Dark Paradise

Chapter 2: It's Just A Cup Of Coffee

  I jump the last fence and end up in the alley down the street from my house, I see a rip in the leg of my pants and feel a wet trail of blood going down my leg which should hurt but I'm used to it so  I keep going. Looking down the street I make sure no cops are in sight before I exit the alley into the street. I walk the small pathway until I see my apartment comes into view thankfully all the lights are off just like I left it which means my mom didn't come home once again. Reaching into my bra I grab the key and unlock the door, turning on a light switch as I close and lock the door. I feel the vibration of my phone that has not stopped going off since I ran from the party but I have no desire to talk to anyone. Sighing I walk down the hall to my room and begin taking off my clothes replacing them with an oversized shirt. I grab a makeup wipe and take off my makeup as I check my phone to see just how many miss calls and texts I have, Surprisingly I only have one from Maddie the rest are from random numbers that I assume are Ashton's and his three tall friends. I put my phone on the charger ignoring all my notifications and lay down. Night time is my best friend yet my worst enemy, sleep lets me escape from everything but yet it brings back things I wish to no longer relive. I close my eyes as the ache makes it self known telling me I am no longer numb so I lose my eyes and try my hardest to think of the rare happy moments of my life. 

   'RUN PEYTON' I hear her voice tell me as my legs start to slow down. 

  'I CAN'T'  I yell back at her as I look over my shoulder and see him not far behind closing the distance with his long legs. I look back ahead and my sister is gone. 

  'SAM DON"T LEAVE ME" i yell out hoping my sister will appear but she doesn't. I try to keep running to get away but I fall over a crack in the pavement and I know he's going to get me. I squeeze my eyes as I hear his steps get closer and closer to me. I scream as he lifts me up. 

 I wake up sweaty and screaming, I sit up looking around my room and realize I'm safe. closing my eyes I rub my temples trying to get rid of the fear in my body. I pick up my phone and turn on my music hoping it will help ease myself. I begin to check my texts from the random numbers texts. FInally figuring out which number is Ashton's I save his number and begin to read them. 

  From Ashton: Where did you go? 

     11:00 pm 

  From Ashton: Peyton please answer me 

    11:02 pm 

  From Ashton: PEYTON ANSWER ME PLEASE

   11:05 pm

 From Ashton: I just need to know you're safe, please Peyton

  11:10 pm 

this kid was actually worried about me considering I had about forty texts just from him alone. I smile and begin to text him. 

   To Ashton: Hey its Peyton, I'm fine. Thanks for trying to make sure. 

  10:49 AM

I push send and go to get out of bed but my phone vibrates and Ashton's name pops up making me smile. 

  From Ashton:  You're the type to make me wait I see ;) I'm glad you're ok

  10:50 AM

 To Ashton: I don't make people wait :) 

  10:51 AM

I walk out of my room phone in hand unwilling to admit I am waiting for his reply. I grab a poptart from one of the almost empty cabinets and sit down as my phone vgoes off again. 

  From Ashton: So if you dont make people wait when can I see you next? Do you maybe want to go get coffee?

  10:53 AM

reading the text I smile and reply with a yeah unsure as to why I even agreed. The feel of my phone going off makes my mind stop wondering. 

  To Ashton: I see opportunity came knocking again Mr. Dimples, but yeah that sounds good to me. :) 

  10:55 AM 

Walking towards my room to get dressed my phone goes off with a text telling me to meet him at the coffee shop down town in thirty minutes. I set my phone down and telling myself it's just a cup of coffee. Starting to ready I settle on wearing a pair of black leggings, my favorite band tshirt and a pair of combat boots. I reapply  my makeup and slide my bracelets back on my wrist before grabbing my over sized cardigan as I head out towards the coffee shop. Five minutes away from the shop I get a text from Ashton that said he was there and waiting in a booth for me. In less time then I thought was possible I arrived at the coffee shop and walked in my eyes scanning until they find him. God damn how does he look so good in the morning? He has on a pair of jeans, a black singlet and vans and don't even get me started on the black beanie on his head. He breaks out in a smile as he stands up and hugs me as I get to the table. 

  "Hey cutie" He says with a smile making me blush 

  "Hi" I say smiling hoping I'm not blushing like an idiot. 

  "We 'should order, I need some caffeine I'm dead tired" He says making me laugh cause let me tell you what he looks anything but dead tired. We stand in line and make  small talk until its our turn to order. After a minute bickering over me paying for my drink he was handing over the cash with a smirk on his face. 

  "So how did you guys escape last night?" I ask after we sat down 

  "Hopped a few fences and ran like hell. It's a good thing we weren't too smashed. Well I probably sobered up after I punched that guy" Ashton says making me look at his knuckles which were in fact cut and in the beginning stages of scabbing.

  "You really didn't need to do that by the way" I say looking up at him even though we were sitting I still have to look up. 

  "Yes I did. Seriously don't worry about it" He says smiling fully showing off those dimples. 

  "Ok" I say dropping the subject.

  "Why didn't you answer my texts last night?" He asks me with a pout that made my heart pick up its pace.

  "I was a little busy, you know trying to run from cops" I say keeping my cool. 

  "Oh right" He says as his phone starts to go off making him mutter a fuck under his breath.

After about two minutes he hangs up the phone and looks at me and surprisingly I don't look away I smirk and look back at him. 

  "I see your done with your drink" He says "I was thinking maybe we can hangout more?" 

'No Peyton. Don't start getting involved with someone when you don't know how longer you're going to stay. Don't fuck up another human being in your path of destruction'  The voice in my head basically yells at me. 

  "Yeah that sounds great" I say smiling as he stands up and holds his hand out to help me up. 

  "Let the adventure begin Peyton" Ashton says as he looks at me with a cheeky smile on hisn face. 

I could feel it happening, I could feel the beginning stages of feelings start to happen and I knew I should say no and go back home this was wrong but it felt so right.