Broken

• Chapter 57 •

"What is this monstrosity?"

Ashton ordered banana flavored ice cream. Banana. Ice. Cream. I'm not amused.

He simply shrugs at me and continues to lick the disgusting ice cream while strolling down the park.

"It's yellow. Like bright banana yellow," I continue.

He rolls his eyes, "As opposed to what, exactly? Sunset mauve?" he mocks.

I snort despite myself. Ha.

"All I'm saying is, ice cream is not supposed to be that yellow," I'm disgusted. "Who even gets banana ice cream? What the hell, Ashton?" I grimace as I down an entire water bottle, willing the disgusting taste off my tongue.

It doesn't even taste like bananas. And it definitely doesn't taste like ice cream. It just... Let's just say it tastes like shit.

"Will you stop critiquing my ice cream choices, please? This is coming from the woman who ordered Nutella flavored ice cream."

I frown as I look down at the beauty in my hands, "Um? If you say another word about Nutella I'll deck your face in," I warn.

"AHHH!"

Ashton and I both jump back at Vanessa's loud shriek.

"Nessa? What the hell?" Ashton's brows furrow.

I burst out laughing when I look at him, his disgusting baby-shit colored ice cream has covered his left eyebrow and is trickling down the side of his face. The rest is on the floor. Vanessa smiles sheepishly and shrugs, pointing to an amusement park.

"Ashton, can we please?" she bats her eyelashes.

Ashton wipes his face as I look into the very closed amusement park in confusion.

"Pleeeeease?" Zach joins in, pouting his lip.

Ashton sighs and nods, "All right."

What?

"Ashton, what are you doing?" I rush after him as he climbs and jumps over the fence.

He smirks at me, "Come on, we do this all the time."

My eyebrows rise in surprise as Vanessa and Zach climb over the fence effortlessly. I picture myself trying, and falling after the first second. Or worse, making it to the top and having cops pull up and I'm so nervous and panicked that I freeze up and piss myself and they end up having to wrap me in tin foil hanging from a helicopter on national television like that guy from Friends With Benefits.

I shake my head in horror. "No way! This is extremely illegal," I hiss.

He cocks his eyebrow at me, "Scared?"

My jaw drops, "No!"

"Aw, you're scared. It's okay to admit it, Clementine. Don't worry, I'm sure it doesn't make you a pussy," he mocks with a cocky grin.

I clench my jaw and remove my jacket, tossing it over the fence. I'm slightly satisfied when it hits his face, he staggers back in surprise. I take a deep breath in and begin climbing. Before I know it, I'm at the top. To be fair, it's not that tall of a fence.

I smile victoriously before swinging my leg over to the other side, slowly easing down. I lose my footing and slip towards the bottom, pulling a muscle and injuring a bruise in the process. Ashton catches my arm and steadies me, a panicked look plays on his face.

He offers me a sheepish smile as we straighten up, and I return it. Vanessa and Zach are paying no attention to us, or the fact that I almost just died.

"Come on!" Vanessa tugs at my arm, and I follow involuntarily. Zach and Ashton fall back, talking to one another.

"Clementine, are you going to live with us now?" Vanessa asks hopefully.

I laugh, "No. I'm just visiting, I'll be going back soon."

Her face falls, and she looks so sad that it makes me want to hug her and buy her all the candy and toys in the world. Or whatever it is children like.

"Oh... I liked having another girl at our house. Ashton never brings anyone home," she seems annoyed at this.

My eyebrows knit together, "Huh?"

She looks up at me with her big brown eyes and shrugs. "He doesn't like bringing anyone home, he says it's a place for family," she repeats.

My stomach tightens, why hasn't he brought anyone home? What about Kate? I glance back at Ashton with curiosity. He laughs at something Zach tells him, and I find myself smiling. It's a bountiful, beautiful laugh.

Vanessa looks up at me. "Why are you smiling?" she inquires.

I shake my head at her, "Nothing."

She leads me to a carousel ride, she and Zach rush towards their own. Vanessa on a pony and Zach on a knight's horse. How typically adorable. I settle for a big teacup, Ashton walks up to a counter and flips a switch. The ride lights up, and it starts moving. Vanessa and Zach cheer and laugh.

Ashton hops onto the ride and makes his way towards me, plopping down beside me inside the teacup.

"Explain," I cock my eyebrow at him.

He shakes his head and smiles, "I told the twins this story about how when my mom was pregnant with them, we came to this amusement park. She didn't want to go on any rides, other than this one because it looked harmless. Long story short, thirty seconds into the ride and she throws up everywhere. That includes the children and parents," he laughs at the memory.

I'm smiling, he's cute when he's not being an asshole. He notices my facial expression and clears his throat, giving me a shy smile.

"Anyway, we got kicked out and banned," he continues.

"It's their favorite story. So we come here at night when it's closed and just sit and talk," he shrugs as he looks at them, "I guess they like it so much because it's one of the only connections they have to her."

My heart aches heavily for them, especially Ashton. I want to ask what happened, but I want him to be able to tell me on his own. I've already imposed and butted into his life so much, I don't want to be even nosier.

"Tell me something about her?" my voice cracks.

Ashton's eyes flicker, and I'm scared that he'll be distant and cold again. But he isn't. There's something painful swimming in his eyes. They're breathtaking, and hold a truth his face can't hide. The despairing chill they emanate makes my heart twinge with guilt.

A soft, heart-wrenching smile forms on his lips. His voice is a whisper.

"Strong... My mother was strong."