AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Why didn't she ever tell me? Who was the father? A sudden noise startles me. Looking up, I see Ashton staring at me with the most horrific expression on his face. I wipe my cheeks and give him a shaky smile.
“Good mor—”
“What the fuck are you doing in here? Where did you get that?” he asks in a voice so cold, so dispassionate, shivers run down my spine.
“Sorry, I know I shouldn’t be in here. I was looking for—” Once again, I’m cut off.
“I don’t care what you’re looking for, Gracie. Get the fuck out now.” He takes a step closer, and hovers overtop me, crossing his arms. He’s pissed.
I close my eyes and sigh. I just keep fucking up. I chance a peek at him, but he hasn’t moved.
“Ash, I think we need to talk. I'm starting to remember some things, about you, about us.” I look up at him with excitement and apprehension. This is good, right? We might finally get some answers.
“That’s great, Dollface. That you think I give a fuck is even better. But the fact that you're sitting there and holding that while talking to me really takes the cake.” I gasp at his malice and glance down at the photo in my hand with confusion.
“I don’t understand. Why didn’t anyone tell me?” I ask him, trying to avoid the evil in his eyes.
“Why would I tell you anything? You were the one who ruined everything. You were my entire reason for living, but apparently, I wasn’t good enough for you and our baby.”
My eyes snap to him, then back to the photo.Our baby?No, that can’t be right. I shake my head, but I’m at a loss for words. Is that the big secret? I was pregnant?
Ash scoffs, “Now get the fuck out of here. I don't want you around. I thought I could forgive you for being a selfish bitch, but I changed my mind,” he sneers and then smirks.
“Oh, and Gracie, if I’ve knocked you up again, this time tell me before you go jump off a cliff. An abortion is cheaper and less painful. I knew you were fucking lying about having memory loss.”
My mouth is wide open, and I’m trying to understand what the hell he’s even talking about. I wasn’t pregnant; at least, I don’t think I was. Our time together is still fuzzy, but I would remember that, right?
Also, why is he being so cruel right now? I just stare at him. Jump off a cliff? What is he talking about? Losing patience with me, he yanks me up from the floor, shouting in my face.
“I said get out! I can’t even look at you right now. You destroyed me. Leave Willows Creek and don’t come back. If you know what's good for you, you won’t return to school, either. Leave this fucking town…”
I shake in his hold, and he closes his eyes, taking a breath. When he reopens them, I know his words are going to flay me open. “You’re nothing but a used up pussy, trying to steal my friends from me. Well, fucking newsflash, they are smarter than that! I’ll make sure they know the kind of liar you are.” He grabs me by the arm, rougher this time, and practically throws me down the stairs.
“Ash, please stop! I don't understand!? Will you please just tell me? No one else will. What happened that night? I just want to know the truth! I’m not lying. If you ever loved me… Please!” Falling to my knees, I hold my hands in a prayer position and look him straight in the eye.
“Please, I’m begging you, I need to know! This not knowing is making me insane. I can’t do this anymore. Was I pregnant? PLEASE TELL ME!”
God, we’re both spiraling, but maybe it’s time to just have this out. We’ve been dancing around this for way too long.
He looks at me for a few minutes, then cracks up. Laughing, he grips his hair, then starts screaming, “GET OUT! GET OUT! GET THE FUCK OUT! I CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN! Just get out, Gracie,” he finishes in a whisper, then starts to cry, putting his head in his hands. I am so confused. I don’t know what to do.
My heart races, and my hands shake. I can’t go. We need to deal with this. But should I leave and come back later? Should I stay? What’s going on right now? I know he loves me, so why is he being so cruel?
A few minutes later, he grabs the crook of my elbow, pulling me from the floor and wrapping me tight in his arms. I'm so blown away by his change in moods that I don’t realize he's still crying.
I try to pull away, we need to talk this out, but he just holds me tighter. The constant toxic back and forth can't be healthy, but I don’t know what else to do. Not wanting to startle him, I slowly wrap my arms around his lower back, causing him to almost collapse on me and cry harder.
Feeling a little awkward, I rub his back soothingly.
Thankfully, this snaps him out of whatever was going through his mind because he starts to chuckle. The odd thing is, I can tell nothing is funny. How could it be when everything is so screwed up?
Still holding me tight, he starts to speak, “You were my everything, Gracie, and she was my twin. I don't know what happened that night up on that cliff, but I know that you ripped my heart out and left me to die a slow, agonizing death. I thought you were too good of a person to do this, but clearly, I’m wrong…
He pushes me back a little to look me in the eyes. “You said you're starting to remember things? I just need to know why? Why did you try to kill yourself? Why didn't you tell me about the baby?”
I shake my head, and he forcefully shoves me away. I fall to my knees, wincing, still clutching the photo. I stare at a baby that may have been mine. “I don’t know,” I whisper, and he laughs.
“Yeah, of course you don’t. Just go, Gracie. Sometimes I think you’re the lucky one because I would do anything to forget this pain, to forget you.”
“Please, Ash, I’m serious. I don’t know!” I yell and watch as his eyes glaze over. He bends down low, and this isn’t my Ashton; this is the demon that lives inside him.
“We could have had everything, but you chose to leave me once, so do me a favor, Dollface. Do it again!” he sneers.
I shake my head and let the tears fall, “I don’t remember. I don’t remember. I don’t fucking remember!” I scream. How can he hold me accountable for things I have no recollection of? Do we even have a chance?
THE END…
