Luke took one more step towards Ash, and suddenly, they were a breath apart. Ash looked up at Luke, pulled in by his gaze. Although they had walked beside him, Ash didn’t internalize just how much taller Luke was. Luke reached a hand up to Ash’s face and brushed the back of his knuckles down their right cheek, grazing his fingers across Ash’s throat and around to the opposite side of their jaw. With his fingers gripping the back of Ash’s neck, Luke leaned down and pulled Ash’s lips to his.
Ash was on fire. They had never been kissed like this. Ash melted into Luke’s touch and looped their fingers through Luke’s belt loops, pulling Luke’s hips to theirs, not wanting a single space between their bodies. Luke let out a soft moan into Ash’s lips at the sudden movement. And then, Luke was pushing Ash back against the door, one hand on the back of their head and the other resting on their hip. Ashran their hands down Luke’s chiseled torso and up his back, digging their nails in as they made their way down to his hips.
Ash began slowly pulling Luke’s shirt up, exposing the muscles of his stomach, until Luke removed his hand from Ash’s hip and tugged the shirt over his head. Ash took advantage of the momentary break in the kiss to admire Luke’s body. God, he was gorgeous. Luke toyed with the hem of Ash’s shirt, as if asking for permission to remove it. Ash nodded slightly as their chest heaved with rapid breaths. Luke wasted no time ripping Ash’s shirt from their torso, tossing it over his shoulder before grabbing Ash’s hand.
Luke led Ash up the stairs into the room at the top. Ash didn’t have time to take in the details of the room before Luke captured their lips again and closed the door behind them.
Chapter three
Ash’s head pounded as sunlight streamed through the curtains. All that alcohol last night was certainly a bad idea. They hadn’t had a migraine in alongtime and had somehow forgotten just how bad it was. It felt like someone was driving a knife through their temple. Searing, pounding pain pulsed in their brain. A wave of nausea rolled over Ash as they sat up in bed, the silky blanket falling around their hips. Ash put their hands to their forehead, trying, and failing, to block out some of the sunlight.
Ash slid slowly out of the bed and felt around the floor for their clothes. Their shirt was somewhere downstairs, but they were pretty sure their pants were here somewhere. With more trouble than Ash wanted, they found their pants hanging off a chair they hadn’t noticed last night.
Last night. Fuck, last night. The events played over in Ash’s mind, but only for a second before their pain made its presence known again. Luke was…tender. He held Ash tight as they fucked and gingerly as they fell asleep. No one had ever treated Ash with such care before.
Ash braved the blinding sun for one second to peer at Luke, bare-chested and asleep under the blanket barely covering his hips. Ash couldn’t take the time to drink in Luke’s sleeping form with how bright the sun was—they needed to get home and take their medication. Ash found a piece of paper and pen on the desk and scribbled a quick note to Luke.
Thank you for last night. I had a wonderful time. I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. I wasn’t feeling well. Call me. - Ash
Ash placed the note on Luke’s bedside table before feeling their way out of his bedroom. Once they gingerly closed the door behind them, Ash pulled their phone from their pocket.
“Text Michael,” Ash groaned. When the familiar buzz vibrated in Ash’s hand, signaling their phone was ready for them to narrate a text, they spoke again. “Can you pick me up? I have a migraine and can’t get home safely.”
Moments later, Ash’s phone vibrated again.
“Read me my most recent text,” Ash commanded their phone.
“On my way. Be there in 3 minutes,” the familiar computer voice narrated.
While sometimes it was annoying that Ash’s friends had their location, it was great for times like this. Ash could barely remember where they were, let alone how to get to the nearest bus station.
Ash carefully climbed down the stairs with a death grip on the railing. They felt around the ground for their t-shirt and found it in a heap by the door. Ash slipped it on, unsure if it was even on right but not caring. The only thing they cared about was getting their medication and an ice pack.
Ash felt along the door to unlock it without opening their eyes. With some difficulty, Ash made their way outside and down the threesteps to sit on the bottom step of Luke’s porch, head in their hands. Fuck, Michael needed to hurry.
A car door slammed, and Ash groaned with pain. “Hey, it’s me,” Michael said as he approached.
“Thank you for coming to get me,” Ash said quietly as they reached a hand out towards Michael.
Michael grabbed Ash’s hand and helped them stand, wrapping an arm around Ash’s waist and leading them towards the car. After gingerly getting them into the front seat and buckling them in, Michael handed Ash a plastic bag.
“Just in case you need it,” Michael said before closing the car door as quietly as he could.
Ash leaned their head against the window and breathed slowly in and out. Nausea built in their throat, and they hoped they could keep it together until they were home. Ever since Ash got their first migraine in grade school and threw up in front of the whole class, their biggest fear was getting sick in front of others.
The car ride home was the longest Ash could remember. Even though the drive was seven minutes, it felt like seven hours. Every sound, every vibration, everyminutemovementdrove the knife deeper into Ash’s skull.
Michael eventually stopped the car and came around to help Ash out. He pulled them to their feet and stabilized them when they wavered. That was it—they couldn’t wait any longer. Ash bent over and vomited in the parking lot of their apartment building. Panic rose in their throat as they realized Michael was standing right there.
Michael rubbed circles on Ash’s back. “You’re okay. It’s okay.”
“Please tell me it was just on the ground,” Ash croaked.
“It was. You’re fine,” Michael said as he pulled Ash upright. “Give me yourkeys.”
Ash fished the key to their apartment out of their pocket and handed it to Michael. He led Ash up to their home and right to bed. Ash crawled under the covers, not bothering to even take off their socks.
“What do you need me to do before I leave?” Michael asked.
