Toxic Devotion

Chapter 32: she's gone, forever.

Ashley's p.o.v

After I left the restaurant, I called Sarah and asked her to come over. The only person that wouldn't tell the gang was Sarah, that's why she was the only one I could talked to about me meeting April tomorrow.

Sarah and I got to my place at the same time and went upstairs directly to my room. We both sat on my bed before we finally opened the subject.

'Cmon tell me' Sarah said.

'April wants me to meet her tomorrow, and well, I can't tell any gang member cause all they wanna do is kill her' I told her.

'Yeah I understand, but why though?' She asked.

'She wants to talk to me, apparently she wants to fix things' I sighed.

'Go for it ash, just, what if she does something?' She frowned.

'I don't think she will...look Sarah you know sometimes you get the feeling that you're safe with that person? Like you don't even know why but you just know they can't hurt you?' I questioned.

'I know how you feel trust me' Sarah muttered.

'The thing is, Dylan, absolutely can't find out, he will kill her if he sees her' I shook my head.

'Ill try to distract them' Sarah promised.

Dylan's p.o.v

I listened to every word ashley told Sarah. So she was gonna go behind my back? Well, I've got a surprise for her. I don't even see why ashley cares about April. She is nothing but a deranged psychopath. Not like I was any better.

***

Ashley's p.o.v

It was 10 in the morning and I wore my clothes to go see April. I jogged fast downstairs and as I was about to leave Steph called me.

'Where are you going?' She asked.

'Just gonna get a drink from Starbucks' I lied.

'Yeah sure, be safe' she smiled.

'Starbucks?' Dylan raised his eyebrows.

'Yeah, Starbucks' I said trying to look confident.

'Cool' he shrugged.

'Want me to drop you there?' Val asked.

'No I'm fine thanks' I said before finally leaving. After our fight yesterday I still haven't spoke to Dylan, I still feel bad for what I said to him..I think we both don't know how to deal with our emotions, and we're both as guilty.

It was a long walk before I finally got there, and I saw April waiting for me.

'You did come' she smiled.

'Well I do want to listen for what you have to say' I said.

'Listen ashley, I understand that you don't want to come with me, and I know that you're gonna leave Ohio for college soon..so here, take this' she said handing me keys.

'What are these for?' I asked.

'These are the keys to my house in New York, well, now it's your house' she smiled.

'April, I can't accept this-' I started but was shortly interrupted.

'You have to. It's the least I can do, I don't need the house and now it's yours' she spoke.

'I don't know how to thank you' I sighed.

'Please don't. Listen ashley, you were lucky to have a brother and an aunt like Valentino and Stephanie by your side. I wasn't there for you, and they were. And I got so consumed to get my revenge on Dylan's family that I was too blind to see it. I'm sorry, this time it's an honest apology. You can tell Dylan and his gang, I'm not a problem anymore' she said before she hugged me. We stayed like that for a couple of seconds. It felt weird, but good.

'You know, I don't sleep at nights when I start thinking about what you did to Dylan' I frowned.

'Same ashley, its eating me alive and I'm trying hard for not ending my whole life' she said looking down.

'Its alright April. You don't have to, I will end yours for you'

April and I turned around and saw a livid Dylan standing there.

'Starbucks eh?' Dylan smirked.

'You followed me here?' I glared at him.

'You lied to me ash' he shook his head. 'And now there will be circumstances' he added.

'Dylan stop being a drama queen and leave' I ordered.

'Still trying to act tough are we?' He flashed me a smug grin.

'Dylan, I came to tell ashley just a few words-' April started but she was interrupted by the sound of a gun shot. I froze. And that's when I saw April fall.

'Dylan don't!' Val said coming out of nowhere, followed by tyler, Lucas, and Nicole. They all stopped and stared at the scene.

I ran towards April and crouched down.

'Ashley, don't forget the keys' she mumbled.

'Apr-mom' I cried.

'Thats all I wanted. To hear you call me mom once, before I die' she cried.

'Mom. Mom. Mom don't leave me, not again, you left me once, you can't leave me twice' I yelled.

'Promise me to- focus on your studies-be successful and don't waste your time, with this gang' she hiccuped..blood was everywhere now.

'Mom we can still have this future you were talking about, just stay, stay' I begged holding both her hands.

'Its okay ashley, I deserved it' she said as tears escaped her eyes.

'I didn't deserve to lose you' I choked out.

'But you did deserve a good brother like Valentino' were the last words she said before she closed her eyes and drifted to an eternal sleep. I cried, for all the moments I could have lived with her if things turned out to be different. If she never left me in the first place. If she wasn't in her stupid gang.

Val and Lucas dragged me away from this crime scene. But before we left, I made sure to spit in Dylan's face.

'I am never gonna forgive you. NEVER' I shrieked as he didn't look bothered at all.