Chapter 21


    The sun had taken over the night as Ashley woke up. A groan left her lips as she slowly sat up. Her


    head was pounding as she gently ran her hand through her semi-damp hair. Memories ofst night ran


    through her head as her headache got slightly worst. "Ugh! Stupid idiot," she mumbled while getting out


    of bed. She felt weak but she brushed it off before heading towards the bathroom. After a while, Ashley


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    came out dressed in her morning run outfit, although she felt like crap, she wasn''t going to stay in this


    house with Jake, her mother, and Roger after what happenedst night.


    Ashley carefully walked down the stairs with her hand firmly gripping the railing. She had a slight


    wobble in her step as her vision was a bit blur, she felt like someone was continuously beating her in


    the head.


    Her mother came out to call her for breakfast but immediately stopped in her tracks as she watched her


    zombie-like daughter weaklying down the stairs, looking like she could fall anytime soon. Her eyes


    widened as the realization hit her before rushing to Ashley''s side. "Oh god, Ashley, you look terrible, let


    me help you back upstairs and I''ll bring you breakfast," she said trying to change their direction but


    Ashley weakly shook her head.


    "No, mom, I''m fine, I''m just going on my morning run," she said getting out of her mother''s hold, "But,


    baby, you don''t look too good, you should be in bed," she said trying to convince her stubborn


    daughter, but Ashley didn''t change her mind and continued on her way to the front door. "I''m fine, mom,


    I''ll see you in a bit," she said before opening the front door as she left.


    Katie stood in the spot where Ashley left her as concern filled her insides. This year had been really


    tough on Ashley and she didn''t want to lose her daughter. She promised herter husband that she


    protect and take care of his daughter as best as she could.


    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


    The bright sun did nothing but weaken Ashley''s already weak body as she walked instead of running. It


    began to get more and more difficult for her to catch her breath as continued. Not too far from where


    she was, a group of girls secretly stalked her, waiting for the perfect time to strike.


    Ashley stopped to catch her breath as she bent down with her hands on her knees. She ced her


    hand on her chest as she groaned before someone shouted in her direction.


    "HEY!" Ashley turned her head to see a group of girls, four girls to be exact walking towards her with a


    cold, angry look on their faces. Ashley gulped as she straightened her weak body, she pointed to


    herself, "Me?" She asked as one of the girls gave her a sarcastic look, "Yeah, you," she replied as


    Ashley licked her chapped lips while eyeing the girls, "What''s the problem?" She asked as the same


    girl chuckled, "We got a message for your step-brother, Jake, tell him that Jay''s big brother is looking


    for him and that he should watch his back," she said as Ashley''s eyes widened, "Then maybe we


    should take this to the authorities then," Ashley said turning to leave before the girl grab onto her hair


    causing her scream out due to the headache she was still getting.


    "Listen here, you little b**h, you and your step-brother are going to pay for what he did to Jay, now be a


    good messenger bird and deliver Jay''s big brother''s message before I-


    "Before you what, Penelope?" Asked a familiar voice as it caught everyone''s attention. There stood


    Anna with a thick branch as she red at the girl named Penelope, who still had a tight grip on


    Ashley''s hair making her whimper from time to time, "Stay out of people''s business, Anna," Penelope


    said as Anna chuckled before pointing the branch at Ashley, "She is my business and you know not to


    f**k with me, Penelope, remember what happened thest time?" She asked as Penelope''s jaw


    clenched as she red at Anna, who smirked.


    "Remembered what I said, pretty girl," she whispered harshly in Ashley''s ear before tossing her weak


    body in Anna''s direction. Penelope gave Anna onest re before signaling her girls to follow her.


    Anna rushed to Ashley''s side, dropping the branch to take her in her arms. "Thanks," Ashley mumbled


    as Anna helped her up, "Just because you hate me doesn''t mean I don''t consider you as my best


    friend," she said as Ashley sighed, "I don''t ha-


    "We really should get you home," Anna said cutting her off as she wrapped Ashley''s arm around her


    neck before helping her home.


    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


    Anna and Ashley finally made it to her house at the same Jake were leaving. Ashley was so happy to


    see him and immediately remembered what happened at the park. "Jake!" She weakly called out


    catching his attention as he was about to enter his car.


    Jake froze at the sight of Ashley in the arms of Anna. Worry washed over his face as he stared at her


    weak figure until the memories ofst night shed before his eyes. The fight, the rain, they both


    arguing, him apologizing, and she ignoring him. His face suddenly hardened as he shook his head


    before entering the car.


    Ashley began to panic, she tried calling his name and getting his attention by gently knocking on the


    ss of his window, but he simply ignored her as he quickly drove out of the driveway.


    Ashley stood there with tears in her eyes. She was scared, she didn''t know what was going to happen


    to him after what that girl said to her. She was worried and angry that she couldn''t do anything.


    She let out a shaky breath before she turned to face Anna, who had a worried look on her face, "What


    are you going to do?" She asked as Ashley shrugged, "Nothing," she replied before everything went


    dark.