Recovery (Conor Maynard AU)

Chapter Twenty-seven|Red Nails

(Edited ! Feel free to read) ~Song of the chapter "Ugly" by Jaira Burns bc this is my jam rn.

My stiff body was glued to the ground, as I looked at her. As if I had forgotten how to walk or even blink, I frowned. It was almost 9 pm, and she was the last person I expected at my door, but yet we were facing each other. Not having an idea what the hell to do was only natural. Even though I had felt unbreakable in the morning, I now was kinda crumbling. But only kinda - she had only caught me by surprise. Sneaky move. This was so Ashley.

"Surprised to see me, I see" she said, pushing past me and stepping inside. Turning on my heels, I once again faced her. Intentionally leaving the door open in hope she would just leave already. I put on an annoyed face so that her rude actions didn't slip without any reaction from my side. It was challenging to show any emotion when your face literally felt numb.

"Feels like ages since I have last been here, but it was actually only a couple months ago" she stated, her high heels clicking on the wooden floor as she walked around just like the first time. I wondered how she acted this confident in a foreign's house - she was more confident than I was, and she was currently stomping around my house and not the other way around.

"Ashley what are you doing here" I finally asked, finding my voice again. Speaking to her felt weird. After all that had occurred between us, it didn't feel natural any more. Not that it did ever, but now it was even worse.

Ashley smacked her bloodred lips, crossing her arms above her chest. After disappearing for weeks, the first place she showed up shouldn't be my house. Something was off, I could tell. It was lingering in the surrounding air.

"I thought we needed to clear things" she calmly pointed out, but I sensed a certain venom in her voice.

"Everything is crystal clear" I told her, wondering where the hell these words were coming from.

"Oh really" she said, narrowing her eyes at me and tapping her red nails on her arm, "Why is my vision so blurry then ?"

She stepped closer to me, towering over me with her high heels. To say I wasn't intimidated would be a lie. Her eyes were burning with fire. She was broken and covering it up with anger. This was typical Ashley. She still hadn't changed an ounce.

"Come to my party tonight" she said, getting out a small card out of her pocket and holding it out to me in between two fingers. Staring at her red nails, confusion took over me. What party was she talking about ? What was there to celebrate ? And most importantly why would she want me there ?

"I don't do parties, you know that" I said, just to have said anything. She snickered, emphasizing how much she didn't care.

"Tonight it's going to be totally your thing," she smirked, "darling."

"I can't come. Thanks for the invitation and now please leave" I said, stepping back and opening the door wider.

Ashley stood there in her red party dress, staring at me intensely. She moved towards the door, but she didn't walk out. Instead, she harshly grabbed my arm and pulled me close to her. I couldn't escape her vicious eyes and was forced to look at her. My chest tightened as I felt my blood boil in my veins. It was frustrating me that she was belittling me like this. Who the hell did she think she was ?

"You're going to be there, got it ? If you don't, I will delay the party to your house, ok darling ?" she threatened, an evil smirk creeping up her lips. We stared at each other for a while, the tension between us could be cut with a knife. Then all of a sudden Ashley pushed me aside, dropping my arm and headed to the door, her high heels clicking on the wooden floor yet again.