Little Miss Nosy

Chapter 55- Never Let Go

Peyton's POV

I shivered slightly as I stepped into Ashton's cold bedroom, walking away from the steamy shower I had just left.

As soon as I step foot onto the fluffy carpet, Ashton's warm gaze meets mine before he quickly looks away. He was laying back on his bed, watching some horrible movie he found on Netflix. From the bathroom door I could just see him bite his bottom lip; itching to talk to me. But he held back.

I didn't blame him. Every time he tried to talk to me, I would use my hands to signal what I wanted or simply nod at something he would say. I would stop trying with me too.

I clutched the soft white towel closer to my naked body and walked across the room, smiling slightly as I reached my PINK backpack that contained extra clothing and items.

While I sorted through my stuff, I could feel Ashton's eyes on me. He could pretend to be into that terrible movie all he wanted but it was obvious he wanted to say something.

"Why do you put up with me?" I question.

I turn around and face him, noticing the surprise in his eyes at the sound of my voice. The hoarse sound created by me not using it in two weeks even startled me a bit. I clear my throat and straighten a bit, awaiting his answer.

The surprise in his eyes is soon gone and is replaced by confusion as he furrows his brows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...I feel like most people would've given up by now. We don't talk, we don't touch. You're trying to help me but I just retreat into myself and that's not fair to you. It's selfish...I'm selfish." I swallow roughly and bite the inside of my cheek to block any noise from coming out. I feel warm tears brim my eyes and I almost scream in frustration.

No! No more crying Peyton.

I hear shuffling noises and look up to see Ashton moving across the bed, taking a seat at the edge of it.

"I think we both know by now that I am not like most people," he says with a hint of a smirk. "Besides, you pulling away is normal in your case. You were taken, watched death unfold right in front of you, and isolated. I would be more worried if you didn't care at all."

I turn back to my bag, taking out a pair of thin pajama pants and tank top. "Remember when you told me you finally wanted to leave Jacob's gang? You said you saw him do something really bad. Did you witness him...kill anybody." I say the last part in a whisper, unable to stop my voice from shaking after speaking that 4 letter word.

There was a long pause that followed my question and for a brief moment, I thought he didn't hear what I said. But after the drawn out sigh that followed, I knew he was trying to figure out the right words to say. "Yes, I did. The sad part is, it was just an innocent man who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Not even a part of the gang. Jacob put a bullet in his head without even blinking. I knew I couldn't stay after that."

I nod silently, picking at a tiny string hanging from the hem of my tank top. I thought he was finished, but he surprises me by continuing. "I've been feeling guilty lately. Ever since I found out that Aaron was in the gang..I don't know. I just feel like I never really knew him. I hate him because he's the reason all this happened in the first place. And I hate that I hate him," he sighs frustratingly.

"Hey." I go over to him and grab his hands, which were now tightly fisted through his hair in anger. "I understand you being mad at Aaron, I do. But you have to remember that just like him, you fell for it too. You both made mistakes and tried to come back from it. He just didn't make it out in the end like you did."

Ashton lets go of his hair and entangles his fingers with mine. I don't know if it was just me but being near him and touching him again made me feel a little flutter of longing in my stomach that made me want to never let go.

"You're right," he agrees with a small, sad smile. "Thank you for opening up to me like this."

"Thank you for not pulling away," I say and add a kiss to one of his knuckles.

Macey, Trevor, and Carmen all came to visit me while I was in the hospital and even stopped by Ashton's house a bit. But they became easily agitated with my silence towards them and started showing less and less. I believe they understood what I was going through to a certain extent but they could never truly get why I've been keeping to myself lately.

Slowly releasing his hands from mine, I look down, realizing that I was still in nothing but a towel. I head back to my pajamas and drop the towel, revealing my naked body to Ashton.

I could still feel his gaze on me. Knowing that I could get this type of reaction out of him, the same reaction he could easily get out of me was very satisfying. It let me know that these past few weeks didn't have any negative impact on our relationship.

If anything, it just made us stronger.

It wasn't until I had pulled my underwear and bra on that I heard a low groan come from Ashton. "Ugh, you're killing me," he said in a low voice.

I giggled, continuing to get dressed in front of him. "Maybe later," I hinted, making a huge grin spread across his face.

He moved back on the bed and patted the space next to him. I happily obliged, joining him on the cozy sheets.