Seeing Stars

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I enter the house, not bothering to shut the door behind me as I race my way up the stairs and into my bedroom. I collapse on my bed and stare up at my ceiling, my mind whirling, trying to process thoughts and memories.

I remain there quiet for what felt like years before there is a knock on my open door. I let out a sigh before turning my head to see Ashton standing there looking solemn. I narrow my eyes at him, "Can't you just leave me alone? Don't you see that I don't like you and don't want to talk to you?"

His hand still rests on the door as he thinks over what I've said but he doesn't move. "Kid... I need to talk to you." He says quietly.

"But I don't want to talk to you." I repeat and stare at him incredulously, what was so hard to understand about that?

"I know but..." He starts.

I cut him off, "But nothing. Just leave me alone." I almost plead.

He raises his hands up at me in submission, "Alright. I will but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry if I crossed a line earlier. I didn't know that your family was a touchy subject for you. I won't bring it up again." He says before backing out of my doorway and disappearing.

I sigh once more as I watch the empty door space.

He had been surprisingly nice for a moment there. Completely out of character for the cocky, arrogant Ashton I know. It sounded like what he said was genuine too. He's definitely a complicated person.

My thoughts are interrupted once again by a knock at the door. This time it's my mother. "Yeah?" I ask as I sit up.

"You okay?" She asks as she comes to take a seat on the edge of my bed, "You've been up here for hours."

I nod my head, "Don't worry about me. I'm fine, just thinking through some stuff okay?"

She smiles a little at me, "Okay. Don't worry about Rogan by the way. You have the final decision in the movie about if they use him or not. Seriously, it's all going to work out for the best."

I smile a little at her, "Thanks mum. I'm sure it will."

She gives me a warm smile before patting me on the leg and heading back out of my room and down the stairs. I bite my lip and shake my head before collapsing back onto my bed. I spend the rest of the night by myself in my room with many visits from my brothers asking if I want to head down stairs to hang out. Each time I shake my head and tell them no.

Eventually I fall into an anxious and uneasy sleep, invaded by happy but unwanted memories.

"Hey, no fair! Why does he get to ride Dahna?" I whine whilst sitting on the fence.

I hear a chuckle and pout as my father pats my back, "Because it is his horse Lexi."

I pout even more as I watch Lochlan happily canter Dahna around the arena for a while before he slows her to a walk and starts to approach us. "Oh cheer up Lexi." My father says and taps a finger to my lip.

"Come on Lexi," Lochlan starts, "You can always ride one of the other horses."

"But why can't I ride her?" I whine.

"Because she's still a bit too much for you handle right now sis." Lochlan replies.

I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him, "But she's not too much for you to handle?"

He chuckles at me, "I swear Lex. Sometimes you believe that you're older than you are. Remember that you're only 13. I'm 19, I have 6 years more experience riding than you. You have plenty of time to ride later. Don't worry about it."