A/N: Another update for you today. It's all from Ashley's POV so enjoy :) I suggest you listen to the 'Stop and stare acoustic cover by Josie' on youtube (just search it up) while reading this chapter. Please tell me what you thought about this chapter. All the feedback really helps me write better and it helps me develop the story. Thanks to all of you who review on a regular basis, you're awesome :)

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or characters.

Ashley's POV

I hate my damn ankle so much right now. It was lunch time and I had no fucking clue where to go because I can't ride my skateboard to the trail. Damnit Spencer.

You might be wondering how I got to school since I couldn't skateboard. Well, Spencer kindly offered to drive me to school after she dropped me home yesterday. Did I take the offer? Hell to the no. There was no way I was gonna let her off the hook that easily. She took away the things I loved the most - skateboarding and Sam! Most people would milk it, you know, try to get as much things from the guilty person as possible. I found that useless. I didn't like the idea of someone doing stuff because they felt obligated to do so. If you won't do that for me on a regular day, why do it now?

I was basically wandering the halls right now, dragging my injured foot along. With each step I took, a sharp pain travelled through my ankle, making me wince. I knew I couldn't walk for much longer, so I thought of different places in the school where I could hide out.

I walked down an unfamiliar hall way and stopped behind a set of large doors. I've been here before. It was the other music room, but it was more of a music hall than anything.

I opened the door and limped in. Surprisingly, it was empty. I guess not many people took interest in music.

Walking a slow pace, I looked at all the instruments in amazement. There were many different guitars lined against the wall, all of which were pretty impressive. I spotted a few drum sets in the corner and walked over to get a closer look. Grabbing a few drum sticks, I took a seat behind the kit and played out a few beats. Man, this school must be loaded because these drums were prestige. The drums were tuned perfectly and created such a clear beat. And don't even get me started on the cymbals. One word for you - crisp.

I smiled in contentment as I banged on the snare one last time. This was heaven. Excited to see what else was in this room, I got up and started exploring. I came across a few keyboards and basses, and tons of instruments that would belong in an orchestra.

I walked up an incline that led to what seemed like a stage. It was higher than most of the room and gave me a perfect view of everything.

I continued limping around when I came across a huge object that was covered by a large sheet, in the corner of the stage. Getting closer, I could make out the distinct shape of a piano. I grabbed onto the sheet and pulled it off in one swift motion.

The instrument was relatively dusty, but sustained a glossy look to it. I ran my fingers across the black grand piano, feeling the smooth texture. I looked around and saw that it was the only one in the room. This was probably the centrepiece of the whole room - the one thing that united all the other instruments with each other.

I sat down on the padded stool and opened up the lid, revealing the keys. I marvelled at the sight of having a piano under my fingers. Despite owning several guitars and drums, I never had a piano. My dad never got me one no matter how much I begged, and I never figured out why. Of course, I knew how to play the piano because my next door neighbours taught me. I would go over to their house everyday to play until the day I moved - 2 years ago. I've never touched another piano since then.

I applied pressure to one key to test the waters. A soft note responded back, as if it was welcoming me home.

Raising my left hand to join my right, I positioned my hands on the keys. I revelled in the fact how natural this felt, how at home I felt. I pushed a few fingers down, playing a nice calming note.

I did this several times, letting my fingers relearn how to paint the canvas of a piano. After 2 years, I still knew how to touch the piano in all the right ways. I remembered the first piano I learnt on. It was slightly smaller than this one and always had an oaky smell to it. It didn't seem to return my feelings of love when I first started out. All the notes it made were sour and ear screeching, almost like it was rejecting my touch. Over time, I pampered it by coming to visit and play it everyday. The owners often left it alone in the corner of the living room to collect dust, which I found completely upsetting. After about a few months, I knew the piano was warming up to me by how the notes sounded - nice and bright. It probably wanted to repay me for taking care of it and I must say that it was my pleasure.

I played a few more notes and let the last one ring out as I stared down at my hands.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, preparing myself for what was to come next. A familiar melody began to play as my fingers travelled across the keys.

It was slow and gentle. The notes floated into the air, gracing it with its calming presence. I missed this - how playing the piano took me to a whole other world. It was nothing compared to playing the guitar or drums. It was so much more .. healing. It was as if each note mended a wound - both physically and mentally.

The intro was coming to an end and I let out a shaky breath.

I opened my mouth, my hands trembling as I let my voice join the music.

This town is colder now, I think it's sick of me

It's time to make my move, I'm shakin' off the rust

I've got my heart set on anywhere but here

I'm staring down myself, counting up the years

I swallowed a lump in my throat and shut my eyes tighter. I was afraid that if I opened them, I'd see someone who was hurt and vulnerable - someone who was broken.

Steady hands just take the wheel

Every glance is killing me

Time to make one last appeal

For the life I lead

And I couldn't bare to see myself like that. I didn't want to witness a part of me that I tried so hard to hide from. That sounds silly, doesn't it? Someone who's hiding from themselves. It's not so hard to do actually. Just, don't stand in front of a mirror. People can be mirrors. They can tell you about your flaws, pointing out all the things you would see if you looked into a real one. All the little details and insecurities are on display for people to see and announce.

Now, someone's eyes are the worst mirrors. You know how they say that the eyes are the windows to the soul? Well, that's not how I see it. It's not the window to their soul but rather your own. I look into someone's eyes and I can see myself reflected in them. Their eyes are an open book there for you to read. They reveal all the good and bad in you through their emotions. They critique you and then reflect it all back for you to see.

Stop and stare

I think I'm moving but I go nowhere

Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared

But I've become what I can't be, oh

I felt my throat constrict and tighten.

Stop and stare

You start to wonder why you're here not there

And you'd give anything to get what's fair

But fair ain't what you really need

Oh, can you see what I see?

My voice cracked as I quietly sang the last word.

My hands went limp as a tear escaped through my shut eyes. I hated this side of me. The side that was fragile and weak. I shook my head and took a deep breath. I absolutely hated it.

I ducked my head and stayed like that, trying to get myself together. I wiped away the lone tear and forced all the emotion that was trying to escape down into the core of my body.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to the dim-lighted room. My heart was constricted and heavy, but all-in-all, I couldn't see any broken pieces of myself laying on the ground.

I closed the lid of the piano gently, with a promise that I would return soon.

I got up and made my way down the stage when a shadow caught my attention. I stopped and squinted my eyes trying to figure out what it was.

My heart dropped when I realized that it was a person. The shadow stood by the door, encased by a wall of darkness, watching me.

Panicking, I quickly made my way off the stage and ran out the door past the person.

My ankle was throbbing painfully as I propelled my legs as fast as I could, trying to get as far away as I could. Small tears tracked down my face as my feet pounded the ground.

Had they been there the whole time? No, they couldn't have been. It was dark, so they probably didn't see me. They can't see me - not like that.

My body fell forward as my ankle gave out under my weight.

Before my world went black, I thought of the sad blue eyes I briefly caught the moment I ran out the music room.

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Song used : Stop and Stare by One Republic - covered by Josie