Ashlandil

I hated to leave her when I knew she didn't feel well, but I could also tell she didn't want me anywhere near her, and I didn't blame her one bit, not after I'd been such an asshole to her for the past few months.
I glanced over at the table, seeing her rub her forehead.
The black veins were really starting to get to her, and it worried me.
My eyes searched for Andy, and I could see him out on the terrace with Kennedi, her face flushed after their little make out session. If I didn't care about Kenalis feelings so much I would've let her see Kennedi kissing Andy on the middle of the floor, he not doing a damn thing to stop her.
He meant too much to Kenali, it would break her heart if she saw him with that little would be tramp.
And she looked too beautiful for her night to be ruined.
That dress was perfect on her.
I sighed, running a hand over my jaw, knowing I needed to shave; it was prickly and coarse, and it really wasn't doing much for my image; I didn't look that great with facial hair.
I turned, pretending to listen to whatever it was Jake was saying,
This was going to be an ungodly long night.
"Excuse me, gentlemen? I'm Ginny from the local news."
Jake and Jinxx looked over, but I was more focused on where the First Minister was speaking to Kenali, slipping a drink in her direction; I hoped she had the brains not to drink out of it, he'd probably spiked it.
"Mr. Purdy?"
I glanced over in annoyance; I didn't give two fucks ---.
Holy shit.
I stared at her.
"Geneva?"
No fucking way.
No...
But it was her.
Her hair was the color of pumpkins, and her eyes were still a soft brown, light freckles adorning her skin to make her face look almost childish. She gave me a hesitant smile, and my eyes flicked to her hair, seeing random, thin braids throughout.
Just like before.
"Ash," Jinxx nudged my arm, and I blinked, realizing I'd been staring openly at her.
She was blushing, and I grinned, offering her my hand.
"What's your name?" I asked, her cool hand clasping mine.
"Ginny Abbey, Mr. Purdy."
"Please, Ashley," I murmured, and brought her hand to my lips, noticing the white stone glinting on her finger.
Never stopped me before.
She blushed even more, and I grinned more, squeezing her hand before letting go, aware that if I crushed her in my arms right now people might look at us funny.
"Ashley ---," Jake started to speak, but I waved my hand not wanting to hear it.
"So, Miss Abbey, how about an exclusive interview with me?" I smiled charmingly. "One on one."
"Okay," she said immediately, her eyes meeting mine. I felt the smile become sincere on my face, and I slipped my arm through hers, leading her out of the party, oblivious to anything but her beauty, the way the soft lights of the room cast shadows in her long hair, highlighting her high cheekbones, or her long lashes shielding her shy eyes from mine.
My Geneva.
She'd come back to me.
I lead her out into the hotel lobby.
"Is there a coffee shop around here?" I asked, refusing to let go of her; I'd lost her over a thousand years ago to my stupidity, I wasn't about to let go of her long enough for her to run away from me now.
"Um, yeah, there's one just down the street, if you like," she offered, her accent heavy and the most adorable thing I had ever heard.
I nodded, and we left the ridiculous party behind quickly, stepping out into the cold air of Wales. We walked in silence, and I let my hand rest on her lower back, guiding, afraid that if I stopped touching her, she'd disappear.
She cast a curious glance up at me, but didn't say anything until we'd entered the small coffee shop, the man behind the counter giving her a smile.
"The usual, Miss Ginny?" He asked, and she nodded.
"Yes, thanks. Mr. Purdy?"
"Black, please."
"It'll be right up," the man said, sending us a curious look as we found a table towards the back wall, and we sat down.
I sat across from her, steepling my fingers in front of me as I gazed at her, studying her features.
It was like nothing had changed at all.
She was still young, early twenty-something, where when we had met originally she had been merely fifteen, forced to marry Ansel at her fathers whim.
I bit my lip as I watched her get her small notebook out, fumbling slightly, as if she was nervous.
she had no reason to be nervous, I wouldnt make the same mistake twice.
I waited patiently until she found a pen out of her purse, her blush intensifying every second that she had to make me wait.
I made her uncomfortable.
The man suddenly set our coffees down, giving us a smile. "There ya go, kids. Who's your friend, Miss Ginny?" He asked nosily.
Small place, small minds, small gossip.
"Um, this is Mr. Purdy, he's letting me do an interview with him," Geneva beamed slightly, proud. "He's a member of the band the First Ministers daughter likes so well."
"Ah," the coffee man nodded his head, but he obviously had no idea. "Right then, i'll leave you to it."
I lifted the steaming cup of coffee to my lips, it ungodly bitter and strong.
Well.
"So, Ginny, you're getting married?" I questioned, unable to ignore the giant diamond on her finger any longer; I could still feel the excitement running through my veins.
She hesitated, glancing at it as well. "I'm engaged, yes."
"How did you two meet, then?"
"Harry? Well, um, I've always known him." She blinked after a moment. "We've been friends since children. We've been engaged for a couple years now."
"Ah, one of those romances then, I suppose?"
"Well, I guess so. We dated in high school, and it just sort of progressed from there," she looked down. "Everyone always expected us to be together, and I guess we just stayed together because they wanted us too. I mean, it's not like anyone else would ever want to marry someone like me."
She suddenly froze, and her eyes widened. "I am so .... oh my god, I can't believe I just said that."
She looked mortified, and I chuckled, tilting my head at her.
"You're a beautiful young woman, Ginny. Why would you think no one would want to marry you?"
She covered her face with her hands, pumpkin-colored hair falling forward. "I am... this is so embarrassing. I didn't mean to say that. Please just ignore it."
"I don't mind," I told her quickly. "I like that you speak your mind."
"You mean blurt every sentence that enters it out," she sighed, slightly lowering her hands when she realized I wasn't going to make fun of her. "I've never had a good filter."
"Neither have I."
God, she was the most adorable thing in the world.
She hadn't changed despite reincarnation, and I couldn't stop staring at her. I could tell it made her uncomfortable, and I tried to divert my attention elsewhere, looking down into my black, murky coffee.
"So, um, right, the interview," she mumbled, her cheeks still red as she flicked open her notebook and readied her pen.
"So, um, Mr. Purdy, you are the bassist for Black Veil Brides, yes?"
"Correct."
"And you're in a relationship with the merch girl?"
Shit.
I'd almost forgotten about Kenali.
Fuck! I realized, straightening. I'd left her by herself with that fucking asswipe.
"Mr. Purdy?"
"Um, yes, I'm dating Kenna," I bobbed my head, pulling my phone out of my pocket. "Forgive me just one minute."
I hastily texted all the guys at once, telling them to look out for Kenna because she wasn't feeling well and I wasn't sure when I would get back, and to make sure that asswipe First Minister didn't do anything to her.
"Right, now where were we?" I asked, raising my head from my phone.
She looked disappointed.
"What is it?" I asked, surprised. "What's wrong?"
"Oh! Um, nothing, I just --- nothing." She looked down again. "What's her last name?"
Fuck.
I don't think she'd ever made one up in all the time she'd been here.
"Uh ---- just leave it as Kenna for now," I shrugged, resting my arms on the table.
"Alright. How long have you two been together?"
"Three or four months, I guess."
Not that long, considering we'd broken up over a month ago, but whatever.
I really didn't want to think about her right now.
It made me feel confused.
"So, tell me about Harry," I cleared my throat slightly. "Are you two happy together? Have you moved in and got yourselves a cat while you play house?"
Ginny looked amused, just like I'd wanted her too.
"No, we don't live together. It's improper to do so until marriage."
Ahhh.
"So you want a white wedding then?" I smiled slightly, seeing her face flame again.
"I, uh ---- isn't it what every girl wants?" She muttered, looking down again.
"Some, I suppose. It just seems like an outdated concept to me."
She squirmed. "In some places, I guess it is. But it's kind of what you do around here."
"Then why don't you leave? This isn't the only place to live, you know. You could move to America, or another town or village and actually have a normal life, without all the outdated conceptions."
She frowned. "I like life here, thank you. And I want a white wedding. There's nothing wrong with our traditions."
I think I'd insulted her, and my stomach tightened slightly. I didn't want to make her mad and her decide to leave, so I merely shrugged, not sure what to say that wouldn't make it worse.
"Ask me some more questions," I urged, hoping to make her relax again.
"All right, are you excited for the new release of your album?"
"Of course. We've been working on it for a long time now, Andy is very excited. He thinks it's going to be one of the best of them."
"Despite his break up with Juliet?"
"Yes. Can't let a bad relationship hurt your career."
She chewed on the end of her pen as she looked at her notebook thoughtfully, and I gazed at her plump lips, wishing she was just a little closer.
How I had dreamed about them pressing against mine, my tongue caressing their soft curves before ----.
"Hmm?" I raised my eyes up to hers, realizing she'd been speaking.
"I asked if you enjoyed the party the First Minister was throwing?"
"Very much so, he always welcomes us perfectly." I forced a smile; he was a freaking creep though, only out for himself.
She asked me a few more inane questions, obviously unsure why she was here with me, why I'd agreed to do this interview with her.
It ate at me, her thinking she wasn't the stunning creature that she was. She had no idea how many times she'd marched through my dreams with her happy laughter, how many times we'd frolicked through the mountains and played in the streams, our first kiss ----.
Maybe if I'd slept with her back then I wouldn't have lost my temper and murdered her and her entire family.
I cleared my throat, guilt slicing through me at the thoughts.
I probably shouldn’t mention that in the interview.
"Well, I think that's all I need, thanks, Mr. Pu----."
"Ashley," I corrected her. "Please. There's no need to be so formal."
"Right." She gave a nervous laugh. "Of course, um ----."
"Enjoy some more coffee with me, my treat," I told her, my hand covering hers when she made a move to stand. "Let's get to know each other a little bit."
She hesitated, and then her brow furrowed as she looked at me.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"Joke?" I blinked at her. "No? What would be funny?"
"You singling me out --- I appreciate the interview, really I do, sir, but ---- this is strange. Why did you ask me out here?"
She was hovering in her seat, ready to run at any second, and I felt panicked --- she was going to leave me!
I took a deep breath, my hand still over hers on the table. I wanted to choose my words wisely so I wouldn't upset her, but I wasn't sure what to say. This version of her was much more forward then the previous one, and she wasn't bound by the same strict social calling as before --- she would fucking leave me here if I fucked up again, not be forced to endure my rambling.
"Please, sit down," I begged her, my eyes meeting hers. "Just for a moment?"
Her will fought mine, but I won, and she slowly sat back down, wary.
"I apologize if I've upset you, I didn't mean too," I said quickly, wondering if it had been the comment about the white wedding --- women who were virgins these days were always so touchy about the subject. "I meant no disrespect."
Ginny sighed, and shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, I'm being very short with you, aren’t I? I'm the rude one. Yes, I'll have some more coffee with you." She gave me a bright, strained smile.
And for the next two hours, we sat in the small coffee shop, nursing coffees until they turned cold and we had to order fresh ones, the soft lights casting beautiful shadows in her hair.
Why wouldn't she think she was beautiful?
I was shocked she wasn't already married.
"You never did answer me earlier." She said after taking a deep breath, as if she was steeling herself.
"Over what?" I asked lightly, feeling my pocket vibrate as someone called again.
Couldn't they tell when I was ignoring them?
"Why did you want to do an interview with me?" She gazed at me shyly. "You're girlfriend is one of the most stunning people I have ever seen, she's gorgeous. And I look like a pumpkin."
I looked at her, startled, and almost laughed.
"You don't look like a pumpkin," I chuckled, amused. "I love the color of your hair, it's so unique. And yes, Kenna is pretty, but ----."
"You're gay?" She offered.
Now I was really startled. "What?"
"You have to be, that's it, isn't it?" She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "She's just a coverup."
"Uh, no, I'm not gay." I repressed my grin. "Definitely not gay. I enjoy the female body just as much as .... well, any other straight person, I suppose."
I let my eyes drop to the modest swell of her breasts from beneath her pant suit, the white dress shirt she wore beneath just not quite large enough in that area.
Oh, how I wanted to squeeze those between my fingers.
"Then why are you here? If you're so in love with her as it seems in every picture I've ever seen of you ----?"
"We broke up."
Now she was the one staring. "What?"
"Kenna and I... we broke up." I looked down at my cold coffee. "Off the record, of course. But I fucked it up between us, and she left me. She's on for the rest of the trip, of course, and we're keeping up appearances, but she left me."
I shrugged, and quickly downed what was left of my coffee, wishing there was whiskey in it.
"I'm so sorry," she said after a moment, looking sincere. "I didn't know. I mean, obviously I didn't know, no one does but ----." She abruptly stopped herself, realizing she was rambling.
I gave her a half-smile, finding it cute.
"So yes, she is beautiful, but... she's not mine. And I'm not gay," I added, just to make sure she got that point across.
She blushed.
"And the reason I'm here, with you, is because I think you're stunning," I said softly, letting my hand creep across the table to hers, my thumb lightly stroking her soft skin. "The color of your hair, your soft brown eyes..."
I gazed at her, able to see her sweet soul.
"You're one of the most gorgeous humans I have ever seen in all my time of living."
"You make it sound like you're attracted to a overweight pumpkin," she squirmed, pulling her hand away from me. "And as much as you compliment me, sir, it doesn't mean ---- I don't know why I'm still sitting here with you. I should've been home an hour ago. My parents will worry."
She abruptly stood, and I hastily hopped to my feet.
"Well, it's been wonderful, Mr. Purdy, but I believe it's time for me to go," she told me, slipping her jacket quickly over her shoulders. She reached for her purse, and fumbled through it.
"I have it," I said quickly, grabbing my wallet. "It's all on me."
"I can pay ---."
"I insist."
She hesitated, but shrugged, and I quickly paid the bill before stepping out onto the sidewalk with her, seeing the town was darkening, despite it was only nine O'clock.
This is why I hated small towns.
"May I walk you home?" I asked, hopeful that she would allow me to at least spend another few minutes with her. I wasn't ready to watch her leave, not just yet.
"That's unnecessary ----."
"It's late," I interrupted her, she barely coming to my shoulder, and I wasn't that tall. "And dark. It would be against my morals to let you go on your own."
"I only live a few minutes ---."
"Please," I murmured, my fingers brushing hers. "Let me walk you."
"Okay," she agreed, and I smiled.
I slipped my arm through hers, and I kept up a light chatter as we walked to her home; sometimes I was so glad I was a fallen angel with the ability to enamor others, it made them seeing it my way so much easier.
If I could do that to Kenali, she never would've left me.
I grimaced, feeling my chest tighten slightly, and I quickly forced her from my mind before I became moody.
I glanced at the sweet human on my arm.
"So how old are you, Miss Ginny?"
"Twenty-three."
"And you want to be a reporter?"
"Journalist, though really I'd love to get into one of the magazines where I can interview more bands like yours. That's what I would love to do."
Then that's what she would do, if I had any say in it.
"Have you interviewed at any of them?"
"No, there's no way I could ever get an interview," she shook her head as we turned a dark corner. "I never even went to college."
"That shouldn't matter, if that's your dream, go for it," I told her, feeling her pace slow. "Nothing should stop you."
"You can say that, you've already accomplished everything you wanted too," she sighed, and I forced us to come to a stop as I looked down at her.
"Not everything," I said softly. "I don't have everything I want."
She blinked up at me, and then away quickly.
"My house is-is right over there," she mumbled, nodding at a modest brick home set on a street where all of them looked exactly the same. "I should go In. Thank you, for the coffee, and-and walking me home."
"Of course," I forced a smile, feeling my heart squeeze.
I didn't want to let her go, even though I knew I should, I owed her a normal life.
I owed her.
"Why don't you come to the concert tomorrow?" I asked, catching her hand as she started across the street. "You can meet the entire band then, get interviews from all of us. I'm sure that would look good on a resume."
"Really?" She blinked at me as she turned. "You --- they, I mean ---."
"You're very welcome to come," I told her, wanting her to feel welcomed, not sure how else I would be able to see her again if she said no.
I could always stalk here, appear coincidentally in the same places she did, but that never worked out right.
"I'll come," she said, looking excited. "I've always wanted to come to one of your concerts!"
"I'll make sure there's a ticket for you at the gate," I grinned, feeling her excitement. "So I'll see you again?"
"Definitely!"

Notes