Puzzle Pieces

Ursula.

I wake up with a massive headache and a sore throat. Then I realise one important detail. Andre was supposed to be staying with me for a few days. After he said goodbye last night he didn't come back home.

I check my phone and relax a bit when I see a message from Andre.

Andre: Morning Beautiful. Don't worry I'm fine, I'll be at school. See you then.<3

Me: Okay. Be safe lovely. Xoxo

I get ready by showering, brushing my hair, and changing. I throw on a crop top that shows my belly button piercing (I may or may not have done that to get back at my parents for being annoying) and black shorts. I grab my phone and back pack before running out the door.

After the long (15 minute) drive, I finally arrive at school. I walk through the main doors to see an image that makes me want to puke. There's Andre... Making out with Stephanie Gene, the schools mean girl. I stand there for about three minutes before I loose it. I run to the bathroom and throw up in the toilet.

I hear a knocking on the door of the girls bathroom. "Ashley! I'm so sorry!" Andre repeats over and over again. 'Im sorry' doesn't make it just go away. I look in the mirror and see my mascara running down my face along with my tears. I push through Andre to leave the girls bathroom as he grabs my wrist. I look back at him and resist the urge to punch him. "Ashy. Please." he says softly. I shake my head "Don't call me that." I hiss. I pull my arm away from him and run down the hall to find Lilly.

As I run I can feel the eyes of the whole school on me. I couldn't care less. At least now they know the real Andre.

When I finally find Lilly she hugs me. "I heard what happened. I'm so sorry." she says softly as I sob into her arms. She walks me to my first period class where I'll sadly be forced to face Andre.

This wasn't how I planned my day. Is that why Andre didn't come home last night? Isn't Stephanie a cheerleader? Why did he have to cheat on me? Is this all a game to him? Do I mean nothing to Andre? All these questions start to drown my sanity by the time I arrive to Science.

I'm ten minutes early but I'm not the first one there. I take a seat at my desk and attempt to remove the mascara that is currently all over my face. Eric walks in next and stops to stand by my desk. "Wow... Um... Ashley, are you okay?" he says with a worried expression on his face. I shake my head sobbing into my hands. He side hugs me and awkwardly pats my head. "Whatever's wrong I'm sure it'll be okay. Oh! There's Andre, he'll know what to do!" he says waving Andre over. Eric goes over and takes his usual seat behind me as Andre walks over to me.

"Ashley. That meant nothing to me. I don't have any feelings for Stephanie." he says trying to get me to look at him. I feel a burning in my chest where my heart used to be. He finally gets what he wants and I look up at him still sobbing.

"Just. Like. Me." I choke out between sobs. Jason comes in at this moment and sees my face. "Andre, leave her." he says obviously on his side in this situation. Andre looks at me for a minute but shakes his head. "I won't leave her." Andre says trying to reach for my hand. All I want to do is be held in his arms. I WANT to forgive him. But I just cant do it, he took advantage of me. I pull my hand away from him. Andre looks into my eyes. His green eyes full of worry.

"You don't have to forgive me, Ashley. Just please, talk to me." he begs. I open my mouth to say something but I end up crying my eyes out instead. He cautiously steps to my side and puts his arms around me. I burry my head into his chest. "Take me home." I say softly, I want to know why. I want to know why I wasn't enough. "Anything. Anything you want." he says to me. I grab my back pack and rush out the door with Andre on my heels.