Ashtray -Angel Dust Angst

Chapter 20

Time skip to about a year ish after the last chapter

Angels Pov:

Me and Cherri were at a restaurant, just talking and hanging out. We were both looking at her phone when she got a call from a number without caller ID. "I am so fucking sick of spam calls!" She said as she declined the call. We both laughed.

It was a beautiful day outside. The sun was out and everything was warm and calm, like it was covered with a comforting blanket. It was nice to leave the hotel and see Cherri. She's been so helpful with everything. I'm so grateful for her.

We continued scrolling on Sinstagram when the number called again. "God damn it again?!" She said slightly annoyed. "Maybe you should answer it, at least get 'em to shut up and stop calling." She sighed. "If they call a third time I will." And sure enough they did.

"Who the hell are you? What do you want?" She answered not bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice. "I don't know if you remember me or not, but I'm Husk."

My entire body froze. Time stopped and everything went blurry. It felt like a bad dream. Is that really him? What the hell does he want? Why did he come back? Does he still love me? Do I still love him?" It was hard to think or even breathe.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" She yelled into the phone before hanging up. She put it on silent. I stood up. "I-I'm sorry I-I h-have to
g-go." I said shakily trying not to cry in public. "Do you want me to drive you home?" Cherri asked. I shook my head and bolted out. Everyone was staring at me, I could feel the eyes.

I got in my car and just sobbed my heart out. Why did he do that? Everything was fine before he called. I was doing so much better. Now I have to miss him all over again. I just wanted to die. I wanted it to be over. My chest felt tight and I couldn't breathe. I hate this feeling. I can't believe I'm falling apart again.

Cherri opened the door that I guess I had forgotten to lock and sat on the middle thing. I couldn't see her face but I could tell she was worried. "It'll be okay Angie. You've worked so hard, don't let this ruin it." I started crying even more. It hasn't been this bad in months. Charlie will notice for sure. Maybe she already knows. Maybe she set us up. Or more likely Alastor. God damn it, he has been way nicer lately.

Cherri put a hand on my shoulder. "You need to breathe okay," she said calmly but assertively. "I-I c-can't," I choked out. She held my hand. "You can. We'll do it together. In, and out, in and out." I felt like a baby. I hate this. I mean I'm glad I'm not alone but it's so embarrassing.

Eventually I stopped hyperventilating and just leaned on the dashboard exhausted. Today was supposed to be a good day. "How do you feel?" Cherri asked. "Tired." "Do you want me to take you back to the hotel." I sighed louder than I'd hoped. "I don't care."

She hugged me tightly. "I'm here when you need me." She ended up taking me to the hotel. I tried masking the complete destruction that was happening inside me but Alastor and Charlie noticed immediately. I dreaded that talk. Charlie started walking towards me but alastor stopped her. "Perhaps he would appreciate a moment alone with his thoughts," he said making sure Charlie understood. I mouthed a thank you and he nodded. He did me a real solid, I'll remember that.

I went up to my room and plopped down on my bed. It wasn't even sadness anymore, just pure boredom and exhaustion. My life is a never ending cycle of being sad, getting better, a worse thing happening, and being sad again. How come I always end up alone?

I couldn't help but think about him. Maybe closure would be helpful. But I knew if I heard him out I would fall in love all over again. I wanted some kind of easy escape, one I knew I wouldn't get.

I walked into my balcony with a box of cigarettes. Smoking makes me feel better, I think that's all I need right now. To feel better. Yeah, that sounds good. I'll smoke a little, feel better, and then go bed. I lit my cigarette feeling my nerves settle. I'm not really supposed to be smoking, but oh well.

I thought about confronting Alastor. He's gotta be up to something. Though it's weird he would get him to call Cherri. Maybe he thought I wouldn't answer if he called. That's true, I wouldn't.

Or maybe I would. Maybe I would try to restrain myself and fail miserably because I'm fucking stupid. Maybe I would answer the phone and he would apologize and I would say "it's alright, don't worry about it, I love you". And maybe I would really mean it. And we would spend the rest of our afterlives together happily ever after.

I mean it's not the first time. Val used to apologize. Fake a tear and some remorse and say it would never happen again. Until it did. I started crying. How the hell did this happen? How did it get so bad I'm comparing those two?

The cigarette kept me from having a full on panic attack, which I was grateful for. I took a long drag and exhaled slowly. Feeling slightly calmer I called Cherri.

"Hey," I said cautious of how she would respond. "You doing okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, about that. Do you still have the number?" I needed to know what he wanted. I couldn't live with the unknown. She sighed. "Yes, but are you sure you want it? Is that really smart?" I really contemplated it. I tried to convince myself it wasn't worth it and wouldn't probably end poorly. But I had to know, curiosity was eating away at me. "I guess we'll see. But yeah I want it." "Okay," she said and even over the phone I could tell she was rolling her eyes. "It's xxx-xxx-xxxx". I smiled like a little kid that just convinced his mom to buy him a toy. "Thanks Cher! Love ya." I hung up.

Well here goes nothing. I dialed the number and waited for it to answer.

Hey guys! I wanted to thank you so much for 5k reads!! That's absolutely insane, so thank you.

I also want to apologize for what I posted in my conversations tab. It's been deleted. I never meant to sound ungrateful or that I feel burdened doing this. Sometimes I forget to think about what I write before I write it.

Anyways, sorry for the wait. I appreciate you all.