Blood of Ash

Chapter 11: Bellalyse POV

He was just using me. I never thought Asher was that kind of person, but the way Jackson told me about it made sense.

"He told Jackson that he and I had slept together," I exclaimed angrily to Lilly.

Lilly calmly stated, "It's not that far from the truth though. Isn't it? You told me about the dream you had after he left. One of your powers is premonition, Bellalyse. You know he's not using you. And didn't Jackson used to be obsessed with you?"

I shuddered. "Jackson was just creepy. Thankfully you never met him back then. I'm sure he would've been just as creepy towards you as he was to me."

The bell dismissing us for the day rang and Lilly looked at the door. "Are you gonna ignore him this time,too?"

I glanced at the door. He was standing there waiting like he had all of the other classes and just like before, he looked like he was seriously in pain. I sighed. "I think I'll talk to him, but not here."

She nodded and went and told him as I went to my locker. I flinched as I felt a rumble of anger that wasn't mine through that weird bond Asher and I had. I grumbled as I noticed Jackson standing at my locker. Maybe I should've waited for Lilly.

"Hey, Bell," he called.

I glared, "What is it now, Jackson?"

He pouted. "I'm sorry, Bell. I honestly thought you knew what was going on."

I opened my locker and put away my books. I sensed Asher's presence in the hall and I felt his eyes zone in on me. "Yeah, well, I didn't. Now, what do you want?"

He grinned as I looked at him. Before I could stop him, he pressed his lips forcefully against mine. I bit down hard and used all of my force trying to shove him away, but he was stronger than me. I heard a growl and next thing I knew, Jackson and Asher were across the hall away from me and Ash was completely different. I had never seen him like that before.

"I told you to leave her alone, Jackson," he forced out word for word.

Jackson grinned and shoved Asher off of him. "I told you, brother, six years ago, that she was mine."

I was about to say something when Ash said, "You know damn well why you can't have her."

I was pissed, not gonna lie. I stalked over and grabbed both of them, shoving them away from each other. I looked at Asher and snarled, "You! I've told you every damn day that I can take care of myself. I have no idea what you think you're doing or what you mean by that last comment, but you need to chill out." I turned my gaze on Jackson. "And you! You don't just kiss someone without permission! Especially when you know they're dating your brother! You know damn well that I don't like you, so what the hell did you think you were doing?"

"Bells," Ash started.

"I don't want to hear it, Ash. I'm going home."

I slammed my locker door shut and shoved my way through the small crowd of people to get outside. I was getting itchy and needed to calm down. There was this strange aura and then I was being grabbed and dragged into the woods. Before I could shriek or get too upset, I saw it was just Ash.

I growled, "Asher, I told you I don't want to talk to you."

He looked at me with pleading eyes. "Please, just listen."

I shook my head. "I can't do anything with you right now, Ash. I can't even look at you."

I pulled my hand away from him and kept walking. "Just tell me, Bells."

I froze. "Tell you what?"

He sobbed slightly. "Tell me the truth, Bells. Please. This is torture for me."

"You want the truth, Asher?" I looked at him long enough to see him nod. "The truth is, I've waited six years for my first kiss. I've been waiting for you. I've put up with your stupid brother and ignored everything and everyone telling me you would never like me. Then, all of a sudden, you kiss me? And not just one time either!

"We did so much yesterday, and then I come to school today and get told that you want me as your girlfriend. Okay cool! Except, moments after that, your stupid brother comes over and tells me that you were only saying that stuff to mess with my head. On top of that, he says that you told him that we slept together! Plus that stupid dream I had of us last night! Damnit, Asher! What the heck am I supposed to think?"

He pulled me around to look at him. "You're supposed to think that it's all your choice, but I choose you. You're supposed to think that I've waited the entire eight years we've known each other for our first kiss. Bells, I've been waiting for you this entire time. I can wait longer, but it has to be your choice."

I whimpered. "Tell me the truth, Ash."

He kissed me softly and apologetically. "I shouldn't have told Jackson that we slept together. He just got on my nerves last night and I wanted to hurt him." He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me longingly, like it was the last time. "I know what you want me to say, Bells. I can't say them. I'm so sorry."

I shoved him away from me and ran. I definitely ran too fast, but I didn't care. I didn't stop until I got to the clearing. It was a little magical place with flowers growing everywhere no matter the season. There was a little stream that bubbled through the clearing. It was my favorite place. Ash had brought me there for my 12th birthday and it's where I went whenever I got overwhelmed. I fell in love with him in that clearing, but he never felt the same way.

The little shack looked so warm, I crawled inside and curled up in the bed there. I fell asleep quickly and don't remember what happened next.