Relentless

Chapter 40

Juliet

"He's in training right now. After two months of it, they will put him in battle, but not now." Doctor McAllister says. I needed information, so I went to the hospital the next day to ask Ashton's Mom about him.

"But why did he have to leave in January? He didn't even get to go to his graduation." I ask.

"I don't know. I didn't ask."

"You didn't ask?!"

"Look, Juliet, I understand that you are angry and confused, but now is not the time to be asking questions. If you'll excuse me, I have patients to attend to."

How could she not be upset over this?

It's like it's not even phasing her that her son is in war right now. Before I say something I'll regret, I run out of the hospital and into my car.

I feel this ball of guilt lodged in my chest. I could've talked to him before he left. I'm still extremely angry and distraught that he cheated on me, but I'm torn. I want to hate his guts, but I feel like I'm attached to him. I want him.

I need him.

I find myself driving around town, looking for a place to go and relax. I need a place of serenity. Something to calm my thoughts and ease my mind. All that's around me are stores and a lot of traffic. I drive further into LA, to my school, and park in the Senior Parking lot.

I take out my phone to look up music, but instead, I find myself going into my pictures. I find one of Ashton and I kissing and then another one of us smiling into the camera. We were genuinely happy.

I can't act like I'm not worried able him, because I am. Who wouldn't be? He was everything to me and then he pulled a stupid stunt and now has me feeling this way. Torn.

My thoughts are all clumped together in my head and I can't think clearly. One side of me wants to call him and tell him that I love him. The other wants nothing to do with him.

Maybe I need closure.

But how do I find closure?

I can't let myself get hurt again, I know that. I need someone who doesn't have a "bad boy reputation" to uphold in my life. Maybe someone like Derek. But with all of this still on my mind, I won't be able to move on with my life. I'll stay in my shell and hide in there forever. That can't happen.

I go through my contacts and find Ashton's, still not deleted. I open it and see his contact photo is of him sticking his tongue out in a goofy way. Seeing that makes butterflies appear in my stomach, but they quickly fly away. I dial his number, not knowing if he has his phone in Afghanistan or not, and it goes to voicemail.

"Hey it's Ash. You know what to do." His voice declares. Just hearing his voice makes me go weak at the knees, but I can't let it do that to me anymore. It's done.

We're done.

"It's me." I state in the voicemail, hesitating and trying to think of what to say. "Look... I don't know if what you did was planned or if it was real, but it doesn't matter. You still did it. You still hurt me after you swore you wouldn't. I don't care if you had good intentions. When Jim called and told me that you were leaving I... I didn't know how to feel. But I do now. You hurt me, Ashton. That's the bottom line. I wouldn't trade what you and I had for anything, but it's over now. Thank you for everything you did for me. I hope you have a nice life. Stay safe." And with that, I end the call and throw the phone in the passenger seat. I release a deep sigh and run a hand through my hair, thinking of what to do now. I put the car in drive and start for my house.

Looking in the mirrors, I see I still have the necklace on. The piece of jewelry still means so much to me, but now that he's gone I don't know if I should keep it or throw it in the garbage.

Maybe I will keep it. It doesn't have to symbolize the bad in the relationship, but the good. It can symbolize how he made me feel loved and cherished. How he made me feel whole. How he made me feel like Juliet Summers again.

When I get home, I see Lisa putting on her uniform for work. I take my computer out and put it on video.

"What are you doing?" Lisa asks.

"I'm done hiding." I simply say. Lisa smiles as she walks out of my room and out of the house. I place the laptop on my desk and sit in my chair, staring at myself in the computer. It feels like an eternity before I finally figure out what to say and press record.

"Hi... My name is Juliet Summers."

I know this chapter is short, but the next chapter will be longer!!