Blood of Ash

Chapter 5: Bellalyse POV

Can you feel me yet? Can you hear me?

Confused, I looked around. It was second period and I could have sworn I heard Ash. That couldn't be though. He had disappeared after I talked to him that morning and no matter how many times I texted or called, he didn't answer. I couldn't lie, I was getting worried.

Bzzzt bzzzt bzzzzzzzt

Glancing around, I pulled my phone out and checked it.

Hey Bells. Dr. appointment. srry. I 4got.

I smiled. Sometimes it really felt like he knew what I was thinking. "Bellalyse," a sharp voice admonished.

I looked up sweetly, "Yes, sir?"

"What is the answer to question two on the board," the teacher asked.

I sighed and said confidently, "Juliet was not asking Romeo where he was, but why he was who he was. She was asking why she had to fall in love with someone who was a member of her family's enemy."

"Very good," he said before proceeding with his lecture. I glanced back at my phone.

Did I miss anything? R u ok?

I responded, Y do u keep asking me that? I'm fine. Just that girl trying 2 start stuff.

What did she say? I'll talk to her about it when I get back.

Nothing. It's fine Ash. I can take care of myself.

I hated when he worried about me like that, but I smiled nonetheless. We'd been friends for 8 years and I had loved him for 6. That girl's words had really, truly hurt me that morning, but I couldn't let it show in front of him. That's why I left so quickly. Of course, I was jealous seeing her try to grab his arm, but if it's something he wants, I can't stop him.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek in an attempt to calm down. I had discovered that if I'm too anxious, it spurs on a frenzy. However, I couldn't stop thinking about what Lizzy said. Of course I wasn't the one he liked, but I still hoped I was.

I started feeling itchy and asked to be excused to the restroom. I grabbed my backpack and rushed out. I ran down the hall and hid in the old science room.

I was barely holding it together as I heard Bells, where are you? but that doesn't make sense cause Asher wasn't back at school yet. Insides feeling foggy, I screamed in pain in my head. I felt the frenzy starting and I had no way to stop it. Asher... I needed him to know how I felt before I frenzied. I needed to keep it together.

There you are, kitten. I'm coming.

I whimpered and shaked. Trembling in fear, I prayed I could calm down. I sobbed softly as I smelled chocolate and the forest. Ash was nearby, but he smelled funny, not human. What are you? I thought.

"Bells," I heard him say. "It's me. It's Ash."

"Ash," I croaked.

"Yes, love. It's me. What's going on?"

Through the fog, it barely registered that he had responded at all, let alone that he called me love. But that's when I smelled it. If I thought Lilly smelled like Christmas in July, then I have no clue what Asher smelled like. He definitely smelled like heaven. Before I knew it, I was slashing him with my claws and licking the blood off of it.

The second it touched my tongue, the flavor burst through me. It was warm and rich and orgasmic. I've never tasted anything like it before. It was like home made hot chocolate but richer. It tasted like what cooking shows described as s*x on a plate. It was heaven to me and I was hooked. I wanted, no needed, more. I tried to swipe at him again, but he caught my wrists and pulled me flush against him, telling me to breathe.

The scent of rain filled my nostrils as I breathed slowly, staring into his eyes. As I calmed down, he hugged me tight and kissed the top of my head. I thought he smelled my hair too, but that was too weird.

"Do I need to get you home, Bella?" he asked me softly.

I shook my head. "Lilly is home sick." I can't be around her like this.

"What do you want to do," he asked as he rubbed my back.

I looked up at him and whispered, "Just stay like this for a couple minutes? please?"

He smiled softly and nodded. I kept looking at him for a moment, yearning to kiss him and to just let him know how I feel. I whimpered internally and buried my face in his chest. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I breathed in deeply. We had been friends for years and I couldn't count how many times we had hugged. However, he never once held me like this. I love this man so much. Those tears tried so hard to fall, but I fought them back.

I was about to say those three words to him when the warning bell's piercing shriek rang through, startling me. I gently pushed him away, not letting him see the tears in my eyes. He gave me a strange look as he said kind of sheepishly, "We better get to class."

I nodded and we went our separate ways. It was getting harder and harder to hold back my tears. He probably hates me. He couldn't possibly understand what just happened. Suddenly I felt something. It was like a tug, like a rope tired around my waist and pulling me in the direction that he went. I whirled around and started at him.

What was that? It was warm and sunny and felt like Ash. I had no idea what I was doing, but I imagined a literal rope between us and tugged hesitantly. He whirled around and looked directly at me before breaking into a huge grin. I know my confusion was written all over my face, but I had no clue what was going on.

He started to take a step toward me and all of a sudden I had an image of a puppy wagging it's tail in excitement. I smiled and waved before heading to class. Whatever that was, I can figure it out later.

~time lapse~

Ash and I spent the rest of the day in awkwardness. Neither of us brought up what happened that morning so I thought I had imagined the tug. I had tried tugging on that rope off and on all day, but never got another reaction out of him. I figured he would say something on the way home, but he didn't. Strangely, I wanted to cry. Nothing had ever made me as sad as I was when I got home. I went upstairs and stopped in to check on Lilly before going to my room. I flopped on my bed and just cried my eyes out until I fell asleep.

I didn't see Asher for almost a week after that. I felt that strange tug every now and then, but it seemed like he was avoiding me. I tried texting him a few times, but hardly got a response. That's why when I got to school and he was standing at my locker looking even more gorgeous than ever, I was a little shocked.

His gentle yet gruff voice rang clear to me as he said, "Hey Bells."

I whimpered and yanked hard on that rope. I have no idea why I felt that urge, but his eyes went wide and I heard an audible gasp come from him.