The Boy With Tattoos

Chapter One

TBWT | Chapter 1

Poem

It's been about a month since Ashley's attack, and she had lost the baby. That trail of blood that I saw was the placentas detaching. It bled out making the fluids drain and mix with the blood which caused the trial. The baby ended up suffocating from the lack of oxygen.

It was a nightmare for her, she cried when she had to go through labor for a child that didn't survive. When the nurse let her hold her baby she didn't want to give her up. She kept cooing how perfect she was and how she was supposed to be mommy's little girl. Yet, we've gotten close since then. She is like a best friend. Only because when she was down; I stayed with her. I even cried with her, for days, upon days. It was alright; it made me think of things. Things I didn't even want to think about. Like if I were in a relationship like her: would I even fight back?

She told me she used to when she wasn't pregnant, but she soon stopped after she found out. She tried to stay away from Jordan, but that one day he found out that she was going to break up with him. She didn't want anything to do with him. He freaked out on her when she broke up with him. It's hard to think about, to relive what I saw. I can't imagine what it feels like for her. Especially knowing her daughter Emily would have been born healthy this month.

I didn't want her to go through that ever again, nor did I want myself to go through that. That's why today I was dragging her and myself to kickboxing classes. Our school offered them on the weekends. Supposedly the teens at the school taught them. This was going to be a different experience for both of us. If we liked it we possibly will start going to the local martial arts center downtown, plus continuing there on the weekends.

"Get your fat ass up," I said patting her on her butt. Her mom had let me in a few minutes ago. Mrs. Harm loved me since I met her, trusted me with her daughter, and thought I was a good example for Ashley, especially with Ashley's studies. Since Ash had the miscarriage she hasn't been attending school. She feels too embarrassed and doesn't want to be blamed for putting the school's best athlete into cuffs. I told her time and time that it wasn't her fault, but she doesn't believe me.

She flipped around in her bed and smiled shyly at me. Running her fingers through her hair she stretched. "How do you always get in?" She questioned as she yawned hopelessly.

"One word: Mom," I had adopted calling her mom. It felt natural. Plus, she treated me like her child. My mom didn't treat me with as much care as my friend's mother did. She actually never was here mentally. She was in her own world. I liked to call her a cracked out bitch. She didn't live with me and my dad anymore. She was with her 'Max a Million.' That guy was something else. He had her wrapped around his crusty little fingers. "Now get dressed it's almost time for some kickboxing. Get up!" I said as I scooted out of her bed and grabbed her hand.

"Nyx stop," she ordered sitting back down.

"Why? I thought you wanted to go?" I asked in confusion and it showed in my voice. Ashley cracked a smile and grabbed my hands resting them in her lap. My fingers felt feeble as if I were a small child.

"I do, it's just that... What if people start talking? What if people think of me wrong? I mean. I'm the reason why Jord..." I put my hands on her shoulders causing her to stop talking.

I looked her straight in the eyes and spoke, "You aren't the reason for that. He is the reason. He beat the living crap out of you. He hurt you; not the other way around. He took your daughter away from you. Don't let him defeat you from inside a prison!"

Her eyes had welled up from the mention of Emily, but I had to say it. She had to realize that she didn't do anything wrong. He did. I quickly wrapped my arms around her shoulders and pulled her into my chest. Her stream of tears stained my shirt. "You're staining my shirt.., it's okay, I'll just borrow one." I felt her shoulders move like she was laughing.