The Right Side

Chapter 34

Avery's POV

The guards let me walk straight into Ash's room. I look around the place. I see a little blood on the floor here and there from guards that attacked her.

I look around to see that her bathroom light is on. Walking in there I see she is shirtless while lightly washing blood off her hands.

Her kind green eyes look up at me. She gives me a soft smile then looks back down at her hands. I walk over to her slowly, "Sorry you had to see that, love." She is trying to hid her emotions. I can tell.

I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her body. She is a little cold compare to my warm body.

"I'm not..." I whisper as she wash her hands. It looks like some of it dried and won't come off. I put my head on her back and close my eyes. "What if I just left."

She drops her bar of soap and turns around. I look up at her, moving my arms down to my sides. Her eyes are deep with sorrow.

"Is- is that what you want?" She asks clenching her jaw.

"Well-"

"No no... it's a yes or no question. Is that what you want?" She asks again looking above my head. I shake my head then look down.

"I don't know Ash. I just- It would be easier." I say backing away from her and leaning on the wall.

"Avery, I don't care if it's hard! I don't care if I die doing it as long as you can live on happy! I won't just sit there and watch you settle for less than you want!" She says getting angry, "You need to treat yourself better. You need to understand how special you are!"

"Why are you so good to me, Ash?" I ask with tears in my eyes. Why does she want me to be happy over her own life? Why would she really care about me like that?

Ash looks down at the floor and turns back around to continue washing the blood off her hands, "Because you're worth being good to." she says lightly. I almost can't hear it.

I look up and down Ash's back. Her beautiful tattoo always draws me in. A little black at the bottom of her back catches my attention. I walk up behind her and lightly touch the small black line.

I see her tense up, "Ash... you have to learn how special you are too." She scoffs and turns off the sink. I turn her body around, "I'm serious, you're special to me..."

She clenches her jaw and nods. I take her hands that have now raw skin, "I don't want to leave... I really don't..."

"I don't want you to leave." She whispers.

"But what if it is better for our people Ash?" She scoffs again.

"Avery, does it look like I care about my people more than I care about you... cause if it does you aren't very observant." She says with a slight grin.

"I know... just think about it okay..." She nods and then looks up at the ceiling. She looks back down at me.

"Okay I thought about it... I don't like it." She says with a goofy grin and I laugh. "You're eyes look so beautiful when you smile, Avery..." She whispers and I roll my eyes.

"I get it I get it... you're smooth... let's get back to the meeting." I say and she groans while grabbing a new, less bloody shirt, off the counter.

***

We walk in the meeting room together. Hades and Francis glare at Ash as she walks me over to my seat. She glares back at them.

"I heard you stabbed Spencer in the shoulder at breakfast today, Ash... care to explain?" Hades says with an angered tone.