The Perfect Gift

Chapter Nineteen

Sarah

Ashton looks like his having an internal battle: whether or not to tell me; whether or not what he says next will alter the way I look at him; whether or not I'll run for the hills after his revelation.

So I do the one thing I never thought I could, I place a light kiss on his cheeks. His reaction is of complete shock.

"You might not believe this but... I like you, Ash," I let out a shaky breath, "That said, you can tell me anything. I won't judge you by your past."

He sighs deeply and finally starts speaking.

"After my parents died, I and Adrian moved from foster home to foster home. That was okay for a while, until he got adopted. So I left with Jason and Chase. I was so angry. Angry about everything, how unfair life is. I was frustrated and tired of it all so I got involved in this illegal fight club, fighting for money,"

"I got beat up pretty bad but I won most of matches. They made me forget about how screwed up my life was. I was able to go to a high school close by with Jason and Chase. Anyway, the other kids didn't understand what we'd been through."

He pauses and looks at me with pained eyes. I gently nudge him, prodding him to continue. 

"When Adrian found out about the fight club, he made me promise not to go there and see a therapist every week. But I needed to fight. I had to. I just needed to let out my rage somehow. Theo, my therapist, suggested running so I do that most of the time,"

"One day at school, a bully was picking on Ashley and I beat him pretty bad..." He stops talking and I can't help it when I blurt out, "How bad?"

For the first time since he began talking, he looks away from me and out the window. "He was in the hospital for a month," he says quietly.

I cover my mouth with both hands to prevent a gasp from escaping. "That's w-why you're in Forks?"

"Yes," he answers with his eyes still looking outside.

"And the scars on your body. That's from the fight club?"

"Yes."

"Oh," I say at loss of anything better to say.

He rakes his hair with his fingers in frustration. "Look, I had- have some anger issues. But that doesn't--"

"I don't care, Ashton," I cut him off. "That happened months ago and despite what you might think, you're a better person now. I know that and you should too. God really loves you and He hasn't abandoned you. He never will."

He stares at me for a while before saying, "What about you?"

"Me?" I ask confused.

"You don't talk about your dad. Why?"

"Ems told you," I say gritting my teeth.

"She just told me to avoid asking about your dad and I'm curious. Why don't you talk about him, Sarah?" 

"Because I don't want to, Ashton. 'Kay?" Please, please just drop this.

"Okay. Will you be at the bonfire next week Friday?"

I hadn't even thought about the bonfire. I don't usually attend social events e.g prom, football matches and of course, the yearly bonfire and pep rally night. "Um... I don't know yet."

"Well, I'm sure you'll change your mind soon," and there comes that usual smirk of his.

We continue our drive to the café where he drops me off. I put on my apron and begin to work. I get a call from Ems telling me she'll stop by soon and I wait patiently for her.

Ems appears in thecafé soon after the call. I decide to take a little break to chat with her.

After saying our greetings, I ask the question that's been bothering me all day, "Where were you, Ems? I looked everywhere for you!"

Apparently, her dad had been released today and she spent the day with her family. This news shocks me as I listen with rapt attention.

I, on the other hand, tell her about my encounter with Mac and Ashton taking me to the trade fair. 

"She did WHAT?!" Her yell attracts the looks of other customers around us.

"She told me to stay away from Ashton. She said he's hers," I answer calmly.

"And then? What did Ashton say?" she asks impatiently.

"Don't you dare touch her, Mac," I try imitating Ash.

Her reaction is somewhat expected, she always freaks out at the littlest things. "Why does everything happen when I'm not around," she wails miserably.

"So..." she raises her eyebrows suggestively, "do you like him?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Good."

We spend some more minutes talking before I go back to work while she goes home. By 9 pm, I decide to clean up and lock thecafé. While I'm taking out the garbage, I hear my phone ring.

Rummaging through my bag, I pull it out and answer.

"Ashton?"

"Yeah. I-I was...um wondering if you would tutor me. I'm behind in a lot of assignments and the coach says I can't go to New York if my workload isn't cleared," I hear an exasperated exhale from the other end, "I would've asked Dex or Mason, but they're pretty much in the same situation..."

I can't help but smile, his anxiety is kind of cute.

"Sarah? Sarah? Are you there?"

I must have zoned out again.

"Sure. I'll tutor you," I say quickly.

"Really? Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Bye, Ash."

I hang up and head home, looking forward to seeing him again tomorrow.

A/N:

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to vote and/or comment cos that's the only way I know you're reading!!!