips and places a hand on my thigh.

I turn to her and smile once more, "Space."

"Ooo!" She exclaims and claps her hands together. "Cheeky! I like, I like!"

"How old are you?" She asks.

"Old enough." I say with another smile.

"In that case..." She grins and reaches for something in her purse.

"My card." She says and holds out a card in bright pink with red lettering, in her large manly hand with long, fake bright pink nails. "In case you need..." She grins and then winks, "...favors."

I laugh and take it, "Well, thank you. I'll call you if I ever need...'favors'."

"Please do." She says.

"Oh, Heavens, Erin. Have you no decency? It's noon!" The bartender says and places my vodka on the coaster infront of me.

"I'm leaving, Dave! Relax!"

"You better!"

She flips 'Dave' the finger and then stomps out in her red highheels.

"I hope she didn't bother you, sir." He says.

"Nah, not really." I shrug.

"Okay, well, if you need to get into the inn, the door behind you is connected to it."

"Thanks." I say and he nods.

I look at the bright pink card with red lettering...

'MZ Julezzz

Sexual favors for the common gentleman'

And then a cell number.

I laugh and take a sip of my drink.

-----------------------------------

"Ahh, Father Miriam, how nice of you to come on such short notice." Cecilia said with her best fake smile as she led the priest into the foyer.

"Anything for you, Cecilia." Father Miriam smiled and took off his raincoat, placed it on the coat hanger and followed her down the hall. "Now, what seems to be the problem?"

"Oh, it's terrible, Father! Terrible! My son...he...he's possessed!"

"Really now?" The priest said with an amused look, he made sure she couldn't see him, though. "And why would you say that?"

"I...I... I caught him with a..." She leaned close into his ear and whispered, "..a boy...naked, too!

"Oh." He said. "Well, maybe they were just playing."

"THEY WERE NOT JUST PLAYING, FATHER! I saw...them... I saw them..." She leaned close to his ear again and whispered, "...touching."

"Well.." He coughed and adjusted his priest collar. "I'll see what I can do."

"Please." She whined. "He needs some help."

"Alright, now, where is he?"

"Upstairs." She muttered. "In my room."

--

"This..." Cecilia said, pushing the door to her room open, "...is the demon."

Demon, thought Father Miriam. This gorgeous thing?

The blonde-haired boy sat on the edge of the bed, kicking his feet back and forth and staring at his bermuda shorts. He didn't know what was going to happen to him. But it didn't matter anymore. He could handle anything his mother threw at him. Literally.

"Cecilia, can you leave the two of us alone while I talk to the boy."

"Sure." She managed to say inbetween clenched teeth and a fake smile. "I'll just get some tea while you talk to Ca-...Ashton."

Ashton's ears perked up. He hadn't heard his mother say his name in a long time. Even if she almost said Cathy she did say his name.

Father Miriam sat next to him on the bed when the door clicked shut. He waited for the beautiful blonde-haired boy to say something before he said, "I'm Father Miriam."

Ashton didn't answer.

Father Mirian inched closer to the boy and placed a hand on his thigh, "How old are you, son?"

Ashton moved away from Father Miriam and his hand and didn't answer.

"Let me guess...six." Ashton hesistated and then shook his head.

"Seven." Ashton shook his head.

"Eight." Miriam guessed and Ashton hesitated before nodding.

"Hmm. Young." Father Miriam observed.

"I...I guess." Ashton squeaked out.

"So you can talk! I'm glad to see you're not mute." He said jokingly. Ashton didn't think it was funny. He wasn't even sure that was a joke.

"So..are you going to tell me what happened?" Miriam asked after a couple minutes of silence.

"I..." Ashton started, "I...I was just playing with Marcus."

"Who's Marcus?"

"The maid's son."

"Oh." Father Miriam said and paused for a bit, "What were you playing?"

"D-...doctor."

"Oh." Father Miriam said and adjusted his collar.

"I...and...and his...penis had...a...a ouchy. And..." Father Miriam started laughing but covered it up with coughing, "...and...Mother came in and...she said I was a demon and started throwing stuff and I told Marcus to leave but he wouldn't but he finally did and then Mother she...she...the letter opener..."

"She used the letter opener on you?"

"I...please don't tell her I said that!" Ashton cried and got on his knees, clutching the man's robe.

"I won't, don't worry." Father Miriam smiled at the poor boy.

"Mister...do you think...do you think I'm the devil?"

"No, I do not."

"Because...Mother thinks I am...and I'm starting to...to believe her."

"Why?"

"Well..." He hesitated. "...because sometimes...I want to do bad things. To her. I want to...hit her.." He choked out. "...and...and tell her SHE is the worthless one."

"The why don't you?" Father Miriam asked.

"I...I don't know. I...it's wrong, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is and the very reason why you don't do it means that you're not the devil." Ashton looked up at him with watery eyes.

"Really?" He asked.

"Really."

Cecilia couldn't take it any longer. She barged in with the tea. "Is everything alright in here?"

"Yes, everything's fine." Father Miriam said and got up from the bed. "Can I talk to you outside?"

"Sure." Cecilia said with her classic fake smile.

"I'll see you, Ashton. Stay out of trouble."

"Yes, sir." Ashton said, meekly, and stared at his lap.

"So, what do you think?" Cecilia asked when Father Miriam closed the door behind him. "Is he possessed? When can we do the ceremony? Or is he a lost cause and do I have to sign him up for adoption or a ritual suicide?"

"Cecilia, I think you're overreacting. They boy is just a normal, growing boy experiencing new things."

Cecilia pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

"He told me something...something that I can hardly believe you would do."

She snorted, "I can imagine. He's quite the little liar."

"Yes, well, he must be. To think that you would use a letter opener on a poor harmless boy is laughable!" He laughed and so did she.

"Alright, Cecil, call me if you need me." He said with a kind smile and pat her on the shoulder. "I think you're just a bit stressed out planning the charity party and all. Get some rest."

"I will." She said and forced herself to smile.

"Alright, dear. Goodbye." He kissed her cheek. "I can show myself out. "

"Bye, Father." She said.

"Oh, and tell your husband to call me about the joint baptism this Easter!" He shouted from the stairs.

"I will."

She waited until she was sure he was gone before she stormed back into the room.

"YOU LITTLE SLUT! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TOLD HIM ABOUT THE LETTER OPENER!" She screamed and Ashton cowered in fear in the corner as she threw pillows and items of clothing at him. "AND WHY WHERE YOU ON YOUR KNEES WHEN I CAME IN? WERE YOU GOING TO SUCK HIM OFF LIKE YOU DID TO THAT LITTLE HARLOT FROM THE KITCHEN?"

"No, Mother! I wasn't! Please calm down!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! YOU SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TO!" She grabbed the cup of hot tea and threw it at him. Ashton screamed in pain when the hot tea hit his skin and drenched his t-shirt. "I BET YOU LIKED THAT YOU MASOCHISTIC SLUT! GET OVER HERE. RIGHT NOW."

He crawled over to her. "ON THE BED!" She screamed.

"We're gonna try out Daddy's new belt. The one with the giant buckle."

"NO, PLEASE!"

"DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME, CATHY!" She slapped him and he fell onto the bed. "NOW TAKE OFF YOUR FUCKING SHIRT!"

He bit back his tears and slowly started taking it off while Cecilia started rummaging through the drawers, looking for James' new belt.

"Found it." She muttered to herself and calmly walked over to the boy, that reminded her so much of her sister, lying on his stomach, his back bare and exposed.

"You know why I like this belt, Cathy?" Ashton didn't answer. "DO YOU?"

"Yeah, well, you never did know anything, anyways. This belt...is perfect. Because the buckle is shaped like a sun and the edges of the sun are...sharp." She grinned. "Just perfect for beating little harlots like you." Ashton whimpered.

She hit him once with the belt. Ashton cried out and fisted the sheets in his small little hands. The belt made a perfect mark of a sun right next to the middle of his spine. "I BET YOU REGRET TELLING HIM ABOUT THE LETTER OPENER NOW, DON'T YOU? DON'T YOU!?" She shouted and hit him again with the belt, this time the sun didn't hit him, just the leather part.

"OH, AND YOU WANTED TO SHOW ME THAT I AM THE WORTHLESS ONE?" She shouted, consumed with hysteria at this point. "WELL, I'LL GET RID OF THOSE THOUGHTS VERY QUICKLY!" She said and hit him with the belt one more time. He hissed and grabbed more fistfuls of the unmade bed.

"CECILIA!" James shouted as he rushed into the room. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

She stared at him, wide-eyed. Her hand still held the belt in the air, ready to strike. What the fuck was he doing here? He was suppose to be preaching. "James!" She cried and dropped the belt, running into his arms. "He said I was worthless and that I didn't deserve to be alive! He's so evil, James."

"Cecilia, I've told you time and time again, he doesn't know what he's saying. He's just a kid."

"I know but...he makes me so...MAD!"

"I know, sweetie. I know." He said and pet her hair. "ASHTON, GO TO YOUR ROOM!"

"Yes, sir." He mumbled and grabbed his shirt before running out of the room, tears streaks caking his cheeks and his back dripping a small trickle of blood.

"Why...why..." Cecilia sniffled, "...why are you here? You're suppose to be giving Mass."

"The roads were blocked because of the flooding."

"Oh." She sniffled once more. "Can... can we go take a bath? I don't feel so good."

"Sure, snookums." He said and kissed her forehead.

-------------------------

Chapter 28:

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

"Cole, in the morning, you'll realize that I'm protecting you." I say in a much calmer voice than his right now.

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I WON'T FUCKING BE IN THIS GODDAMN ROOM IN THE MORNING!"

"Cole, shut the fuck up or I'm going to put duct tape on you." I take the duct tape from my backpack and wave it at him, raising an eyebrow.

"YOU ARE A FUCKING SICK BASTARD! I'M GOING TO-..." I start unrolling the duct tape, hopefully threatningly. He shuts up and I pat the bed, he comes over and gets under the sheets, albeit reluctantly.

"Hey,...Cole? Do you...do you want to cuddl-..."

"Don't you fucking talk to me."

Cole looks absolutely adorable while sleeping.

He's muttering something in his sleep and his hair's spread out like a halo over the pillow. I place a small kiss on his perfect pink lips and he mutters something once more and turns around. His back facing me. I chuckle and sink under the sheets. I part his naked thighs and I give the head of his cock a little lick.

He wakes up, gasping. "What the HELL are you fucking doing, Ashton?"

I slide back up next to him and nibble on his earlobe, "Mmm..waking you up."

"Waking..me..up." He says incredulously and glances at the clock. "It's three hours after we went to sleep!"

"So?" I ask licking the shell of his ear.

"SO? SO!? SO, I'm tired!"

"All the better to fuck you with, my dear."

"Oh fuck no. I, Mr. Matthews, am going to sleep. And you!" He jabs his finger into my chest with each word, "Are going to keep.your.fucking.hands.TO YOURSELF!"

I grab his hand and suck on the finger he's poking me with.

"Nooo." He moans, reluctantly and tries to pull his hand away. He eventually manages to get his hand out of my grip and turn away from me while 'hmph-ing'. I move the sheet away from his body and start kissing the side of his torso.

"Pretty, pretty Cole."

"Jesus, Ashton." He groans. "Just go to sleep!"

"Pretty, pretty Cole the pretty, pretty princess." I start nipping at the side of his spine.

He mewls when I bite a little harder than I had intended and then says, "Just go to sleep! Please!"

"But I'm so hard, Cole." I whine into his ear and rub my growing erection into his naked backside.

"I don't care! I don't want to fuck!" He shouts and I snake my arm around his waist, my hand delving lower until I grab his half-hard cock in my hand.

"Looks like little Coleylocks disagrees." I grin and bite down on his shoulder while stroking his erection.

He hisses from the bite and starts squirming from my...ministrations. "Yeah, well.. well, just because I'm hard doesn't mean I want to fuck. I can just...picture Shelley giving birth and it'll go away."

I chuckle into his ear and he shudders. "Really?" I whisper. "Try it."

"F-fine.." He says from inbetween clenched teeth.

I start pumping his cock a bit faster and he gasps. I chucke into his ear once more. "Doesn't look like it's working too well."

"It...it is. Just..." He gasps again. "...takes...time.." He hisses out.

"Well, carry on, then. I've got allll the time in the world." I lick the mark I made on his shoulder. "However, little Coleylocks does not." I squeeze the base of his cock and he cries out.

"I...I..I don't want to..to fuck." He whines and starts bucking into my hand.

"How sad." I whisper into his ear, he squirms when my hot breath tickles his earlobe. "Especially, since I was under the assumption that Coleylocks would do anything for a good fuck."

"It's not...not..not true!" He cries.

"I disagree, kitten." I say with a lick to his temple.

"It's.. it's NOT!" He shouts and then spills his seed into my hand.

"You really got your point across there, kitten." I say and let go of his softening cock, bringing my hand up to my lips and licking him off of me.

"Whatever." He mumbles and pulls the sheet over him. "Can I go to sleep now?"

"Well, of course not. You still have to take care of Papa. Don't want to be selfish now. I mean, what would your mother say?!" I tease him.

"She'd probably say you're a bad fucking influence." He says and then sits ontop of me, straddling my hips.

"Well, it's a good thing she's not around then." I grab the lube from the nightstand of the hotel and throw it at his naked chest.

"Ouch." He winces and rubs his chest. "That hurt!"

"It's a plastic tube."

"It still hurt!"

"Okay." I laugh, "I'm sorry, kitten." I sit up, as much as I can with him ontop of me, and start kissing his chest. The tube falls off of his hip and onto the sheets while I rub our erections together. My throbbing one and his growing one. He whines when I stop and lay back down, tucking my hands under my head.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Lube me up, Coleylocks!" I give him a cheeky grin.

"Youaresuchabastard." He mumbles and takes off the top of the tube.

"What was that?" I ask.

"Nothing, Ashton."

"Master." I correct.

"Nothing, Master." He says bitterly while biting the inside of his cheek to keep from saying anything.

--

"Ah...ahhh..shton." He whines and tries to keep himself up with the one hand on my chest, his nails digging into my flesh, and his head lolling over to the side, his lips parted in a silent gasp.

Jesus. I never thought this position would be so...torturous. I mean, sure, he is bouncing up and down on my cock and that feels fucking amazing, but he goes too goddamn slow. So slow, even, that I have to fight myself from flipping him over and fucking his ass raw. And it's hard. Especially, when he makes that cute little gasp and his hand grips my skin when the mushroom head of my cock hits that sensitive gland deep inside of him.

"Cole." I hiss and grab more fistfuls of the freshly changed hotel sheets to keep from grabbing him and flipping him over.

"Huh...huh..uhh.." He repeats in an odd little squeak everytime he forces himself onto my cock and then his hand finds his leaking cock and he starts..stroking himself and that just fucking does it for me. I flip him over onto his back, his legs over my shoulders.

"Ashton..what are you-.."

"Sorry, can't.." I attempt to say into his ear, "..you go...slow...too slow.." I say and start pounding into his tight, hot, clenching body while grabbing at his thighs, hard enough to leave marks.

"Ashton! Ashton!" He shouts while thrashing and trying to meet my thrusts, his hands in my hair and tugging.

"Ashton!"

"ASHTON!" He shouts when I thrust inside of him a little harder than I had intended. He squeezes himself around my cock and I groan, trying to thrust into him a few more times before I come.

I growl something against his skin, giving one last, final thrust before biting down on his collarbone and coming inside of him.

"AHH...ASHTON!" He screams and yanks on my hair, his cum splattering my chest and his.

I pull out and lay next to him, panting and holding him in my arms.

-----------------------

"How was your first day at fourth grade, son?" James asked Ashton, who was happily buttering his toast and beaming like the sun.

"It was great! I was waiting for you to ask!" He chirped and Cecilia rolled her eyes. "I met this boy named Dominic! He's really nice and he drew me an angel in art class! His dad lets him spike his hair with gel! It looks really funny." Ashton giggled after he finished rambling.

"What is this boy's last name?" James asked.

"Ummm..." Ashton tapped his chin with his index finger and looked up at the ceiling, trying to remember, "...I think it's like...Susan...or Sand or something. I'm not sure."

"Sanders?"

"Yeah, that's it!" He chirped and James muttered something like, "Heathens."

"But I'm glad you're making friends, son." He smiled.

"Thanks!"

"Yes, son, I am also glad. As long as you get away from that filth..Marcus." She spat his name out. "Anyways, Trenton, dear, can you pass me the salt?" She asked sweetly to the small dark-haired boy.

"Sure, ma'am." He said in a shy voice and passed her the salt.

"Now, now." She said. "I've told you time and time again to call me Cecil."

"I'm sorry, ma-..Cecil. It's just...been two weeks. I need to get use to it."

"That's fine, dear, take all the time you need." She said and gave him a genuine sweet smile.

Ashton frowned at the way his mother was treating Trent. He didn't understand what was so special about Trent. He seemed normal to him!

"Oh! Oh! I forgot to tell you about this girl I met, Shelley! She's really nice too and her family lets her wear make-up! It's only lipgloss but still. Anyways, she's really pretty and I met her on the jungle gyms. I had to show her how to do it properly and then we played hide-and-seek together and we sat together at lunch! Dominic had to sit with the teacher 'cause he got in trouble for pushing Shelley and getting out of time out."

"Sounds like you had a wonderful day, son." James said.

"I did! OH! And I forgot to tell you about when we played baseball! I won and everyone was shouting 'Ashton, Ashton, Ashton!' and then they carried me around on their..."

"Oh, Jesus Christ. Can you please just SHUT UP? You've been rambling for what it seems like an eternity now. Can we please talk about someone else's day like...oh, I don't know...TRENT'S? He's been here only for two weeks and you two are ignoring him. I bet he feels terrible. Don't you, Trenty-poo?" Cecil cooed.

"Um...I actually feel fine, ma'a..Cecil." He said meekly.

"Oh, you poor baby! So shy!" She cooed.

"But can I PLEASE tell you about the end of the day when I got to pick a prize out of the bucket of prizes 'cause I had good behavior all day. OH! OH! And my teacher is SO NICE! She said I was the best..."

"SHUT UP, CATHY! JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!"

"Cecilia, please, calm down. And stop calling Ashton Cathy. He's not Cathy."

"SHUT UP, JAMES! NO ONE FUCKING ASKED YOU!"

"Cecilia, please." He pleaded. "The boy will be quiet, just calm down."

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" She shouted, banging her fists on the table, making the the silverware rattle and Trent mortified. Ashton was unphased, being completely use to it. "JUST MAKE HIM STOP TALKING!"

"I'll stop, Mama, I'll stop."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

"I'm sorry, Cecilia." He hanged his head. "I'll stop talking."

"Okay, good." She said and fixed her dyed black hair, making sure it was still in her french bun. "I'm sorry, Trent. This demon just gets me all fired up." She apologized and took a sip of soup.

"I-I-It's o-o-okay, ma-a-a..C-c-cecil." He stuttered and tried to finish his lamb.

Silence.

Silence.

"So, how was your day, James?" Cecilia asked, not even glancing at Ashton who was quietly eating his salad across from her.

"It was great. They're thinking of getting me my own show."

"Really? That's wonderful!" She exclaimed and clapped her hands together in excitement. "I trust you would be on channel 14?"

"Yup, yup. Preachin' and teachin'."

"Oh, that is just wonderful. Congratulations, James!" She kissed his cheek, since he was sitting right next to her.

"Thank you, sweetie."

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

"You know what? I can't even be in his presence. Just get him the fuck out of here."

"But, Mom, I haven't said a wor-.."

"GET OUT OF HERE! GO TO YOUR FUCKING ROOM!" She shouted.

"Please, Ashton, just go." James pleaded and Ashton hurried off to his room, crying.

--

A soft knock made Ashton stop sobbing for a second and then he continued, forcing himself to cry harder to make whoever was on the other end of the door feel even sorrier for him.

"Ashton?" He heard Trent's soft voice from the outside the door. "Can I come in?"

"No! You can't!" Ashton shouted and then continued to sob into his pillow.

Trent ignored him and turned the knob, quietly walking in with a small tray of food. "I couldn't get the lamb that Mary Ann made but I did get the leftover mac 'n cheese she made for lunch. I could only get you water to drink, sorry. But I did manage to get you one rice krispie treat. I know you love those." He said and placed the tray of food on the small empty space on Ashton's messy dresser.

Ashton didn't look at him. Not even once.

"Hey...I really don't know why she treats you like this. You're not a bad kid, Ashton. Maybe you do talk a bit too much when you're excited but I really think you're-..."

"I don't care what you think!" He shouted at him, even though it was muffled a bit by his pillow. "Just get out of my room!"

"Look, Ashton,.." Trent snapped, "I don't know why she treats me better than you but you don't have to get bitchy!"

"GET OUT OF MY ROOM! I HATE HOW SHE DOTES ON YOU AND NOT ME! AND I HATE HOW SHE CALLS ME YOUR MOTHER'S NAME! AND I JUST..I HATE YOU FOR BEING ALIVE!" He wailed.

"You know what? Fine. I'm not going to argue with you because that's just what you want. Good night, Ashton. I hope you have a nice time wallowing in your misery."

"FINE!" Ashton screamed and threw a pillow at the door right after Trent slammed the door shut.

He returned to sobbing his heart out into his sheets, having thrown his only pillow.

----------------------

"I was wondering when you were gonna call me, sugar." Mz Julezzz said and handed Ashton her red velvet coat, pinching one of his cheeks and then patting it with one hand covered in fake bright red nails. Ashton vaguely wondered why she was wearing a coat in the middle of summer but decided to ignore it.

"I've always hated these rooms." Julezzz said and sat on the bed. She looked out of place in the hotel room decorated in a semi-country style, in her red dress and fishnet stockings, red pumps and long black hair that Ashton wasn't sure if it was a wig or extensions. Since, only three days ago she had dyed blonde hair with red tips and a 'Posh' do. And a bad tan, but she still had that.

"Soo..." Julezzz said breaking the silence while playing with the 'basket of vegetables' design on the quilt with one fake red nail, "...what do you want to do first, sugar?" She looked up at him with a twinkle in her eye. He merely smiled and hanged her coat on the hanger.

"Well, you want to fuck me first or have me suck you off or do you want me to fuck you or suck me off? Some people get off on that. Or we could do sixty-nine. My personal fav." She said when he didn't answer.

"Whatever you want." He muttered with a smile and started to 'tidy up' his ski lodge/country barn hotel room, since he didn't know she would be there in three minutes when he called. There wasn't really anything to tidy up, though.

"Whatever I want?" She laughed, a practicularly manly laugh that would give away her womanly disguise if Ashton hadn't known her true gender. "I'm not the customer, deary. Although, I'm starting to feel like one because of your heavenly looks.

Ashton smiled once more and muttered a small, "Thank you."

"Yeah, you're welcome, sugar." She said and drummed her long fingers against the vegetable basket quilt while Ashton continued to mess around with his hotel room and refused to pay attention to her.

"Sugar," She said, obviously irritated. "I don't know what the hell you're doing but it's making me nervous."

"Oh, I'm sorry." He said and stopped what he was doing, which was folding and unfolding a towel until he got it right which he never did.

"Thanks, sug, now can you please get your cute little tush over here." She said, patting the vegetable basket quilt with every syllable. He laughed and obeyed.

"Now, get on the bed." She ordered and he did it.

"And...lie down." He obeyed.

"Good boy!" She praised and he grinned, tucking his hands behind his head.

"Yes, verrry good boy." She said again and played with the zipper of his jeans. He almost laughed at the way she was staring at the obvious small tent in his pants, hidden from view due to the constricting material.

"Arf, arf." He barked, playfully and she giggled.

"Now, now." She said. "Let's see what hidden surprises you have in here..." She smirked and tugged the zipper down, gently. Ashton just laid there, grinning down at him as he took his cock out of his jeans.

"No undies, I see." Julezz said and brushed the head of Ashton's cock with the pad of his thumb. Ashton gasped and Julezz smirked and slowly took him into his mouth.

Ashton tried to relax and enjoy the blowjob but everytime he closed his eyes he'd picture Cole. Cole's face or Cole sucking him or Cole riding him or Cole just...sitting next to him being...well, Cole.

But then he thought he heard Cole's voice, whispering in his ear, telling him he loved him and he just felt...guilty.

"Hey, sug, don't go soft on me now!" She said and resumed sucking, trying furiously to get him hard again. She couldn't miss the chance to get fucked by him. He was too gorgeous to pass up.

But Ashton didn't hear her. He was lost in his own world, his own thoughts..

"Say you love me."

"I love you."

"Say it again."

"I love you."

"Say it again...please."

"I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. I love you so fucking much. Please, please, please."

"Coollee." He whined and bucked into Julezzz's mouth, she squealed in delight around his cock, happy that he was suddenly hard again.

"Love you, love you. Love you so...so fucking much."

"Oh my God." Cole squealed into the pillow.

"Cole, please," He gasped and grabbed Julezzz's hair, tightening his grip on it with each suck. "Please, please, please."

"Iloveyoutoo, oh my God, COLE!"

"I love you. I love you."

"I LOVE YOU!"

"COLE!" He shouted and came into Julezzz's mouth. Julezzz eagerly swallowed his creamy essence, and made sure to practically suck him dry, just in case there was any left.

"Well, I dunno who the fuck is Cole but I do not.fucking.care. That was hella hot, sug. You want my ass or do I get yours?" She said smacking her lips, savoring the taste of this gorgeous boy.

"I-I..." He stuttered, trying to get his voice back. "...I think you should leave."

"WHAT?" She shrieked.

"Yeah, I'm really sorry but I can't do this. I'll still pay you for the-..."

"No fucking thank you!" She said and got off the bed before she slapped him.

"I give you the best suck of your life and this is how you repay me!" She shouted and stomped over to where her coat was, putting it on in a hurry and continuing to ramble.

"I cannot believe the...the...the..GALL, yes that's right, THE GALL you have to..to tell me to go before we fuck!"

"Look, I'm really sorry, I said I'll still pay you." He said and sat up, tucking himself back into his jeans.

"NO, THANKS!" She shouted and slammed the door, completely, absolutely, one hundred percent, insulted.

Well, Ashton thought, leaning back on his elbows, that wasn't the best suck I've ever had but whatever.

---------------------------

"I'm not use to this, sorry." Ashton said and tried to get comfortable on the bright yellow sofa of the confessional, he sat across from a balding, salt and pepper-bearded priest that sat regally in his own chair, his hands politely resting in his lap.

"Take all the time you need, son."

"Alright, I'm ready." He said when he found a comfortable position.

The priest nodded, "What do you want to confess, son?"

"I..I'm not really here to confess anything. I just need to talk."

"That is fine." The priest nodded once more.

"Right, well, it was four years ago and.."

"How old are you right now, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I'm fourteen." Ashton answered, simply.

"Hmm. You seem a bit familiar." The priest said.

"Maybe." Ashton said and continued, "It was four years ago and my father and cousin were out fishing and I was sitting on my bed, reading a comic book, and...my mother came in and she was...nervous. I was afraid, though. My mother had always been abusive to me. It's all I've ever known of her. And somehow...she seemed..calm and harmless that day. She...she asked me if I wanted to go to the park. And, naturally, I jumped at the chance. I couldn't remember the last time we went to the park together. I don't think we ever... well, yeah."

Ashton paused, he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, and the priest said, "Continue."

"Oh, right, sorry. It's just I've never told anyone this. Not even the police. Not in detail, really." He said. "Anyways, my favorite candy store was next to the park and she asked me if I wanted some and I couldn't believe it so I eagerly said yes. After that, we just sort of walked around the park, me eating the candy and she was just...well, silent. I don't think either of us knew what to say to eachother so I just enjoyed being next to her without her yelling at me or hitting me."

"What is your name, son?" The priest asked, quite sure he now knew who was sittng infront of him.

"I'll tell you later." Ashton said and continued. "I still remember the way the cold air hit my bare skin and seemed to tavel up my spine but I was so happy and...content being next to my mother. She said I didn't need to bring a sweater or a jacket because we wouldn't be out that long."

"It was getting dark and she had been pushing me on the swing for a while, all the kids started leaving with their respective parents or relatives or whatever and my mother said she was going to get the car and I remember waiting there, smiling to myself on the swing, just..waiting and waiting in the cold."

Ashton paused and looked down to the floor, his wavy blonde hair hanging like a curtain infront of his face as he tried to scoot back a bit further into the sofa, trying to disappear into it. "The umm..police.." He coughed, a nervous habit, "..the police didn't find me until...five in the morning. I was huddled up under a street lamp and they said it was a miracle I was still alive." He stopped for a second and then continued, "They...they asked me where I lived and took me back home and when I got there, the place was crawling with police. I later found out my Mom had um...hanged herself in the library and..."

"Look, son, you don't have to continue if you don't want to.."

"No, no. I want to continue."

"Alright." The priest said, he looked grave and a bit disturbed.

"I...she left a note...and...and in it she thought I had died..in the park and..." He laughed bitterly, "..she was actually sorry for everything she did to me, the way she treated me. I couldn't believe she wrote that but she would never say...something like that if she didn't mean it. Or so I've taught myself to believe."

They just sat there for a few minutes in silence before Father Miriam asked, "What is your name, son?"

"Ashton."

------------------------

"Cooollleeeee. I'm boreddddd." Vincent whines at me like I actually give a fuck.

"I don't fucking care." I say and take another scoop of peanut butter from the jar,

"But Cooolleee. You're my only source of entertainment! Help meee." He says and paws at my jean-clad leg. We're in the living room of my house. It doesn't feel living. Nothing ever does.

Yes, you love my emo moments. My existential emo moments.

Fucking cherish them.

CHERISH THEM!

"If I'm you're only source of entertainment then, well,..I don't even think I have to describe how fucking sad that is." I say and shove the spoonfull of peanut butter into my mouth.

"But Coooo-..." Something beeps in his pocket and then his cellphone emerges from the sea of his bright pink skirt. "Texxxttt messageeee." He sings and then starts eagerly texting back while I make love to my spoonfull of peanut butter.

"Who are you texting?" I ask Vincent, suddenly mad at the jar of peanut butter for being near emptiness.

"Trent." He says and goes back to texting.

..I don't think...I can convey the utter horror I'm expressing right now.

The sheer, utter horror that is dripping from my hanging jaw.

"Excuse me?" I say, like..like...an iceberg is falling off of my tongue and creating a Titanic reenactment on the floor infront of me.

"I'm texting Trent!" He chirps and...and...more texting.

"YOU'RE TEXTING TRENT?" I shout...roar...whatever.

"YES, COLE! NOW STOP SHOUTING!" He shouts back.

"HOW CAN YOU BE TEXTING TRENT!?"

"Well, you see, I take out my cellphone and press these little buttons on it and..VOILA! Text."

"DON'T GET SMART WITH ME, MISSY..er..MISTER!" I'm all.. standing up and pointing at him with the spoon of peanut butter, the jar in my other hand.

"Jeez, Cole." He says. "What's your damn problem? I've been texting Trent for a while now. Ever since he left for the tour, I think."

Ever since he...

Ever since he left for...

the...

Ever since he left for the...

My mind repeats.

Over

and

over...and over.

Ever since he..

Oh my God.

No, seriously.

OH MY GOD.

"But...but...he hasn't talked to me in three months..."

"Oh, really? I didn't know that. Lemme ask him."

He hasn't...

talked to me...

in three months.

And he's...

texting Vincent.

"He says you were suppose to call him but you didn't."

"I was..suppose to...WHAT THE FUCK? NO. NO! THAT IS NOT TRUE!"

"I," I point at myself, "..was mad at HIM! HIM. HE'S SUPPOSE TO CALL ME AND APOLOGIZE AND BE ALL: "I'M SORRY, COLE. YOU'RE NOT AN ASSHOLE, YOU'RE A PERFECT, PERFECT HUMAN BEING! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU, HERE HAVE A KEEBLER ELF COOKIE AND A KEEBLER ELF!"

"TELL HIM THAT!" I shout. "FUCKING TELL HIM THAT!"

"Okay, can I paraphrase?" He asks.

"Yes, BUT PUT THE KEEBLER ELF PART IN!"

"Alrighty."

I wait.

I wait for that monster to text back.

"He said keebler elf cookies taste good."

"WHAT? That's it?" I ask.

"Well, he made a smiley face."

A...a...smile..e...f..fff...

"THAT'S IT?"

"Well, he asked me if I wanted to play battleship online when he gets back to the hotel."

Ba..battle...

"Battleship!? BATTLESHIP?" I repeat.

"YES, COLE, BATTLESHIP! Jeez. Stop shouting."

"HOW COME HE DOESN'T ASK ME, HIS LOVING FUCKING BOYFRIEND, TO PLAY BATTLESHIP!?"

"I don't know." Vincent shrugs. I am going to rip that pink fucking hair off his goddamn head. "Maybe he thinks you're not good at it."

Not...not...

"Not...good at battleship." I repeat, incredulously.

"I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW, THAT I AM THE BEST BATTLESHIPPER THAT EVER BATTLESHIPPED IN THE LAND OF..OF..OF...BATTLESHIPPING..SEAS OF BATTLESHIP!"

"OKAY, COLE! STOP SHOUTING!" He's still texting! That rat bastard!

"NO, SAY IT!" I shout.

"Say what?" He asks.

"SAY I'M THE BEST BATTLESHIPPER THAT EVER BATTLESHIPPED!"

"Why?" He asks, raising one of his pink penciled eyebrows.

"Because, Vincent, dear," I say in a sickeningly sweet tone, "I need to feel powerful and amazing because I am currently very insecure, emo, and possibly suicidal."

He rolls his fucking blue eyes, "Whatever, Cole. You're the best battleship player ever."

"BATTLESHIPPER THAT EVER BATTLESHIPPED!" I correct. "EVER."

"OKAY! You're the best battleshipper that ever battleshipped. Ever."

"Okay, thank you."

"Now," I say and drop my peanut butter spoon in the jar and throw it onto the sofa. "I...will..I will...be in my room..being emo. So...So...don't..." I sniff, trying not to sniffle. "I'll be...don't..yeah, don't interrupt. Please."

"Okay, bye, Cole." He says and texts.

"FUCK YOU!" I shout from the stairs.

"AND TELL TRENT I HATE HIM!"

"AND THAT I WOULDN'T PLAY BATTLESHIP WITH HIM EVEN IF HE ASKED!"

"SO THERE!"

"Kay." Vincent says.

--

"Coolleeee." Vincent whines from outside my door and scratches it like Zoe, who is currently curled up on the bottom of my bed.

Stupid bitch.

Thinks she owns the place.

Well, she doesn't.

YOU DON'T, ZOE!

YOU JUST DON'T!

"Coooleee." He whines again. I ignore him. Again.

"Collleee. I know you're in there." Whine. whine. whine.

I throw a pillow at the door and grumble, burying myself under my sheets.

I'm in no mood to talk to people who play battleship and text my boyfriend daily, WHEN HE DOESN'T EVEN TALK TO ME FOR THREE MONTHS!

THREE WHOLE FUCKING MONTHS!

OF...OF...OF NO COMMUNICATION!

AND VIRGINAL...ness..ISSITY!

Well, if you don't count the little run-in with Eeerheart right before he went on vacation.

But besides that I've been like...like the Virgin Mary!

Except I didn't get pregnant with the son of God.

But you know know what I mean!

"Okay, Cole, when you stop pms-ing..."

"I DO.NOT. HAVE PMS!"

"Yay! Cole's alive!" He chirps. I grumble.

"Soo...Cole...what do you say we...throw a party?"

"What?" I ask from under my quilt.

"Yeah, since..Taylor and Sarah are in Miami and won't be back for another week, why don't we?"

Well.

Taking in the fact that I abhor parties and any social contact whatsoever, I would say no.

Buttttt.

It would get me away from Vincent.

With, you know..so many people.

And...and yeah.

I have the perfect excuse.

That I will never utter.

A mental excuse.

To apologize for being...social.

Yes.

Yes, that's it.

"Wellllll...I dunno..." I say, trying to make it seem like I don't want to do this but I'll do it just for him. I'm so strategic.

"Plleaseeee, Cole!" He whines. "I'll play battleship with you!"

BATTLESHIP.

BATTLESHIP!

DON'T REMIND ME!

"Wellll...when you put it that way..." HOW CAN I SAY YES? YOU BOYFRIEND STEALER! "...okay, sure."

"Ohmygod, thank you, Cole! You will NOT regret this! I promise!" He squeals and runs off down the hall, I guess to like...plan. Whatever.

I'm starting to think I will regret this.

----------------------------------

"Morning." He looked at his watch, "...afternoon, well...early evening. Whatever. You don't care anyways."

"Then again you never really did care for much." Ashton said and sat indian style infront of the dusty tombstone, picking blades of grass and rubbing them between his thumb and index finger.

"So...how are you? I trust everything's alright on the...other side. Or Hell or whatever."

He laughed, "This is really stupid. I'm talking to my dead mother who didn't give a shit about me when she was alive and probably still doesn't after death. But I do some crazy, fucked up things, what can I say?"

"Anyways,...I'm alright. Had a bit of a vacation. Well, if staying in a hotel for three months is called a vacation. But I also like..drove around and stuff. Saw a lake that you would like. I know how much you loved swimming and whatnot."

He switched positions and decided to lay on his back, tucking his hands behind his head, the dissapearing sunlight shining on his black shirt.

"I met someone. He doesn't like me as much as I like him but he does like me. And I'm starting to think that he likes me more than he lets on. But he's dating Trent." He paused, "You'd love him. If not only for the fact that he's dating Trent and gorgeous, but he's also quite the little bitch." He laughed, "But I wouldn't have him any other way."

"He's the one I saved from the fire when I was a freshman. He doesn't remember it, though. He was unconscious when I found him and everyone thought it best not to tell him. Something about like..trauma or whatever. I don't know but yeah..."

He twisted the blade of grass around and around in his fingers, contemplating on what to say next, "I can't hate you, you know. I've tried...really, really hard to hate you. I mean..there's no reason for me to not hate you. But I can't and it's driving me crazy." He paused, rubbing the blade of grass between his fingers until the green pigment coated the pads of his fingers, "Don't get me wrong, I still hate what you did. I'll always hate the way you treated me. I'm not a fucking masochist, " He laughed, nervously, "But I can't hate you. And I don't think I'll ever be able to."

"Wellll," He said, getting on his feet and stretching, "I have to go confront my damsel in distress once more. Hopefully, I don't get rejected. Again."

"It's raining," He said and rose his hands up to the sky, sticking out his tongue to catch the little droplets of rain from the light cluster of clouds that barely hid the sun. "..and the sun's out."

"You know what they say when it's raining and the sun's out," He laughed, "..the Devil's getting married."

"The only person that would be crazy enough to marry the Devil is you." He said with another small laugh and patted the dusty tombstone, "I'll see you, Mother." He waved at nothing in particular while walking out of the quiet cemetery.

----------------------------

"Coolleeee!" Vincent whines, "Why don't you come out and mingle?"

"Cole Dillinger does not mingle." I say and flip through Taylor's Vogue magazine.

Ooo.

I like that dress.

"PLEASE, Cole, just come out of your room. You don't have to mingle, just come out. I'm worried about you. You're alone too much." He says and I just have to roll my eyes.

"Vincent, if I was going to slit my wrists or jump out the window, I would have a looong time ago."

"See, Cole! It's THOSE thoughts that make me scared!"

Oh, Jesus Christ. "FINE. I'll come out when I finish this magazine."

"Really?" He says, from behind my door, his voice something akin to a beaten puppy being given a treat and a tummy rub.

"Really." I drawl and turn the page. Mmm. Patrick Dempsey.

"Thank you, Cole!" He squeals and takes off down the hall.

I throw the magazine against the wall when I've finished it and hide under my covers.

I'm bored, hungry, and mildly depressed.

And I..

I miss Ashton.

--

I grab two slices of cold pizza from the refrigeratorrr and attempt to walk out of the kitchen. And I say attempt because some jock carrying some chick slams into me, ALMOST making me drop my pizza. Fucking asshole.

I thought I would be able to avoid the party-goer..thingies because the party's on the first floor, above Taylor's bedroom.

"Hey, dude, where's the nearest bedroom? I wanna fuck my woman." He wheezes and his obviously drunk woman slurs a greeting at me.

"What the.." I say and stare at the drooling face of 'his woman'. There's something about drooling girls..that makes me want to hurl.

"First," I say. "You will not be fucking drunk drooling chicks in my house."

"Second," I say. "Get the fuck out of my house."

"WHAT?" He shrieks, much like Shelley did when we met on that oh so fateful day on the stairs. "But where am I gonna fuck my woman then, dude?"

"I don't know," I shrug, obviously not giving a shit, "Eeerheart's house is next door and he's on vacation."

"Principal Eeerheart, dude?"

"Yeah."

"Oh my God! That is too sweet! I'll show him to expel me! Thanks, dude." He says and takes off, out of the house, with 'his woman'

Finally, I can go to the yard and eat my cold pizza in peace.

Mmm. Life is bliss.

Sometimes.

I take a seat on one of the chairs and lean back, enjoying my pizza under the stars. Completely ignoring the growling from the squirrel infront of me.

Wait, what?

Growling?

I raise an eyebrow at the growling, foaming at the mouth squirrel infront of me.

Well.

That's..different.

I sort of like...awkwardly manoeuvre myself out of the lawn chair and stumble away from the squirrel. I, strategically, throw a pepperoni at the rabid little furry..brown creature..thing and it doesn't even flinch when the piece of pepperoni hits its eye.

"Away! Away!" I shout and try to like...shoo it away while blocking it from attacking me with the white lawn chair.

"Get back! BACK!" It like..doesn't move and stays there, growling and I think...narrowing its eyes at me.

"Cole, is that you?"

Oh my..

fucking..

God.

Ashton.

This is like..one of those moments where your body shut downs and your mind goes into this little revolving door of panic and complete, utter happiness and then when you snaps back to reality, you feel like you've been struck by lightning. And then you feel like a giant fucking idiot because the rabid squirrel is charging at you and you're trying to push it away with one hand on the lawn chair and still shield your last slice of cold pizza from it's cruel fate of ending up on the freshly watered green grass of your yard.

"Cole, is that you?" Ashton says again, getting closer.

"Don't come back here!" I shout and manage to knock the squirrel on it's furry back with a final push.

"Why not?" He asks from just a couple ways away from me. "Is that a squirrel?"

"YES, you fucking asshole! It's a fucking rabid squirrel! And THAT..." I point at the the rabid thing that's back on it's feet...thing or paws or whatever. "..is why you weren't suppose to come back here."

"Oh," He says, "Well, I guess I'll come back another time, then."

"NO! HELP ME! HELP MEEE!"

"Why?" He says with that fucking knowing smirk. "You said not to come back here."

"That was BEFORE you came back here! Now I could use your help."

"Fine, fine." He sighs like it's a big fucking deal, just to fucking piss me off, "What do you want me to do?"

"The shovel," I pant and block myself from another attack from the squirrel, "...get the shovel next to you."

"What do you want me to do with it? Dig up some flowers?"

"ASHTON." I hiss, "This is NOT the time to be a fucking smartass."

"I'm not being a smartass." He says with that goddamn fucking Ashton smirk. "I'm just doing what you would do in my situation."

"EXACTLY MY-..." Wait, wait. FUCK. I did NOT just call myself a smartass. Well, I am incredibly intelligent and I do have a great ass. "But that's besides the point!"

"What's besides the point?" He asks. Oh, I said that out loud.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER JUST GET THE FUCKING SHOVEL AND ATTACK THE FUCKING SQUIRREL!"

"I can't." He says.

"Why.FUCKING.not?"

"Because that's animal cruelty."

"I do not CARE what kind of cruelty that is. The thing is FOAMING at the fucking mouth."

"Okay, fi-.."

"OH MY GOD, ASHTON, LOOK OUT!" I shout when the thing charges towards him.

He shouts something and then tries to block it but ends up hitting it. I think it's like...hurt and stuff and it limps away through a hole in the fence.

"Is it dead?" Ashton asks, still shielding himself with the shovel.

I roll my eyes and put down the lawn chair, "No, but it ran away."

My pizza fell on the grass.

How sad.

I really do feel like crying.

"Oh, good." He says, puts down the shovel and stands up.

"So..." I say when we're awkwardly standing next to eachother. My hands trying to find something to do..

Oh my fucking God.

Accidental innuendo.

"So..umm..nice party." He says.

"Yeah, I wouldn't know." I feel like a little girl around her first crush.Well, I am around my first crush but I'm not a girl. So..I don't know. I don't know anything. I need to stop like..thinking.

"I'm sorry." I say, out of the blue.

See, this is what happens when I don't think.

I say random things.

Random things that mirror my true feelings.

I mean my..

my...

fuck it.

"Sorry for what?"

"I...I don't know." I say. "I just...it felt like the right time to say. I'm sorry."

"For everything." I add.

He gives me that gorgeous fucking Ashton smile and touches my face with one of his gorgeous fucking hands, "You don't have to say sorry for anything, Cole."

I roll my eyes and slap his hand away, "Jesus Christ, Ashton. Do you HAVE to make this moment sappier than it already is?"

He laughs that fucking soft, kind, fucking genuine laugh that he does and I just fucking melt and...

Kiss him.

-------------------------

I'm curled up next to Ashton in my bed and I'm playing with his gorgeous long wavy blonde hair. I'm just a little kitten that just got some cream.

Literally.

"So.." He says while I braid his hair. Yes, I know how to do a fucking braid. Don't ask. "...are we officially together?"

"Sure, why not?" I shrug. "Trent doesn't want me. He hasn't talked to me in THREE MONTHS AND AND..he's been texting Vincent AND playing battleship with him."

"Aww, are you jealous?" He coos at me.

"No, of course not." I stop playing with his hair and cross my arms over my chest.

"I think the pretty, pretty princess is jealous." He says and bites on my ear, gently.

"I'm not jealous! And I told you not to call me that!"

"I think you areeee." He says in that cute little sing-song voice.

"I'm not!"

"Okay, Cole." He chuckles and I melt. Once again.

"But I'll play battleship with you if you want." He says and rubs his nose against my cheek. Like a cat or something.

"Really?" I ask, biting my lip like fucking Adam or something.

"Really." He says and bites on my cheek.

"What the fuck is with you and biting?"

"I don't know." He murmurs into my ear. "I just like biting cute things."

"Then why are you biting me?" I ask.

"Because you're the cutest thing I've ever seen."

I roll my eyes, "You are such a fucking sap."

He laughs. Resist...resist...the..the laugh. "Thank you."

"Ashton?"

"Yeah?" He murmurs, his eyes closed. I think he's falling asleep.

"Where's your dog?"

"I don't have a dog."

"Yeah, you do. Because the first time I met you was at the park, with your dog and my dog."

"Oh, that wasn't my dog." He says simply.

"That wasn't...then who's dog was that!?"

"Umm..Dom's." He says.

"What the fuck?!"

"Yeah, I asked Dom if I could borrow his dog so I could catch you at the park, because Shelley said that you walked your dog in that park everyday."

"Dom let you do that?"

"Well, yeah. I didn't tell him why I needed his dog but he let me."

"He just let you have his dog without asking why you needed it?" I ask.

"Well, yeah." He murmurs, his hand wrapped possessively around my waist.

"That is so fucked up." I say.

He laughs, "I guess."

"Mmm." He rubs his lips against my ear and whispers, "I love you, Cole." He says and I just..just freeze.

"I..I..." My throat closes up and and...and...my mouth is suddenly dry and I...I...I can't... "I...I-I..I l-l-l-love..I love..love...goo-..good night, Ashton." I say, not able to say it, yet. But he still smiles in his sleep and tightens his grip on my waist.

The End

A/N: So there you have it, bitches. The suckiest chapter I ever wrote. Well, PARTS of it were okay but other parts just...just made me cringe and then laugh at how terrible they are. Yeah.

ANYWAYS.

I want to thank everyone who's stuck with me either just reading or reading and reviewing. I love you guys. Like..a lot. Seriously.

I won't be doing review replies because I got 50 reviews on the last chapter (Thank you, guys), BUT I will reply to every review on this chapter via review reply. AND if you don't have an account and you're anonymous or whatever, leave me your emailzzz so I can reply.

There is one review I want to reply to, though...

Rachizzle: Hunny, sweetheart, Rachizzle, dear, saying that my story is annonying and stupid is NOT constructive criticism. If you said..."I hate your use of commas, can you please use them correctly?" or "You have too much sex in your story, can you please cut back on the sex?" then that would be considered constructive criticism. But what you said? Hell fucking no. And please don't tell me: "I didn't say it was constructive criticism, I said they took it as something to GO by." just don't. Please. And I do find it a bit odd that I get another flame from an anonymous reviewer RIGHT before you review chapter 30. Coincidence? I'll let you be the judge. But no doubt you'll say it is. Anyways, Rachizzle, dear, this is the last time I talk to you for a while. Since you're anonymous and everything. Sad. We could of been great friends.

--------------------

Thank youuuu everyone for the 646 reviews, 62000 hits, 173 favs, and 145 alerts. None of you will ever be able to completely understand the complete joy that I feel when I read your wonderful reviews, pm's and whatnot. Really. It makes me giddy to say the least.

Anyways, hopefully I'll see you all in the sequel and my next story. Yes, even you Rachizzle.

And I'll post the Cole x Vincent one-shot that my 600th reviewer chose sometime this week or next week. Not sure.

Love you,

Naked Penguin Fetus For Pope