My Best Mistake ✔︎

Chapter 20

Ashley's Pov

"You are awake.." I hear a voice say.

It sounds so distant, yet so close.

I rub my eyes slowly and look around my room.

Except it isn't my room.

Once my vision is clear I see Aaron hovering over me.

"What happened?" I ask confused, slowly sitting up.

Before he says anything, he quickly helps me sit up.

"Shh, no questions right now. How are you feeling?" He asks.

I smile at his concern.

"I'm fine, but I am really confused right now. Why am I in your room? Why am I on your bed? And why do I have these things on my arm?" I say taking off everything and unhooking myself off the bed.

"Calm down, Lee. You got in a fight with your father and you passed out. You told me not to take you to a hospital so I brought the hospital to you."

My heart drops at his words.

Shit I forgot all about it.

Please, let this be a dream. He can't know.

"I- um... Thank you.." I drift off not knowing what to say.

"What happened Ashley? Why did it happen?" He sighs.

"It's complicated Aaron. He is just like this, it's normal... for me.." I say.

"It is not normal! Ashley please understand that nothing about this situation is normal. I wanna help you Ashley. It kills me that you have gone through this for god knows how long!" He shouts.

I have never truly seen him as angry as he looks right now. But behind that anger is just him, worried about me.

I know it and I'm sure of it.

"Aaron, calm down."

He breaths heavily before sighing.

"Ill tell you everything.." I say.

I explain to him all the details, how he lost his job, forced my mother and I to work, became an alcoholic, became even worse after Jake left, basically everything.

Throughout it all he remained silent, listening to every word I said.

I thought of somehow backing my father up, but why?

He is a shitty father.

The worst.

"I hate him Aaron, I swear.. My heart aches for the father he used to be before the alcohol took over him. I loved him.. so much. But now, I will never get to experience that love ever again. I just want one more day with him, the old him," I cried out.

My whole face was red.

Aaron pulled me into a hug and I didn't back away, instead I hooked my arms around his neck and pulled him even closer as he buried his face in the crook of my neck.

He didn't say anything at all.

We stayed in that position for about five minutes before I pulled away and flashed him a grateful smile.

"Thank you, Aaron. For everything. For saving me from my father, for not taking me to the hospital, for caring about me, for existing in my life.." I muttered the last part out but I'm sure he heard it.

"Ashley, you are not going back there," Aaron said firmly.

"I have to.. I can't just leave.. I'm yet a minor."