Witness- Ashton Irwin

Part 2

Lola's POV

I entered Gina's place and quickly got dressed only to be interrupted by Gina herself. I held in the fact that she scared the shit out of me.

"Gina, what's up ?" I asked nervously.

She eyed my attire and shook her head.

"He's out there isn't he ?"Gina asked with a bemused look on her face.

Honestly no one could lie to Gina, she was like a walking lie detector. I nodded my head after a long silence. She soon stepped out of my way.

"Please let me know when you're coming back. Detective Manning will be coming by tomorrow." She said, I gulped.

Should I mention the man with the camera who looked like Vega ? If I did she might not let me go out the door...

"Of course." I said smiling. "I'll see you later."

I decided against telling Gina and rushed out of the house. Ashton was waiting by the driver's side as I rushed out.

"Hey, you ok ?" He asked concern etched on his face.

"Yeah, I'm just excited to go out !" I replied. "Let's go."

We both entered his car and drove off. Rock music playing softly out of the car speakers. As we drove further away my heart beat started to regulate again. I had to tell him before anything serious happened. But how do I bring it up ?

'Oh thank you for the lovely night and by the way, I've been lying about my identity and a crazed man is trying to kill me !'

"You seem lost in thought." Ashton said, I looked at him and tried not to start crying.

How the fuck was I suppose to bring this up ? God I was shaking like a damn leaf in the wind !

"I have a lot on my mind is all." I replied as cooly as I could.

I noticed in the rear view mirror a black sedan that was too close for comfort. My stomach dropped, were they following us ?

Ashton suddenly pulled over on the side of the road, the car drove passed us and kept going. I mentally sighed in relief at my paranoia.

"Okay, I know something is bothering you." He said looking at me. "What's wrong ?"

Okay, it's now or never. I'll chicken out if I don't tell him now. I sighed and prepared myself for what I was about to say.

"There's a reason I came here." I started. "I'm originally from Chicago.. where something really bad happened to me and my family.."

Why was it so easy to tell my best friend about this ? This was hard... a tear slipped down my face and Ashton wipes it away with his finger.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable.." He started but I cut him off.

"No." I said. "I need to tell you."

I took another deep breath and continued to confess.

"I came home after school one day and.... the door was unlocked." I continued, it was getting harder to speak without crying.

He cradled my face in his hands looking down at me with pure emotion in his eyes.

"What happened next ?" He asked or more like whispered.

"I came in like I normally did and I immediately knew something was wrong. The living room was a mess and there was broken glass in the kitchen.. I called for my Mom and Dad and that's when I heard the gun shot..." I stopped for second to catch my breath.

Flashbacks of seeing my Dad in a pool of his own blood came to mind but I shake them away quickly.

"I ran up the stairs and found my Mom cradling my Dad's body on the floor but I didn't know the man who shot him had seen me... he forced me in the room and was going to kill us both but..... my Mom distracted him and I ran. So fast and she was right behind me, then I heard a gunshot and she was on the ground.." I cried, I wiped the tears away from my face trying to contain myself.

"My Mom told me to run, so I did and I got away... my Mom died on the doorstep and the man got away.." I continue. "I've been in Witness Protection since that day. Had to give up everything to stay alive. My name, the family I had left."

I looked up at Ashton, my cheeks stained with my tears. He had tears slipping from the corners of his eyes as well, he didn't say anything just pulled me towards him to give me a hug.

"I'm so sorry.." He said and I just cried into his shoulder staining his shirt.

We stayed in that position for the longest time. I felt relieved to have finally told him. But what did that mean for us ?

Later that night

We sat side to side on a rock at the beach, just watching the waves come and go. His hand found mine, giving it a quick squeeze.

"So, what's your real name ?" He asked.

"Ellie Winters. God it doesn't even sound like my name anymore.." I replied running my hand through my hair. "I've been going by Lola for so long, it's kinda apart of me now.."

"This is... a lot to take in.."Ashton said. "I can't imagine having to leave everything behind."

We both sat there just staring up at the darkening blue sky. Clouds were coming in indicating a possible storm.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you Ashton. I wanted to tell you sooner but we were getting close so fast I didn't know how." I said, he took my hand gently rubbing the small tendons.

"Don't be sorry, I understand why you didn't. This doesn't change how I feel about you." He said and I looked up into his eyes.

I was relieved he wasn't mad at me. Leighton was right.

"I like you, a lot. I've never felt this way before about anyone." I added. "I was afraid to lose you."

He stood up and pulled me up against his chest. Our eyes just inches apart.

"You could never lose me." He said and his lips came down over mine.