Page 108 of Broken Beauty

Between what the dean said and my feelings towards Ariella I cannot fucking think straight.

My mind is being too loud and I want it to just stop.

I need it all to just stop-

“Ash.” I look up and see Ariella. She is standing by her car in the parking lot. She walks up to me and I see vulnerability in her eyes. “Why would you do that? Why would you put yourself in that position? Did you get kicked out?”

“No. And don't worry about it, Ariella. It's none of your business.”

“It is my business. I was the one who was being held down, Ash. You're lucky you didn't get arrested.” I roll my eyes and attempt to walk past her but she puts her hand on my chest. “Are you seriously just going to ignore me? Ash, you're stupid for putting yourself in that situation.”

“No I wasn't,” I say, almost laughing from how stupid she sounded saying that.

I would attempt to kill Liam a thousand more times if it meant Ariella was safe.

I don't care about her feelings regarding what I do as long as she is protected and not hurt.

“You are. You could have gotten arrested.”

“And so what?” I lean closer to her. “I don't care. You are here and safe. He touched you and he shouldn't have. I am glad that I got to beat his ass and guess what? I would do it a hundred more times. I don't care that you don't want me arrested. All I care about is you,” I admit.

Ariella shakes her head lightly. “Why would you care about someone you don't love?”

She has no clue how wrong she is for saying that.

Ariella might be the only person I do care about in this fucked up world.

“I'm not doing this with you.”

“No.” She stops me from walking past her. “Answer the question. Because you can't keep doing this back and forth, Ash.”

I look up at the sky, as if I will get a sign from god himself. All I see are birds and clouds forming together. It's probably going to rain.

I notice my mind is finally quiet.

And it's because of Ariella.

It's all because of Ariella Madden.

It's her fault that my mind is quiet and the demons are silent.

I wish it could always be like this.

In the back of my mind, I know it can. But I would be a selfish motherfucker.

I look at Ariella and I see her lips parted.

Fuck.

Fuck feeling selfish.

I'll figure it out later.

I grab Ariella's face and our lips connect.

Little gasps escape from her mouth and I swallow it, wanting more.

Our bodies are crushed together and Ariella's lips move against mine.