Surfer Girl // A.I (completed)

thirty

< Friday >

{ Ashton }

It was just past 12:30 am when I got home from the studio. Management has been hounding us for music, making us stay crazy late.

I was beyond tired. I had gotten to the studio at 6 am. I only left to get lunch with Tatum- then I was right back in the studio.

I tossed my keys on the kitchen counter and dragged myself to my room, grabbing a clean pair of boxers and heading into the bathroom. I sat my clean boxers and phone on the counter and started my shower, stripping my clothes and getting in. The hot water felt amazing on my tense muscles.

Just as I started washing my hair, my phone started ringing. I ignored it and let it go to voicemail. But it rang again- and again- and again.

I finally got annoyed and got out, wrapping a towel around my waist, picking my phone up. All the missed calls were from Calihan.

I was confused. Calihan and I know each other but we don't really talk. The only reason I have his number was from Tatum's knee surgery.

But then something clicked. Tatum was going out with her surf friends tonight. Maybe they were calling because of her. Maybe she's drunk and needs me to come get her.

I reached in and turned my shower off then called Calihan back,

"Ashton!" Calihan yelled into the phone as I answered,

"Hey man. Why'd ya call?" I questioned,

"You need to get your ass to the hospital. Tate's hurt" he told me, his voice cracking. I didn't hesitate after that. I hung up and tossed on some clothes, grabbing my phone, keys, and wallet and heading out the door.

****

As soon as I parked, I flew into the building, finding Calihan and Jasper in the waiting room,

"What's going on?" I panted as they stood, both hugging me,

"Tate got attacked in the parking lot at the restaurant. We had went to the bathroom and Tate told me she was just gonna go to my car since I drove her. When Jasper and I walked out, she was laying in the parking lot unconscious" Calihan explained, tears in his eyes,

"She looks horrible Ashton. She got the shit beat out of her" Jasper's eyes teared up too,

"Where is she? Can I see her?" I asked, looking around,

"We have to wait until they come out here" Calihan patted my shoulder,

"Who did it?" I asked,

"We don't know" Jasper shook his head. I groaned and ran my hands through my hair and plopped into a seat.

After what felt like hours later, a nurse came into the waiting room with a clipboard,

"Family of Tatum Kohole?" She spoke. Jasper, Calihan and I all stood and followed the nurse back to a room,

"Ashton" Calihan grabbed my arm, "She looks bad just to warn you- unless they cleaned her up"

I nodded and stepped forward, opening the door and catching sight of my girlfriend.

Tatum had an IV and a heart monitor hooked to her and was in a hospital gown with a blanket pulled up to her chest - her arms resting over the blanket. She had a bruised eye and her nose and neck were bruised. Then she had a busted lip, which I could now see stitches. Parts of her hair were tinted red with blood and her arms had bruising on them.

"Dear god" I closed my eyes for a minute, then opened them back up and stepped up to the bed. I leaned down and kissed her head then stepped back,

"They got the blood off of everything but her hair" Jasper spoke. I sat down in the chair next to the bed and grabbed Tatum's hand, kissing it before just simply holding it.

The door to the room opened, making me jump, but it was just a doctor,

"Hi guys" he spoke then looked at me, "You're the boyfriend?" He asked,

"Yes. I'm Ashton" I spoke, standing and shaking his hand. I sat right back down after and grabbed Tatum's hand again,

"So Tatum was attacked as I'm sure you know. We can't do much legal wise until she wakes up and tells us what happened. But injury wise, it's mainly major bruising. She had a broken nose which we fixed and a deep cut on her lip which we stitched. Somehow, she kept her knee safe. There is no retearing and based on the MRI, she will be out of the brace by next week" he paused,

"She will be awake by morning. We have her on some pain meds that are keeping her asleep right now" he explained.

I nodded,

"I'm going to check vitals then I'll be out of here for the night. You're welcome to stay the night" he told me and did what he had to do before leaving,

"We're gonna head out Ashton. We will be back in the morning" Jasper stood. I nodded. He and Calihan did need to go. Both their clothes had Tatum's blood on it,

"Alright. See ya guys later. Thanks for calling" I nodded. They both said Goodnight and left.

I pushed Tatum's hair from her face and kissed her head before settling down in the chair next to the bed again and turning the light off.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, seeing it was already 2:30 am. I rubbed my eyes and slid my phone back in my pocket and got comfortable- at least as comfortable as I could get in skinny jeans. I closed my eyes to try and get a little sleep before Tatum woke up.

****

After an hour, I knew I wasn't sleeping. I was simply trying to figure out who would attack my girlfriend like they did.

My mind kept going to one person though...

Her dad.