If You Dare

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

When I met Josh at the flag pole he was staring at his watch and clicking his tongue impatiently. He was looking in the wrong direction thinking I’d come from the office but I didn’t. I’d been stupid and took a useless ‘detour’ to the courtyard.

I sniffled which was the only sound I made to indicate that I was standing behind him. He spun around quickly and grabbed my hand.

“About time, we’re going to be late!” He cried pulling me in the direction of the car park.

I sighed feeling all of my energy escape me. “I’m not that late am I?”

“It’s ten past two!” He shook his head and groaned opening the car door for me and practically pushing me in. “I want to be there before she arrives.”

I gave him a small smile. “You’re so deep in it, aren’t you?”

He nudged my side. “Well so are you girly, don’t even try to deny it.”

I still wore the same small, sad smile and shrugged.

He turned to stare at me with his mouth wide opened. “I heard rumours but I couldn’t have possibly believed them, are they true Zarah?”

I shrugged again and closed my eyes. “Depends what they were saying.”

I listened as Josh took a deep breath. “Apparently someone caught Ashton in the music rooms with another girl.” He sighed deeply. “I heard there was a photo but I didn’t see it.”

I didn’t open my eyes or even flinch. I felt numb. Nothing affected me anymore. “Then it’s true.”

Josh gasped and then suddenly my hand was warm inside his. He squeezed it protectively. “I know Ashton; he’s never been in love before. Never like this, he’d never do that to you Zarah.”

I shrugged. I knew he was only being nice. “Maybe what we had wasn’t love, well not for him anyway.”

Josh squeezed my hand again. “I think you should talk to him and find out the truth.”

I shook my head. “I spoke to him, it was Cleo. Cleo was the one in there with him. Even after I’d poured my heart out about how upset I was over our fight and how he’d assured me that we’d work it out. He’d been so nice and so comforting. Like the most perfect boyfriend ever. Well, so I’d thought.”

“You don’t know what happened Zarah, maybe she came onto him.” Josh spoke softly and hopefully.

I sighed. “That’s what he tried to pass it off as.”

“And you don’t believe him?” He questioned curiously pausing at a red light.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. He looked concerned and worried but still hopeful. “I honestly don’t know, I didn’t think Cleo would go that low but then again I never thought Ash would cheat on me.”

He shook his almost as if he felt sorry for me. “You must be devastated.”

I shrugged. “At first I felt terrible, then I started faking it and now I just feel numb.”

The car started moving again. “I really hope the two of you work things out. For your sake more than his, you’re having such a bad week with Jesse and Cleo and now this.”

I sighed and then felt a tiny tear escape my eyes. “I know,” I sobbed. “Ash was the only thing holding me together, the only thing that made me smile.” I sighed and tried to regain control. “He really listened and helped me with my problems and he had a way of making me feel special. Even when I was having the worst day he could make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world just by holding my hand.”