A/N
Before I get started with this chapter I have two things: 1.) Thank you all so much for 1000 reads! It means so much to me that people read my work even though it really isn't that good. But it keeps me going, and I hope you continue to read! I've got a very major story coming up that will be very long and complex and I hope you read it!
2.) I am holding a cover contest! If you all would like to make a cover for this story it must have the following: The Title (of course) and my name (hope58) somewhere on the cover. Other than those I am very open to different designs! You can make as any entries as you want, just send them to me here or on my kik (hopiebear58) I know, weird kik name... its a nickname given to me by a friend xD
So, thanks again, and I hope you all enter! I have not yet set a deadline yet but send them as soon as possible! Enjoy this chapter!
-Hope
CARMEN
"JAMES!" I heard the familiar bellow in the regular deep tenor voice wake me up; again. I don't even know how many days I've been here, but I've been woken up about 3 times since Ashton visited to do whatever shit needed to be done or just to anger me, trying to get me to mess with the men. I'm not that oblivious.
I groaned and sat up, my back sore from the too-firm beds and pancake-thin pillow. "What?"
"You've got a visitor."
I sighed, hoping it was Styles here to bail me out. My cell door was thrown open and my arm was seized, and I was dragged down the hallway. Maybe the guy could grab the other arm for a change? My upper arm is going to look like an Avatar's arm if he doesn't.
I walked into the room with all of the glass and phones and chairs again. I saw a nicer looking woman talking to a little boy on the other side of the glass, and a man who looked like the boy's father with his hand on the younger kid's shoulder. I looked to my left and saw a man talking with a man in a suit. A man being dragged out of the room whilst thrashing almost hit my neck, but missed after I ducked. I looked to an empty seat, and was thrown into it, and waited for someone to sit down on the other side.
Ashton finally sat down. It was silent for a few minutes as the realization hit me.
"He said no, didn't he?" I asked.
Ashton sighed and nodded. "I tried everything I could."
I nodded. "What the hell are we going to do, Ashton?"
"I don't know, Carmen." He sighed. He looked up at me with those big gorgeous eyes and.... I realized that he looked genuinely sad, sorry, and utterly disappointed in himself.
"How long do you think my time'll be?" I asked. "Have you spoke to the lawyer?"
Ashton nodded once. "He says that the average time a person spends in jail for attempted murder is hard to tell. He thinks maybe 10 years for you, but since I'm technically not pressing charges but the hospital is forcing something to be done so maybe less than that. Hard to tell."
"I'm screwed."
It was silent again for a few moments. I looked at Ashton, and saw how his eyebrows furrowed together as he thought and how tired he looked. I wonder why he actually tolerates me now; all I've ever done is treat him horribly. Hell, I held him at gunpoint. But yet here he is, doing everything he can to get me out, but why?
"Ashton?" I asked, deciding to get my answer. "Why are you here?"
"Why am I here? To help you of cour-"
"Ashton." I interrupted. "You know what I've done."
Ashton's mouth pressed into a straight line, and he ran his hand through his hair and looked back at me. "I've told you this, Carmen. Because after everything that has happened, I still love you. And don't say that I don't love you, because I do. I understood everything when you hurt me, and even when you held me at gunpoint, I was upset. But then you told me about the knife you found that framed me, and I realized that you were sort of right to do that. What I'm trying to say is that no matter what has happened I've always looked at you, and...." He slowed down from his fast ramble. "I see beauty. Strength, power, bravery. A shell with a breakable girl inside. And... I've seen that breakable girl maybe once or twice, and from those few times, I fell in love with her. With you, Carmen."
I looked down at my hands. Tears were threatening to spill and I thought.
"Ashton, I...." I trailed. "You shouldn't."
"Shouldn't?" He looked hurt. That look broke my heart.
"You shouldn't. I'm incapable of that feeling. I can't feel it; I'm better left off alone. I don't know what to do, I'm not romantic, and frankly, I'm a bitch. And no matter what I feel about you I just.... I can't."
"That's not the girl inside," He said. "This is going to sound super corny and cliché, but what about the girl inside? Is she as protected as this side of you?"
I sighed. "I do... I do really like you Ashton. But... I don't want to hurt you."
"My dear Carmen, it would be an honor to be hurt-"
"I swear if you quote the Fault in Our Stars I will literally kill you this time."
He laughed, and then sighed. "So, I've got a plan."
"You do?" I asked.
"Yes. I decided to bail you out." He said smugly.
"Ashton! No, I won't let you spend that much on me!"
"You don't even know what the bail is set at, and I'm not going to tell you, dear."
"Don't call me that." I said, resting my elbow on the table.
Ashton smiled. "I'm gonna go talk to whoever I need to." He sighed and hung up the phone as I smiled back. I stood to get up and get back to my cell when my guard pointed to the window. Walking toward the seat that Ashton left empty was the last person I expected to see.
The one and only Harry Styles.
