Memories of You {Ender Inciarte}

Chapter Two

The next couple months went by in the blink of an eye. Aspen's job left her stressed like always, but getting to be a part of planning Briella's wedding was a welcome relief.

It was mid-October. Baseball season had just ended and they had a little less than two months until Dansby and Briella's December wedding. Thankfully, neither of them wanted a big production. The wedding was going to be small, only the closest friends and family. Having a smaller wedding made the planning process a whole lot easier, since it was already hectic with a short engagement trying to fit the wedding into the offseason.

Aspen returned home from work and immediately showered and went to sleep. She was so exhausted and she knew she had to get up somewhat early the next morning. Dansby and Briella had invited her for breakfast with the best man, whom she hadn't met yet. They were all going to plan the co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party they were going to have. Dansby and Briella were so attached to each other that they didn't want to spend any time apart, even their bachelor parties.

---

Aspen awoke suddenly to the sound of pounding on the door. "Morning already?" She groaned to herself and rolled over opening her eyes. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness before she realized that's what was wrong, there should be no darkness to adjust to. She glanced to the clock and saw that it was almost three-thirty in the morning.

Terror shot through her as the pounding rang through the apartment again. "Aspen!!! Open the door!!" A man's muffled voice called out through the door. Aspen felt the blood running through her veins go ice cold with fear. It was her ex-boyfriend, Matt.

"Aspen!" He called out again.

She slowly slipped off the bed and walked quietly over to the door. Opening it just a slight smidge, she peeked through the crack, "Matt! What do you want? It's past three in the morning!"

"Aspen..." Matt whispered in a raspy voice, as he pushed the door open, despite her attempts to keep it closed. She knew the moment he barged through that she had made a huge mistake in ever opening the door at all.

She turned around, "Matt, you shouldn't be here. You need to go." She tried to sound assertive, hoping enough confidence would get him to leave.

His eyes trailed up and down her body very slowly, making her feel extremely vulnerable. "Wow...I've really missed you, Aspen." He took a few steps towards her, which she combated with a few steps backwards. They continued like that, him walking toward her and her stepping back, until he reached over her shoulder and closed the door. She instantly felt the panic set in. He wasn't leaving.

"I've missed you, Aspen. That other girl I was with, she just wasn't you. I want you back, Aspen. I need you back." He stared at her, his eyes dark with lust.

"Then why did you cheat on me?" Aspen's voice trembled. It wasn't just the cheating. He had been verbally abusive. Her mind was flooded with the memories of the words he had screamed at her. She had just been a young, naïve girl, looking for a Prince Charming to rescue her from the pain of her adolescence, but it only caused her more heartache.

Matt continued to walk towards her, "I made a mistake. She wasn't you, Aspen."

Aspen continued backwards until her back hit the wall. He quickly stepped in and hovered over her, looking at her like a vulture looks at its prey. She felt trapped, vulnerable, and helpless. As he leaned closer, she could smell the beer on his breath, only increasing her fear as she realized he had alcohol in his system.