Something Beautiful

↠t w e n t y ↠

Song of the chapter:
Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi

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A couple weeks later, Ashton finally called.

"I'm coming back in a week!" Ashton said happily. "My mum is doing miraculously better!"

"That's good." I said. My heart glowed with happiness. A part of me really wanted to ask him about the band thing, but I knew I had to wait until he came back to Vancouver.

"So make sure to stay alive until then because I can't wait to have my arms around you again." He joked.

"I'll try my best." I glanced at the clock on my desk in my room. It was one o'clock. I had to go to a department store to get a few more essentials for my room, and some supplies for when school started in a few weeks. "Ashton, I'm so sorry but I have to go. I need to go to Staples. It closes at six and I'm a slow shopper."

"It's okay. At least I got to talk to you." He said it in a happy voice but I knew it was to cover up the disappointment he actually felt.

"I'm so sorry. I hate to do this. I've been looking forward to talking to you for so long and now I have to--"

"Hazel." He interrupted me. "It's fine. Really." He chuckled.

"Okay." I laughed nervously.

"Besides, it's only six am here and I'm still really tired. Call me tonight."

"Which tonight? Your tonight, or my tonight?" I asked, laughing.

He laughed along. "Your tonight."

"Okay. So I guess I'll call you at two pm in the afternoon for you?" I asked. Sidney was seventeen hours ahead of Vancouver.

"Okay. If I don't anwer, I'm busy and I'll call you back as soon as I'm free."

"Alright. I really have to go now. Bye Ashton."

"Goodbye Hazel." Ashton whispered sadly.

I hung up the phone and jumped up off my bed. I was already dressed in my grey and black Adidas sweatshirt and my black skinny jeans which had a rip in both of the knees. I threw on my black converse sneakers, grabbed my brown fake leather purse, iPhone and earbuds, and left my room. I closed the door behind me and ran upstairs.

Lizzie was washing dishes when I walked past her.

"Where are you off to?" She asked.

"I'm going to Staples."

"Do you need a ride?"

"No, maybe on the way back though. Thank you."

My car was broken down, and Jim was still trying to fix it, with no luck.

I went out the door and walked towards the sidewalk. Once I got on the sidewalk, I put my earbuds in and started jamming out to some music.

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"Finally, I get you alone." He murmured in my ear.

I didn't know who he was because I had rough cloth wrapped around my head tightly, covering my eyes.

I tried punching and kicking him but somehow he managed to keep my arms and legs firmly against the wall.

So I screamed. When I did, I felt a punch in my stomach, making me yelp in pain.

"Shut up!" He growled. "Scream one more time and I'm going to hurt you again."

"Who are you?" I whispered, still in pain. I felt like I was going to throw up.

He chuckled. "Wouldn't you like to know."

I said nothing.

"You know me, Hazel. You know me quite well." He said and laughed. He sounded so scary--and so familiar. I just couldn't figure out the face.

"Miss Ashley?" He asked.

My breath caught in my throat. Jason McCann.

"What do you want, Jason?" I asked angrily. Why did he have to show up in my life right when I was starting to feel better about myself?

"I want you."

"What?" What did he even mean by wanting me? Wanting to hurt me? Kill me? My heart started to beat quickly when I thought that he might want to murder me.

"Look, Jason--"

"Run away with me, Hazel." He whispered.

"Wait, what? Run away with you? I thought--"

"Thought what?"

I thought better than to say what I figured he was going to do. It might give him ideas. Bad ideas. I didn't want him to turn even more into a monster than he already was.

"Never mind." I said. "Jason? I--I think that would be a good idea."

He said nothing.

"About running away. I need to get away from here. Clear my head." I said.

"Really?" He asked, happily.

"Yes. I have missed you so much."

Suddenly I felt lips on mine. Cold, chapped lips. Nothing like Ashton's soft ones.

Still, I kissed him back as much as I didn't want to.

Then he pulled the blindfold off of me. I forced a smile. "Are you ready to go now, then?" He asked.

I nodded.

He let go of me and as soon as he did, I ran.

Ran as fast and as far as I could away from him.

"Hey! Get over here!" He screamed after me.

I just kept running.

I ran all the way to Staples and when I got there, I went into a public bathroom. I was breathing hard and tears were streaming down my face. An elder lady was standing at the sinks, washing her hands. When she saw me, she asked "Are you alright."

I nodded quickly, breathing just as hard. I went into a bathroom stall, closing the stall door and sat on the back of the toilet, propping my feet on the toilet seat.

When I heard the bathroom door swing open and closed, I broke down.

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