Trainwreck (16 page)

Chapter 29

It had been a week since that incident, and Asher hadn't reverted back into his old ways. In fact, if Sadie was being honest, he seemed to be more affectionate with her even during school hours – even in front of other people. Sadie wasn't exactly comfortable with the people staring at them, gossiping about them. She had heard a number of rumors of why they were together – Asher knocked her up, Sadie was a secret slut, Sadie was trying to get back at Tony by dating one of Tony's friends. More than a couple of times someone asked Sadie if she was sleeping with Asher, and less than an hour later, that person normally had a black eye (unless, of course, that person was a woman) and had an apology for Sadie.

Sadie knew exactly what happened and would tell Asher not to do that, that he could get caught, get a detention or something even worse. Asher always chuckled at her concern for him, and would wrap his arm around her, kiss her on the cheek, and whisper that the only reason he did it was because Sadie secretly liked it. Upon hearing this, Sadie would blush and deny it, but much like the first time he had seen her, he saw through the lie and teased her about it.

---

For the past week, Asher had been walking on clouds. He would never admit it, of course, and he was always brooding, talking back to authority, causing ruckus unless he was with Sadie. Then his whole demeanor changed and he felt as though everything was right with the world. He didn't have to prove anything when he was with Sadie, and because of that, he felt completely content, comfortable. He didn't ever want to leave her side because he felt happy – actually happy – when he was around her.

God, he sounded like a wuss. But then again, it wasn't really his fault, was it? Sadie had him under some kind of spell.

When Asher heard about someone asking about their sex lives – especially when that person asked Sadie – he felt himself get upset over it. Nobody talked to his girl like that and got away with it.

Asher's reputation was changing as was Sadie's. Asher's friends called him whipped, the girls guaranteed Sadie that she was just another screw when it was obvious she was more. Asher had never shown affection for the other girls, not like he did with Sadie. And it wasn't making out or even kissing. The big thing Asher did with Sadie at school was hold hands with her. It was sweet and territorial, and soon, everyone on campus knew that Sadie and Asher were together.

The best thing about their relationship, Asher found, was that Sadie never pressured him to be with her at every moment of every day. In Marine Biology, he didn't suddenly start sitting next to her, and during lunch, sometimes they would eat together and sometimes they wouldn't. She didn't try to change him because, for whatever reason, she seemed to like him exactly for who he was.

He was lucky and he knew it.
Asher could be himself with her. And he hoped that Sadie felt the same way with him.

---

Thursday during lunch, Sadie and Natasha were sitting near the big theatre in the center of the quad, talking about their plans for that weekend. It was their usual place, shady and cool even when the days were hot. They could see the entire quad from where they were sitting, and it also guarded them from the flocks of seagulls that had no qualms diving down in order to steal somebody's food. They were in the middle of the conversation when Paulina walked up the stairs to the theatre and approached them. Both Sadie and Natasha stopped talking in order to regard the girl, surprised that she was gracing either of them with her presence.

"Yes?" Sadie finally asked, arching a brow after a moment of tense silence between the three women. "Is there something we can do for you Paulina or are you just lost?"

"That bruise on your face seems to be healing quite nicely," Natasha threw in with a mischievous smile. In all honesty, the bruise Sadie had bestowed on her that fateful day had long since disappeared, but rumor had it that Paulina was worried about some sort of disfigurement so any time Natasha got the chance, she mercilessly teased the bleach blonde about it.

Paulina gave Natasha a scathing look that might have been intimidating on anyone else. But it wasn't with Paulina. "Sadie," she greeted, her voice ice cold. "So I heard a rumor that you and Asher are
seeing
each other." It would appear that due to the tone of Paulina's voice that Paulina didn't quite believe what she had heard and actually came to the source of it to find out herself.

"It's not a rumor, Paulina," Sadie told the girl in front of her quietly. Oddly enough, Sadie's voice was neutral, free from any defense or mocking. "Me and Asher are seeing each other."

"I thought so," Paulina said, plastering on a fake look of disgust. "You know, I didn't think you could go lower on the food chain than with Tony McAllister, but you proved me wrong, Sadie. Asher Boyd is the lowest of the low. You two deserve each other."

"You know Paulina," Sadie said with an easy smile. "I think you're jealous. I think you've always had a thing for Asher and you can't believe he's with someone like me compared to someone like you. Now, if there's not anything else, you can leave."

Paulina rolled her eyes, scoffing as she turned around and headed back down the stairs.

Before Sadie or Natasha could resume their conversation, a familiar junior approached them. It was Anthony, from the first Saturday school Sadie had had.

"Hey," Sadie said, shooting him a soft smile.

Natasha opened her mouth to say something as well, but couldn't quite formulate the words and then closed it, blushing as she did so.

"Hey," Anthony said before stealing a glance over at Natasha. "I just wanted to – well, I mean, it's none of my business, but... I just wanted to say congratulations. I mean if you and Asher being together is true and all that." He shrugged awkwardly, glancing away but keeping an eye on Natasha from the corner of his eyes.

Sadie chuckled at Anthony and Natasha's reaction together and then nodded. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "Uh Anthony, I'm not sure if you've met my best friend Natasha..."

---

Sadie was still smiling when she headed to her car in the parking lot. Apparently, Natasha had seen him around and thought he was cute so she invited him to go to Starbucks with her, leaving Sadie to drive home alone. Not that she minded, of course. She wanted nothing more for her friend than having Natasha as happy as she was, and if Natasha could find that with Anthony, then more power to them. It didn't matter if they were an off-beat sort of couple. She and Asher were, but the two of them were just so happy.

"Hey," a familiar drawl said, startling her.

Sadie jumped and turned, frowning when she saw Tony standing there. He was alone, but his golden eyes were narrowed in Sadie's direction, already accusing before he had spoken.

"What's this I hear about you screwing Asher?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest and crowding Sadie's personal space so she couldn't even open her car door. "Hmm? And don't tell me it's a lie because I heard what people were saying."

"I'm not screwing anyone," Sadie said, glaring at the man in front of her. Any sort of confrontation with Tony creeped her out only because she had no idea if he would be able to maintain control over his temper. "I'm
seeing
Asher Boyd. Not that it’s any of your business. Now can you move so I can get in my car?”

“If you’re
seeing
Asher, then you’re
screwing
Asher,” Tony said as though it was obvious, and he rolled his eyes. “Don’t play games with me, Sadie. And, of course, it's my business. I dated you before anybody, before Asher, and when I say dated, I mean dated because you wouldn't let me touch you, screw you, anything."

"Best decision of my life," Sadie quipped, knowing she was treading on dangerous territory but didn't feel the desire to stop. "Now could you move Tony? You can't do anything to me. We're in a crowded parking lot and if you so much as think of touching me, I'll call the cops. So move before I do simply for harassing me."

"God, you're a bitch," Tony said, running his fingers over his cropped locks. "Probably better that you and Asher are together so he can see you for what you are. But I want you to remember something, Sadie. You're mine, whoever you're dating or screwing. Don't think you're not." With that, he started backing up, allowing Sadie to open her door, quickly slip in, and then shut it.

She started the car and rolled down her window, before calling out to Tony. "Tony," she said. "Just so you know, I don't belong to anybody."

When she finished, she drove off, and though she truly believed what she had said, she couldn't shake a shiver sliding down her back.

Chapter 30

Instead of going home, Sadie met up with Asher at a bench located in a nearby park. It was their spot, and had been for the past week because they couldn't go to her house, and Asher sure as hell wasn't going to let her come back to his house lest his father say something to Sadie's face that upset her. So they picked out a spot where they could spend time together before either of them had to go home.

As usual, Asher was waiting for her, lying on his back and staring up at the clouds. When he heard Sadie's approach, he sat up and glanced over at her, his brown hair falling into his face as it usually did. Upon seeing him, Sadie couldn't help but feel better about everything, and a tiny smile lifted up her face albeit slightly.

"Hey Blondie," he said, his warm brown eyes scanning her face. "You're late. Are you okay?"

Sadie refrained from rolling her eyes knowingly. A lot of people underestimated him, but in all honesty, he seemed to notice little things others wouldn't, and when he asked her the question, he didn't sound accusing or annoyed, but rather concerned. He might have made a silly comment as he usually did – just because they were together didn't mean their usual relationship had changed all that much – but he knew when to be funny and when not to be funny, and from what he saw in Sadie's eyes, he decided to refrain from saying anything. Asher found out that Sadie wasn't a stranger to hiding her emotions, even when it came to him, but he was slowly learning how to read when she was, and by now he had it down to a tee. Right now he could tell something was bothering her, he just didn't know what.

"I'm okay," Sadie said, and though that was all she was going to say, the look on Asher's face caused her to continue. "It was nothing really. It's just that Tony confronted me in the parking lot about you, but I handled it."

"What did he say?" Asher asked, and though he tried to keep his voice calm, there was an edge to it that told Sadie otherwise.

"It's no big deal," Sadie told him, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.

"It
is
a big deal when it comes to you, Sadie," he murmured, trying to convey unsaid words through his eyes. "Now, please. Tell me what he said."

"What everyone else said," Sadie murmured. "That you and I are sleeping together because no one can imagine we're not and that I still belonged to him or something, but I told him that I didn't belong to anyone." She rolled her eyes. "Tony's an asshole. He creates his own reality in his mind and –"

Before she could continue, Asher cut her off. "Go home," he said.

Sadie blinked, surprised at the abrupt dismissal. "Excuse me?" she asked, not exactly sure if she had heard him correctly.

"Sadie, go home," he told her once again, his brown eyes serious. "I need to take care of something."

"Asher," she said, but he had already turned and began to walk away. "Asher?"


"Please!" Asher called in return, glancing back at her. "Go home."

Sadie was left standing adjacent to the park bench, her mouth hanging open unceremoniously. When she realized he wasn't going to come back any time soon, she walked back over to her car and headed back to her house, grumbling to herself the whole time. What did Asher think he was going to do? What did take care of things even mean? Sadie rolled her eyes as she pulled into the driveway before heading into her house, trying not to think too much about it. That was how Asher was – he would disappear without so much as an explanation and then turn back up as though nothing had happened.

Sadie sighed, grabbing a glass of water from the sink. But she really liked Asher and this was just something she would have to get used to. Oh well. To her, it would be worth it in the end, so she tried not to dwell too much on it. Instead, she grabbed her binder and decided to start some homework that wasn't due for a while, trying to get her mind off of thinking about Asher and whatever it was he was taking care of.

It wasn't until six o'clock when Sadie got some kind of inkling of just what that was. The phone rang, but it wasn't Asher on the other line. It was Natasha.

"Hey," Sadie said with a knowing smirk on her face. "How was your date with Anthony?"

"It went fine," Natasha said. Her voice caused Sadie to pause. Something had happened, but she didn't know what. "Anyway, Sadie, I promise we can talk about that later, but afterwards, we were driving around, right? We saw Asher and Tony in some kind of fight outside
Ernie's
. I'm not sure who won, who was hurt or what, but I thought I should tell you before you heard it from anyone else."

"Thanks Natasha," Sadie murmured, the color draining from her face. "Um, I should go in case Asher calls me. But thanks for telling me Natasha, okay? When – if – I hear anything, I'll tell you."

She hung up the phone and put away her homework, knowing full well that she wouldn't be able to concentrate with that now. Not when Tony and Asher had gotten into some kind of brawl. God, she hoped Asher was all right.

--

The hours slowly went by, but when one thirty in the morning rolled around, tiny little clinks could be heard on Sadie's window. Sadie wasn't even sleeping so she jumped out of bed, knowing full well who it was. She pushed the blinds aside and opened the window, opening her mouth to speak, but Asher quickly placed his index finger over her lips in order to prevent her from doing so.

"I want to show you something," he whispered quietly, his breath slipping out into the air. "Get dressed; it's cold out here."

It only took moments, but Asher was leading Sadie to one of the integrated parks in her neighborhood. They both sat on a table, their backs resting on the surface, trying to make out the stars that made up a southern California sky.

Sadie kept quiet, knowing full well that Asher would tell her if he wanted to tell her.

"I got into a fight with Tony," Asher finally admitted, turning his head so he could take in Sadie's sharp profile. Again, Sadie felt the desire to open her mouth and start asking questions, but she stopped herself. Instead, she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes and nodded slightly, as though she was trying to tell him that she wasn't going to yell at him, that he should continue on.

Asher turned so that he was lying on his side, and propped his elbow out so he could rest his head in his palm. "I don't like anyone talking to you like that," he admitted quietly before reaching out and gently caressing her face. "I just... I don't know."

"Are you hurt?" she asked him, turning so she was facing him. She couldn't stop herself from asking that one particular question, but even if she hadn't, Asher could easily read the worry flashing in her eyes.

"Got a couple of bruises," Asher replied, shrugging nonchalantly as though it wasn't a big deal. "Nothing I can't handle." He heard her sigh, and could tell it was from frustration so he hid a grin of amusement and pressed on. "You should see Tony though. He's worse than I am. He's big, yeah, but he's slow, and he only managed to get a couple of swings on me while I practically knocked him out."

"He's going to be coming for you then," Sadie said quietly. "You know Tony doesn't let people get away with stuff like that."

Again, Asher shrugged. "I'll be okay," he told her.

Sadie didn't want to talk about this anymore, so she decided to change the subject. She turned her head, staring up at the stars, a mischievous smile on her face as she said, "So homecoming tickets are going on sale next week..." She let her voice trail off, hoping he would take the hint. Sadie had only been to one homecoming before and that was with Tony, who was complaining about every aspect of homecoming the entire time. She hoped to erase the memory by going with someone she really wanted to go with – Asher.

Asher rolled his eyes. "Homecoming?" he asked in a voice that clearly said that he didn't want to go. He heard her sigh then. This time, it wasn't out of frustration but out of surrendering.

Fine, if he didn't want to go, Sadie wouldn't force him.

Asher glanced over at her again and reached out so he could intertwine his fingers with hers. "Would it make you happy?" he asked her, slight skepticism in his voice.

"Completely," Sadie said with a small smile.

Now it was Asher who sighed with surrender. "I'll think about it," he promised, but he knew he would ultimately agree if it made her happy.