Complications - Lawson and The Wanted

Chapter 37

Chapter 37:

I was dreading school today. I knew Andy would probably be back in and if he wasn't then I'd have to face everyone asking me questions. What did I say? Did I tell them we had broken up? I had just made the most awesome friends and I bet they all hated me now.

I walked to the bus stop with my headphones in and he wasn't there which was good seeing as that meant I wouldn't have to face him today but bad because that meant I didn't know where him and I stood. As soon as I got on the bus I took our normal seats and just let the music flood my brain and my emotions. I wouldn't think about our break up yesterday here, not somewhere where there was a large number of people who could see me.

*

As soon as we pulled up at school I was met by Chloe. Didn't she realise I just wanted to be left alone? She honestly liked making everyone else's lives hell.

"Andy not here again today? What a shame. I'm sure you miss him terribly when he's not here to flirt with and pretend that you have this perfect relationship," she spat at me. Everyone who was walking past just stopped and started watching us. My eyes welled up with tears but I held them in. "You going to cry? I never knew you missed him that much." The tears started to fall down my cheeks.

"You know nothing," I muttered before turning to walk away. She grabbed my arm and pulled me back to her. She reminded me of my dad. I exploded. "Let go of me! You know nothing about me or my life or even my relationship with Andy so next time don't grab me, don't even talk to me about me being moody today or even better, just don't talk to me at all!" I shouted at her trying to free my arm from her grasp as soon as I had I turned and walked away.

"Ashley!" I heard someone call out to me in a concerned voice. I just carried on walking and let whoever it was catch up with me on their own if they really wanted too. I wasn't going to turn around and let a massive group of people see me crying my eyes out. I ducked my head down and let my hair hide the majority of my face. I heard heavy footsteps behind me so the person obviously wanted to catch me up. "Ashley," he softly touched my shoulder and I just burst into even heavier tears. I looked up at the person next to me to see that it was Joel. He pulled me slowly into a hug and made quiet shhh-ing noises.

"You're going to hate me!" I mumbled into his shoulder.

"I'll never hate you Ash, you're my friend," he gave me a small smile.

"But Andy...I just...I hurt him so badly and I hate myself," I had to tell him now because it wasn't right having him as a friend without him knowing the truth.

"I know you did, but it's okay. He'll be okay. He loves you Ashley and you hurt him but you're hurting too and need a friend so I'm here. For both of you," he pulled me tighter towards him and yet again my tears were becoming heavier.

"Joel, he hates me," I sobbed.

"No he doesn't, he's just upset," he reassured me.

"He didn't even talk to me, he just sat there, saying nothing, not doing anything," I said, pulling out of Joel's hug and walking in the direction of the building, Joel taking step beside me.

"You know, he said to me yesterday he didn't know what to say. He also said that he wanted to just hold you in his arms and make sure you were alright but he was scared that you'd push him away again. He needs space, that's all Ash. Give him it and he'll soon come back, you'll know when the right time to reach out to him again will be. Just be patient," he reassured me.

"Thanks Joel," I gave him a hopeful smile. Maybe Joel was right. Maybe Andy will come back eventually I just needed to make sure he wanted it and it wouldn’t be me forcing it upon him.