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Post by ashley on Oct 7, 2008 20:16:32 GMT 1
Ashley ignored the squeak, neither wanting to confirm nor deny the claim. He did love Seth, but he hadn't meant it quite that way. He just meant that Seth was the only friend he had left, the only one to stick by him when he got into the accident. Even the person who had insisted on getting them engaged had left him without so much of a word.
"Ash you will get a boyfriend! You're amazing and adorable!"
Ashley shook his head, though there was something in Augusts eyes that almost made him believe those words. "Not even my boyfriend wanted me after the accident. He was supposed to love me. He wanted to marry me and he didn't even...no word...He just..." Sometimes he was so angry with Noah, with the world, for dealing him a card he couldn't play.
"And you're hardly crippled."
He practically snorted at that, but stayed silent as it was obvious August had more to say on the matter. His next sentence seemed so blasé, like it was just a tiny detail. Like it didn't change everything. "You're the only one who sees it like that then August. Because nobody wants me. They all think I'm broken. And they're right. I mean..I need someone to help me dress, help me bathe...everything. It'd be like dating a child."
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Post by August Jensen on Oct 8, 2008 2:35:28 GMT 1
When Ash shook his head August instinctively tightened his grip on the boy's shoulder, as though he could get Ashley to agree with him through the sheer power of a comforting squeeze. "You're still you Ash." He said, hoping the other Hufflepuff would know what he meant. "And if your boyfriend couldn't see that, well then he..." August trailed off, struggling to find the right words. It wasn't often he got even remotely annoyed about anything and as such he wasn't very good expressing what he felt when he did.
"Then he wasn't a very nice person." He continued quietly, biting his lip and already feeling bad about making a snap judgment about somebody he didn't know. He did know Ashley though and couldn't help the protectively loyal streak that flared up whenever his friends' happiness was at stake, especially when it was obvious, even to August, that Ash was still upset about it. "You deserve someone nice." August finished, blushing lightly again and meaning every word. He shot Ashley a shy smile, for once feeling abashed when he was usually so open about complimenting his friends.
He furrowed his brow, lower lip sticking out in a childish pout and shook his head emphatically. "You're not broken." August wondered how a fight with Seth could make Ash so much less sure about himself, it only seemed to make it all the more important to him that he helped the two of them make friends again. "Everybody needs help with something. Some people just don't know how to ask." He pointed out, trying to convince Ashley to see things from his point of view.
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Post by ashley on Oct 8, 2008 12:57:29 GMT 1
Ashley listened to him in silence, just drinking in the words and mulling them over in his head. He wanted so badly to believe August, but they were words from a friend. Words from someone who would want his friend to be happy, just not with him. It was a hard thing to accept. "I'm scared to ask, August." Ash looked up at his friend, wondering if a hug was too much to ask for at this moment.
"I'm scared because I don't want anyone to be stuck with me. I don't want someone to be my boyfriend and then...feel like they can't break up with me because I might still need them." He furrowed his brow, biting his lip so hard there were little marks in them when the pressure faded.
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Post by August Jensen on Oct 10, 2008 14:33:31 GMT 1
August felt like his gut was doing uncomfortable flip-flops, his stomach twisting in knots and making him feel kind of sick. He wasn't used to talking about topics that were so difficult, he went around in a happy little bubble and used his enthusiasm to try and spread that happiness to other people. It wasn't working this time, and things were straying rather quickly into more serious topics. His face slipped into a miserable little pout, brown eyes filled with concern. August would do anything to make Ash feel better.
He shivered a little as a particularly cold gust of wind blew past them. "We should get up to the castle." He suggested, slipping his hand out from under Ashley's so he could move round behind the wheelchair. "I don't think Reese would be very impressed if we both got pneumonia." Instead of helping to push straight away August leaned forwards, lips close to Ash's ear and his arms going across his shoulders to hug the Hufflepuff from behind. "If anybody leaves," He promised, voice barely above a whisper. "I'll always be here to help you. You can tell them that, then they won't be stuck. Not that anybody could feel stuck with you."
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Post by ashley on Oct 10, 2008 14:40:41 GMT 1
"If anybody leaves, I'll always be here to help you. You can tell them that, then they won't be stuck. Not that anybody could feel stuck with you."
Ashley closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the hug and leaning into August so naturally. His heart was beating fast. It wasn't Seth saying this, but did it matter? Seth didn't want to be his friend anymore, let alone take care of him. Could he let August take over? Part of him wanted to. Part of him actually wanted August to take over in everything.
It should have come as a surprise to him, but it didn't. August was very kind, a generally sweet and nice person that never failed to make Ash laugh and feel better. Didn't hurt that he was absolutely gorgeous either. It wasn't that Ashley was projecting his feelings for Seth on someone else. It didn't work that way with him, even if some people thought it did. He just fell for people, as if he needed some encouragement to see what was really there. When he got that encouragement, like now, with the older Hufflepuff, it was like someone pulled a gray cloth away from the man, allowing Ashley to see him for all he was.
"I wouldn't mind...if you stuck by me." His voice was soft. He didn't want the other to ever feel stuck like Seth had, but maybe this would be different. Maybe Seth just wasn't meant to last. Maybe this was some weird twist of fate, someone saying that Seth wasn't meant for him, and he shouldn't waste his time with him.
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Post by August Jensen on Oct 10, 2008 15:03:35 GMT 1
It seemed to be the right thing to say and August grinned as he felt Ash finally relax. The tension and worry draining out of his friend as though his words had finally got through and lifted a burden off of Ashley's shoulders. August stayed leaning forwards for another couple of seconds, prolonging the hug purely because he was enjoying the warmth radiating from Ash and the way the contact was making his heart flutter wildly in his chest, his cheeks dusted with a light pink blush.
He chuckled as Ash spoke again, giving the boy a final squeeze before pulling out of the embrace. "Well good," He said, voice determined, but still grinning. "Because you're not getting rid of me easily. Now can we continue this conversation somewhere warm? I think I’m getting frostbite." He pouted, looking down at his hands, which were still resting lightly on Ash’s shoulder as if checking all his fingers were still in tact. "Do you think the house elves will make us hot chocolate at dinner?"
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Post by ashley on Oct 10, 2008 15:14:44 GMT 1
Ashley practically snorted at that. "I'd say something about warming you up if I wasn't so sure you'd hit me for that" His voice was light, playful. August would never hit him, hell August probably wouldn't even understand what he was saying! That's partly what he loved about the older man. He was so innocent that it was bordering on naive, yet there seemed to be little men or women that actually wanted to change that.
Ash wasn't sure how he felt about that. He would be happy to kiss him, sure, but just a quick snog without any strings attached felt wrong. August was the type of guy men wanted to date rather than fuck. "Tell you what" He started softly, smiling up at his friend "If I get the house elves to bring us some hot cocoa, will you go out on a date with me?" It was said lightly, a hint of teasing in case August didn't want to take this serious.
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Post by August Jensen on Oct 10, 2008 16:01:05 GMT 1
August practically gasped at that, his voice going high-pitched with shock once more. "I'd never hit you Ash." He exclaimed, brown eyes reproachful. "That would just be mean." He wasn't entirely sure why Ashley offering to warm him up would make him want to hit the Hufflepuff either, it sounded like a kind gesture to August and one that he'd gladly take his friend up on. Now he was just confused though and it didn't exactly sound like the offer still stood so he shrugged it off with a bemused smile.
His eyes widened in awe as Ash suggested he could arrange to get them both cocoa. "You could do that?" He asked, more than a little amazed. August had never found the kitchens in Hogwarts and had never really felt the need to ask the house elves for anything else because he liked the food they cooked. "That's so cool!" He chirped, cheeks flushing pink with delight, but also embarrassment at the one condition. "A d-date?" He stammered. If possible his eyes got even wider. "Like friends or boyfriends or..." He trailed off, ducking his head and blushing crimson. "I'd like that."
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Post by ashley on Oct 10, 2008 16:06:49 GMT 1
Ashley smiled a little at his face, pulling August closer so he could hug him again. He wasn't being selfish. Not completely at least. It was just nice, having someone close and not feel him shy away because of his being in a wheelchair. Sometimes people thought he was retarded, which was just...well it was partly true, since he had to relearn a lot, but his mind was still there. He wasn't a kid mentally, just physically. It was nice that August understood.
A d-date? Like friends or boyfriends or..."
Ash bit his lip. He wasn't quite sure how to answer that, not until August quietly told him he'd like it. Did that mean he would like to date, even if it meant being boyfriends? "I like you, August. But I'm not going to lay a claim on you. We could go on a date as friends, or as boyfriends...that's entirely up to you." He finally said, voice and eyes honest as he glanced up at his friend.
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Post by August Jensen on Oct 10, 2008 17:35:09 GMT 1
August gladly let Ash pull him down into another hug, taking comfort in the embrace and marvelling at the way Ashley felt warm despite the bitingly cold air around them. He'd been blushing almost constantly since they started talking, somehow picking up on the fact that this wasn't a normal conversation between friends. It was a weird feeling, new and exciting but slightly terrifying at the same time. It felt like any moment now Ash would cotton on and realise he was completely clueless and inexperienced. Could Ashley really want anything to do with someone so naive?
"I like you too." He agreed quickly, knowing Ash didn't just mean as a friend. He dropped his gaze bashfully, using the awkward angle and close proximity to avoid eye contact. "I want..." He paused, swallowing hard and tightening his grip on Ash to build up courage. "Do you think it could be as boyfriends?" August's voice was barely above a whisper and he only just worked up a small, shaky smile. "It's just... I don't really know what I'm doing. I've never been anyone’s boyfriend before. Do you mind?" He managed to blurt.
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