Let Love Bleed Red

Chapter 17

*Eoghans’ P.O.V.*

If I was Ash, where would I go? I wouldn’t go home or to school and Ash didn’t strike me as the kind of girl that would hang out at the mall. The skate-park maybe or the woods? The beach?

*Flashback*

“Your eyes look like the sea,” she whispered.

“Um..thanks, I guess?” I didn’t know if that was meant as a compliment or what.

“I love the sea, there’s something so calming and untameable about it.. I live beside near the beach you know.”

“Nice.. Maybe we can go down sometime?” I said.

“I’d like that.” She was then cut off by the bell.

*End flashback*

She was probably at the beach, so that’s where I would go. I’d stop by her house on the way just to be sure.. I grabbed my phone, pulled on my converse and left the house. I pretty much ran the whole way to Ashs’ house.

When I got there, there was no car in the driveway so I assumed her dad wasn’t home. I walked up to the front door and pushed it open. Inside, the hallway looked the same as it had yesterday with broken glass, rubbish and bottles everywhere.

I went upstairs to where I supposed the bedrooms were. One by one, I looked in to each of the bedrooms. Ash wasn’t in any of them. I went to the last door at the end of the hall and went in.

One wall was painted blood red, another black with little silver stars and musical notes painted on it. The other two walls were covered in posters of bands such as Bullet For My Valentine, Black Veil Brides, Blood On The Dance Floor, Asking Alexandria and Three Days Grace. Shoes littered the floor, clothes were flung carelessly on the bed and a guitar was propped up in a corner.

Ashs’ room. I felt bad for invading her private space when she obviously wasn’t here but I wanted to explore her room a little. I went over to the bedside table and picked up a photo frame lying there. It was a picture of a boy and a woman, probably his mother. The boy looked a lot like Ash, but younger. A brother maybe? There wasn’t a another bedroom in the house to indicate a sibling living here though..

I put the photo back on the table and looked around. There wasn’t much in the small room, a few books, make-up, cd’s, clothes, a school bag. I didn’t want to invade her privacy so much as to rifle through her drawers, so I left them.

I sat down on the ground to clear my head, when I spotted a box under the bed. I reached in and pulled it out. I was small and silver, sequins and beads covering the lid. I opened it cautiously and looked inside. There was a gold chain, several guitar picks, a box of razors and a small leather bound book. I winched when I saw the razors, wanting to take them and throw them away but then she would know I had been here.

I picked up the book wondering what it was, opening it to the first page. It was a sheet of music, hastily scrawled words underneath the notes. The next few pages were similar. Songs, Ash was writing music. I’d have to get her to play for me..

I heard a car drive past the window. It startled me and I dropped the book. I picked it up again and put it in the box, pushing the box back under the bed. I stood up and picked up the guitar, then left the house to continue my search for Ash.

I slung the guitar on my back using the strap and ran down to the beach. When I got there I gasped. Ash was right, it was beautiful. The soft, powdery golden sand, the crashing of the blue-green waves, the smell of the salt in the air and the rough face of the cliffs and caves. There was no one in sight, just a faint trail of footsteps leading towards one of the caves. I followed the footsteps and peered inside the cave.

It was dim, the ground damp from the tide. I walked along the cave, feeling my way along the wall then fell over something. Someone.

“Ash! Thank God I found you..” I crouched down beside her and tried to put my arm around her.

“I saw you Eoghan. With her.” Her voice was rough from crying. For a minute I saw confused. Why would I want to be with anyone other than Ash..? Then I remembered Ailish. Dammit, was it because of that? I was going to have to do some serious talking with that girl.

“Ash. That was nothing, I promise. She was the one who kissed me, not the other way around! I wouldn’t do that to you. You’re different, special, unique. And I think I.. Love you..” I held my breath, waiting for her to talk.

“Eoghan.. Y-you love me?” I nodded and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

“Yes I love you. And I want you to promise me something. Please.. Stop hurting yourself..” I took her arm gently and held it out in front of her. Even in the dim light you could see the cuts, covered in sticky but drying blood. Ash tried to pull her arm away but I didn’t let her.

“Please. For me?” I looked into her eyes, begging her.

“..I promise. And Eoghan?”

“Yes?” I was relieved she’d promised to stop. I was willing to agree to anything she might say.

“I-I love you too.” Yes! She loved me back!

I leaned in and kissed her passionately. She kissed back, her fingers curling around the front of my shirt, pulling me closer. My tongue traced her bottom lip, asking for entrance. She accepted, touching her tongue to mine. We sat on the cold hard floor of the cave, making out until the tide started coming in again.

I took her hand and we got up. I put my arm around her waist and we left the cave, walking along the sand where the water touched it. We walked along, the water swirling around our feet. On the way to my house we didn’t talk, just walked along side by side, enjoying each other’s company.