Take Me to the Moon

Chapter 22: Ashes' POV

I woke up the next morning alone. It seemed like just a dream that she had returned home, and the fact I was laying in this bed without her seemed to prove that I lost her. My world was crashing around me again as I looked around. Her craft stuff was gone, even the stones she had begun using and the cards. Oh no, not the cards, she'd flip if she ever found out. No clothes. What the hell? I thought to myself. This isn't like her. Or anyone for that matter.

Without a single thought, I went running out to the kitchen to find everyone else eating and talking like nothing was wrong. Well, except for the demon sisters, they looked just as worried as I felt. "Where is she?"

"Pennsylvania." Kayla said in a whisper as she leaned against Davey.

"Why? She's still not herself and if she doesn't have anywhere to go, she can't sleep in her car or on the streets!" I said frantically. Why did she even run off? I thought I had given her enough space and I had only gone to lay down with her because she wouldn't let me go.

"Ashes, calm down, she needs to see her family for a bit and she's safe They're going to give her a room to stay." Dray said calmly.

"How did she even get there?"

"Me."

"And you didn't wake me why?"

"Because she knew you, Becca, and Kayla would all try to stop her. And don't try saying you wouldn't." Okay, I really couldn't lie about that but it was killing me to know she just up and left like that. Not to mention, I was pretty sure I had done something wrong to make her hate me.

"Stop that." Davey scolded.

"Stop what?" I asked cluelessly.

"Blaming yourself. She left without telling anybody but Drayven because she knew he would just let her go. The rest of us would wake you immediately." 

"So he doesn't? C'mon, man, you'd really do this to me?" I screamed at Drayven. How could he just take my girl away from me like that? What if she didn't return?

"I had to. She needs a break from California and that was the best way." Dray said flatly.

"You could have woken me up!"

"Why? You would have followed her to the airport and then I'd have to explain to Mama Anderson why her son had a break down!"

"Fuck you!"

"No, you just calm the hell down. You know I did this for her and the best way to keep you sane!"

I stormed off into Amanda's room and started to tear dressers apart. I had to find something of hers, she wouldn't answer her phone and after twenty times I had just given up. I knew I had to go on tour soon and I couldn't take the idea of not having her with us.

Almost a month later, we were packing everything up into the trailer and I still hadn't heard a thing from Amanda that I had just assumed she was done with me. At the very least, I was damn good at faking a smile or just pushing through things. Especially when it would come to our PA show and if she didn't show.

"Everything ready?" Davey asked.

"Yep. Your girls coming too?" I asked.

"They'll be meeting us at the PA show, they went to try to talk Amanda into coming back. Apparently she's been miserable there."

"Oh...well, we'll see what she decides." I said without hope and with a shake of the head, Davey climbed into the drivers side and Needlz into the passenger. At least the first show was only about two hours from here and then we'd decide who the next driver would be when Davey got too tired.

Everyone was playing around on their phones as I stared out the window. First show would be the easiest, I had no expectations for there at least. When people came up to me asking how Amanda was, I managed to fib my way through, only saying what Needlz and Davey would tell me and soon enough we were in State College at the Bryce Jordan Center.

"Hey.." The voice said softly, almost as if the person felt guilty about something.

"Hey." I said quickly.

"Look, I'm sorry, but I had to find out why they didn't come and I got my diploma and Nursing license sent here. But, I..." She paused for a moment when I turned around. She looked the same as when she left, and she could definitely take my breath away still. "I finally got to talk to them. I'm sorry I left the way I did, but I knew you wouldn't let me go."

"Of course I would have." I whispered. "Mandabear, I may have asked for you to take some time before just up and leaving like that."

"I know, I should have waited, but I couldn't. Things are actually better now." She admitted without looking me directly into my eyes.

"You're not coming back are you?"