Secondhand Life

Chapter 23

Maria's P.O.V.

I stood at the lovely girl in front of me. Her cute sweater and style made me so comfortable.

Just like her presence.

She was scared of me still. After the years of torture I gave her and the weeks of support I gave her, nothing would ever erase the past.

"Maria... I'm sorry..." Ash said sadly. I knew she was going to cry. I wanted to hug her. To tell her it's okay and it's not her fault. But instead I stood there unable to move because I was afraid I would hurt her again.

"Don't be Ash, it's my fault. I scared you as a little kid. Why would... why would someone like you love me..." As I said that I realized, Ash wasn't about to cry. I was. I cried into my hands quietly and felt Ash's arms around me.

"It's not your fault. I'm just too weak." Ash said in sadness. "I can never get over the silly times from before when we couldn't get along. And now it's ruining our good friendship." My heart pained a bit when the said 'friendship' But now I knew friends is all we would ever be.

Right?

*****

Maria's P.O.V.

We were sitting in Ash's kitchen watching tv awkwardly. She was curled up in her chair half asleep while I was watching her, but looked away frequently so she didn't notice it.

Soon about ten minutes later Ash was fully asleep. It was only twelve in the afternoon as well, but I assumed I must've scared the life out of her so much yesterday that she must not have slept last night.

I sighed and picked her up, knowing how risky this would be. If she woke up now, she would freak out because I was bringing her to bed.

Thankfully she was asleep for real and didn't move at all. I got upstairs of their not moved in house and wrapped her in the bed sheets. After I laid her down I sat in the chair beside her bed and smiled. I wondered what she was dreaming about. I wanted her to be dreaming,

About me.

*****
Ash's P.O.V.

I woke up to hear the bell. Indicating it was time for breakfast. Tyler's ghostly voice lit up the hallways with laughter from the kitchen.

I put on a everyday style dress and walked into the kitchen. I grabbed a plate with a bagel and eggs and sat at the table beside Rosaline. She was awfully quiet for some reason and she wouldn't touch her food.

"Hey you alright?" I asked her.

She looked at me in the eye for a second and turned away quick like she was scared of me.

"Yes I'm fine. Haha." She said shaking off her sadness with a small smile and a quick laugh. I figured it was something she wouldn't want to talk about in front of the others so I decided in my mind that I would ask her again when we had more privacy.

Tyler, Willow, and Nora sat down with us soon after. We talked about the fight from the day before and laughed until the phone rang. Tyler got up to answer it and suddenly the room went dead silent.

"Ello this is Tyler, how may I help you?"

The other end of the phone was sobbing and it was clear that this was serious.

"Of course, right away. Okay that will be $300 dollars. See you soon." He hung up and took a deep breath.

"That was a civil lady down in the city. She wants us to kill the man who murdered her son. She will pay us $300 dollars as promised and we must head over there now."

"Right!" Willow, Kaitlyn and Nora shouted together. Rosaline and I felt too awkward to join in.

"Go to your rooms and get your weapons prepared. We're leaving in twenty minutes." Tyler ordered.

We ate quick and left to our rooms. I cleaned my sleek swords and smiled at my reflection in them. I was so against this fighting against people at first, but maybe it's not so bad.

Just then Rosaline walked into our room and closed the door. She had put her hair up into a very pretty bun and shined her swords up nicely. 

"Hey." I said "Are you really feeling okay?" I asked.

"Well... This will sound complicated but... I have a friend that I really like, but I don't think she feels the same way about me and, I don't know what to do." She said looking at the floor.

"Ohh, well, sometimes things like that can get complicated, and if the other person doesn't feel the same way, I guess you could give them time to change their mind, or move on and try your best not to think about them in that way anymore." I said carefully.

"Well, here's the problem." She said getting slowly closer to my face.

I believed she was going to tell me a secret from the way she was so close to my face but instead I received a kiss on my lips.

*****

Maria's P.O.V.

I woke up to see Ash still asleep and I was relieved. I can't believe I kissed her in my dream too.

Seconds later Ash started to toss and turn. I quickly got up and darted out the door because, if she saw me when she woke up, she would for sure want to talk about the dream.

And I couldn't let that happen.

I heard Ash yell "Wait!" But I couldn't go back. I was already in enough trouble with her.

Because I knew she didn't love me anyways.

Ash's P.O.V.

I woke up to see a glimpse of Maria dashing out of the door. 

"Wait!" I yelled. But she didn't come back. I got out of bed and raced down after her, almost falling down the stairs but I was too late. She was gone.