Poison Kiss

Chapter 13:

Poison Kiss

Chapter 13:

Vincent's POV:

Ashlynn stared at me from the opposite corner of the couch, one eyebrow raised in question. This was not how I wanted her to find out. I ran my fingers through my hair nervously. She wouldn't want to spend time with me anymore and it be my fault entirely. I had gotten myself into this mess, and I couldn't see one good way out of it.

"Umm..." I mumbled, trying to think of something to say. "That was Raven....my daughter."

Ashlynn's face immediately shifted from questioning to shocked. "W-what?" she choked out. "Since when did you have a child? Aren't you like nineteen years old?"

I nodded meekly. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you earlier. I was afraid that she would scare you away." I glanced down at the floor, too nervous to meet her eyes.

I felt the couch dip slightly next to me, and a hand press into my shoulder. "Vincent." Ashlynn sighed. "It wouldn't have been my place to judge. I know that it's none of my business, but I just wish that you would have trusted me enough to tell me. That's what friends do, they trust each other."

I straightened and met her gaze. "Wait, we're friend's?"

She laughed softly. "Yeah," she stuck out her hand for me to shake. "Friends."

I grasped her hand gently, before leaning back into the couch, feeling as though a huge weight had been lifted since I no longer had to hide Raven. "So are you mad?" I asked, watching her face for any hidden emotions.

She looked down at her her hands and laced her fingers together. "No, it's none of my business." she replied after a brief pause. "I just wish that you didn't feel like you have to hide her. Raven is beautiful, and any true human could see that." I opened my mouth to thank her, but she continued. "I also wish that you had told me that you had a girlfriend. I never would have done some of the things that I did if I knew."

I stared down at the floor intensely, willing myself not to tear. "I don't have a girlfriend. Keagan left me when she was three months pregnant, she planned to give Raven up for adoption. One night we got into a really bad argument about what was to happen to our unborn child and she left me, threatening to leave and never come back." "Vincent, i had no idea. I'm so sorry." Ashlynn reached out to comfort me, but I shook my head and continued. "Exactly ten months after Keagan and I broke up, she left a four month old baby girl on my mother's doorstep, thinking that I still lived with her. She thought that I was ready for parenthood, but the truth is that you can never be ready for something like this."

Ashlynn gazed up at me. "I'm so sorry!" she squeaked, her eyes brimming with tears. "I didn't mean to pry."

I patted her shoulder gently. "It's okay Ash. You deserved to know."

She blinked a few times, clearing her eyes of any tears. "So...do you have any cookies?" she asked quietly. "This really seems like a cookie moment.

I grinned, happy that things had returned to normal...ish. "Sure." I gestured toward the kitchen. "You know the drill."

Four hours and two containers of cookies later, Ashlynn and I lay sprawled next to eachother on the couch. It had been a pretty fun time, considering the fact that Raven had only cried three times. Ashlynn giggled and moved around on the couch, half sliding and half bouncing. I made a mental note never to feed her that much sugar again. Ashlynn on sugar was like a squirrel on coffee and crack. Sometimes I wondered why I didn't have any male friends that could handle their...sugar.

I sighed and tugged absentmindedly at a strand of hair that wouldn't stay in place. "Here let me help you with that!" Ashlynn yelled gleefully. "No need to fear, Hairwoman is here!!!" She proceeded to lick her hand and use her saliva to rub my hair into place.

I jumped back, throwing my hands up in disgust. "Eww!" Ashlynn giggled at my expression. "Did you really have to do that." Ashlynn nodded. "I would never let someone in obvious distress suffer any longer."

Suddenly, her phone vibrated and she jumped in surprise. She quickly took it out and checked her messages. After a moment of silence, a look of horror washed over her face. "Can you take me home?" she asked, suddenly very serious.

"Sure," I replied, getting up off the couch and scooping Raven out of her bassinet, before heading out to the car. "What's the rush?"

Ashlynn sighed. "I forgot that I had plans with Nico after school today. He's waiting at my house."

I paused, feeling something stir within me. It felt like either jealousy or indigestion, one of which actually seemed like a valid reason, due to excessive cookie munching.

I shook the feeling off as best I could, before continuing out to the car, and opening the back door. It was hard to get into the habit of putting Raven in her carseat, but I was slowly adjusting. After making sure that Raven was secure, I hopped into the driver's seat and turned on the ignition. Ashlynn quickly slid in next to me, slamming the door and looking at me as if she were telling me to hurry up. I quickly backed out of the driveway and on to the main road. I knew that the drive to Ashlynn's house wouldn't be too long, and I felt my heart sink a little.

What was it about her that made her so much damn fun to be around? I sighed as I watched the landmarks pass, knowing that with each one, I was getting closer to letting her go.

Before I knew it, I was parked in front of her house. "Well I guess that this is it." I said slowly, feeling my shoulders begin to droop. "Bye."

Ashlynn gazed at me for a moment and I looked away, pretending that I was alright. After a moment, I felt something soft brush my cheek and then heard the sound of my car door slamming. I quickly turned to see Ashlynn dashing up the driveway and into her house. Had she just kissed me on the cheek? I raised my hand to my face in wonder, and sat there like an idiot until Raven began to make fussy noises. Could life get any more confusing?

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Why hello there you precious people who have decided to read this awkward tale of a typical teenage romance. You are beautiful, and I thank you greatly for being such diligent readers. I truly hope that you enjoyed, and if you didn't, constructive criticism is always appreciated as well as ordinary comments, not that you have to comment.

I love you!

Asylum

P.s. Do they serve skittles in asylums. I would really like to know.