Ashley's Pov
"You are awake.." I hear a voice say.
It sounds so distant, yet so close.
I rub my eyes slowly and look around my room.
Except it isn't my room.
Once my vision is clear I see Aaron hovering over me.
"What happened?" I ask confused, slowly sitting up.
Before he says anything, he quickly helps me sit up.
"Shh, no questions right now. How are you feeling?" He asks.
I smile at his concern.
"I'm fine, but I am really confused right now. Why am I in your room? Why am I on your bed? And why do I have these things on my arm?" I say taking off everything and unhooking myself off the bed.
"Calm down, Lee. You got in a fight with your father and you passed out. You told me not to take you to a hospital so I brought the hospital to you."
My heart drops at his words.
Shit I forgot all about it.
Please, let this be a dream. He can't know.
"I- um... Thank you.." I drift off not knowing what to say.
"What happened Ashley? Why did it happen?" He sighs.
"It's complicated Aaron. He is just like this, it's normal... for me.." I say.
"It is not normal! Ashley please understand that nothing about this situation is normal. I wanna help you Ashley. It kills me that you have gone through this for god knows how long!" He shouts.
I have never truly seen him as angry as he looks right now. But behind that anger is just him, worried about me.
I know it and I'm sure of it.
"Aaron, calm down."
He breaths heavily before sighing.
"Ill tell you everything.." I say.
I explain to him all the details, how he lost his job, forced my mother and I to work, became an alcoholic, became even worse after Jake left, basically everything.
Throughout it all he remained silent, listening to every word I said.
I thought of somehow backing my father up, but why?
He is a shitty father.
The worst.
"I hate him Aaron, I swear.. My heart aches for the father he used to be before the alcohol took over him. I loved him.. so much. But now, I will never get to experience that love ever again. I just want one more day with him, the old him," I cried out.
My whole face was red.
Aaron pulled me into a hug and I didn't back away, instead I hooked my arms around his neck and pulled him even closer as he buried his face in the crook of my neck.
He didn't say anything at all.
We stayed in that position for about five minutes before I pulled away and flashed him a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Aaron. For everything. For saving me from my father, for not taking me to the hospital, for caring about me, for existing in my life.." I muttered the last part out but I'm sure he heard it.
"Ashley, you are not going back there," Aaron said firmly.
"I have to.. I can't just leave.. I'm yet a minor."
"When is your birthday?" He asks.
"Um.. on May 15th, which is.." I drift off not knowing what day it is.
"Exactly one week from today.." I widen my eyes in response.
"What! How long was I unconscious for?" I ask.
"About a week.. it's Saturday night right now."
Damn.
"Did they- did they ask about me?"
"Your parents? Your mother yes, your father, no." He says.
Oh.
"Well atlea-"
"No Ashley, no atleast. They are your parents for fucks sake, they have to care." He cuts me off.
I stay silent, not having any words to reply.
He takes my hand, inspecting the bruises on it.
"So these bruises, the ones you apparently got from falling off your bed, all this time were from your father?" He asks and I nod.
No lies, not to him anyways.
"Why did you lie? Why couldn't you reach out for help?"
"Because! I didn't want anyone's pity! I didn't wanna be a burden on anyone. My own brother left me, and I don't blame him, I don't. But If my own brother couldn't help me, why would anyone else?" I ask letting out my anger.
"Well maybe, not everyone is as selfish as your brother and would actually help!" He says back in the same tone.
"He isn't selfish! He is coming back for me and anyways he couldn't have helped me because I was a minor!" I say trying to convince him but at this point, it was more or so me trying to convince myself.
Was he truly selfish?
No.
"He could have done anything to help Ashley, he could have atleast tried, you are too naive."
Well Ouch.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to.."
"It's fine, don't worry about it. But now I have to go back home." I say.
"When you turn eighteen, you will move in with me Ashley, no buts."
"I have a big one right here," I say pointing to my ass.
We both laugh at my lame joke before I continue.
"I can't move in with you Aaron, I don't wanna be a burden or anything. Jake is coming back end of year to take me with him after he has settled down. So please, please I'm begging you, don't ruin my plan." I plead.
"Ashley, please, I cant let you live there. Even if it's for a few months, hell even a second I can't. I can't see you in pain," He says.
My eyes widen slightly but I shake it off.
He doesn't mean it.
"Please, trust me."
"On one condition.." He says.
"Anything."
"If he hurts you again, I will make sure he never walks again. I promise you that," He says.
"Wha- you ca-"
"I fucking hope I don't have to, but sweetheart, don't get confused, I may seem really fucking sweet but that mask can disappear as quick as my dad did when I was born." He says.
"Oh. I'm sorry.." I apologise.
"Ashley, don't apologise."
"Sorry.."
"Ashley.." He sighs as he rubs his forehead.
"Thank you though, you are the first person who actually really cares about me for me, for my good and my bad. You are an amazing friend Aaron.." I say with a smile.
He frowns slightly.
Why?
He quickly replaces it with a smile that doesn't meet his eyes.
"You're welcome, my friend."
***
It's been long but hii! Thank you all so much for 10k reads! I can't even believe it so thank youu!
I passed my exams yall!! I'm so happy about that and.. I don't have school till Tuesday which is great! You should expect another chapter soon..
Also I am sorry for the short chapter yall. I haven't been in the best of moods but the break up is coming soon.. unfortunately.
But yeah anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Let me know your thoughts.
I hope you have a great rest of your day/night.
Bye!