Page 50 of Broken Beauty

What she said about boys scared me and I have always tried to steer clear of them, even though they are nice to look at, it's better to just admire them from afar.

Ash takes his hand off my cheek and he pushes away from me. “Get dressed. I want to take you somewhere.”

He tells me he will wait outside while I get ready.

I decide to wear a pair of jeans with a black muscle shirt. I pull my hair in a ponytail and then run downstairs while grabbing my bag and then locking the door before walking towards Ash's car.

“Where are we going?” I ask Ash as he hands me his helmet.

“Be patient. You'll see.”

After the helmet is one, I sit on the back of his bike and hold onto his waist.

As Ash drives my eyes go down to his hand on my thigh.

I notice the bruises and the small cuts on his knuckles. All I want to do is bring them to my lips and make him feel better.

I don't want him to hurt.

There is a darkness in Ash that I haven't met yet. I know that I will probably be scared of it and that this darkness inside him will probably destroy me.

I can see that darkness in him when he looks at me whenever he is mad or frustrated. I saw it the night he went to jail and the night he was talking to me a little bit about his dad. I see it whenever he is touching me with rough caresses and then dirty words.

But I know that I won't see it until it's too late.

I'm scared but I know I have to be patient for him to peel back those layers and show me that darkness.

By the time Ash parks his bike it's dark outside.

The sun was setting about the same time we were leaving.

I look around us and I see a bunch of greenery and trees.

Goosebumps rise on my skin and I try not to freak out as I overthink about what Ash could have brought me out here for.

He's going to kill me.

“Come on.”

Ash is about to get off the bike but I stop him. “Wait.” Ash looks back at me and he furrows his eyebrows. “Why are we here? Why did you bring me here?”

“Because I want to show you something.” Ash says before getting off. Ash holds my hands and helps me get off the bike. I look around me and you can't see anything other than the trees.He takes off the helmet and rests it on the handle. “Come on,” Ash says, offering his hand to me.

I grab his hand and he starts walking forward. We walk up steps and Ash tightens his hold on my hand, making sure to hold me close to him.

“Ash, where are we?”

“You'll see,” Ash answers while still walking up the steep steps that are filled with dirt. When Ash finally does stop, I look up and see a huge tree with stairs around the trunk. “Come on.”

Ash walks forwards, towards the tree.

We walk up the steps, with steady feet. Ash makes sure to not let me go as we walk up slowly.

When we get closer to where Ash is walking, I see a door come into my view.

A tree house.

Ash opens the door and he lets me walk through the front door first. I look around the house and admire the old wood and the little knick knacks.