Secrets

Did You

Did You

"Ashton", I say in a hushed voice.

"Hey beautiful, what's wrong? Have you been crying"?

I take a deep breath, "Yeah, a little".

"Do you want to talk about it", he calmly asks.

"Can you come over? I'd rather explain in person".

"I'll be right there", Ashton responds with the click of the phone.

I walk downstairs to wait for him. "Morning Mom", I say as I walk into the kitchen.

"Good morning sweetie", she says with a smile, "I have a few errands to run so I won't be home till around five or six".

"No worries, I was just going to hang out with Ashton today".

My mother looks at me oddly, "Don't get so attached".

"What do you mean", I curiously ask.

"You promised your father-"

"I know what I promised him", I say as I cut her off. She shakes her head, "Mom, seriously. I know I promised him, I'm not going to break it. Plus; Dad sees things in people that no one else does, I wouldn't feel comfortable without his permission anyway".

"Okay Catherine", she sighs, "I better get going. See you when I get home".

My mother grabs her keys and leaves me here in the lonely house. I sit on the couch thinking about how I am going to tell Ashton about what happened with James, I wonder if I should be blunt or if I should mention it without actually mentioning it. I think so hard that I begin to get a headache; I get up and walk to the kitchen to get an ibuprofen. "Cat", I hear as I open the cabinet.

I turn, "Do you not know how to knock"?

"Sorry", Ashton says as he walks over to me. "I have to ask you something, and I need you to be honest. Can you do that"?

"Of course, I would never lie to you".

Ashton takes a deep breath, "Okay. Umm, did you have sex with Bryce".

My eyes widen, "No! I mean, yes". Ashton nods and begins to walk out, "Please don't go".

He turns to me, "Why"?

"Ashton, it's not what you think", I pause; it's now or never, "Bryce, he- he- he raped me". His eyes widen, "At the party in March".

"Have you told anyone", he asks with concern.

I shake my head, "Only you and Sarah".

"Cat-"

"That's not all that happened. I was pregnant".

Ashton looks at me confused, "Where is the baby now"? I can't help but cry, "Cat", he says as he takes me in his arms.

"He- He forced me to. He drugged me and took me to the clinic; they killed it and didn't care about what I wanted. How can people be so cruel"?

I nuzzle my head in his chest and he holds me tighter, "I'm so sorry".

"Are you crying", I ask as I feel something hit my hair.

"Yeah, I hate that he did that to you and got away with it".

I lift my head, "One thing. Please don't think any different of me".

"Cat", he pauses and looks down, "I still think you're perfect. Actually, I think you are more than perfect". I can't help but smile.

*Ashton's P.O.V*