~ Asher's POV ~
- - - - - Several Days Later - - - - -
Asher slammed his bedroom door in anger. The door shut close with a loud noise. Still unsatisfied, he raked his hair with his hand and groaned aloud in frustration. That still wasn't enough, though. Asher let out an angry yell and punched the wall next to him.
* CRASH! *
The wall cracked and a hole appeared in the wall. Asher yanked his hand back and felt the pain stinging from his fist.
Shit! What's wrong with me!?
Asher let out a deep breath as he fell onto the bed. Blood was trickling from his knuckles as he lay staring at the ceiling.
Was I too harsh on her...?
It had been a week since that incident happened with Zoie and Asher replayed that moment again and again. That morning after everything went down, he was so worried about what might've happened that he completely disregarded her feelings. He did the right thing by bringing her the pill, he knew that. But perhaps he was being too insensitive about it. They never even talked about it, or about what happened and what it meant. Asher was so afraid of making the mistake of getting her pregnant that he made a bigger one... he broke her heart.
Fúck!
Asher could only groan to himself. Maybe instead of running out to get the pill, he should've talked to her about what happened first. That night, he lost control, went over the line, and broke the rules. He probably shouldn't have done it, but he was doing what she wanted to do too. Even though it was wrong and they both should've known better. Because now... this was the consequence of that reckless behavior.
I was so dumb! So stupid! How could I let that happen!?
Asher rolled over on his side and buried his face into the pillow. He huffed and slammed his head against that pillow several times. Asher was usually even-keeled, he prided himself on that. Being a racer, he knew that the smallest mistakes can cost him a lot, so he was always precise and in control. What happened that night with Zoie... he didn't have any control. He lost himself in passion and it was the best and worst thing that he's ever done.
And the worst part was probably watching her suffer after she took the pill.
He was the person who made the mistake but she was the one who had to pay for it. Asher still remembered how her body shivered and trembled. She was nauseous for days and she couldn't sleep. She also didn't want to be held or touched. Asher felt helpless, not knowing what to do to help her. And several days later when she was finally better, she wanted nothing to do with him. Even until today. Whenever he tried to talk to her, she would avoid him. Let alone having that friendship, she couldn't even look him in the eye anymore.
And I can't even blame her for that...
Asher realized what a screw-up this situation had become. He wanted nothing more than to fix it and go back to the way things were, but it seemed like an impossible thing to do. There was no going back. The mistake was made. It will forever haunt them and there's no taking it back. God only knows what things will be like for the two of them from now on.
Maybe the friendship is forever ruined? Maybe they just have to co-exist? Or maybe Asher just has to do his job as her bodyguard and that's it? The thought of that made Asher's chest tighten in pain. Worse than the pain he felt in his knuckles.
I'm sorry, Zoie... I'm really sorry...
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Asher woke up the next day still in the same position he was in last night. His face was buried on the pillow and the blood had dried on his knuckles. His phone was ringing incessantly and he grimaced in pain as he got up from the bed. Asher grabbed his phone and saw the screen:
Mikey Calling.
Asher sighed as he answered the call.
"Hey, what is it, man?"
"Hey, Ash!" Mikey's distinct voice and laugh filled Ash's ear. "Listen, I don't mean to pester you or anything, but it's already the weekend and I'm still waiting for the rest of that money you promised me,"
"What money?" Asher raked his hair and walked to the bathroom aimlessly. It was about 1 in the afternoon and he was waking up groggy and foggy.
"You know, the five grand you promised me if I can hack into your school system and expel that kid. Miles... something," Mikey said. "And for the other stuff too,"
"Oh, that. Right," Asher paused for a beat before going to the toilet. He opened the top part of the toilet and saw the wad of cash he stashed inside a plastic bag there. "Yeah, I'll send the rest of the money over tonight,"
"Thanks, man," Mikey said chirpily. "I appreciate it,"
"Nah, thank you," Asher replied as he turned off the call.
Quickly and swiftly, he fished the plastic bag out and rolls of cash poured out onto the floor. Asher grabbed a few thousand dollars and stuffed them in his jeans' pocket. Whatever money that was left, he put them back in the plastic bag and put it inside the toilet again.
Mikey, as God would have it, was the most talented man Asher had ever met, even though he might not look like it with his collection of bright Hawaiian shirts and tattoos. Mikey and Ash became friends as Mikey owned a bar slash flighting ring and Asher was his favorite fighter.
Just like Ash, Mikey was a man of many talents. Not only that he was a skilled engineer that could build and program racecars, but he was also a pro hacker. He sometimes worked with the Anonymous group on the side. Asher asked for Mikey's help when he had to deal with the whole Miles situation. Asher felt like it wasn't enough to beat Miles up for what he did to Zoie. He didn't want to see Miles around on campus anymore. And so, he got Mikey to hack the school system and expel Miles out of Stanford. And not just that, Mikey also put a record on Miles's name, making it hard for him to transfer to any other school or to play baseball in any major leagues. And one more thing, Mikey was the one who helped Ash find that typewriter for Zoie. It was such a rare item that he went to the dark web looking for it, and he got it.
Mikey was Ash's best friend slash business partner. They got along famously and Mikey was super supportive when Asher told him of his plan to go to college and get that trust fund money. In a few years' time, Asher's plan was to build his racing team with Mikey and the money he gets from Damon. But until then, Asher had to do his job right.
And that means fixing things up with Zoie.
Asher walked out of his room with his black jacket and cap on. He wanted to go to the bank and drop this money off for Mikey. If he leaves right now, he could probably make it to the bank just in time before it closes. But when Asher got to the kitchen counter, he spotted Zoie already grabbing the car key. She was also wearing a black jacket and a hoodie. In her hand was an oversized travel bag. One someone would use to sleep overnight somewhere.
"Hey," Asher greeted her.
"Hey," Zoie replied. Her tone was flat.
"Where are you going?" he asked, eyeing that bag in her hand.
"It's none of your business," she said curtly.
Zoie picked up the key and she was about to head for the door, but Asher quickly stepped in.
"Zoie, wait," he said. "I... I'm sorry,"
Zoie scoffed and tilted her head to the side. She was waiting for him to continue, but Asher found it hard to speak.
"What are you sorry for?" she asked.
"I'm sorry for... everything... I never meant any of it..."
Zoie narrowed her eyes. It didn't seem like his apology was landing on her.
"Yeah, whatever, Ash. I gotta go," she said as she shoved past him.
Asher didn't want to give in so easily this time. He stepped in between her and the door again, not allowing her to leave.
"Look, how many more times do I have to apologize before you get it!?" he said. "I never meant to hurt you, Zoie. I care about you! It's just that I-"
Asher's throat was closing in on him. This was hard for him to say.
"What?" she pressed. "You just wanted to fúck me and that's it?"
Those words hurt Asher more than he thought possible. He couldn't even bring himself to say another word.
"Just admit it, Ash," she went further. "I'm not offended. I'm a big girl, I can take it,"
Zoie glared daggers at him and Asher swallowed hard. His eyes darkened as he stared at her.
"Is that what you think I was doing?" he said finally.
"You couldn't run out of the room fast enough," she replied.
"I was getting the freaking medicine!"
"So you can save yourself?"
"So I don't hurt you and ruin your future!"
Asher was shouting, though he didn't mean to. He cleared his throat and settled down. Meanwhile, Zoie was just staring at him. Her purple-blue eyes turned glassy. It looked as if she was about to cry, but she quickly wiped her eyes.
"Well, it's too late," she said flatly. "I'm already hurt,"
Those words broke Asher's heart more than anything imaginable. His eyes turned glassy too. His voice was cracking and he didn't know how to control himself.
"Zoie... Please, listen to me," he reached for her face, and for a moment, she didn't flinch back. Asher knew how important it was that he didn't say the wrong thing this time. He thought hard about what to say, and he finally whispered, "I never want anyone else the way I want you, and I lost control that night... I knew it was wrong, but I..."
Asher swallowed hard.
"You what?" she asked.
I love you, goddamnit!
Those were the words he wanted to say but he knew he couldn't. He couldn't risk taking this relationship there again. What happened last time was bad enough. So instead, he just said, "I never meant to hurt you and I'm sorry if that came out that way. I was just trying to right the wrong..."
Zoie stared up at him with a look he couldn't decipher. Asher couldn't even breathe. He waited on her every word. And finally, she spoke out.
"I want my ring back,"
Asher's eyes widened in shock. He wasn't expecting that.
"My purity ring, give it back to me," she said again, her hand raised up.
"Zoie--"
"It's mine and I want it back!" she yelled this time. She really meant it.
"Okay," Asher nodded and took the ring off of his necklace. He put the ring back in her hand and she shoved it in his jeans' pocket.
"Thanks," she said curtly, and with that, she stepped out of the room, leaving him high and dry.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
~ Zoie's POV ~
"I was just trying to right the wrong... yeah right!" Zoie yelled to herself as she was driving the car. She was speeding down the street, fueled by anger.
"Whatever happened to I am yours and you are mine, huh?!" she scoffed. "What a load of horseshit!"
When she left the house that afternoon, she left because she wanted some time away from Ash. She was going on that triple date thing tomorrow with Jo and Vic, and she decided to sleep over at the girls' place tonight. Zoie thought the time away would be healthy for her. She thought she'd be less triggered by him especially that it's been a week since the incident happened.
And yet, I was still as triggered as ever.
Zoie let out an angry sigh as she floored the gas pedal harder. She was driving so fast, she completely ignored the speed limit. Until finally, she heard something that looked like a police siren coming from behind. She checked the rearview mirror and sure enough, there was a police car following her!
Oh, shit!
Zoie panicked and hit the brakes. She didn't want to get in trouble and quickly pulled over to the side. The police car also pulled over and went to the side like she did. Zoie looked nervously at the rearview mirror and she saw a policeman in uniform getting out of the car, walking to her window.
Stay calm, Zoie! Stay calm!
The next thing she knew, the policeman was banging his fist on her window.
"Open up!" he commanded. Zoie quickly complied and rolled the window down.
"Good afternoon, officer, is there a problem?" she smiled nervously.
"Yes, we have a report that this car is stolen," he said firmly.
"Stolen?!"
"Can I see your license and registration?"
"O-Of course," Zoie pulled out her license and raided the glove compartment box for the registration.
The officer took the documents and looked at them for a moment. His face was flat and unreadable. It also didn't help that he was wearing sunglasses and a mask.
"Ma'am, I'm gonna need you to step outside," he said finally.
"What? Why?"
"Step outside, ma'am!"
The officer's voice was loud and intimidating, Zoie didn't know what else to do but obey. She unlocked the car and took off her seatbelt haphazardly, stepping outside.
"Officer, this must be a mistake, this car is my dad's---" Before Zoie could finish her plea, all of a sudden, she felt two strong arms pulling her from behind. Someone put a cloth over her nose and it smelled like strong chemicals. Zoie tried to fight back, but she wasn't strong enough. The officer in front of her wasn't helping eighter. In fact, he forcefully grabbed her legs and the two men were carrying her to the trunk of her car.
"Help--- Help!" Zoie was trying her best to squirm and scream, but it was no use. The two men subdued her, throwing her into the car's trunk. Zoie was starting to lose her vision as the chemicals were kicking in. Her vision turned black and the last thing she heard was a voice saying:
"Ha! That's what you get for messing with our team! Bitch!"
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- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -