"I'm trusting you with this money, there's two hundred dollars here," my mom took my wallet and placed the cash in it before handing it back. "And I hope that you'll come back with new clothes for school and not video games. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am."

////

Store after store and I'm lost and confused on what to buy. Everything is fucking expensive and my mom gave me a lot of money that might only get me two pairs of pants.

In the end it takes me several hours till I finally managed to budget my money and get quite a lot of new shirts, pants, and even new shoes with the money my mother kindly gave to me.

Calum left my house early this morning to go see his sister who's in town for the weekend, and Michael left a while before I did, for the mall. Today would've been less exhausting if Michael didn't have to leave and go out to dinner with his family. He would've made this adventure I took alone more than just a trip the mall. It would've been an adventure of our own.

Something to remember.

I grumbled mostly to myself and lugged my bags along with my body to the closest Starbucks. I decided I deserved something to drink after all my hard work.

I went to reach for the handle on the door but instead it swung open, I stepped to the side to let them pass before walking in. But when I looked up at the open doorway my jaw went slack, a shocked expression on my face. I meet the eyes of an equally shocked Ashton.

"Luke?" He asked, clearly shocked to have run into me after all my attempts of avoiding him at all costs.

"Shit!" I cursed, backing away from him. I clutched the bags in my hand preparing to breakout into a sprint.

Ashton must've noticed my change in mood. He raised his hands in defense, "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk to you Luke."

"Well, I don't." I glared at him.

He looked at me, pleading with me. I saw the desperation in his hazel eyes. "Dinner. I'll buy you dinner. I want to apologize to you properly Lukey."

For the first time I saw the person I fell in love with. And it sucks. My heart is telling to go with him and listen to what he has to say to me, and my head is telling me to start running as far away as I can get.

"I-I don't know," I said honestly.

"Please, baby." He all but begged.

My heart clenched at his words. I nervously chewed on my bottom lip. "O-Okay, but only dinner."

////

I sat across from Ashton at the restaurant he has chosen. I kept my eyes glued to the menu in front of me rather than on Ashton. Although, I could feel his gaze burning on me since the moment we sat down.

I was crammed into my side of the booth with my bags full of clothes from shopping earlier.

"Get whatever you want." He said sincerely, I nodded at his words, continuing to avoid eye contact with him. The moment I look into his hazel eyes again I'll lose my sense of will power and become a puddle of mush for the boy I once loved wholeheartedly, and still somewhere deep down I kind of do.

"Luke," Ashton said softly, reaching over to place his hand on top of mine. I inwardly flinched. "C'mon look at me baby boy, I just want to talk." I slowly lowered the menu and looked at his hand on mine before glancing up to meet his eyes.

I didn't move my hand and he seemed pleased with that and laced our fingers together. My heart was racing, I was still holding on to him, to his love that I can't seem erase, and I'll do that till the last moment when I say goodbye for good.

"You said you wanted to apologize..." I mumbled.

"I do." Ashton sighed, "Listen, I want you to know how sorry I am. I shouldn't have done that. I knew better, I really did. There was alcohol and girls and my mind was a blur. And that's no excuse for what I did. Especially when I knew you were here back at home waiting for me to get back, to kiss my face and tell me how much you missed me. Luke, I love you! I love you so much, and it pains me to know you aren't mine anymore because I was idiot and lost the best thing to ever happen to me. Please reconsider taking me back. I'll be the best boyfriend, and I promise nothing like that will ever happen again. I swear!"

His words were too much, my heart clenched at the thought of allowing him back into my life after what he did. I always told myself if someone ever cheated on me I wouldn't go back to them even if I was still in love with them. Here I am now, being faced with it for real and every fiber is telling me to take him back, that he only made a small mistake in this big messed up world. Even if that small mistake made me feel like the biggest joke around, to have my heart played with and feel like I wasn't good enough.

"Ashton, I-," I began, but abruptly stopped at the sight of the only person who I didn't want to see me at the moment.

There he was, sitting three tables over with his parents and he was looking back at me with so much sadness in his eyes. Michael looked like he was about to burst into tears at the sight of me with Ashton holding my across the table.

The boy who has loved me since forever, who said he would wait till I felt the same. Who would give me all the time in the world. But how can I feel the same if I don't let Ashton go for good.

I took in a deep breath, pulling my hand away from his grip. "Ashton, I meant what I said. We're done, and nothing will change my mind."

////

Okay so it wasn't that bad. because in the end muke always wins.

Thoughts on this chapter? Did seeing Michael help with Luke's decision? Or do you think he would've gotten back together with Ashton if he hadn't seen Michael there to remind him?

thanks for reading cuties!

& thanks for getting this to 33k reADS!💕😚