Happiness∞TheCampingRusher& ChildDolphin FF

Part Nine

∞Brayden∞

When the police leave, we walk over to Ashley. I touch her shoulder and she turns to me.

"I'm sorry," she says. I smile.

"Let's go back," I tell her referring to the hotel room. She nods and walks over to Ryan who puts his arm around her.

"I'm sorry," I tell Graser. "I have never seen her act like that. I think I was more scared than you."

"No, I should be the one who is sorry. About everything," he says.

"Thanks man," I say. "I should be getting back."

"Okay. Let me know how she is," he says a little worried.

"Does Zach have a crush?" I joke.

"Don't push it," he says. "But tell Ryan that I'm sorry too."

"Okay." I walk over to them and tell Ryan. He smiles. I grab his hand and we walk to our hotel.

~TIME SKIP~

"She is just lying on the couch," I tell Graser over the phone.

"But is she okay?" he says obviously worried.

"I don't know. She is just lying there. She won't even answer us."

"Can I talk to her?"

"You can try," I say. "Here Ash, it's Graser." She doesn't move. Just stares off into space.

"She won't take the phone," I say.

"Umm...speaker?"

"You are really worried about her, huh, Graser."

"Well...you saw her earlier," he says embarrassed.

"Ok, Ash, Graser is on speaker phone."

"Ashley? It's Zach. Can we talk please?"

She shakes her head.

"Please," he says.

"I'm sorry," I tell Graser.

"Maybe I can come over?" he asks.

"I think she just needs to process things right now. Maybe tomorrow."

I hang up and sit next to Ash putting her head in my lap. I stroke her hair.

"Talk to me Ash."

"How can someone do that?" she says. "How can you beat your own child?"

"You did what was right. We got him arrested," I soothe.

"But that's not all. Gr-Zach and I were about to beat each other to bloody pulps. How did I let it get that far?"

"It's okay. You both apologized. You're forgiven."

"But how can I forgive myself?" She starts to cry.

I sit her up and hug her. Ryan walks in from the store.

"Why would you need to forgive yourself?" he says sitting next to us.

"For-"

"No. Really think about this. It's not about Graser. Or even the little girl. Then what is it?"

"N-n-nothing," she says plainly.

"Exactly. Your beating yourself up over nothing," he says.

~TIME SKIP~

After Ashley went to her room, Ryan and I lie in bed.

"I love you, Brayden."

"I love you too, Ryan."

I kiss him. He kisses back. It's moments like this that make me feel I've finally found happiness.