Ashleys POV:
When I wake up, everything hurts, my head, my legs but most importantly my pride. In a rush of embarrassment I remember what a fool I made of myself yesterday, I blush just thinking about it. I try to lift my head but I see double and collapse back onto the pillow, not even bothering to try anymore. My mother comes into the room holding a glass of water and some aspirin. She looks concerned but stern as she regards me, she hands me the tablet and water and watches as I drink it, supporting my head.
“I know you may not be feeling to good right now Ashley, but we need to talk how am I meant to feel that my teenage daughter came home yesterday clearly drunk after a night of partying with god knows who” she gives me a knowing look and I know she’s thinking of the fact that Luke had to drop me off. I feel the unmistakable signs of shame and guilt flash across my face. “You’re grounded Ashley, I never would have expected this from you, I know things have been tough for you but thats no excuse. You will remain at home and come straight back from school are we clear? You do not leave until you have shown me you can be trusted” I hang my head in shame, she has never told me off like this.

The next day I take extra care with my appearance as if by looking perfect on the outside no one will know what a wreck my life really is. I give the girl in the mirror a reassuring smile, Mum has been acting distant with me since I came back that day, but I throw my arms around her like a little kid and say “Love you Mum i’ll come straight home I promise” she tries to reply back crossly but fails “You better young lady”

A knot of worry appears in my stomach as I hear a beep again, I dread receiving messages now “You think its been bad so far, you havent seen anything yet” I don’t know what to do, I don’t know why whoever this person is they seem to hate me so much they want my life to be a living hell, but my anger is overtaking my sadness and I feel frustrated that this coward is hiding behind their phone screen instead of coming to my face to tell me what they think of me.

So when I hear the inevitable gasps and mutters and see the posters of me laughing looking drunk and unsteady on my feet with Calum supporting me plastered on the walls I hold my head up high. A few girls are clustered around gawping at one of the posters I run up to them and snatch it out of their hands tearing it in half then I shout to the watching crowd “Yes, have a good look all of you, and a good old gossip as well, Im a human too not some animal locked in a cage at a zoo for you all to make fun of!” I am crying now but I wipe the tears away angrily with my sleeve not wanting to look weak in front of them.

Jade runs to me and grabs my hand “You heard her” she shouts “Are you deaf, move out of the way, and if I see anyone distributing this” she says picking up one of the posters “ I will find out and you will pay for it, hasn’t Ashley been through enough?” People have the decency to look ashamed and slowly clear a pathway for me. Jade glares at them all the way down the corridor. I squeeze her arm, she knows Im grateful I don’t have to say a word.

People leave me alone for the rest of the day, and I think a teacher had a word with the cleaners because by the end of the day not a single poster remains. I feel nowhere near as bad as I would have having to face this alone, Jade acts like my personal bodyguard, escorting me from lesson to lesson. She waits for me outside our last lesson and we chat about anything and everything all the way to the car park. “Jade, do you know anyone who has something against me?” I blurt out, she looks uncomfortable as she says “Um… well everyones been acting strange with you right? But no I can’t think of anyone who really dislikes you" I breathe a sigh of relief as she says this.

Then out of nowhere , Luke pops up beside us. “Can I talk to you?”he asks me, Jade looks uncomfortable agin before looking at me “Want me to stay?” she says I shake my head. Its weird overtime I think about situations like this I think I’ll be strong enough to say no, trouble is I never am. I try to weigh out all the bad things that could happen to me, that video leaked online, my stalker harassing me with messages and everyone finding out the truth. But when I look into those eyes I find them all disappearing.

I try to make my face retain its neutral tone as I wait for him to speak. “So, where you okay after we dropped you off we were worried” I wince at his use of we as if implying that the level of concern he felt was almost indifferent by saying Calum felt the same. “Yeah, I guess I was fine, hows Sandy?” I ask. He dismisses my question with a shrug “I only used her to make you jealous, It worked” his blunt admission of this fact makes me angry. “Well guess what Luke, she’s a person to you can’t just play with her feelings when you feel like it!” “What like you did with mine?” he cuts back and I feel awful. “You don’t get it… its not just me and you involved” I say “Seriously Ashley, I honestly couldn’t care less what the stupid circumstances are, admit it you still like me I like you, so can we just stop this already?” “You wouldn’t think the same if you knew who I really was” I mumble. “Try me” he says.

Lukes POV:
I watch Ashley’s face crumble as she tells me about how she is to blame for Laurels death, how someone has been threatening her and I feel unsurpassable rage that someone thinks they can treat her like this. Instinctively I move towards her and embrace her, she doesn’t pull away but clings on to me, I feel so guilty that I have been keeping something from her, she carries the weight of her best friends death on her shoulders. I look her straight in the eyes and say "Im going to help you find this person I promise." "But how can you still like me after hearing what kind of a person I am?" she questions. "Ashley Irwin" I say leaning in to her "I dont like you" I watch her face fall "I may just love you" I finish and pull her to me.

Notes

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