The One that got away

11. The One with the steak dinner

"Josh! What are you doing here?" I asked, worry evident in my tone.

"Hailey, I'm sorry I- I just couldn't..." he said trailing off and that's when I noticed he was crying.

I had never seen him cry before and it was one of the scariest things I had ever seen. He'd phoned me at midnight before and showed up at my house because he had needed someone to talk to, but never in a state like that.

"Josh, what happened? What's wrong?"

He didn't answer me. Instead he wrapped his arms around me. I hugged him back because I really didn't know what else to do. That's when I noticed that he was shaking, which worried me even more. What could have possible scared a 16 year old boy so much that he was crying and shaking.

"I'm sorry," he told me again.

"You don't need to apologize, you didn't do anything."

"I'm so sorry," he repeated.

"Josh what happened?"

He didn't reply but he did let go of me. I honestly didn't know what to do. I knew enough about Josh to know that this was something serious and I also knew that after he'd calmed down he would tell me.

"I shouldn't have come here," he told me.

"Josh..."

"I'm sorry it's just...it's just I trust you more than anyone else I know."

"Then there really isn't anywhere else you should be," I said and he started taking deep breathes before he took hold of my hand.

"Thank you," he said and I sent him a reassuring smile before he started telling me exactly what happened and if I wasn't so worried about Josh I would've probably burst into tears.

****************** 

My phone rings just as I get out of the shower so I cover myself with a towel and run to my room to answer it.

To say I'm shocked when I see Ashton's name on the screen would be an understatement.

"Hello," I answer.

"Hi Hailey. How are you?" he asks.

"I'm pretty good, how are you?"

"I'm okay. Are you busy right now?" he asks, sounding slightly awkward. 

"Well no, not really," I say not really wanting to mention the fact that I'm standing in my room in nothing but a towel.

"Great. Could I ask you to help me with something?" 

"Sure. What is it?"

"Well Jessica and I were supposed to go to Barneys today to do the registry and she got called into work and I am not really sure when I will have time again so could you please come with me instead?" he asks.

"Of course," I answer without even missing a beat.

"Thank you so much. I'll be there in 5 minutes then we can ride over together," he says and we say our goodbyes before hanging up.

I spend the next five minutes rushing around to get done and pretty much grab the first thing I can find that looks presentable. I hear keys turn in the lock I just finish putting my shoes on. 

"Jessica gave me a key," he tells me sheepishly. 

"Oh okay. I'll just grab my purse and we can leave then," I say. 

Ashton smiles at me before opening the door again. He walks out and waits for me to lock up. We don't say much as we walk downstairs and he hails a cab. The cab ride isn't that long but he only speaks to me again once we reach Barney's and we're walking down the aisles scanning items.