The Perfect Gift

Chapter Sixteen

Sarah

"Sarah! I'm home."

Finally. She's usually home earlier. I make my way to the living room. I stop dead on my track when I see someone in a bloody shirt standing by our front door, his eyes fixed on mine.

"Ashton, what are you doing here? What's going on, mom?"

"I'll explain everything later, we need to get some ice on his face and clean up his wound," she says hurrying to get the first-aid kit.

I and Ashton don't move. We just stand, looking at each other in silence. The space separating us is covered with the sofa. When mum reappears, she looks between us confused. "You guys know each other?"

"Um, yeah. Mum, that's Ashton," I reply uneasily.

"The Ashton?" she says, her mouth forming a big 'o'. My face flushes red with embarrassment. I see Ashton smiling, he must be enjoying this.

"So you talk about me, don't you?" he says to me with his ridiculous signature smirk. Right now, I wish the ground would swallow me up. To my mum, he says, "It's a pleasure meeting you, Mrs Hope."

"Likewise. Sarah, help him out with his wound, please. I'll go get one of your dad's old shirts for Ashton." Once again, she's out the living room before I can say anything.

I shuffle my feet uncomfortably. I know he's looking at me and making this more awkward. 

"So... you live here?" he asks helping himself to a seat. "Yeah." and with courage I didn't know I possessed, I towards him and take a seat beside him. I open the first-aid box and remove methylated spirit and a handful of cotton wool.

Gingerly, I pull up his shirt a little and instantly gasp when I see the gash on his skin. I look at him, unsure of what to say and I see something in his eyes, his very readable eyes. Worry is written all over it. Why is he worried?

"It's just a little cut, Sarah. Trust me, I've had worse," he says, his eyes softening.

"Why didn't you go to a hospital? It could get infected."

"It's not. Besides if I go to a hospital, my brother will be contacted. I don't want that." He answered with such finality so I didn't ask him anymore questions.

I deftly clean his cut and bandage it. With all the blood gone, it didn't look so bad. I hand him my dad's shirt and he takes off his dirty one right in front of me!

At first, I'm annoyed. Why would he take off his shirt in front of me? Without thinking, I look at chest, his very toned abs. I would have swooned right there and then but something else catches my attention. His body is filled with so many scars and injuries.

When he sees me looking, he quickly puts the shirt on. He smirks at me and says, "Enjoying the view?"

"Shut up. Can I ask you a question?"

"Only if you answer mine first."

"Okay. Ask."

"A little birdy told me you were looking for me in school. Why?" he asks, leaning forward.

"Is this 'little birdy' Quinn?" I should have known she'll say something to him.

"Yeah, I was having my therapy session with Miss B so I missed History class. Why did you want to see me, Sarah?"

I sigh. It's now or never. I've put it off long enough. "Do you want to go out with me?" I ask as calmly as I can even though my heart is hammering in my chest. 

"Like on a date? An actual date?" is his brilliant reply. He looks incredulous, almost shocked.  

"Yes, an actual date."