Unknown Beauty | ✔️

Chapter Seventeen: Visiting Calbee

[I believe inner beauty is beauty in its truest form. When we nurture ourselves, it brings an inevitable, positive transformation]
-Paula Abdul

Asher's POV

I wrapped Fallon in a hug as the masked person scurried away into the shadows, leaving Fallon in tears. Without saying anything, I kept her against my chest and stood up, briefly looking over the area before starting in the direction of home.

We arrived ten minutes later, Fallon's cheeks stained with liquid sorrow as she pulled away from me and rushed to her room wordlessly. I sighed, running a hand through my hair to calm myself. The person was undoubtedly a male, seeing as his figure was built like a man's, which only made me even madder at the memory of every inch of him being pressed up against Fallon.

It's been a long day, I thought to myself, retreating to my room and pausing outside Fallon's as I debated whether I should go in. Succumbing to curiosity, I turned into her room and was about to open my mouth to talk but stopped as I noticed she was just pulling on a new shirt after changing from her old clothes.

I blinked, the image of her naked back lingering in my mind. Biting my lip, I quickly snapped out of my perverted thoughts as she noticed my presence. She didn't even flinch as she realised how long I'd been standing there, instead just wandering over to her bed and allowing her small frame to be engulfed by the clean duvet.

Swallowing, I shook my head to myself and strode over to her bed, sitting down next to her and feeling out of place.

"Are you okay?"

Yes, I asked the most clichéd question ever. She didn't reply, as I expected, and only shuffled away from me, "Do you know who it was?" I spoke softly, playing with a strand of hair that was splayed out over her pillow.

No answer.

Feeling fatigue sweep over me like a merciless sandstorm, I rubbed my eyes and got more comfortable on Fallon's bed. She obviously didn't want to talk right now.

With one last wish hoping Calbee was going to be okay, I closed my eyes and allowed the welcoming darkness to take me in.

~~~

Fallon forced her eyes open, rubbing away the sleep and almost shrieking as she noticed a face very close to hers. The honey-brown eyes belonged to Asher, whose face was contorted into a peaceful expression as he slept.

Fallon found herself watching him for a while until she finally sat up and quietly got out of bed, smoothing her side of the duvet down before swiftly stepping into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

Asher opened his eyes instantly, knowing she had been watching him. His mind was plagued with thoughts of Calbee and the strange, masked man yesterday. And now on top of that, guilt was eating away at him.

If he had just walked next to Fallon instead of succumbing to his bad temper, that man wouldn't have approached her and scared her half to death. Neither of them needed anything more to worry about at this stage.

Asher's phone abruptly starting vibrating in his jean pocket as he had forgotten to change outfits yesterday. Wincing at the loud ZZZZZT ZZZZZT noise coming from it, he shot a wary glance to the bathroom where the shower was running, before tapping the answer button and briging the device to his ear.

"Asher! My patience is wearing thin!" sang the shrill voice of Aunt Sable, "I still haven't heard back from you about who you're bringing to my wedding!"

Gritting his teeth, Asher responded as rudely as he could manage, "I told you the other day, I'm not bringing anyone. Be grateful that I'm coming at all!" his snippy tone forced a shocked gasp from the other end.