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Chapter 22 :}

I pull back from instantly, somewhat horrified.

"What did you say?" She looks worried.

"Ashton...that guy thats been messaging you?" I felt a lot of conflicting emotions about how to respond to her without telling her eveything I didn't want to talk about. What sort of question was that? I can feel her watching me.

"Rome I'm sorry, I don't know what happened, I've just heard horror stories about that sort of stuff, you know?" 

"It was an old fat guy." I mumble at my feet. She's silent, I know she's got other things to say. All I can think about is throwing the stupid football statue at the wall. It was peering at me over the bag. She takes a breath and I look up at her, expecting another comment. But then she quickly presses play on the film. I pause it. I feel a weird urge to defend why it couldn't be Ashton. I hadn't heard from him in days. 

"I don't want to go into all the details about it. It's been reported. The police are looking for him. He followed me from a bus stop and into an alley..." I choke on my words and dig my nails into my palm, trying to urge a coherent sentence out. 

"It..it wasn't. It didn't go as far as it might have. Damien managed to get to me before it could and he beat him to the floor." I start to sob as I feel the tightness around my throat that I felt there. I was stuck. He took away all of my strength. I feel Bell's hand on my leg and she squeezes my knee and tells me I don't need to tell her more. 

"It's probably just my brain going into CSI mode. I had a nose on his profile a while back and it looked a bit too 'fixed'. Just bare in mind you don't actually know this Ashton guy, and you don't know what he knows about you. It has happened before." I don't know what to say to that, it sounds rediciulous to jump to that conclusion. I'd made jokes about him being a creep online but, I'd heard his voice, he didn't live here. She was in CSI mode. 

We watch the rest of the movie, but I hardly pay attention until the credits appear. It felt like there was a weird wedge was between us. I had nothing else to say, and I was so used to her doing most of the talking the silence was weird and unnatural. She convinced me to open the other souvenirs, it was a small bottle of un-named booze and a quirky pair of upcycled earings made from Sprite lid caps. They were cute. We watch another movie, Grown Ups this time, and polish off the wine. It didn't feel the same woozy as last time, I felt heavy and hollow. 

I text Damien to try and brighten my mood, he'd replied a couple hours ago.

it'll be okay

I told her all 3  He replies straight away

everything good?

she was calm about Low and about you. 

good...and the third?xx

kept it minimal, but i feel awkward with her rn, what do i do?

awkward how? did she not hug it out or something?

yea, she came up with a crazy theory tho 

theory?

Did not think at all before sending that. I can't casually drop the Ashton fiasco into a text. I dont reply for a few minutes trying to settle on a normal theory from this. I figure a way to be honest without bringing him into it, but sending it makes me feel even uneasier than hearing Bells suggest it. 

that it could have been planned

theres some sick fucks out there, why he did it isn't as important as you being ok. you dont need to think about theories. he just needs to be put away. x