The Scandal (Under Edit)

CHAPTER 8

After that incident in the car, I acted professionally with Ashton and did not let myself get carried away in the name of friendship. It wasn't like I was ignoring him. I just did my work like I was asked to do and talked or replied whenever it was required. Ashton did try to make fun of me a couple of times just like how he did before, but I just laughed it off instead of participating in the banter with him. 

We were done with promoting the song in Los Angeles. Currently, we are in Miami where Ashton is doing a show and I am just sitting here in the back room with Mariano. Ashton, Mike, Mariano and I are the ones that came for the promotion. Our next stop is New York which is also our last stop.

Ashton walks in the room after changing and we all decide to go back to our hotel room to take rest and then get ready for dinner later since we decided to have dinner together that night. After reaching the hotel we wave a bye to the others and proceed towards our room. It looked like Ashton wanted to talk to me but just let go since the others are present.

I go back to my room and take a nap since it is around 4 in the evening and we decided to meet at the hotel's restaurant at 8 for dinner. I set the alarm for 7 and go take a nap.

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By the time I freshen up and reach the restaurant, I find everybody already present and seated in a 4 seater booth kind of table. The only seat available for me was next to Ashton and I sat there. I had steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, whereas the others were having shrimp rice, smoked salmon and Ashton was having spaghetti.

During the dinner the three guys were talking and joking whereas I was just laughing and commenting wherever it seemed necessary. This seemed to annoy Ashton a little and since I'm not really participating in the conversation, he would turn towards me particularly asking my opinion or talking to me. The booth was not small but still I noticed Ashton's body leaning more towards my side and his left leg was touching my leg. I inconspicuously moved my leg but then somehow again found his leg touching mine.

No one drank alcohol during the dinner because the next day we had to travel to New York for another show after which the same day we were returning to Los Angeles. After the dinner Mike excused himself to go out for smoking, so Mariano, Ashton and I went back together. When we were waiting for the elevator Mariano got a call from his girlfriend so he wished us a goodnight and left us alone.

The elevator arrived it was only Ashton and I going to the top-most floor because that's where we all were staying. The tension was thick inside the elevator and I felt a little uncomfortable being alone in his presence. As soon as the elevator arrived on my floor I got out telling Ashton goodnight softly with a small polite smile but I felt someone grab my wrist and pull me back.

The force of the pull made me jerk back into Ashton's chest and I had to put my hands on his chest to stabilize myself. His hands were around my waist holding me in as I tried to move back. At such close contact with his body my breath hitched and my whole body felt tingly. I then looked up to see his face and found him looking at me and after a heartbeat he closed his eyes and reopened them telling me, "Sorry", very softly.

I knew what his sorry was about. It was about the way he talked to me the other day in the car. I was just making excuses in my mind about how he was just in a bad mood and was just warning me. But he did not have to be harsh. I'm a softie and don't like it when someone is upset with me, scolds me or is harsh with me. I try to act like I am unaffected but internally I'm hurt.

So even now I plaster a smile on my face and tell him, "Oh no. It's alright. You were just upset the other day and were just trying to warn me to stay clear of your personal matters. I totally understand that in fact I should have apologized for overstepping my boundaries. Don't worry I will stay in my limits."

My words seemed to annoy him even more and it looks like he had a lot to say but since we were in the middle of the corridor, he just held my hand and pulled me to his room, shut the door and made me sit on the couch whereas he sat on the floor in front of me holding both of my hands in his.

"Please stop making excuses for my behavior and don't blame yourself for it. You did not do any wrong and have nothing to apologize for. God knows you're the last person I want to hurt but I did and I am extremely sorry for it.", he says sincerely.

I don't know why but listening to him talk so gently made me teary and as much as I bit my lip to control myself a tear slipped out following which the whole dam broke and I started crying. I am so embarrassed right now since I don't like crying in front of people.

Seeing me cry he got up, sat next to me and pulled me in for a hug whispering apologies softly and rubbing my back. It felt very comforting and safe to be in his arms

"Please don't cry or else you'll start looking like a koala", he said trying to crack a joke to make me laugh. And to be honest his lame attempt at joking might have offended many but surprisingly his attempt made me giggle a little.

I pulled back from his hug and wiped my nose on my sleeve involuntarily. He wiped the remnant of the tears from my cheeks. For a moment I felt things that I shouldn't be feeling but I pushed all those thoughts away.

"So all good between us?", he asked.

I smiled widely at him and nodded my head.

"I should leave now. It's getting late and we should be up early tomorrow", I said to him.

He reluctantly nodded and followed me towards his door.

I wished him goodnight and he reached towards me kissing me softly on my cheeks. The kiss was more towards the corner of my mouth but not touching my mouth. The soft touch made butterflies flutter in my tummy.

I went to my room and touched the place where he kissed me. It still felt tingly. Changing into a pair of large t shirt and shorts, I went to sleep peacefully.