Misunderstood

Chapter Seventeen

Sahara’s POV

We were all currently sitting on the bathroom floor, trying not to get splashed as the faucet in the bathtub ran. We figured this was the only place Mr. Psycho would not be able to hear us, although we were still taking precautions by turning the water on and speaking as low as possible which was actually proving to be very difficult at the moment. 

“Who’s going to be bait?”

“Well how do we make him come to the house?” 

“Maybe we should just tell another secret?” 

“What’s another secret that we can tell?” 

“Enough!” Ashton suddenly hisses, causing us all to quiet down and stare at the shaggy haired boy who’s hazel eyes are shining with anger. “I’ll be the bait, we need to just make him mad enough to come down here for someone else, and I will be the bait,” he continues once he realizes he has our attention. 

“No Ashton, you can’t do that,” I whisper fervently, moving a little closer to the boy on my left and wrapping my small fingers around  his large ones. I feel his hand squeeze a little tighter, and I can hear his breathing become scarce. I know this scares him, and I know he is just doing this because he wants to seem like the fearless leader but I can’t let him go out there and just get himself killed. 

“Yes I do Sahara, we need for this to be over,” he replies, matching his tone with my own so no one else will hear us. “I will be the bait,’ he replies back at his normal volume and I notice that everyone just kind of gives him a nod in response. How are they all going to let him do this? 

“Are you serious? You’re all just going to let him go out there without even arguing? How could you do this? He’s all of your best friend,” I shout, suddenly not caring if Mr. Psycho hears us. I find myself rising to my feet as my angry glare passes over each person still sitting in the small circle, looking warily up at me. 

“Well maybe we should just tell him a secret then,” Mikey suddenly speaks up, his green eyes watching me angrily. I know where he is going with this and it takes all I have not to lunge and punch him in the face. There is no way I’m letting that get out right now. 

“Michael, shut up,” I answer through gritted teeth, and he smirks as if he knew all along that that would be my answer. Of course he knew, he just wanted to know how far I would go to protect Ashton.

As I look down I see Ashton watching me as well, something in his eyes shows that he also knows I wouldn’t risk bringing more hate to myself so as to save him and the sudden brightness that always appeared in his hazel eyes was gone. 

“Okay then, let’s go get this guy on the television,” he whispers quietly, rising to his feet and starting to shuffle from the bathroom. 

“Ashton please,” I try one last time, the sobs breaking through my voice. 

“No Sahara.” 

I run ahead of them out of the bathroom, not even realizing where I am going until I bound up the stairs and enter the room Ashton and I were supposed to be sharing tonight. What would be happening right now if none of this had started? Would Ashton and I be cuddling in this bed that I am now sitting on? Would we have just undressed each other, his eyes sparkling as they took in my body before his soft lips pressed against mine? Would we hear Luke and Harper downstairs still drinking and going through the refrigerator like they usually do, trying to grab as many snacks as possible to take into their bedroom?

Everything could be so different. But it’s not. We’re stuck in this nightmare and I don’t know how to get out of it. 

I hear the sobs escape my lips, and feel the tears hit my palms that are lying limply in my lap before I even realize I’m crying. Dammit, why do I have to be so emotional?