Lakeside

[5] The Pretty Girl

"Why the fuck is she crying?" Hayden asks Ash, and I can feel his heart beating fast. He's scared out of his mind of what my brother will do to him. Everything looks so bad.

"Hayden, stop, it wasn't his fault." I defend Ash, stepping out of his embrace and getting between him and the car.

"Bri, get in the car. Let me deal with him."

"No, stop. I told you to stop being like this, can you just respect my wishes?"

"Not if he's making you cry, then I have all rights to do whatever I want."

"But he's not making me cry! It was something else! Leave him alone," I growl at my brother, as he's getting out of the truck and I have to push him away from Ash.

"Brielle, it's okay." Ash tries to talk me out of it, but it's my problem.

"No, it's not! This isn't about you, Ash, it's about me. I would like my brother to get over the fact that I'm not a little girl anymore and I don't need protection. Stop belittling me, and let me fight my own battles for once!" I scream in Hayden's face as he tips his head down to scowl at me.

"I wouldn't have to do this if Ashton Fields weren't the one you were deciding to spend your time with and defend. He's dangerous and I don't want you getting involved with him."

"Stop it! You don't know him, and I don't either but I know enough that this isn't the case. He's my friend and that is it. And you know what? If I do get hurt, then you're right. I'll give you that satisfaction. Is that enough for you? Will you calm down now?"

Hayden looks at me, hesitating on his answer. But, he never gives me one, he just walks over to the bikes and puts them in the trunk of the pick up.

"Get in," he tells us, and I reluctantly take slow steps towards the passenger door.

I had the thought that Ash would sit with me and we'd double buckle, but as he's about to get in my brother yells "You get to sit in the truck" and I look at Ash with concern, watching him get in the trunk of the pick up truck sitting with the bikes.

Through the window, I can see his head leaning against the plexiglass windows. His brown hair flattens on the surface, and I can slightly see a bit of his face. I have this urge to put my hand on the window, but I stop myself.

Hayden gets in, turning on the engine and finding somewhere to safely make a u turn. His knuckles turn white as he clenches onto the wheel, and it pisses me off even more than I already was.

"Stop." I tell him flatly.

"Stop what?"

"Stop being angry. You don't get to be angry. I didn't want to talk about it in front of Ash but you know very well how I feel about Brenna, but when I see you two together I don't get my panties in a bunch. And Ash, he's not even my boyfriend. I don't even like him, I've just gotta have some company for the summer while you're busy making out with Brenna. So you don't get to be upset and take Ash out with your fist, you get to be calm and collected and not say anything. Think what you will, but you need to stop being so violent."

"I know you're old now, and I wouldn't be acting this way if you had chosen any other guy. I respect you and all that but Ashton is a mess, and he hurts girls for fun. I'm not going to let one of those girls be you."

"God, it's not going to happen! Do you think I'm dumb? The only thing I'm truly afraid of is getting hurt by a guy, so why would I go mingling with a guy who does it to girls non stop? I see right through him, and I can assure you that nothing is going to happen. Can you chill, now?"