Fated Mate

Lee walked out of her room feeling fresh and clean. She put on a fresh pair of cotton pants, and a black long sleeved shirt. Maria was in the shower and taking her sweet time. Lee was hesitant about going back to the kitchen. She wasn’t quite ready to see Ash after their fight, especially since he’d seen through Maria’s lie. But she wasn’t going to hide in her own home. She put on a courageous smile and strolled into the living room.

Ash was pacing, his face red and stern. Billy stood in front of Ann; his posture was protective, as if he was shielding her. His body was between her and Ash. Joe just stood at the far end of the room, his hands crossed over his chest.

“What’s going on?” She moved slowly, unsure of what she had walked into. Ann came and stood in front of her. Before she could say anything, with two strides Ash was at Lee’s side, fuming.

“Why didn’t you tell me, why didn’t you call me the minute she showed up here!” His jaw was tight, Lee could hear his teeth grinding. He was trying to control himself.

Ann had told them. Lee could feel a huge weight on her shoulders. She didn’t even have the strength to be mad. She turned to Ann. “How much did you tell them?” Her voice was tired, resigned.

“Everything…including the nightmares. I’m sorry, but he had to know what he was doing to you, to all of us! Especially after his lunatic girlfriend threatened you! You hadn’t had a nightmare in weeks, and then his psycho chic showed up and made them even worse than before!”

She was right, the nightmares were worse. They even seemed longer. They were more vivid, the screams clearer, tormenting Lee even more. Her screams were even louder than they usually were.

Ash turned to her, his hands in fists at his sides. “I told you already, she is not my girlfriend, I have nothing to do with her!”

“You live under one roof!”

That slammed hard into Lee’s chest, she could feel the little strength she’d been holding on to drain out of her. They live together.

“I told you that can’t be helped!”

Billy was back in his defensive position between them, completely shadowing Ann with his body. “Ash, calm down.” Billy’s voice was cool and relaxed. “Ann, go shower, Maria is done.”

“I’m not…” Ann tried to protest, but Billy didn’t give her a chance.

“Ann, please!” Billy had his hands on her arms and he was pushing her back slowly.

Lee was getting tired of everything. She just wanted some peace even if it only lasted a few minutes. Ann turned and left. Lee walked to the couch and sat down. She was feeling exhausted, she didn’t have the strength to endure everything anymore.

“Lee, talk to me.” Ash went and sat next to her. His face had softened. The rage was gone, replaced by concern.

“It’s annoying when someone doesn’t tell you things, isn’t it?” She was casual about it; she didn’t want to pick a fight. She just wanted him to stop pestering her.

“Lee, this is no time to be childish!” he scolded.

“Ash, I haven’t slept in a week, we haven’t slept in a week because of me. I am exhausted, I don’t want to go ten rounds with you.” She turned and looked at Billy. “Would you please take Ann and Maria to your place today, better yet, let them stay the whole weekend. They need to rest before the finals, and they won’t be able to do so under the same roof with me.”

Ash, brushed his hand over her head. “What about you? You also need to rest.”

“I don’t see my nightmares stopping anytime soon, so rest is a foreign term to me.”

“We could call your therapist?”

“Thirteen years of therapy, and I’m still waking up screaming. Either way I don’t think he can help me. I am the only one who can help me.” She yawned. “Can we talk about something else?” Ash reached out to hold her. She held his hands and stopped him. “If you hold me, I’ll fall asleep, and I’m not ready to go toe to toe with my demons yet.”

The room went quiet. Maria had joined them, the second she was in Joe’s arms on the mini couch she was out like a light. Ash had moved to stand where the TV used to be, still staring at Lee, worried.

Ann had walked into the room quietly, and sat next to Lee. She remembered what Ash’s girlfriend or not girlfriend, whatever the relationship, said to her. She thought she’d take a shot and ask him.

“Ash, do you know anything about my family being slaughtered?” His face went pale. Joe and Billy looked at each other. Their expression shocked and it wasn’t because the question was outrageous, there was something else to it.

“Where did you hear that?” Ash’s voice was unsteady, he had that look, the one that always came when he didn’t want to answer her question or he was about to lie. He had just answered one important question though; he knew what happened to her family.

She had danced this dance before, knowing very well she wouldn’t get any information from him. She let it go. “Your girlfriend mentioned it when she threatened me.”

“She is not my girlfriend.” The bitterness in his voice made Lee happy, but the fact was, whether or not he liked her, she was obsessed with him. But Lee had made her bed when she gave him the ultimatum. She wasn’t going to back out of it.

“It doesn’t matter.” She shrugged off his reaction.

“Yes it does.”

“It will only matter, when you tell me the truth.” She looked up at him. He lowered his head, his eyes to the floor. That was the end of that conversation. She turned to Ann. “You guys are going with your boyfriends for the weekend. You need to rest.”

“We are not leaving you alone.” Ann moved closer to her.

“I won’t be alone, Ash will be here. I have a feeling his girlfriend will be back.” His fist clenched at his side. “Who better to greet her than the center of her universe?” A growl escaped him, it startled Ann, but Lee had heard it before, even some much worse.

For once she appreciated his anger, as long as it kept his lunatic girlfriend away from her.

Joe carried Maria to the car, Lee was relieved she didn’t wake up, it wouldn’t be as easy to convince her to leave as it was Ann. Lee wasn’t looking forward to being alone with Ash, she had to admit she was nervous about it, after their last fight she wasn’t sure where they stood.