Fall back in love

Chapter 43

They say love conquers all but what if that same love betrays everything you've believed?

You know what's the saddest part about betrayal? It never comes from your enemies. Sure, Mackenzie and Danny put the video up and humiliated me in front of the whole school but Ross was the one that played me for six months. Betrayal comes from friends and loved ones. You spend hours, weeks, in my case months with someone, let them get to know you, build trust, and make each other happy. So why would someone destroy all that?

As I was getting ready for bed there was a knock on the door. "Honey, can we talk?" My Mom asks with concern clear in her voice.

Ross brought me to my parent's house and I've been staying here for over a week. "Can we talk later? I'm really tired and have a long day tomorrow." I've been dodging any questions my parents have about me coming back home.

They know I got into an argument with Ross but they don't know it's the whole bet thing. If I tell them, it would destroy them.

"I just want to make sure you're okay, you've been avoiding all of us." She gives me a concerned look and I sigh. "It's just complicated Mom but I promise I'll be fine." I give her a reassuring smile as she nods and walks away.

I close the door and lay on my bed to try and get some sleep. Ever since the night, I haven't been able to sleep well, I wake up in the middle of the night hyperventilating and crying, and when I reach out for him I am reminded that he's not there.

~~~~

"We should hang out tonight!" Cameron says cheerfully but I am a little distracted at the moment. "Hey Ash, did you hear?" She taps my shoulder and I am brought back to reality.

"I'm sorry, I can't." I reject her offer. "What? No, come on. You can't do this every time." She says referring to isolating myself whenever Ross and I break up. "Speaking of, where is he today?" I wonder, noticing he wasn't in class at all today.

He has been keeping his distance, giving me space as I process and think of what the next step in our relationship will be, but he's been coming to school every day since what happened. He says it's to make sure I'm okay and still focused on school, at least that's what Savannah says he told her.

"You didn't hear this from me but Jonathan went out last night, and said he was going to talk to you but came home with a bruised face and bloody knuckles, maybe they got into it." She says and I notice Jonathan's not here either.

"I have to go." I grab my bag and head out to my car. I drive towards the house Ross and I have together and ring the doorbell, but there's no answer. I repeat my actions a few more times but get no response. I get back into my car and go to his dad's house, where Rocky and Ryland live, to see if he's there.

I ring and knock on the door to soon be answered by Ross, with a bruised face. "Ashley? What are you doing here?"

"Did my brother hit you?" I question him. "Did you two fight?" He turns away not willing to look at me when I ask. "No, it's a long story."

"I've got time." I cross my arms. "I don't think you want to know." He says scratching the nape of his neck and stepping outside. "Well, I'm here for a reason. Might as well tell me before I find out from someone else." I roll my eyes and he sighs finally giving in. "Can we talk somewhere else?" He unlocks his car when I nod.

"How's the baby?" He changes the subject when we're both inside the car. "Fine, I have a check-up next week. Why are your face and knuckles bruised?"

"Jonathan and I got into it with Danny last night." He sighs giving in knowing I would find out some other way. "What? Why?"

"I made a deal with Jonathan that if I helped him hurt Danny for humiliating you he would help me with something else." He says not looking away from the road ahead. "Babe- Ash, it's not a big deal."

"Yes it is, I thought you had more control than that." I furrow my eyebrows and shake my head. "I do, but I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to get you back." He turns to go back before speaking.

"Wait, what?"

"Jonathan is helping me get you back. I can't take not being with you, not holding you, listening to you laugh, or ranting about how good criminal minds are. I haven't slept in days, and I'm mostly at my dad's house because I can't be in ours without you." He parks the car on the driveway and sighs. "So when Jonathan saw how angry I was for what Danny and Mackenzie did at prom he made that deal with me. I know that I messed up but I love you."

"How do I know you won't do something like this again?" I ask him before opening the door of his car to get out. "Because I love you."