My Turn

Chapter nine

Ahh sorry for not updating in 2 days guys I've been really busy but I'll try to get back to a normal schedule of updating:) thanks for 100 reads you guys are amazing!!
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Asher and I only saw each other during school for the rest of the week but we were constantly communicating with each other. When I would text or FaceTime him, I kinda lost track of time. I've stayed up pretty late the last couple of nights and have developed bags under my eyes. I do my best to hide them, and my exhaustion, from mom, but I know she can tell something is up.

"May," she says one morning as I come down for breakfast. "Have you been getting enough sleep lately? You seem tired and I've noticed bags under your eyes."

"Yeah mom," I tell her as convincingly as I can. "I've just been a little stressed about school that's all." I hope she doesn't read to much into my sleepless nights.

That night Asher texts me again.

Hey, want to sit with me at lunch tomorrow?

Yes!! But won't people suspect something?

Not if they can't see us...

What do you have in mind?

It's a secret... but ull find out 2morrow;)

K, can't wait!

You should get some sleep, you've been looking pretty tired and I feel like that's my fault

But I like texting w/ u much more than I like sleep

Goodnight May

Fine! Goodnight Asher

And without meaning to, I fall asleep right on the spot. I awake the next morning feeling more well rested than I have in a while.

On the ride to school I'm giddy with excitement until I get a strange text from Asher.

Hey, I forgot I kinda have this thing during lunch today, can we postpone this till Monday?

Sure...what thing?

Just a thing

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I didn't. It's not like Asher to be forgetful like that. I ponder over this strange text until biology hits and the reason for it becomes clear.

Asher walks in wearing a hoody that covers his forehead and sunglasses. At first I'm confused, he never dresses like this. Then I understand. His dad must have had too much to drink last night and taken his anger out on him.

"Asher?" I ask tentatively.

"Yeah," he responds.

"Are you okay?" I ask assuming he knows I know.

"Yeah I'm perfect," he says feigning his state. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You know why," I say reaching my hand up to pull down the glasses to prove I'm right.

"May," he says stopping my hand. "I'm fine, I promise."

"Is this why you canceled lunch today?" I ask wondering if he didn't want me to find out. He avoids answering and just looks at the ground. I'm about to pester him into answering when the teacher begins talking.

After class Asher tries to rush out but I stop him.

"Hey," I tell him taking his arm. "We are not going to let your dad ruin our lunch date. Okay?" He smiles at me that adorable goofy smile and nods. Then he laces his fingers between mine and leads me to whatever hidden spot he had it mind last night.

I realize that he is taking me to the west wing of the school but I still have no idea where our final destination is. He begins leading me up some stairs that I've never been up before and we arrive at a door that has a code on it as a lock. I look at him with a confused face. He grins at me and types in the code. The door unlocks and I gasp at the amazing secret garden that spreads out before me.

"Wow Asher!" I say in awe. "How did you know about this place? And how did you know the code?"

"Just perks of being the coolest guy in the school I guess," he says jokingly bringing up something I said on our last date. I laugh with him and playfully nudge his shoulder. We sit down on the pavement and begin to eat our lunches.

"I was planning on bringing a picnic blanket up here," he tells me. "But then when I thought this wasn't going to happen..." he trails off with a distant look in his face clearly uncertain how much he wants to share with me.

"Hey," I tell him placing my hand on his leg. "If you want to talk about it, then I want to listen. And if not, I'll respect your privacy."

"Your amazing," he says with an admiring smile.

"That's what they say!" I joke. He laughs and brings his lips towards mine. We share another indescribable kiss and it ends far sooner then I would've liked.

Asher pulls back and takes off his sunglasses and pulls down his hoodie. I try to will away the tears but I can't. What kind of a father would do that to his own son. His own blood?

"Oh Asher," I say devouring him in a hug. "I'm so sorry! You don't deserve this."

"Thanks," he chokes out through tears of his own.

We stay that way until it rains. Me holding onto him and him holding onto me, believing that as long as we have each other, no one can harm us. No one can break us. We have each other, and we can be strong together, and that's all that matters anymore.