For the Love of Ash (19 page)

"Come on, sweetie. Dance with me right here then." He got up from his seat and walked around the stools towards me. He tripped on one of the legs and grabbed my chair to hold himself up. I was scared since he was so aggressive, but I knew not much could happen in a crowded place. He reached for my shoulder, but before he could make contact, he was tugged backwards.
 

He landed hard on the ground, his butt crashing to the floor. Suddenly, Luke was in front of me and tugging the man up by his expensive white button-up shirt. As Luke pulled on the shoulder, it ripped open, revealing the man's chest full of dark hair. The guy stood, wobbling. He could barely hold up his own weight.
 

Luke slammed his fist into the guys face before I could say a thing. His nose gushed as if it had been broken, a geyser going off. I knew Luke was trying to defend me, but this guy was five minutes away from passing out. He didn't deserve to be hit.
 

I ran around the man and grabbed Luke's arm. "Please, stop," I said, trying to get him to look up at me and relax. He didn't even notice that I was there, let alone that I was touching him. He leaned down and pinned the guy to the wood floor. The guy was begging to be set free, wriggling beneath Luke's firm hold.

"Stop!" I yelled, grabbing onto Luke's shoulder. I tried to break through to him, but all he could focus on was the pervert on the ground. He stared daggers at the now almost unconscious guy. It was almost like Luke wasn't even in his body anymore. I pulled at Luke's arm again, needing to get him out of here before cops came.
 

His arm reared back and shoved me. I fell backwards and landed beside the unconscious guy. Pain shot from my rib to my neck as I landed awkwardly on my side. I sat up and watched Luke. He didn't even notice what he'd done. Not a single ounce of Luke was left in his body. He was taken over by this demon that was attacking a clearly drunk man who got a little handsy.

I refused to stick around.
 

I got up from the ground and ran through the crowd that was inching closer and closer to the fight. People were murmuring, but I didn't bother to stay.
 

As I ran for the exit, I tried to find June, but I didn't see her. I couldn't wait for her. I was only three miles from my house, and if I had to, I would walk. When I rounded the corner out of Cellar, I pulled my heels off, swung them over my shoulder, and started walking home.
 

Chapter Eighteen

Maggie

Two bright lights came from behind me. I turned towards the buildings on the quiet street. I didn't want someone to stop and try to pick me up, even if they were just being nice. I kept my head down and my strides long, wanting to get home as quickly as possible. I couldn't believe that this was happening to me.

"Maggie!" Luke yelled. His voice made me turn around. He was in a pick-up truck, driving slow beside me, his head hanging out the window. "Please. Talk to me," he begged.
 

"Go away, Luke." I turned back towards the sidewalk and began walking again. I didn't want to fight with him. I just wanted to get home and go to bed.
 

I was overwhelmed to the point of frustration, which then turned into anger. The extremes of my emotions were too much to handle as I walked down the blackened road. I couldn't sort it out now anyway between my aching feet and inebriated state.
 

"Let me drive you home," he said as he continued to drive beside me. I stayed quiet. I didn't want his help. I didn't need a single thing from him. Other than for him to leave me alone. "Please, Sunny."

"Go the fuck away." I threw my hands up in the air and almost started to cry. I looked towards the stars above me to stop the tears from spilling over. I thought my obvious anger would deter him.
 

After a few minutes of hurrying down the sidewalk in silence I thought I was in the clear. I looked back to make sure that his lights were in the distance when I saw him a few steps behind me.
 

This was my punishment. This was some power in the sky telling me that I shouldn't have gone out tonight. I was selfish for taking a night for myself. Luke following me down the street was what I got.
 

"Maggie, listen," he said and grabbed onto my arm from behind. I flinched at his soft touch, not wanting his angry hands on me. He had yet to apologize for shoving me. It's not like he hurt me on purpose, but still. I expected an apology in the very least. "You're scared of me?"
 

"Well, you did hit me," I said under my breath. I stopped and faced forward, refusing to look at him. I crossed my arms over my chest, my shoes dangling from my hands like my life felt.
 

"I hit you?" He lightly touched my shoulder and turned me around so that I could see him. I wasn't able to hide anymore. I didn't want to see his face, but I looked up at him anyway, the temptation too vast. My heart lurched into my throat, and I nearly choked. There was blood on his face, spattered down his neck and then disappearing into his button-up shirt.

"Oh my God. Are you okay?" Seeing him hurt, I reached for him and touched his chin. He flinched under my finger, but I lifted it so I could see better in the half-moon's light.
 

There was a small gash, no larger than a half inch, from the top of his chin to his lip. I couldn't see in his mouth but it looked like it extended inside. It didn't look deep, but it was bleeding. I looked down at myself and knew I didn't have anything on me to press against it.
 

"You have to get some ice on that or else you'll have a fat lip for a week," I told him as I rubbed my thumb over his cheekbone. There was blood there, too, but it came off easily so I knew it wasn't his.

"I hit you, Sunny?" he asked again, his voice broken and soft. Suddenly, I felt bad for the situation. I wanted to comfort Luke because he looked so fragile inside.
 

"It's okay. You didn't hurt me badly. I just wanted you to apologize," I explained.
 

"Fuck!" His voice was so loud that the expletive scared me as it echoed against the empty buildings. I stepped backwards, unsure of this guy and what he was capable of. I wanted to believe that he wouldn't hit me on purpose, but his actions had proven to be violent.
 

He paced up and down the sidewalk behind me. His hands were firmly on his hips, his body rigid as he walked without stopping.
 

"It's okay." I rushed to his side, wanting to comfort him. I wrapped my arms around his torso and refused to let him go.

"No, it's not. I fucking hit you." He tried to get away from me, but I wouldn't let him. I held on to him tight as he wriggled in my grasp, pushing my arms down. "I'm so fucking sorry. I can never tell you that enough. My dad—"
 

"It's okay, Luke. I'm fine." I kissed the back of his shoulder and laid my head on his back, squeezing my arms around him.
 

"I'll stay away from you," he said and pushed my arms off of him. Before I could do a single thing, he took off, jogging in the opposite direction.
 

I stared at his silhouette retreating down the sidewalk. I was left stranded. Again.
 

I walked the rest of the way, wondering how the tables got flipped on me. How was I the one left feeling sorry? I had to fight the urge to chase after Luke and tell him I was okay.
 

I went to Lisa's house first. The downstairs light was still on, so I hoped that someone was awake. I checked the clock on my cellphone and saw that it was only eleven thirty-eight. I knocked lightly on the door, not wanting to wake Lisa or Asher.

"Hi there, Maggie," Lisa's father, Marcus, said as he answered the door. He was a nice man who raised a great girl. They moved into town when I was about thirteen. Their son, Nathan, was in my grade, so unfortunately for me, they knew a lot of my past. But they had been a huge help with Asher, and I felt like I owed them for their support. "How was your night?"
 

"It was okay. Long. I'm ready to be home. Is he here?" I asked, leaning against the white doorframe. Their house was about as 'American Dream' as you can get. It was white with black shutters, three stories with large columns up the wrap-around front porch. They even had a white picket fence around their two acres of land, and porch swing with a red cushion.

"Right upstairs. Head on up. I'm off to bed."

"Thank you for doing this. You've been a huge help," I told him as I followed him up the stairs.
 

"Asher is a good kid. And so are you. You deserve a night out." He led me down their hardwood hallway to the last door on the left. He opened the door to the guest bedroom, and I heard a light breathing from the king-sized bed. I paused before going on.
 

"Thank you," I told him, nodding my head in gratitude.

"Of course, Maggie. See you soon," he said and then left.
 

I walked into the bedroom and almost burst out laughing when I saw Lisa sleeping on the floor. Her arm was outstretched to the side, the other one over her head, her legs in a split. She was stomach up with her hair fanned around her head like a bright sun.

I tiptoed to Lisa's side and shook her to get her to wake up. "Sweetie, wake up," I said as I pushed the hair off her face.
 

"Hello?" She jumped and nearly punched me in the face as she awakened. I cringed at how violent my night had turned out to be. "Oh! I'm so sorry Maggie. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"Hey." I cut her off so she didn't ramble on. "It's okay. It's late though. Why don't you go to your room?"
 

"Oh, right," Lisa said while pushing herself up off the floor and straightening out her graphic tee. In silence, she walked to the door. She was almost gone when I realized that I hadn't paid her yet.

"Wait, I have your money," I told her, trying not to wake Asher. I searched my pockets for the money I brought but was greeted with my bare leg. I had forgotten extra money to pay Lisa, and I didn't think she took credit. I'd spent too much on drinks.

"This one's on me. We had a really good time. I'll see you Monday, Maggie." Lisa left me alone in the room with Asher and his snores. I walked to the side of the bed and found him beneath a mountain of covers and sheets. I pulled him to the edge of the bed and lifted him behind his back and his legs.

He was way too heavy for me, but I didn't want to wake him if I could help it. Luckily, it wasn't far to the door, and I didn't have too much trouble getting him out.
 

But I knew there was no way I could get him down the street, into my house, and then up the stairs to his room. Even though he was one of the smallest kids in his class, he packed in the weight. I blamed his hockey. I placed him sitting up on the porch swing.

"Ash, baby." I brushed my hand across his forehead. "I need you to wake up so we can go home." His eyes flicked open, glassed over and droopy. He smiled and hugged me, and then I lifted him into standing position.
 

I put my arm around his shoulders and led him across the street. We were just down the road, and with one hand around him, I unlocked the door to our house and shoved it open.
 

The lights were all off, the house completely black, but I knew it like the back of my hand. I pushed open his bedroom door with my butt, as he zombie-walked beside me. He fell onto his bed and curled into a little ball. I threw the covers over him, tucking him in.

I sighed with relief as I realized that my night was finally ending. I got my brother over here without having to full wake him up. I was awesome and succeeded in at least that. The rest of the night… not so much.

I quietly walked out of his room, shutting the door on my way, and moved to my bedroom. I flicked on the light in the corner and started to undress as I got myself ready for bed.
 

I was sticky and sweaty from being out, and I knew that if I went to bed like that, I would feel miserable, so I walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower. When the room began to steam, I stepped in.