“I’m indebted to you, Hayley,” he whispered, gazing at her longingly, unable to answer her question. Yes, they were dating, but not anymore. After Gambino’s threat, he didn’t have the courage to start any sort of relationship with Hayley. She was just eighteen, and she had a beautiful life awaiting her. It was better he stayed away from her.
Hayley went closer and touched his hand, cradling it in hers. Her eyes searched his for an answer, but all she saw in them was a feeling of hopelessness. “I will heal you soon, Ashton. Then we can go out on dates like before.” Her voice trembled with raw emotions bubbling deep inside her, ready to overflow any minute. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him. Looks, wounds, danger, nothing mattered to her. All she needed was him in her life!
“We can’t continue dating each other, Hayley. It wasn’t a good idea, anyway.” Shocked, Hayley left his hand and gazed at him in disbelief. Was he severing all ties with her? Was he breaking off the only hope she had?
“Why not?” she asked in a dazed state. Her world shattered around her, and her head swooned as she tried to comprehend his words.
“I don’t wish to put your life in jeopardy. I live recklessly, Hayley, and have nothing to offer you. Don’t harbor any illusions of a future with me, as it will never be. I’m not someone who can give you a stable and happy life. I’m fu*ked up and you deserve so much better!” His vocal cords strained to get the words out.
“It’s my decision who I want to be with, Ashton. I chose you and it can’t change at the drop of a hat. Feelings don’t work that way,” she said, standing up agitatedly.
“You’re young and you will forget me soon. There’s no surety in my life. I can’t raise your hopes. Please move on, Hayley.” A sob broke from her lips and she ran towards the door, eager to get away to calm her shattered heart.
“No never. I can’t forget you. Do you hear that?” she said, walking out.
Ashton sighed and sagged into the bed. He was desperate to save Hayley from Gambino, and this was the only way. Tears pricked at his eyes, and he felt totally drained.
After an hour, the door opened and Ashton looked up hopefully, but instead of Hayley, a haggard Alexander came into the room. It looked as if he had arrived straight from the airport!
“What the f*ck happened, bro? I watched the news and took the first flight home. How are you now? You gave me such a fright!” said Alexander, sitting beside him.
“I’m fine, man. Hayley and Mr. Barclay saved me.” Ashton smiled with relief at his friend.
“I wish I was here to save you. Who’s here with you now?”
“Hayley is, but can you drop her home? She’s been out since morning and I don’t want her falling ill because of me,” said Ashton with a sigh. He knew Hayley wouldn’t agree to leave, but he had no choice but to force her. With Alexander’s arrival here, she couldn’t protest much.
“I’ll drop her on my way home. I need to freshen up before I return to spend the night with you.” Ashton smiled with relief and closed his eyes, the exhaustion and medicines taking a toll on him. Hayley came inside and looked at Alexander with surprise.
“When did you return?” she asked, feeling disappointed. Now Ashton wouldn’t need her at all!
“Just! I’m going home to freshen up. I’ll drop you home on my way, Hayley,” said Alexander, but Hayley scowled at him.
“Someone needs to stay here overnight. We can’t abandon Ashton here, can we?” Alexander grinned at her knowingly while Hayley blushed at her outburst. She glanced at Ashton, who forgot his tiredness and gaped at the two of them. It made her even more embarrassed.
“I’ll come back to take over from here. You’ve done what no one has, Hayley, but you need to go home and rest now. It’s been a tiring day for you and your family will be worried about you.” Hayley sighed at glanced at Ashton, who watched her closely, his eyes red and moist.
“Do you want me to leave, Ashton?” she asked helplessly as a last resort, wanting him to stop her from going. She didn’t want to leave, having waited all day for this moment to be alone with him. Alexander sighed and walked out to wait for her outside.
“I’m going, Ashton. Don’t you want to be with me anymore?” she asked with tears in her eyes.
“No, I don’t want us to date anymore. I want you to forget me and move on. I want you to study hard and chase your dreams.” His voice trembled as a mountain load of emotions choked his throat. His heart broke at the sight of her pale, shattered face.
“But you’re my dream, Ashton,” she whispered as a sob escaped her lips. Ashton wanted to jump out of the bed and crush her to his chest, but he was helpless. This was for her own good, he reasoned in his head, although his heart battled with his mind.
“I can only be someone’s wet dream for a single night. That’s all I can offer. It’s all I believe in, a no-string attached fling, a night of mindless s*x. Do you want that with me?” Shocked, she stared at him, shaking her head slowly. It didn’t surprise him because he knew what she wanted. He, too, wanted the same thing with her, but not at the cost of her life. Ashton didn’t fear for himself much, but he was petrified of Gambino’s warning. He knew how merciless Gambino was! He would surely execute what he said!
“I thought you wanted to marry me! I thought you liked me,” she whispered, as if in a daze.
“I like you, but not enough to marry you. We belong to different worlds which can never meet. I’m indebted to you for saving my life and I’ll definitely return the favor someday in some way. Till then, goodbye, Hayley! Have a great life!” He closed his eyes, unable to see the pain etched on her features.
She wiped her tears away, but the lump in her throat refused to go. It was good that she hadn’t unpacked her stuff yet. Picking up her bag, she quietly walked out of his room, knowing that it was the last time she would see him. He had thrown her out of his life forever! She couldn’t bid him goodbye as easily as he had. So it was better to leave without getting more humiliated. The Ashton she spent a week with was just a figment of her imagination! He had always been this way! She would spend a lifetime with the memories of the week she spent with him.
“Hayley? Where are you off to? I’m waiting to drop you home,” said Alexander, seeing her wander off aimlessly. He didn’t know what exactly happened between her and Ashton, but he could sense that something was off. Ashton wasn’t as immune to her as he portrayed.
“Thanks, Alexander!” she said with relief. Alexander led her to the parking area of the hospital and helped her to his car.
“Are you alright, Hayley?” he asked with concern at seeing her tear-stained face.
“He threw me out of his life forever.” Hayley sighed and looked out of the window, swallowing the painful constriction in her throat.
“Forever is a strong word, Hayley. I’m sure he is devastated after the near-death experience he just went through. Maybe he fears for your life now! Give him time to get out of the mental trauma. Give him time to regain his confidence. Just let him come back to you. Study in the meantime and focus on your career. We’re all here, close to each other. I’m sure you’ll see him again under better circumstances,” said Alexander, while Hayley listened intently.
“Do you think he’ll come back to me? He said he doesn’t want me. He doesn’t believe in anything but one-night stands,” she said, wiping her eyes. At that moment, she felt glad to have Alexander’s support.
“Oh, that’s all crap. I’m sure he’s crying his heart out for you.” Hayley grinned at him, feeling relieved that she had this talk with Ashton’s best friend. No one knew him better than Alexander.
“Thanks, Alexander! I needed that pep talk.” Alexander drove out of the hospital with a relieved smile on his face.
“You can call me anytime you feel down.”
She thanked Alexander and went inside her house, determined to listen to him. He was right. She would now focus on her studies and career. She would give Ashton the time he needed to regain his confidence. For the first time in weeks, she sat down at her desk to study.
“Hayley? I thought you were staying with Ashton at the hospital. I was so against it,” said her mom, coming into her room.
“Alexander has returned, and I didn’t need to, mom.”
“That’s great news indeed. I hope you don’t need to go back. Alexander can handle it, can’t he?”
“Yes, he will handle it. I don’t need to go.”
“Good! Ashton isn’t the right one for you, anyway!”
“Neither is Jason, mom. I’ll only concentrate on my studies and career from now on.”