The Silver Lining

Chapter - 10

I tilted my head, getting confused.

Who was this guy?

"Here, try this." A chirpy voice took my attention back and I looked at the barista who put a tray in front of me with a big smile on his face. "I'm sure you will like it... Um?"

"Ashley," I replied, glancing at the cup. It was a venti, frothy and hot. My lips curved into a smile, noticing a leaf pattern in delicate milky foam among the pale brown top.

"I'm Nick. Enjoy your coffee," he winked, making me chuckle.

I took a corner seat so that I could enjoy the window view. I leaned down and one sniff was enough to tell me it was my favorite flavor- hazelnut.

I wrapped my fingers around the cup, enjoying the heat that spread through my hands. Slowly, I took a sip and found myself lost in the perfect mixture of hazelnut flavor and coffee beans. It was slightly sweet, as I wanted it to be.

I closed my eyes and remembered how our housekeeper, Stella, used to make the same coffee for me. She was the only one who knew my taste. After leaving home, it was the first time I was having hazelnut coffee. I stopped drinking it because I could drink it in only Stella style.

"Pleasant memories, I guess?"

A deep, familiar voice made me open my eyes and I scowled, realising it was Ashton sitting in front of me with a smirk on his face.

"What are you doing here?" I huffed, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Oh, I didn't know you owned this place?" He mocked, looking around.

I opened my mouth to answer but stopped, noticing Nick walking in our direction.

"Here, your usual." He placed a cup of coffee in front of Ashton and smiled at me. "Do you like it?"

"Yes, I love it. How did you know it was my favourite?" I beamed.

"Because of your hazel eyes," he grinned.

I was taken aback and immediately realised I wasn't wearing my glasses. Panicked, I glanced at Ashton, who was also staring at me.

"I thought they were brown," Ashton tilted his head thoughtfully then added, "You're not wearing your glasses. Now we can see the true colour of your eyes."

My eyes widened. "What do you mean?" I bit my lip in nervousness.

"Hazel? That's the true colour of your eyes, right?" He raised his eyebrows, although I could sense there was something else he was asking with his intense gaze.

"Yeah," I mumbled.

"Do you guys know each other?" Nick asked, looking at both of us.

"We go to the same school," Ashton replied before I could say anything.

"Oh that's great. Anyways, I need to go back. Let me know if you need anything else," he smiled and went back to the counter.

My smile faded when I found myself trapped with Ashton who was waiting for me to say something.

"What do you want?" I finally snapped when he didn't stop staring at me.

"Woah, a few minutes ago you were flirting with him like a pro. I almost didn't recognise you without your glasses and the way you were talking to him, God! It was like you were a different person," he remarked and leaned closer, making me swallow hard. "I never saw you talking to anyone in school apart from Melissa of course. But she is a different case. I know Mel and her manipulative ways. So we won't count that. Now my question is, why don't you have a single friend at school? Why did you never try talking with anyone? You didn't stammer once while talking to Nick. So why this act?"

My mouth hung open and I looked at him dumbfounded. No freaking way he could have guessed it so quickly. A rush of nausea swept over me as sweat broke out on my forehead. I clutched the side my chair, allowing my nails to dig into the wood and my knuckles to turn white.

What the hell did I do?

Why did I decide to stop here?

I shouldn't have changed my routine.

What if he gets to know about my past?

He will make my life hell!

Million of thoughts started running through my mind before I could stop them.

He had already bullied me once and when he will finds out what I did, he won't be quiet. I won't be able to handle this. My father... he would be so upset. This was my last chance. I couldn't afford to lose it.

I couldn't breath; it felt as if someone was choking me. My heart was racing and all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and wait for someone to save me. But no one would, no one was here.

The thoughts were accelerating inside my head. I wanted them to slow down so I could breathe but they wouldn't. My breaths came in gasps and I felt like I would die.

"Ashley..." I could hear a concerned voice calling me again and again but I didn't have the strength to say anything.

I swallowed the dry lump that started forming in my throat and tried to stay upright.

Suddenly, I felt a hand stroking my back and telling me to calm down. He embraced me in his arms. "Relax, just relax," he whispered again and again in my ear.

I felt myself relaxing in his arms and eventually my breath returned to its normal speed. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and lifted my face to meet with those blue eyes, which were shining from concern and guilt.

I immediately pushed him back and got up. As soon as I stood up, I felt sick. My head was spinning but I needed to get out of there.

I quickly took out a few dollars and put them on the table, running towards the door, ignoring Ashton’s shocked face.

*

I gasped and stopped running, reaching the end of the street. I tried remembering the way back but my mind was still in a foggy state. Suddenly, my phone started ringing and I pulled it out, my aunt calling.

"H... hello," I breathed out.

"Ashley? Where are you?”

“I… I…” I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

“Ashley, what's wrong?" I heard her panicked voice.

"I... just got lost. Can... you..." I took several deep breaths and added, "please pick me up?"

"Of course. Turn on the GPS and send me your location, okay?" I could hear the shuffling behind her.

"Yeah," I whispered and did the same before ending the call.

My legs were shaking and eventually I sat down on the footpath with my head down when I heard footsteps approaching.

"Are you okay?" A deep voice asked me.

"Leave me alone, Ashton."

"Listen I'm sorry! Here, drink some water," he said and passed me a water bottle. “Please,” he added when I didn't move to take it.

I wanted to deny it but my dry throat was begging to take it. Without sparing him a glance, I took the bottle and gulped the water quickly.

"Better?" Ashton asked, bending down on his knees.

I let out a sigh and lifted my face to met his concerned gaze. "Leave me alone," I gritted out.

"Listen, I didn't know..."

"You don't know anything," I spat out. "Just. Stay. Away. From. Me."

Then I stood up and after sending him a last glare, walked towards the familiar car which was coming from the opposite direction.