One Week {Under Construction}

Tuesday [Ashton]

Song Inspiration: Bleeding Out & Demons by Imagine Dragons

Preston married Jules. My Jules. He knows how I feel about her. Why would he marry her? Why would she marry him? This is nothing on how I thought this week was going to turn out. First, Maci is dying then apparently Preston and Jules got married. Wait, are they still married? I didn’t see any rings on either one of their fingers. Truth be told I shouldn’t be worrying about Preston and Jules because I have Sara, who makes me miserable. The sex is dull and lifeless and my life with her right now, is also dull and lifeless. I feel numb in the relationship.

I miss Jules, everyday. There is not a day that goes by where I am not thinking of her. What she is doing or who she is with. But now I know what she has been up to the past four years. Married to Preston. God, I want to kill him.

“Are you okay?” says a voice that is all too familiar. I turn to the voice and say, “I’m fine, Sara.”

“You know, you don’t have to be fucking rude, Ashton. Don’t think for one second that I don’t know that you rather be with her than me. But this is what I signed up for. So I have to deal but I deserve to be treated with some sort of respect from you.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“Really? I know a lot more than you realize, Ashton. For example, I know about graduation night.”

“How?” I deadpanned.

“When are you going to learn? Hmm? I have eyes and ears everywhere where you are concerned, thanks to your father. I did this so you wouldn’t get out of line.”

“I am not a fucking dog.”

“No, you’re a man with urges and I am willing to let you fulfill those urges because you always come back to me. And I know the reason why you put up with your father’s controlling ways.”

“Of course you do! He fucking told you.”

She walks up beside me and places her hand on my cheek and says, “Don’t worry, Ashton, your secret will always be safe with me but maybe you should find out what your precious Jules is hiding from you.”

“What do you mean?”

She smirks and says, “Ask her why she married Preston.”

“What do you know, Sara?”

She chuckles. “Don’t worry, babe, it’s nothing that is going to break us up. If anything, you will be running back into my arms like you did after graduation because you, Ashton, cannot handle the life when it gets hard. So you run and have someone else clean it up and that is usually me or your father.”

“Why do you have to be such a bitch all the time?”

“Because someone in this relationship needs a fucking backbone,” she says while she walks away.

**

I pick up the jail phone and put the two quarters in and automatically call my father. I need help. I need this to be cleaned up.

“Hello.”

“Dad, I need your help.”

“What did you do?”

“I was drinking and driving and I got into an accident.”

“Was anyone injured?”

“Two people are dead.”

“Don’t say anything until the lawyer gets there and Ashton?”

“Yes?”

“This is your last strike. One more thing and I’m cutting you off. From this point on, you follow everything I say or you’re done.”

“Yes sir.”

**

I walk up the stairs and head into Maci’s room. I knock on the door and hear, “Come in.” I enter the room and automatically plop on the bed and lay right next to her.

“What’s up?” She asks.

“Are you afraid to die?” I ask.

“If you would have asked me a few weeks ago, I would have said yes. But, now, no.”

“Why not?”

“Because I got to see you guys.”

“I am not that special.”

“I don’t know when I am going to die, Ashton. The doctors gave me a timeline but who knows if I die before or after then or even in the time frame. But all I know is that my time here is limited. I have done everything in my power to prolong my life and they didn’t work. So you want to know what I’ve done since.”

“What?”

“First, I forgave myself for every wrong that I have ever done. Then I actually began living my life, even though it has been shorten. Ashton, you have to forgive yourself for the accident that killed Travis and Megan.”

“I-I can’t Maci.”

“I have already forgiven you, Ash. Now it’s your turn to do the same. It’s what Travis would want you to do. Let’s admit something; you are not the only one to blame anyways Travis and Megan were both plastered.”

“But I was driving and I shouldn’t have been.”

“I know you weren’t the driver, Ash.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Travis was driving. I saw my brother in the driver’s seat when he left the party, Ash. I don’t know why you decided to take responsibility for that. That responsibility has only made your life hell. Shit, you barely even like Sara. Are you willing to make your life a living hell because you didn’t want to ruin my brother’s good boy reputation, which we both know is not true? That boy got away with more shit than anyone I know.” 

“Does anyone else know about me being in the accident?”

“No, they don’t.”

I turn to Maci and look her in the eyes and say, “I was the one driving, Maci. We stopped the car about two blocks away from the party and switched seats.”

She sits up and places her hand on my cheek and says, “I still forgive you and I know that Travis does too.” 

"Too bad that I can't bring myself to forgive me." 

***

Hey guys! My sister informed me that she didn't like the character Ashton because she thought he was just an asshole. Well, there is a reason for people being the way they are and I felt like Ashton's reason needed to be put out there. This is honestly becoming one of my favorite stories to write because these characters are so complex and sometimes I get writer's block trying to figure out what they are going to say or do next. Plus I also put a song to every chapter and sometimes I just can't find the right song. BTW this chapter has two songs because I honestly couldn't decide which one to use. I hope you are enjoying the story. Rate this, comment on it etc.