The Gangleader and Me(ON HOLD)

•Chapter 17•

Ashley's POV:

Eli walked deeper into the cave and we shrunk deeper into the corner we were in, trying to stay hidden. His feet were directly in front of us, the tip of his sneakers almost touching my leg. Jenny inhaled deeply but quietly, and I brought my leg that was nearly touching the tip of Eli's sneakers. "They're not in here!" Eli yelled, twisting his body towards the entrance of the cave. He slowly walked out, looking warily around it, before he was out of the cave, shutting the door.

Jenny and I released a breath and looked at each other before laughing softly and not too loudly. She stood up and helped me up to my feet. The both of us quietly making it across the cave and towards the mini door. Jenny opened it slowly and stuck her head out, looking left then right before walking out slowly, signaling for me to come out as well. We both emerged out of the cave and we faced each other. I laid my hands on her shoulders and she did the same to me as we took a couple of breaths. "That was such a close one..."

I said to her and she nodded quickly, her long, straight midnight black hair bouncing around. I pushed back my curly hair from my eyes and walked around the corner with Jenny behind me. I then heard a shriek coming from Jenny so I quickly turned around to see Eli holding her, her back pressed against his chest, Jenny trying to wiggle out of his grasp. Before I could even take a step towards them, I felt two arms snake around my waist and tightly secure themselves so I wouldn't run away.

A surprised scream ripped through my throat as I tried to wiggle myself out of the person's grasp. "So you and Jenny thought you could escape your brother and me?" Jordan whispered into my ear. "You little punk!" I yelled, trying not to laugh. I see Eli putting Jenny over his shoulders and I'm assuming Jordan saw the same and hand the idea to copy my brother because only seconds later I'm being turned around so I'm facing him then I'm being thrown over Jordan's shoulders.

So I do the only thing that was logical. I tightly grabbed both his ass cheeks. He turned his heads towards me and gave me a glare, but a smirk replaced it. I suddenly felt a large hand slap my ass which made me give out a loud yelp. "You ass!" I yelled at him, which was ironic since there was a lot of ass touching here.

We played around for while and after Eli and Jordan were done kidnapping Jenny and me, every one of us started playing tag, running around the playground as if we were kids. We were all screaming and laughing loudly. We continued to play until the sky turned a velvet black with a multitude of stars scattering around it.

I sat at the top of the slide, thinking and smiling at our childish behaviors today. Everyone else was lying in the fake grass below, Jordan tried a while ago to join me up here but I only told him that I needed some alone time and that I was fine. I tugged back the sleeve of my right arm, my fingers grazing over the white bandages, where you could see a hint of blood that seeped through. I sighed looking up at the dark sky, breathing in the cool fresh air, trying to relax the many things running through my mind.

I looked back down at the bandages, specifically on the spots where the blood was visible and memories from yesterday flashed into my mind. I furrowed my eyebrows wondering why he did any of it.

***FLASHBACK***

"Ashley?! Baby, I'm here." I was brought into a firm yet soft, warm chest, my body trembling against it. "Shh, I'm here Ashley, I'm here... Don't worry. You're safe...shhh." He repeated quietly, softly petting my head with one hand and the other rubbing circles into my back. After a couple of minutes, the tears stopped coming, my body still trembled though.

I felt the man starting to pull away from me, so inconspicuously, I quickly wrapped my arms around his waist, tightly, shaking my head against his chest. "No no no no." I croaked repeatedly into him. "Hey hey hey. It's okay. I'm not leaving you but this floor isn't really comfy right?" He asked.

***END OF FLASHBACK***

Why was he so gentle with me? Why did he hold me like that? Why didn't he just leave me there on the floor like the heartless person he claims to be? Why had he tended to my wounds? He replaced the doors he broke, why? The soup he made, why did he make it for me?

So many questions flew around in my mind, all thoughts clouded with questions about the man I hated the most. I didn't understand and that made me so frustrated because I just hated being in the dark. I tugged my sleeve back down harshly but making sure it covered the gauze. I let out a frustrated sigh, my eyes welling up. I didn't know what to do or what to think. He must have had a motive or something. Tyler wouldn't do anything out of the kindness of his heart, that much was obvious.

Tyler was supposedly the most ruthless gang leader in the country maybe one of the top ten in the world, nobody knows. Rumors floated around the school about him, him being a bloodthirsty killer, a massive drug and weapon distributor, and the biggest womanizer and that's what shocked me the most.

Why did guys and girls feel so drawn to him when they have all heard the rumors and didn't truly know if any of them were true or not. I didn't see the big deal over him as well, he was just some jackass guy who did what he pleased and took whatever he wanted, not giving a care if others were hurt or not. I know I may be a tiny bit hypocritical considering my past and the things I do now, the things I see when I do these things but he was far worse than me.

We were both considered dangerous people in our school, for two obviously different reasons but it was still stated, yet the girls and guys came to us as if we were magnets. I'm not trying to sound cocky or conceited but it was just a fact that any observer can see. I guess people just had this sort of thrill, the adrenaline of being with someone dangerous.

"Ashley! We're leaving!" I was broken from my thoughts at the sound of my brother yelling up at me. I nodded then slid down the slide where Jordan was standing at the end of it. He moved himself just in time and when I reached the end, instead of stopping at the end, I was picked up bridal style by Jordan. I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck before I laughed at him.

"Just wanted to escort milady to her carriage." Jordan said, before planting a chaste kiss on my cheek. I copied him, and gave him a kiss on his cheek as well which made him smile a bright smile. "Have I ever told you that I like your smile Jordy?" I asked him. He looked down at me with his beautiful warm amber eyes.

"You're so beautiful you know that Ashley?" Jordan whispers in a serious tone. "Honey tell me something I don't know!" I said, playfully smacking his chest. He chuckled but shook his head. "Here we are my beautiful princess." He says which made me give him a glare. "Okay okay, my beautiful BAD-ASS princess." He says which brought a bright smile on my face. "That's more like it." He bent down and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "See you tomorrow baby."

I nodded and got onto my motorcycle waiting for Abby. When I see her walking towards me I start up the love of my life and wait till Abby gets on. She puts on the helmet and I ask her for her address so I could drop her off. She tells me her address which made me realize she only lives two blocks away from me. I quickly pull out of my parking spot after saying goodbye and goodnight to the others. I ride down the street, increasing my speed which made my curly hair fly everywhere.