Chapter 6: Lies, Lovers, and a Last Cry

The glowing flecks of embers from the fireplace reflected off of Ashlyn's glassy eyes. She sat wrapped in a blanket in Peter's office, slowly regaining her body heat. Her wet, cold hair caked to the back of her head keeping her chilled despite the warm fire. She bit the insides of her cheeks to stop her teeth from chattering. She stared into the fire. The musky smell of the burning wood filled the room.

"Scott said he found you outside sleepwalking. Do you sleepwalk often because it's not written in any your medical documents." Peter closed the manila file and placed it on his desk. "I'm not going to punish you because the sleepwalking was obviously out of your control and it is my fault I didn't know about it. And besides, I think you've had enough trauma for one night."

Ashlyn made a mental note to thank Scott for lying. She took her eyes off the fire. "Don't get Scott into trouble, please."

Peter crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. "Ashlyn, he did break the rules—"

"But if he wasn't out there I could've drowned. He saved my life, Peter." She reached over the table and grabbed Peter's hand. "Please," she begged.

"Alright," he agreed, pulling his hand out from her clammy fingers.

"Thanks," she said, enshrouding herself into the warm blanket.

"Listen, Ashlyn, I know it's late but I think we need to have a session. Something has undoubtedly been bothering you or else you wouldn't have been sleepwalking. It's a method of relieving stress or anxiety subconsciously. Do you know what it could be?"

Yeah, my whole life, she thought. She got up from the chair and walked in front of the fire. The floor under her toes creaked as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. She whipped herself around toward Peter.

"They think I'm a killer, don't they?" She turned back to the fire and lowered her head. The warmth of the flames felt comforting on her skin.

"They don't think you're a killer, Ashlyn. You just really shocked them in group." Peter offered as politely as he could.

"Not just the Cliffhangers….everyone in this place. Do you think I don't notice all of the whispering when I walk by, or the pointing from across the room, or the piercing glares?" She turned around, walked back to the desk, and stared Peter in the face.

"Well I do. Don't try and sugarcoat the situation, either. I know what's happening." She slumped back down in the chair.

Peter gave her a sympathetic eye and cleared his throat. "They just want to know the truth, Ashlyn. You dropped a bombshell on them and didn't explain the circumstances. You can't just tell them you're here because killed your father and brother when you know that's not the truth."

"But it is!" she retorted. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes and she swiftly wiped them away. "Look, I'm really tired and not in the mood for this. I'm going back to the dorm to sleep. See you in the morning, Peter." She jumped up and left the room before he could protest.

Peter leaned back in his chair and gazed out the window. The misty clouds surrounded the moon, peaking above the treetops in the distance. He started thinking about Ashlyn. How am I going to help this girl when she clearly isn't ready to open up? She has so many unresolved issues that are disturbing her whether she admits to it or not. I just don't get it. She's a terrific student, has never had any confrontations with her teachers. She gets along with everyone pretty well, even Shelby. If I didn't know any better, I'd believe she was a perfectly normal seventeen year old girl.

Ashlyn got back to the dorm and noticed all of the lights were on. She opened the door and all eyes were wide open and on her.

"What, did someone die?" she said nonchalantly, as she walked to her drawer and pulled out dry pajamas.

"Apparently you... well, almost." Daisy answered.

"Yeah," Shelby added. "Scott came by and said he pulled you out of the lake. What the hell happened?"

"I fell in." Ashlyn went into the bathroom as confused looks were circulating around the room. She came out a moment later in dry clothes and pinned up her damp hair.

"So you went to the lake and fell in?" inquired Juliette, snuggling back under her comforter.

"I couldn't sleep," she said and crawled into her own bed. "I needed some air and went down to the dock, slipped, fell in. Scott was out and saw me fall so he jumped in to get me." Won't they just leave me alone, she added to herself.

Kat sat up. "Really? Cuz Scott said you were sleepwalking. You just said you couldn't sleep."

Frustrated at the developing inquisition, Ashlyn let out a sigh. "Can we just drop it tonight, please." She reached to turn off the light on the nightstand between her and Juliette's bed and ended up knocking off the book she placed there earlier.

Juliette picked up the book and examined it. "The Virgin Suicides?"

"It's a great book." Ashlyn said, losing the irritated tone in her voice. Juliette shrugged her shoulders and extended her arm to Ashlyn. She released the book and a photograph fell out from in between the pages.

"What's the picture?" Shelby asked.

Ashlyn went to grab the picture from the floor but Juliette beat her to it. She smirked.

"It's Ashlyn and a really good-looking guy! Is he your boyfriend?" beamed Juliette.

"Let's see him," Shelby said, walking over to Juliette's bed.

"Guys, come on. Can I have my picture back?" Ashlyn said uncomfortably.

Daisy and Kat, catching the curiosity, got up and joined the rest of the girls.

"He's a cutie, Ashlyn. Why haven't you ever mentioned him?" asked Kat.

"I don't know," Ashlyn said, taking the picture from Kat.

"Tall, dark, and handsome….if he had a little eyeliner he'd be my kind of guy." admired Daisy.

The girls dispersed back to their beds. Ashlyn glanced at the photo in her hands before she placed it back in the book. I was so happy then, she thought. We were so happy. She felt so warm just thinking about him. I miss you so much, she added silently.

"So does loverboy have a name," Shelby called from her bed.

Ashlyn lay her head on her pillow and smiled. "Luke," she replied. "Luke." She loved the way his name seemed to roll right off her tongue.

"Well, I hope you have sweet dreams of Luke, Ashlyn." Juliette said, rolling onto her side.

Ashlyn smiled and closed her tired, heavy eyes.

"I really want to open Ashlyn's letter, Dad. I know she won. I can feel it!"

"I know you do Noah, but we should wait until we get to Breeya's to open it. Ashlyn should be the one." Mr. Reeves smiled over at his son. "We're almost there. We just have to cross Stadler Blvd. We're five minutes away."

"What are you talking about Dad? I'm right here!" Ashlyn called from the backseat of the car. "Noah? Hello? I'm here!" Ashlyn tapped her father on the shoulder but he didn't notice. "Dad!" She leaned back in the seat and looked out the window. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the transport truck veering back and forth on the road. It was coming straight through the red light.

"Dad look out!" she screamed, but it was no use. He didn't hear her. Ashlyn closed her eyes tight and let out a huge scream. All she could hear was the screeching of tires, the crushing and twisting of metal, and the distant, haunting wail of a horn crying out for the help that came too late.