Chapter 10: One Month Later

A month had gone by since Andros and Ashley's last meeting. It broke Ashley's heart with every day that passed without Andros by her side. They stopped any kind of contact just incase her father caught them. They didn't want Ashley to get into anymore trouble for the next four months.

One day, Ashley came downstairs.

She was wearing white tie-up shoes, blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and her bangs were pulled back with a clip.

Mr. Hammond was for once sober and was in the kitchen when Ashley came in. "Morning, Ashley," he greeted.

"Morning, dad," she answered.

She reached into the cupboard to get her breakfast when Mr. Hammond grabbed her arm. Ashley bit her lip. "Please don't hurt me, please," she whispered. Ashley took a deep breath. "Daddy…um…will it be alright if Cassie came over to study?" She asked nervously. Mr. Hammond let her arm go.

"Yes, I think you deserve it. You've been a good girl," he replied.

Ashley closed her eyes and bit her lip with her back still turned to him. "I'll see you at five o'clock," he informed. Ashley stood still when he kissed her cheek and left. Once he was gone, Ashley held her stomach when she suddenly felt queasy. Not able to make it upstairs she ran over to the sink and threw up.

Later that day at school, Cassie looked up when Ashley came into the lunchroom. "Hey, Ash," Carlos greeted. Ashley smiled and sat next to her friends.

"Hey guys," she greeted.

"How are you doing?" Cassie asked.

"Pretty good. I'm a little tired and have a bit of a headache."

Ashley then suddenly felt sick when she opened her lunch bag. "You okay, Ash?" Carlos asked.

"Yeah, I'm just not very hungry," she replied.

She moved her lunch away and looked at Cassie. "Hey, Cass. I was able to have my dad let you come over to study a bit," Ashley informed.

"Good so I'll come over after school," Cassie answered.

"Right," Ashley agreed.

"Any word from Andros?" T.J. asked.

Ashley shook her head sadly. Cassie looked over at T.J. as if reminding him not to mention Andros. "Hey, Ash, when will your dad be home?" Cassie asked.

"Five," Ashley replied.

"So I'll leave before he comes home. Remember the restraining order."

"Oh yeah."

Ashley then got very quiet. She wasn't feeling well again, but she pushed it aside and tried to talk with her friends before going back to class.

(Ashley's House)

Ashley was sitting on the couch reading over her notes when she suddenly felt sick again. She got up and ran into the bathroom. Cassie got up and walked over to the bathroom door. "Hey, Ash, you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ashley replied.

Ashley came out and leaned against the wall. "Ashley, how many times a day are you doing this?" She asked. Ashley held her stomach.

"About three…four times a day," Ashley replied.

Cassie looked at her best friend concerned. "I'll be right back," she informed. Ashley looked at her.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"To the drug store to get a pregnancy test," Cassie replied.

Ashley's heart sank. "You think I'm pregnant?" She asked. Cassie picked up her purse and looked over at Ashley.

"Ashley, you're tired, you get headaches, and your throwing up a lot in the morning and evening," Cassie replied.

Ashley bit her lip, hoping that it wasn't true. She nodded. "Okay, hurry back," she answered. Cassie nodded and left.

Ten minutes later, Cassie came back with a pregnancy test. She handed it to Ashley and Cassie stood outside the bathroom as she waited for the results.

Ashley bit her lip when the longest four minutes of her life came to a stop. She picked up the test and her heart sank. She came out of her bathroom pale as a ghost. "Well?" Cassie asked.

"I--I'm pregnant," Ashley replied.

Ashley fell to her knees in shock. "It's Andros's isn't it?" Cassie asked. Ashley nodded and then she started to cry.

"He's going to kill me, Cass. My dad's going to kill me," Ashley replied.

Cassie placed a hand on her best friend's shoulder. She had Ashley get up and sat her on the couch, both forgetting about the box sitting on the bathroom sink. "What are you going to do?" Cassie asked. Ashley fidgeted with her hands.

"I have to tell Andros," Ashley replied.

Cassie nodded. "Are you going to keep it?" She asked. Ashley nodded her head slowly.

"I want to," she replied.

"What about school?"

"I'll finish."

"When are you going to tell Andros?"

"I don't know."

Ashley looked at the clock. "You should go. My dad will be home any minute," Ashley informed. Cassie nodded and grabbed her backpack and purse.

"Good luck, Ashley," Cassie told her.

Ashley nodded and watched her leave. Once Cassie was gone Ashley gathered her things and went upstairs.

Twenty minutes later Mr. Hammond came home while Ashley was upstairs reading. He went into the bathroom to wash his hands from work when he saw the pregnancy test box sitting on the counter. He picked it up and he felt his blood boil. "ASHLEY!" He shouted.

Ashley bolted up right. "Oh no…" she whispered. She felt her heart pounding against her chest.

"GET DOWN HERE NOW!" He shouted.

Ashley ran down the stairs and looked at her father. "Sit down now," he ordered. Ashley quickly sat down. He held up the box. "What is this?" He asked.

"A--A pregnancy test," she replied nervously.

"Did you take the test?"

Ashley nodded her head slowly. "What did it say?" He asked. Ashley lowered her head and felt the tears of fear pressing against her eyes.

"I--I--I'm pregnant," she replied.

"It's that weird boy's kid isn't it?"

"Yes."

Mr. Hammond flipped the coffee table over making Ashley shriek with fear. She started to shake and placed her hands on her stomach to protect her baby if he attacked her. He walked over and grabbed her arm. "You know what you're going to do? You're going to get rid of the bastard," he snapped. Ashley struggled against him, but she winced in pain with his vice grip on her arm. "You're going to get rid of it DO YOU UNDERSTAND!" He roared. Ashley was shaking but she shook her head.

"No…I won't," she replied.

He threw her up against the wall. "Fine if you wont get rid of it willingly, I'll get rid of it," he snapped. Ashley kicked him in the stomach and tried to escape when he grabbed her. Mr. Hammond threw Ashley on the floor and started kicking and punching her.

"DADDY STOP PLEASE!" She screamed.

Ashley quickly covered her stomach to protect her child. "STOP! DON'T KILL MY BABY!" She screamed. Mr. Hammond then knocked her unconscious. He ran out of the house believing that she had miscarried the baby.