Back Where I Belong

Chapter 6

Zoey's pov

I wake up and look around, slightly panicked. Where was I? I feel someone holding into me and turn around. Ashton.

I sigh. Yesterday's events come back to me. Cindy dying. The boys finding me. I guess I fell asleep and they brought me back to the bus.

"Ashy?" I whisper, poking my older brother in the shoulder.

"Go to bed," Ashton grumbles, turning his back to me.

"Please Ashton. I can't sleep," I plead. I hear him sigh, then turn back over to face me.

"What's up, Zoey?" Ashton questions, yawning.

"I'm scared," I whisper, biting my lip.

"What? Why are you scared?" He asks.

"I'm scared that someone is going to take me away from you guys again. I don't want to leave. I hate being away from you all," I admit.

"Zoey, we aren't going to let anyone take you agai-"

"That's what you said last time," I blurt out.

"What?" Ashton questions, sounding slightly confused.

"That's what you told me the last time. After Johnathan, Pete, and James kidnapped me and I escaped and came back home. I'm scared Ashton, people always find a way to get me away from you all," I explain.

"Zoey, it'll be okay," he reasons.

"Ashton, how do I know that I can trust you? I mean, you told me that before and I get taken again. How do I know that you're not lying to me?" I blurt out.

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I feel absolutely horrible.

Ashton is quiet.

"Ashton," I start, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I don't know where that came from."

"Zoey, you don't have to be sorry. You're absolutely right. I did tell you that we wouldn't let anything ever happen to you again. But something did happen. I let you down. You have every right not to trust me anymore. Hell, if I had been through half of the shit that you've been through, then I probably wouldn't trust me either. But I hope I can earn your trust back one day," Ashton tells me.

"Ashton, I trust you completely. I really don't know where that came from. You didn't let me down. I know that you couldn't have possibly known that time would take me and hold me hostage. You couldn't have anticipated half of the bull shit that happened to me. But you're always there for me afterwards. That's what counts. You're always there to pick up the pieces after the damage is done. Thank you and I love you," I say, wrapping my arms around his torso.

"I love you too, Zoey," Ashton says, squeezing me back tightly, "now let's go back to bed. It's early." I nod and close my eyes again, waiting for sleep to come.