DEFINITELY,Maybe...

CHAPTER- 30 SEDUCED AGAIN

POV: ASHLEIGH
I tried nudging the door open. But it wouldn't give. Jade usually left her condo door open, because any visitor had to be rung in by the reception.
I frowned, because that meant she wasn't home. What was she doing, at 7.30am in the morning? She didn't even distance run.
I found the spare key and went in.
I was exhausted. My body was beat to pulp because of those heels.
My mental health?
Yeah. Not so great, either. Its good enough I made it here.
I opened the fridge and pulled out the OJ tetra pack; my eyes fell on the scribbled note, in Jade's handwriting.
*Sorry, had to go over to Bianca's. I'll be home in no time. I know you're struggling with the Damian issue, I recieved your message. I'll tell Bianca and we can have a bonding session, tonight. A quiet girls' night.*
I'd actually called my lost best friend Esthe but he didn't even bother picking up or replying. Buns wasn't an option, she wasn't even interested in looking my way. So I had settled with texting Jade immediately after the fundraiser. And explained everything that happened through text. Most of it,atleast. I tried calling, but her voice mail kept interrupting me.
I sighed, really loud, walked into my room and just sank into the bed. Sipping on the juice, I made an inventory of my emotions.
A) Damian hurt me. Hurt me bad.
B) He reminded me of my parents again, always lying to me. Never giving me the truth straight.
C) I was breaking because of everything.
D) Esthevan is screwed when I find him and make him own up.
E) Bianca is awkward with me.
F) Damian, ah.
G) Damian, why??
H) Damian...
Okay, shut the fúck up brain. I get it.
Two weeks into the relationship, I didn't expect his life secrets to start pouring out. Then why am I overreacting?
But with all the experiences I've had with my family and my friends.
I didn't need another person breaking through my armor and deceiving me.
Was I over reacting?
Yes.
But also, no.
Damian had to understand that I cannot stand liars as much as I cannot stand love.
Lying and deception.
Had become a staple constant in my life.
And when I was making him fall for me.
Or. Winning that fúcking bet. I didn't need him to lie. Yeah this was all happening because of the damn bet!
I was a Hypocrite.
A stage: 303 Hypocrite.
Because, I lied to him everyday.
I lied that... I didn't lie, did I?
I never lied when I said it was amazing to spend time with him.
I didn't lie when I felt hurt.
I didn't lie. These were all real.
And I expected the same from him.
The only thing I ever did lie about, I wouldn't even call it a lie, just a concealed truth; was about the bet. Plus its not even a big deal, right?
What he didn't know wouldn't kill him.
But I needed him to trust in me. Tell me everything. Because I can take it.
I need it.
I need at least one person to trust me.
Esthevan doesn't even talk to me anymore.
Bianca is acting weird as fúck. I don't even know what her problem is... What did I even do to upset her?!
Jade's trying to help Bianca.
But no one confides in me anymore.
Is this what the bet took away from me?
I rubbed my hands over my eyes.
And I felt them trembling.
They were shaking with emotion. Shaking because, somewhere in my heart, I felt I'd somehow lost things that mattered to me most.
I'd just thought life revolves around friends and sex.
But Damian had lead me to believe, that, maybe there's just a little more.
Something special.
Something... that's between, Sophia and Rob and to an extent, between my parents.
I needed someone to talk. Or all these repressed emotions are going to be the end of my happiness.
I shuffled through my tote for my phone and dialed Esthevan's number.
It rang and rang. And rang again.
*Hi! I'm not around the phone right now. Go for Colton. You know what to do.*
God damn it. Not again!
I disconnected and called him again. I knew he was near the phone, he usually was.
I tried calling, relentlessly. He had to pick up. He was my best friend.
My lower lip trembled, as I hoped I was still his best friend.
Finally, he picked up.
"Ashleigh. " His voice was totally ashen, like he'd rather die than talk to me.
"Esthe, where the hell are you!" I screamed into the phone. "Did you just up and forget about the girl who was with you since you were in diapers? What has gotten into you? You never showed up for your Mustang keys. You don't even talk to us anymore. You don't even talk to ME, anymore. What is with you? What did I do wrong, you asshole? Who am I supposed to confide in? Who am I supposed to talk to?"
"Ashleigh" he said again, like he was tired of me.
He never called me Ashleigh. What is wrong with him?
"Esthe, what is happening? Please talk to me." I said, withholding a sob. I can't take this any more.
"Ashy pooh, not now." He said. And a small hope ignited in my heart. Maybe he was just dealing with his own bullshit.
"But why, why aren't you telling me anything? I know it when you are hiding something from me, talk to me.!" My voice broke at the end. And a single tear slipped past my eyelids.
'Esthevan! Get your arse in here. I need you, right now!!' I heard a woman's voice say in the background.
"Ashleigh, I will call you back when I feel I should. Don't force me into things that I don't want to do. And stop being a clingy bitch for once, okay? I'm going now. Don't call me a million times."
"You, son of a gun." I said and hung up.
What crawled up his anus? The fúcker needed a hiding and he was about to get one at school today.
I angrily wiped the few tears away.
I wasn't going to waste them on an asshole.
I was about to go for a shower, I had tackled enough shit for so early in the morning; when my phone rang.
I raised an eyebrow at the caller ID, great! I think I should just let it ring, but I didn't have it in me so I answered the call. I suddenly knew how it felt to be ignored thanks to Esthe díck.
"Hello?" I said uncertainly.
"Oh thank god you picked up! Hi! How are you?" The voice cheered from over the line. My eyes widened at how excited they seemed.
"I'm... um. Fine. What about you?" I said. Seriously?
"I'm perfect now! I heard about you and Damian. How wonderful!" She said.
My fist clenched in my lap. "I don't want to talk about it right now." I said through gritted teeth.
Her audacity was startling me. Why was she so happy, if Damian and I weren't talking?
"Oh, well. Another time then! Let's go for shopping today! On Dean Road? Oh! It's been so long! We should go! Meet you at 6.00pm after school? Okay great!"
"See you." I muttered.
What is wrong with everyone?
She hung up after raving about how wonderful it'd be.
I ran a hand through my hair. My life is a teenage soap.
I sighed once again and went for that shower.
It was under the stream of water that the puzzle pieces slowly kicked into place.
I finally recognised the familiar voice on Esthevan's line.
Samantha.
It was Samantha. But...
*********
School. Glorious school.
Today was war.
This is Sparta.
I was gonna make everyone give up their secrets. Each and everyone. All the while, avoiding Damian.
I went through the first period, without finding anyone important.
I was making my way out of class when I saw Damian walking towards me. I hightailed it to the girls washroom and stayed in there till I was sure he'd left.
This charade continued till lunch. I'd escaped every time he came after me. And I'd slowly come to realise that no one had come to school.
Not Esthevan.
Not Jade.
Not Bianca.
Not even Samantha.
I'd just waved at Matt, my frenemy when a young ginger boy ran over to me and handed me a note. The handwriting was bold, with a sense of confidence.
*Gym. After school. Even if you don't want to see me.*
I stared at the note, all through lunch.
And decided it's better to confront him now, when I was feeling hyped.
So that brought me in front of the gym. After school hours. I don't even know why I agreed to this, when all I wanted to do was run back home and sleep for an eternity; before I mustered enough energy to shower with many, many aroma candles.
I pushed on the handle and stepped inside. My eyes fluttered close immediately.
And what hit my nostrils was pacifying scents of honeysuckle, orange blossom, lilac, lavender, sweet lime and other exotic smells that I couldn't name.
It smelt like heaven.
And sex.
Heaven and sex.
All rolled together. My eyes refused to open.
But they did anyway.
Hundreds of candles surrounded the gym walls.
They were different colours. Red. Green. Blue. White. Purple. Pink. Yellow. You name it.
I could guess any day who'd do this.
Damian.
My turd.
The ice around my heart thawed a bit.
A teeny tiny bit because of the warmth of the candles and all the scents.
Him worrying himself over following me was another thing.
This extravagance? Was something no other person had done for me.
It was thoughtful. And just what I needed.
My eyes focused at the middle of the room.
A huge banner hung, saying, 'I know I hurt you. I'm sorry.'
I felt tears prick my eyes. What is it with this guy?!
Why does he make me so vulnerable?
Why have I never felt this with anyone else?
I turned around and ran out the doors.
I'm going home.
Everything was overwhelming.
And the thing that worried me the most was that I was ready to forgive him just on his first attempt.
What happened to Ashleigh with a strong as fúck spine?
And as I got into my car I somehow felt that spine wasn't made of steel anymore. I am in trouble.
Damn it! I am such a mess right now.
Slow dread seeped into me, when I realised I had yet to go to Dean Rd. to meet a person I definitely had no patience to entertain.
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Sre: Ahem.
Vi: Hi!
Sre: Yeah. So. If you haven't noticed.
Vi: We're back again!
Sre: Hehe.
There are no excuses for such late updates. But we'd like to let you know, we were busy studying for our entrances. Now that that's out of the way.
The updates will start in a torrent.
Who's on the phone?
Why is Esthe being an ass?
What is it with Samantha?
Why is Damian so perfect?
Stay tuned for another chapter real soon.
Thanks for your support.
We heart you.
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Aka
Srevi