The Mortician's Daughter

The drive back to Ashley's house was filled with silence. My crying died down to quiet sniffles as I looked out the window and watched the world fly by. Ashley's fingers stayed laced with mine up until he had to unlock his front door. His apartment was cute, small, but it was just enough room for Ash to live comfortably during the short periods of time that he was actually there. Somehow, he still managed to throw massive parties in the small apartment.

He motioned over to the living room and said, "have a seat, I'll go get you an ice pack for your wrists." I nodded and smiled, following his kind orders and taking a seat on the big leather couch.

The sound of my phone vibrating in my back pocket startled me. I suppose I was still jumpy after my encounter with Andy. Speaking of the devil, the screen read 'Andy!<3' with the words iMessage underneath his name. I sighed and opened the text.

[ From: Andy!<3

Dahlia I'm so sorry I was rough with you like that. Where are you? Please come back to the house so we can talk. ]

I locked my phone and tossed it on the couch beside me, not ready to talk with Andy just yet. Ashley entered his living room and handed me the much needed ice pack before sitting down on the arm rest.

"So," He began. "You wanna tell me what happened?"

I looked up at Ash and then down to the floor. "He got mad that I was going to see you.." I mumbled. Ashley moved down to the couch and sat next to me.

He said, "Why? Tell me everything." His hand moved to the small of my back and moved up and down slowly in a soothing motion.

"Um, well.. He asked me where I was going since I got ready and when I told him I was going to your place he got upset. I told him we weren't having this conversation again since he practically ordered me to stay home when he found out I was going to your party. I was in no mood to fight so I was just going to leave but he ripped my keys out of my hand and wouldn't give them back. I said I'd just get a ride with you so he accused me of only saying that so I could.. um... Give you head on the drive to your house....." I looked up at Ashley with a slight blush on my face, to see his eyebrows raised in shock.

"Go on."

I sighed. "Well, I said 'fuck you' and he made a comment about how we had drunken sex last night and told to spread my legs for you." Ashley looked even more shocked at the new information. "He told me not to come crying to him when you fuck me then never talk to me again and when he saw that I was actually crying he said it was cause I knew it was true... He said that um the second you made a move I'd be "down on my knees sucking your cock"." I made sure to put quotation marks around the last part so he didn't think I was naturally vulgar, that those words came from Andy's mouth and I was just repeating them.

"Then he grabbed you?" Ash asked.

"No." I said, "I went to slap him but he grabbed my wrist and when I went to slap him again, he grabbed the other wrist and shoved me up against the front door. He didn't let go to I told him he was hurting me." I swallowed thickly and looked down, only to be pulled into a warm embrace.

Ashley kissed my head and whispered, "I'll never let him hurt you ever again. I promise." I smiled to myself and nodded.

"I know." I said.

A sudden knock on the door broke our hug and etched confused looks on to our faces. Ashley got up and opened the door, looking back at me momentarily before turning to face whoever was on the other side.

"Dahlia's here right?" I recognized that voice to be Andy's and inwardly cringed.

Ashley sighed and said, "Yes but I don't think right now is the best time to talk to her, she's still really shaken up about what happened." His voice was accusing with a tinge of anger and I assumed his expression matched.

Andy sighed and rolled his eyes, using his height to his advantage and glancing over Ashley's shoulder. I felt his eyes on me but kept my gaze on my knee which was bouncing up and down,

"Dahlia, please talk to me." Andy's voice got progressively louder before a paid of lanky legs stood in front of me. I looked everywhere but at Andy until hie knelt down and grabbed my chin is his hand, forcing me to look at him.

Regret pooled in his eyes as tears pooled in mine. I sniffled quietly and looked over towards Ashley who was standing in the doorway, protectively watching Andy's every move.

Andy asked fearfully, "How bad did I hurt you?" I bit my lip and stretched my arms out to him, exposing my bruised wrists. Andy gasped quietly and grabbed my hands in his.

"I'm so so sorry..." He whispered, leaning down and kissing every bruises that littered my skin. My heart involuntarily swelled at the affection and I inwardly kicked myself for crushing on Andy, even after what happened.

"I..." I trailed off, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I think I'm gonna stay here tonight, if that's okay with you Ash." I glanced over at Ash to see him smile and nod.

"Of course."

Andy looked back and forth between us with a hesitant expression. He opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was a sigh.

"Okay." He mumbled. "You're coming home tomorrow though, right?" I thought to myself then nodded. "Well, alrighty then." He said. Andy stood up and kissed my head lovingly. "I love you Lia, I really do."

I nodded. "I love you too."

Andy smiled and walked over to Ashley, pulling him into a hug. "Thanks for uh, taking care of her. I really appreciate that."

"No problem." Ash said, "She's a great girl, I only want what's best for her." He looked at me and smiled, the smiling growing into a grin when he noticed my blush.

"Yeah..." Andy mumbled. "Well, I should probably go. I'll see you guys later." With a final goodbye from Ashley and a small smile from me, Andy let himself out of the apartment.

I let out a breathe I didn't know I was holding and slumped back against the couch. The aching of my wrists was entirely forgotten throughout that encounter, but the second I remembered the bruises, the pain came back. I gently placed the ice pack on the wrist I hadn't iced yet and sighed, something I did a lot that day.

Ash asked, "Want something to drink?" I nodded eagerly, the thought if quenching my thirst sounding like music to my ears. Ashley laughed and left the room momentarily before returning with a glass of lemonade for me and a Bud Weiser for him. He sat down next to me and pulled me into his arms before turning the tv on, flipping through the channels before finally stopping on La Ink. I snuggled into his warm chest and sipped at the ice cold pink lemonade with ease.

Notes

shortish chapter??? idk
hope you guys enjoy!
i keep writing on my phone so I never know
how long the chapters are till I actually upload them
so, sorry if it's short! :(