Heat

Chapter 22

Ashley woke up as a groan ripped from her throat. Her vision was a blur as she squinted her eyes.

"Omg, honey, are you okay?" A faint voice asked as Ashley tried to sit up but a pair of hands gently

pushed her shoulders back. "Oh, no, Ash, lay back, my love, " said the voice as Ashley recognize it to

be her mother's, "Mom, what happened?" She weakly asked as her vision became clear as she looked

at her extremely worried mother "Honey, you passed out, your body was too weak to function on its

own so it shut down, it's a good thing Anna was with you, " she said as Ashley furrowed, "Anna?" She

asked as her mother nodded, "Yes, Anna was there when you collapse, you don't remember?" She

asked as Ashley touched her head.

"My head is pounding unbearably, " she replied as her mother nodded, "Yeah, that makes sense since I

remembered you coming home last night soaking wet, you probably have the flu, " she said caressing

Ashley's head as she closed her eyes trying to remember all the things that happened before she

passed out.

"We got a message for your step-brother, Jake, tell him that Jay's big brother is looking for him and that

he should watch his back."

"Listen here, you little b**h, you and your step-brother are going to pay for what he did to Jay, now be a

good messenger bird and deliver Jay's big brother's message before I-

"Remembered what I said, pretty girl."

"What are you going to do?"

"Nothing!"

"Nothing!"

Before everything went dark.

Ashley's eyes snapped open as she remembered what had happened and what was going to happen.

"Woah, sweetheart, calm down, " her mother said trying to calm Ashley down as her breath was

unsteady and her chest hovered strongly. Her eyes slightly widened as it searched for something

around her room before it met her mother's worried ones. "Jake's in danger."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Jake was currently at the river, where he had taken Ashley before. It always seemed to be peaceful

here so Jake came here to kill some time before he leaves to the place he always goes when he's

stressed.

He really felt guilt for leaving Ashley, especially in that state but he was stubborn and decided to act

childish by letting things from the past get to him. He thought, she was still angry with him but the way

she was wanting his attention, made him wonder what was so important that she needed to tell him.

Jake sighed, pushing his thoughts aside as he bent down to pick a pebble up from the floor. He

remembered when Ashley told him about her and her father's favorite thing to do when they would

come to the river. He looked out in the waters before tossing the stone as he watched it bounce along

the water.

Jake sighed again as he felt his pocket vibrate. He pulled his phone out of his pocket as he watched

the missed calls from Ashley and his Dad. Jake sighed annoyed before switching off his phone. _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

"Goddamit, pick up, " Ashley said frustratedly at her phone as her mother paced in front of her, "Okay,

Ashley, you got to tell me what exactly is happening?" She asked as Ashley sighed, "This morning I

was ganged up by a group of girls, who wanted me to deliver a message to Jake, " she said as Roger

walked into the room, "What message?" He asked as her mother nodded as she wanted to know as

well, "The girl said that Jay's big brother was looking for him and that he should watch his back, " she

said as her mom's eyebrows furrowed as she places her hands on her hips, "Jay's big brother, why

would he be looking for Jake, Ashley?" She asked as Ashley gulped nervously, "Jake kind of beat up

Jay, last night, " she said as her mother's eyes widened, "What, why did Jake beat up Jay, Ashley?"

She asked as Ashley groaned, "He was trying to protect me, " she said, "Really, Ashley, from what?"

Her mother asked while folding her arms across her chest, "It's a long story, " she said as her mother

hummed, "Yeah, I bet it is and you got a lot of explaining to do young lady, god, Ashley, what happened

to us having a pact, " she said while walking out the door as Ashley sat there with a guilty look on his

face. "Mom, I'm sorry, " she said but her mother already left, leaving Roger and Ashley, "What about

Jake?" She asked as Roger sighed, "Jake's strong and I know I may not have raised my son, but ever

since he was born, he always has been strong, he'll be fine, Ashley, " he said before leaving the room.

Roger's words didn't exactly make Ashley less worried, she was still very worried about what was going

to happened to Jake.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

The sun was setting as Jake was driving to the place where he always goes when he's stressed or felt

creative. He found it when he first came here, it was abandoned so he used it. It was probably illegal to

spray paint but Jake didn't care, he was the type to always break the rules anyway.

He parked his car in a place where no one can find it before exiting the car. He pulled his hoodie over

his head before walking towards the abandoned building. Not too far behind him was a group of guys.

Their faces were covered but they looked dangerous and angry especially since Jake was in their

sights.

Jake felt like someone was watching him, but as he turned and saw a familiar person amongst the

group of guys that were following him, his eyes widened before he did the most common thing

possible.

He ran…

TO BE CONTINUED