REMINISCENT

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Loving Him Had Consequences (FINAL EDIT)

Ashley's POV
When I got home after the party, I started packing everything that reminded me of Aiden.

Chanel tried to stop me—again and again—but eventually, she just sighed, gave up, and helped me.

When I was done, I took a long shower, scrubbing at my skin like I could wash away the memories, and then we went to her house since Mom was working the night shift this week.

By the time we settled in, after Chanel had showered and we'd eaten, I couldn't hold it in anymore.

I broke.

The tears came hard, unstoppable. I cried for everything. For all the pain I'd been carrying around like a second skin. For how much I missed my dad. For how tired I was of hurting myself. For every promise Aiden and I made that had shattered into nothing. For being so stupidly naïve, believing my first love would be my forever. For the trauma, the nightmares, the lies I told to protect him even though they tore me apart.

And, most of all, I cried because I still loved him.

Even now, here I am, scrolling through Instagram, pretending to be busy, pretending everything is fine.

The truth is, I am starting to feel... lighter, maybe. I know I've accepted what happened—accepted that Aiden and I will never be. I can tell because I didn't even notice if he came to school today.

"Hey," Chanel's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Hi," I murmured, eyes still glued to my screen.

"You okay?" she asked, concern lacing her tone.

"Never been better," I replied with a half-hearted smile. And in a way, it was true. I didn't have a nightmare last night. Instead, I had a dream—strange, but peaceful.

' I was alone, but I wasn't lonely. Just sitting at our beach, the one Aiden and I used to call our escape. It felt so real, like I was really there—like I could almost taste the salty breeze on my lips.

My hair was tied up in a messy bun, and I wore a simple white dress. Barefoot, I sat on the warm sand, close enough for the water to kiss my toes every time the tide came in.

I don't know how long I stayed there, just breathing, just... being. The sun hung low on the horizon, frozen in a perfect sunset, painting the water in gold and fire.

Then I heard it.

"Ashley?!"

It came from far away. I thought I imagined it, but then it came again, louder.

"Ashley!"

I was just about to turn— '

"Ashley?...Ashley?...Ashley?!" Chanel called me multiple times shaking my shoulders

"Huh?what?" I furrowed my brows at her

"Geez...what's wrong, i called you like a million times" she exaggerated

"Nothing, i just zoned out. What's up?" I cleared my throat, forcing nonchalance as I turned to unlock my locker

"I said we should go to class, the warning bell just rung. You coming?" She asked already turning to the direction of class

"I'll catch up, go" i said picking out my books and stuffing my lunch bag into the locker

I was just about to shut my locker, when BANG- the locker slammed shut, a hand pushed me back against it but not hard enough to hurt me

"What the f—" The rest of my words died in my throat when I saw him.

Those ice-blue eyes of his locked on mine, sharp and accusing, like he'd just uncovered some deep, ugly secret. His finger shot up, pointing directly at me.