Beside You...

Chapter Two

I turned around to leave again. I walked to the door and stood there for a moment before I left.

"Jasmine!" Ashton called after me. I turned my head around and kept walking. I couldn't fall for him. I would just end up getting hurt.

"Jasmine! Please wait!" Ashton yelled again. I heard him jog up behind me and he put his hand on my shoulder.

"What do you want?" I said.

"I was wondering if you needed a place to stay tonight?" He asked me. He didn't make any effort to make eye contact with me.

"Why do you think I do?" I asked.

"Gran told me." He replied.

"I don't need you help."

"Please let me?" Ashton pleaded.

"No." I said and I walked away.

~

Sometimes I don't try to find a place to stay the night. I just wander the streets alone. Something about the calmness of the city at night makes me relax. I let my guard down and feel free. I can be myself.

I continued to walk the streets until I found myself in front of my old home. Sometimes I wonder if I knock on the door they will take me back. I jumped the fence blocking the backyard and looked around.

Nothing has changed since I left and that scares me just a little. The soccer ball that I was kicking around the day of the party was in the same exact place that I left it. It is like a museum here. Spotless. Clean. Creepy.

"Jasmine? Is that you?" I heard someone whisper. I looked around until I noticed that they back door was opened slightly.

"Dad?" I asked.

"Come here baby girl." He said to me.

"I can't. Mom will find out. I have to go." I said quickly heading to the fence.

"Please stay the night." He pleaded.

"But mom?" In all honesty I am scared of my mom.

"She isn't here right now."

I turned to face the door and I walked over to my father slowly.

"Come on baby girl." He said opening the door slowly.

"I've missed you sweetie."

~

My father led me into the house and I looked around. The whole house was a shrine to my brother. It has always been this way. I always came last. My mother constantly told me that I was an accident. She told me that I was the reason that she was so fucked up. She was the one who convinced me that I don't deserve to live.

"Your mother is at the rehabilitation center..." He said suddenly after an awkward silence.