The Ultimate Purdy Girl

Chapter 22 ~ The Burning Questions

Chapter 22 ~ The Burning Questions

Ashley

I hugged Aaliyah to my side, looking down at her beauty as her eyes fluttered from drowsiness. She had been running around for Andy all day, and went on a long walk for some reason without telling me. I was beginning to think I had done something wrong, and I was making her upset somehow. I would find out soon enough.

Soon she fell asleep on my chest with my arms around her; I played with her hair as I got lost in my own burning cauldron of thoughts.

Juliet would be back soon, taking her charge caring for Andy. Andy was a strong man and I knew he wouldn’t cancel a show unless he couldn’t get off the floor, he was as stubborn as a mule.

I thought about how I really hadn’t asked Aaliyah out yet, I had to do it properly and romantically. I was determined to take this relationship slow and seriously if we made it through all the trouble about.

It was easy to see that something was going on between Andy and Ali, it bothered me but I knew to stay away until one of them was brave enough to approach me about what was going on.

As I thought about this Aaliyah began talking in her sleep, with her blonde Shih-Tzu Maggie curled up on her stomach.

 “Ashley….” She moaned.

I leaned closer to her ear and whispered through her knotted maple colored hair. “Yes, my bandita?”

“I love you…” She sobbed, obviously still dreaming, but tears were slowly trailing down her cheeks.

I raised an eyebrow and shook her. “Ali, Alli, Aaliyah, wake up!”

Her eyebrows furrowed and she whimpered once more before jerking awake, sitting ramrod straight, looking wide eyed at the wall of the bunk, then over to me, her eyes filled with tears. The dog was launched off her stomach and growled grumpily at being woken up but crawled onto my lap and curled up in a little ball as Ali began to shudder with sobs.

I sat up and put an arm around her. “Aaliyah, what’s wrong?” I ask worriedly.

She puts her head in my bare chest and sobs, I hug her tightly. “Shhh, it was just a dream, everything’s okay, I’m here.” I cooed to her, trying to calm her down.

When her sobbing calmed I looked down at her puffy eyes, she sniffled but calmed down in shuddering breaths.

“Do you want to tell me about your dream?” I ask softly, “It’ll get it off your mind.”

She looked up at me with longing and thought a moment until she nodded. “A-and I need to t-tell you something.” She had the hiccups.

I smiled softly at the hiccups but nodded. “I’ll listen to anything you wish to tell me.”

She sniffled once more before completely cuddling with me. “You remember the truth or dare game… and how I just rushed out of there…”

I nod, encouraging her to go on. “I-I felt something in Andy’s kiss…”

I sighed and looked up at the celling, the truth hurting more than I expected.

“A-Ash, it meant nothing though! He-he was just the first guy in Black Veil that I liked, until I saw you! I love you!” Her voice trembled with cries being held back and her hiccups didn’t help.

I look down at her. “I’m not mad, you guys aren’t very sly.” I sigh squeezing her, Maggie the shih-tzu standing and crawling up to Aaliyah, licking her tears, making her smile faintly.

“See, neither is Maggie.” I said rubbing Ali’s shoulder.

She chuckled a little bit and hugged her dog as I hugged her.

“I know you love me Aaliyah, and I sure as hell love you. But would you rather be with Andy than me?” I ask the horrid, burning question.

She looked up at me and more tears trickled down her cheeks again. “I want to be with my Outlaw, not him.” She said, and kissed me.

I kissed her back with a burning passion, if felt like a spark between she and I, a pure love as our lips connected and it lasted, until Maggie got jealous and put her paws on our cheeks, making us push away.

“Maggie! Ya little brat!” Aaliyah laughed petting her mop of a dog.

I smile and hug her. “Was that better than Andy’s kiss?”

She looked up at me, blushing; “Yes, it was the best kiss I’ve had.”

“Good.” I smirk and peck her cheek. “Babe… has Juliet Simms been, a bit mean to you?”

She nodded, laying her head on my bare chest again, tracing my OUTLAW tattoo.

“Do you want me to talk with her?” I ask.

She shrugged. “I don’t care if Juliet likes me or not I grew up with getting beaten by school bullies.”

I nod and curiosity got the best of me, I pull down the gloves she’s been non-stop wearing, revealing many scars and scabs, my heart stops as Aaliyah gasps.

She looks up at me and my eyes fill with tears once more. “Ashley you weren’t supposed to-“

I cut her off by gripping her wrist and raise her forearm to my lips, kissing her scars and after I finished, held her hand; she was silently crying then, watching me.

“I kissed the scars on her skin, I still love her.” I quote from a drawing I’ve seen before.

She hugs me and kisses me on my cheek, burying her face in my long hair.

“I love you Ashley.” She whispers.

“I love you too, you’re not alone anymore Aaliyah...” I whisper back and soon we lay down to sleep again.

We were clean, we were honest. And for once, I slept soundly with the one I loved.

My Bandita.