Troublemaker

20. SELF-REPROACH

Hate was a strong word, a big word apparently. It could change a situation from the lowest to its highest, or the other way around. But what the word affects greatly is the person it's headed for, it could be someone you have hated, or someone you just want to hate.

The silent room was now filled with a cackling laugh from Jayce. She was wheezing in tears, and Ashton had no idea what was funny.

"Why are you laughing-?" Ashton flinched.

"I'm sorry," she laughed like a witch, "Say that to my face again,"

"Say what?"

"Say 'Do you wanna be my girlfriend?'" she repeated in his voice, then started laughing again.

Ashton curled his lip in confusion, he was being serious. In a way he didn't want to.

"Oh, geez," Jayce said with his tense look, "You really mean it," she bit her lip in awkwardness.

"Kind of," he shrugged.

"This is the weirdest confession I've ever had,"

"This is the weirdest confession I've ever made,"

"Answer is no," she smiled. She was smarter than falling into another trap. Because Ashton Walker didn't take anything for granted.

If there was a good side, there was always a bad side.

~~~

Jaxon and Ashton's conversation

"What do you mean our target is Jayce Brooks? What the hell are you planning?" Ashton furrowed.

"Her father is a detective, and we're not getting anywhere without her," Jaxon justified, "So I need you to date her and take her heart and get all that access to power,"

"You wanna use her," Ashton started, "Again?"

"You used her first,"

"Well she used me as well," he replied, "I am not having another misunderstanding with her,"

"It's for Eric, come on," he whined, "She really wants to find Eric's killer, considering the fact that she was almost killed by that exact killer earlier,"

"You're literally suggesting that I should use her because of her father's position,"

"And her intelligence, you and I both know with her we can solve the literal case,"

"Yeah, and also because of her power in the law division. I'm not using her at all, the killer would hurt her if I stick with someone they don't like," Ashton explained, "The killer is an obsessed freak who's literally rich,"

"But with Jayce, we get free passes to the investigation, and free protection," Jaxon debated, "I'm not going to die in peace until we find Eric's killer,"

But Ashton knew of the reason he should do this. To find proof for the killer, and having Jayce closer to him would make sure that she was safe, even if it risked both of them as well.

"Fine," Ashton stated, "I'll date her, if she says yes,"

"For a girl who wants a good social status, she'll definitely date you," Jaxon responded.

"Oh, you're wrong," Ashton replied, "If she finds out everything is fake, she'll create a bigger mess for me to clean up, that I will later on pass to you to clean up,"

~~~

"First of all, I'm not stupid," Jayce started, "Luring me in like when you said 'yes' to my student council offer and pretending to be such a good vice president had mocked me enough,"