Don't Be Fooled By My Exterior

Chapter 4

Inside of Ashley's house, I can see through the window. There's a knife being thrown. Ashley's in direct aim of it until she ducks. But her back was to the knife. What she expecting it?

I stop in my tracks. Stare a second too long.

Ashley stands up and faces the direction the knife was being thrown from.

Another knife thrown.

She moves to the side.

I quickly get out my phone and text her. First I check the time. 1:27pm.

'I was out for a walk and I'm outside your window at 1:27pm. I see the knife throwing. What's going on? I'm concerned.'

I look into the window. Ash is gone.

I start running to an alley by her house and wait there for a simple text.

About 15 minutes later I get one from Ashley:

'Sneak in my window. Back yard. My head will be poking out. It's on the second floor but I have a ladder.'

I go back to her house in the back yard and look for Ashley's room.

She has her head sticking out. She waved when she sees me and drops the ladder.

I quickly climb up it and into her room. I turn to face her. She has a little scar on her cheek from a knife. But she's still as beautiful as the first time I've seen her.

"Ash..." I say.

She looks down. "Please don't tell anyone. Only Nova knows."

I hug her. I don't care if I'm making contact with another human. That other human is Ashley. The girl I'm in love with. Although I can feel my madness wanting to strike, I contain it.

Ashley is crying. Although it's silent she's shaking. It feels like she's depending on me. How pathetic, Zayn. She doesn't feel for you. Stop wasting your time.

"I'm sorry that you had to see the knives..." Ash said. She wants to say more. I know it

"It's okay. It's okay. Are you hurt?" Stupid. Of course she's hurt!

Ash shakes her head. "I'm used to it now."

"... Ashley. I need you to answer a very serious question for me," I hold her by her shoulders. There's year stains on her cheeks.

Ash nods.

"What have those people, whoever they are, done to you?" I ask.

"Th-they're my foster parents. My real parents abandoned me as a child. They said I was too fragile. That I wouldn't make it alive. So they left me on a street alone. Someone found me. A person who assigns foster homes. They set me up with these people. And they're abusive. They've done anything and everything to torture me. They could be planning right now. I come through that door everyday to smashing glass and guns and knives and every torturous item. Only to know it's all for me," Ash didn't look up. She couldn't. She was crying so hard. Yet so silent.

I hug her again. Why shouldn't I? this girl has been through so much. And nobody loves her. Only I do. And she doesn't even know it.

"And I always feel abandoned--" You always have me "--Like nobody would care if I left tonight--" I would care "--Like nobody would notice--" I would notice "--Like everyone's against me--" I am with you now "--Like nobody will support me--" I will be your backbone when you go limp "--Like I can't do anything without messing up--" You stole my heart without messing anything up "--How I'm so imperfect--" You are imperfectly perfect "--Like nobody loves me." I love you. I always will.

I wish I could say all those things. But Ash will think I'm crazy. But maybe there's a chance she feels the same way...

"Ashley?" I say.

"Y-yea, Zayn?" Ash asks, wiping her beautiful eyes.

This is it. No turning back

"What would you do if I said I love you?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note:

Just a short chapter. Writing more tonight c:

~Ashley De.