Chapter 37

I stood at the ocean's edge, watching the waves roll onto shore, the sky a beautiful array of pink and orange as the sun began to set. The guys had stopped playing football a little bit ago and started drinking. I wrapped my arms tighter across my chest, closing my eyes for a second.

"What are you doing way over here?" The low, familiar voice asked.

"Just enjoying the sound of the waves crashing to shore." I opened my eyes, not taking them off the ocean. "Why aren't you over there with Claudia." I glanced back toward the fire where most everyone was hanging around. Ashton's eyes drifted back to the fire, his lips pressed together. "It's too crowded over there, if you know what I mean."

I nodded, afraid if I opened my mouth, something sarcastic would fly out. Ashton didn't deserve that right now, judging by the upset look on his face. We stood there for a few minutes in silence, facing the ocean. I wanted to know what happened between him and Claudia, but only for my own selfish curiosity.

"Ashton, I'm sorry about you and Claudia." My voice was barely above a whisper. Was I really sorry, though? She was a major bitch who got a taste of her own medicine.

"Thanks." He tucked his hands in the pocket of his sweatshirt. I grasped my arms tighter as I shivered; the thin button-down shirt wasn't much of a barrier between me and the cool breeze from the ocean. "You cold? Let's get you by the fire." He motioned me to follow him back to the fire. He kept his hands tucked in the front pocket of his sweatshirt on our walk back to the fire. He kept a safe distance between us the closer we got to the group. Claudia was sitting by the fire talking to someone, but I couldn't tell who it was because the flames and darkness was falling fast.

"There you are?" Rhys jumped up from his spot close to Claudia. I stood there gawking at what I had just walked up on, my eyes narrowing. My eyes stung from trying to keep the tears from flowing. "Why me?" I dropped my arms and stormed toward where I'd left my blanket and bag. "Gemma! Wait up!" Rhys hollered. I tossed my stuff into the bag, cussing that I couldn't believe this happened again. I felt a grasp around my arm and jerked it away. "It's not what it looks like." He grasped my arm, trying to turn me around. "Please look at me."

"Why?" I turned, tears streaming down my cheeks. "What is it with you guys? Let's see who can humiliate Gemma the fastest. Well, I'm done playing." I jerked my arm away, brushing my knuckles across my cheeks and wiping the tears away. I was pissed at myself for letting him see me cry.

"Gem, what happened?" Chloe came running up to me, wiping tears off my cheek. "Can you take me home? Please." I sniffled, wiping my eyes again.

"Yeah. Let me grab Braedon's keys. He can catch a ride with Sarah and Ty." She turned and walked over to Braedon, who was sitting close to Ashton. Ashton looked up at Chloe as she grabbed Braedon's arm halfway, hoisting him up. He stumbled a step, catching his balance for the beers he'd consumed. Ashton glanced up at them, then over at Rhys, who was standing nearby, talking to some guys. Ashton got up and brushed the sand off as he walked around the fire. I turned toward the ocean, wiping my strayed tears away so he wouldn't see me crying. I hoped we were far enough away from the fire that he wouldn't be able to see my tear-stained cheeks.

"Gem, I'll take you home." Ashton rested his hand on my shoulder, easing me to face him. "Let me take you home." He reached for the straps on my shoulder, sliding them off my arm.

"Gemma, you're going to leave with him?" Rhys asked, walking up to us.

"Yeah...I am." I peeked at him, then turned to face Ashton. I couldn't help but notice the hurt in Rhys's eyes, but he made me look like a fool in front of our peers. I was getting tired of being the butt of guys' jokes. I didn't have it in me to listen to any excuses. Rhys grabbed the nape of his neck as he looked back toward the fire. "Gemma, please don't go." Rhys grasped my hand. "Please." I glanced down at our hands but couldn't see them in the dark. I could feel the warmth of his skin caress the top of my hand. "It's not what you think. She sat down next to me. Trust me, I didn't want her there." He squeezed my hand, nudging me closer to him. I brushed my knuckles across my cheeks, hoping he couldn't see the tears.

"Let me take you home. Ashton, I'll take her bag." I went against my better judgment and started walking back toward the fire; Chloe was standing a little ways off to the side so I wouldn't have to walk by Claudia and her friends. Chloe met me partway back to the fire, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. I was waiting for a sarcastic remark about being with Rhys right now, but silence followed the squeeze around my shoulders. Ashton didn't have to say anything to let me know he was upset. The crease between his furrowed brows said it for him. He walked over and grabbed a beer out of Braedon's blue cooler. Chloe looked at Braedon, motioning her head toward Ashton, who had just popped the beer tab. Braedon jumped up and grabbed the beer out of his hand, placing his free hand in front of Ashton to block him. Ashton glared over at me, then stormed off. Braedon dumped the beer out, tossing the can into a large black trash bag.

Rhys took my hand in his and led me to his car. I didn't have it in me to resist him taking me home. All I wanted to do was curl up in my warm bed, watch a sappy movie, and cry into my pillow.

*****

"Thanks for driving me home." I opened the passenger door.

"Gemma, wait a second." He reached for my hand. "Please." His voice was low.

"I just want to go inside and curl up in my bed." I eased my hand out of his grasp; his eyes shifted to the windshield. "Can I call you tomorrow?" His hands gripped the steering wheel, not taking his eyes off whatever he was staring at out the windshield.

"Yeah. Night, Rhys." I climbed out of the car, grabbed my stuff from the backseat, and closed the door. He sped off the second my foot touched the grass next to the sidewalk. I sighed and turned to face my dark, empty house. I shuffled my feet along the sidewalk, not really wanting to go in alone, but I didn't want to be around Rhys either.

Vroom Vroom

My head popped up at the familiar sound. I put my shiny silver key in the lock, turning to the left to unlock the door. I tossed my bag inside the house, lowered my head, and glanced over at Ashton's car parked in his usual spot in the driveway. His house was dark like mine, which meant our moms were out together somewhere. I stepped into the house when I heard two car doors close.

"Ashton, is your mom home?" I paused in the doorway, tilting my head back to find one of Claudia's friends standing by the front of his car with her hand on her hip, twisting her long blonde hair with her free hand.

"I told you she's out and won't be home until late," Ashton said, walking up his porch steps. He turned to motion for her to follow him when our eyes met, and his lips disappeared into a straight line.  "Will you come on, Hannah?"

Hannah? No...He wouldn't do that. Yeah, he would. I shook my head in disbelief when the girl turned around and saw it was indeed Hannah Katts, the girl Jude dumped me for during our date. This was a whole new level of man-whore low for Ashton. I stormed inside, slamming the door a little harder than I meant, then raced upstairs to make sure my curtains were closed. I reached for my curtains as the light came on in Ashton's room. Ashton had her half undressed already. I scrunched my face up in disgust and closed my curtains. I grabbed my pajamas and hurried out of my room, closing the door behind me.

I opened my eyes and sprawled out on the couch. I lifted my head off the pillow, wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth. I grabbed my phone and pressed the button on the side, and one-thirty lit up my screen. I stretched, got up, and shuffled to the window to find my car was still the only one in the driveway. I glanced to see if Ashton's car was in his driveway, but he was gone as well, letting me know it was safe to curl under my warm comforter. I turned off the infomercial on the TV and kept the light on next to the couch so the house wouldn't be dark when Mom got home. I just wanted to forget about this day. I was halfway up the stairs when I heard a knock on the door, which meant it could be only one person. The one person I had no desire of seeing or talking to. I stood there for a second, debating whether to ignore him and go to bed or deal with him and be up for another hour.

"Gemma, I know you're up. I can see you standing on the stairs." I turned and saw him peeking in the window like a stalker.

I sighed, stomped down the stairs, and flung the door open.

"Hey." He smiled. My hand flew up before I could stop myself, smacking him across the face. Stinging spread across the palm of my hand, clutching it, I looked down at the redness. I turned and walked down the hall toward the kitchen to get some ice for my red palm. I heard the front door close behind me and the dull thumps on the floor from his shoes.

"You have every right to be mad at me."

"I don't care that you had sex. It's the person you had sex with that infuriates me." I dropped some ice onto a towel, wrapping the towel around the four ice cubes. "You know Jude dumped me for her, and you decided to get back at Claudia by fucking Hannah. That's low...even for your standards. I'm tired, Ashton. You know your way out." I brushed past him, holding the ice on my palm. I stepped onto the stairs, not turning to face him. "Night." The front door opened and closed. I sighed and headed for my room, hoping sleep would find me again.