Out of My Limit

I have to help.

~Ash's POV~

"I asked her if she still cuts herself." As soon as I heard the words my heart broke.

Tears brimmed in my eyes. Why does such a beautiful girl, do this to herself?

"Does she?" I asked, bracing myself for the answer. Calum took a deep breath, and he nodded.

"Don't say anything to her, she's fragile." He said, and I ran my hand down my face and I covered my mouth. I hate thinking she does what I used to do. It pains me so much. I didn't realize how much I liked her until she was in pain. Maybe... Maybe I love her.

~time skip woohoo. A week~

So she's been helping out a bit. I can't help but stare at her. Like all the time. She's been having fun with us as well. But somehow.. My thoughts always travel back go her hurting herself. She got up and walked to her bunk after checking her phone. I followed her a second later.

She pulled something out of her makeup case. She turned away. There are no cuts on her arms so I'm assuming it's on her thighs or hips or something. I do love her. I've figured it out by now.

I saw her grab a container. And she pulled out a small blade. I immediately reached forward and took her hand. "Please. Please don't." I begged. She gasped.

"Ashton..." She mumbled.

"No. No Ciara you can't do this. I know it's hard to stop bu-" The bus hit a bump and she fell but I caught her in my arms, after taking the blade out of her hand. I put it in my sweatshirt pocket.

"You don't have to hurt yourself." I said. And from here I held her in a warm hug. She buried her face into my neck. I could tell she liked my hugs. It made me want to smile. But I didn't. I rubbed her back, and looked at her. She was shaking slightly.

"You don't have to tell me why. But if you need to talk I'm always here for you." I told her. She nodded.

"We can talk.. In the back." She pulled away. She was slightly smiling. I did it. I made her smile. I nodded and I led her to the back. I sat down, pulling her onto my lap. I brushed her hair out of her face. I rubbed her back with my other hand.

"It's okay." I whispered. "But you don't have to if you don't want to." I said. She shook her head. And met my eyes.

"Okay." She took a deep breath. "Well.. Um when I was 16.. I was pressured into drinking. A lot. And a guy.. He wanted me to sleep with him. I swear I didn't. But. He said I did. He told everyone I did." She gulped a bit, trying to find the words to use. "And not a day passed after that, that there wasn't some new rumor about who I'd slept with. The whole football team, basketball team, the physics teacher." She laughed bitterly, but I put a hand on her arm softly, calming her. Hearing this broke my heart. "I never slept with anyone, but yet they all said I did. And everyday.. I was just called awful things and.. I was.." She took a deep breath, once again. "Touched. You could say. Felt up." She mumbled. "So I had a boyfriend... And a few weeks after we were together.. He wanted to take it further. I didn't. I really didn't want to. So he.." Her voice began breaking. I took her hand, rubbing my thumb over her hand. "He tied me up. And he forced me to have sex with him." She couldn't meet my eyes anymore. I could tell she didn't want to say he raped her, not directly at least. I pulled her into a hug, again. Why would someone do that to her. Honestly she's so beautiful.

"Don't you dare worry about them anymore. No one can hurt you now. I'll protect you." I said.

"They still call me these things. I see it on my phone." She said.

"It's okay baby girl. You can't let them get to you, because you're beautiful. And none of it.. Was your fault they can't get to you like this. You can't hurt yourself anymore." Now my voice broke. She shook in my arms.

"I'll stop. I promise." She said. I let out a sigh.

"Thank god. And I swear, no matter what, I will keep you safe." I told her. She nodded again. "I love you Ciara. I won't let anything bad ever happen to you." I said. She breathed heavily.

"I love you too." She whispered. I smiled and I pulled away, immediately connecting my lips to hers. She smiled into my lips and kissed me back. The beautiful kiss lasted for a while. And I pulled away.

Finally she was mine. After all the years I'd known her. Admired her. I could finally protect her like I should.