💗

Tomorrow I graduate. I should be happier and more excited, but I'm not because I know Ashton won't be there. My family being there should be enough but every time I think about graduation, I think about Ashton and I laying in bed. His hands ran circles over my bare back as I laid on his chest and told him that he was invited.

He told me that he was so proud of me and that he would be screaming the loudest when the time came. I laughed and told him he couldn't do that until after they called all the names. Then he rolled on top of me and told me to scream his name.

"Babe," a soft voice whispers pulling me out of my thoughts. I look up to Alex who's already watching me. "You're crying."

Quickly, I wipe my eyes and pull my knees to his chest. "I'm sorry."

He sighs and sits down next to me then pulls me into into his arms. I begin to sob against his chest, letting my tears fall with no restraint. Alex just holds me tightly until my cries subside.

Eventually my tears do stop and I'm left with the ache in my chest and a throbbing in my head. At least I'm lucky enough to have Alex take care of me. Said person looks down at me and brushes my hair from my cheek.

"It's going to be okay," he whispers, placing a kiss to my forehead.

When I look at him, I can see in his eyes that he is going to try his best to make that statement true. I couldn't ask for a better person to have. "Thank you, Alex," I whisper.

He chuckles and holds me closer. "What are best friends for?"

Sighing, I tilt my head up and brush my nose against his. "You're more that a friend, Alex."

He cups my jaw and runs his thumb over my lips. While looking into his eyes, I part my lips and begin to close the distance only to have Alex lean in and kiss the corner of my mouth. He begins a trail across my cheek and to my ear where he whispers something that makes my heart break.

"Lana I want to kiss you so bad, but I can't. I love you too much to do that. You're vulnerable and hurt and I'm not going to do something with you that I know you will regret."

Pulling back, I climb into his lap and cup his face in my hands. "Alex, I would never regret anything with you."

He laughs and pulls me into his arms, resting my head on his shoulder and holding me tightly. I thank him silently for not kissing me or letting me kiss him. That would've been bad for both of us and I'm glad at least one of us was thinking reasonably.

"We should be celebrating you graduating," Alex says in my ear.

I nod in agreement pulling back to look at him. "You and Easton are still coming right?"

With a chuckle, he squeezes my thighs. I wouldn't miss it for the world, babygirl. Not even for good head."

Laughing, I shake my head. "I hate you."

Alex just laughs and kisses my nose.

The rest of the night we watch movies and eat snacks until we both pass out on the couch.

💫

"Wakey Wakey, graduate!"

I groan and open my eyes to find Alex sitting in front of me with a bagel, bacon egg and cheese sandwich. My favorite. With a thank you, I sit up and take the plate from him. I'm starving.

As I eat, Alex sits on the coffee table in front of me and begins to tell me what he did this morning while I was sleeping. "Your gown and dress is steamed and set out in the bedroom along with your heels. Everything is set up to your liking Madam."

"Thank you."

An hour and a half later, Alex and I are on our way to the auditorium where my graduation will be held. Before sending me off, Alex adjusts my hair then my hat, making sure I look okay.

"See you in a few hours," I whisper kissing his cheek and walking inside.

The ceremony goes by smoothly. I don't trip or fall and I make it successfully back to my correct seat. When the ceremony is over I go in search for my family. The first people I spot are my friends, Magnolia, Ken, Easton and Alex.

Magnolia rushes into my arms and pulls me into a hug, kissing my cheek. Ken follows next and then Easton. When Alex approaches me there is a smile on his face that doesn't meet his eyes. I understand the reason when my eyes land on Ashton approaching with my family.

Ignoring him, I hug my siblings and parents then nod to Ashton. He cups my cheek and I resist the urge to shove him off. I also resist the urge to give into his touch.

"Hey," he whispers bending over to me and pressing his forehead against mine. "I'm so proud of you."

I nod again and pull away. "Let's go eat, I am starving."

Ashton sighs and clears his throat nervously. "Lana I have to go back to the hospital."

I nod.

Sighing Ashton steps closer, taking my jaw between his fingers and claiming my lips. Like the weakling I am when it comes to him, I kiss him back. He kisses me like he needs me to breathe. I focus more on the sensations running through my body as his hands grip my waist and his tongue slips past the barrier of my lips.

I forget where we are until I hear Easton say, "Save it for the bedroom."

Immediately I pull away avoiding eye contact and looping my arm through Alex's and pulling him away as everyone follows.

I love Ashton, but I'm conflicted. I don't want to go through that heartbreak with him again. He's stopped by and called multiple times and each time it hurt me not to respond.

How do you go from basically being attached to someone to being so distant in such short time? I feel like I'm going cold turkey from my prescription.

My parents could tell something was wrong with Ashton and Dad brought it up when he pulled me aside after Ashton left.

"Tell me what's going on, Honey," my dad asks softly.

With a sigh, I sit down on the steps and my dad sits down next to me. After a hesitant second I finally tell my Dad what happened.

"I caught him kissing his ex girlfriend."

My Dad shakes his head as if what I just said is absurd. "What did he say when you found him?"

I shrug and rest my elbows on my knees. "He said it wasn't what it looked like."

When my Dad asks me to tell him from the beginning I give him all the important details from the moment we arrived to Tye's home to the moment I walked out. Dad listens intently before coming to his conclusion that I should talk to Ashton.

"Lana, that man loves you," Dad assures. "I can't seem to believe that he would do anything to hurt you. And by the way it sounds, this Taylor character was really determined to ruin your relationship with Ashton."

I don't like how reasonable that sounds. What if Ashton really didn't want Taylor?

The rest of the evening that's all I can think about. Getting distracted all throughout dinner and conversations with my friends and family. I need to talk to Ashton.