House Of Broken Love chapter 5
I opened my eyes to the bright ceiling. Only thing is, I didn't recognize it. My eyes wondered down and I realized I was in the hospital. Great, the last place I want to be.

"Ash." Great, the last person I want to see. "What the hell happened?" Randy raised his voice.

"Nice to see you too bro, I'm feeling fine by the way."

"The police found you after somebody complained about yelling in the skate park."

What fine civilians. Yeah right! Probably ruined somebody's beauty sleep.

"I got in a fight with Lindsay and that's all I am saying."

"We gotta tell the cops and press charges."

"There will be no point. Everybody will say I hit her first, it was self-defence and it will be dropped. I don't think Kiesha and Kacey would be up to testify."

"This isn't funny Ash."

"Screw off. I'll be fine." I stood up. I grabbed my ribs and bent forward in pain. "Ah fuck!."

"Ash, you're lucky to have only walked away with cuts and bruises."

I stood quiet as I stared out the window. I know I should stop seeing Jeff. And I think it's about time I do. "You're right bro. If being with Jeff is going to be like this; I don't want it." I looked around. "Having cuts and bruises from you and them just for being with Jeff on a constance bases; no, I don't want it."

"Ashley I wish you would stop making me the bad guy. I'm only here to protect you."

"Pfff."

"Hey!" I heard Amy as she walked in. "Hey lil' sis. Trish said she will be by after work."

"Don't bother. I rather be alone." I laid down in the bed. I held the blanket close to me a I faced away from Randy and Amy. I'm so confused. Is Jeff worth all this?

Should I let them win? I have no idea what to do.

I walked out of English on a Wednesday afternoon. I've isolated myself since the weekend. I've stayed away from everybody, even Trish. In school it has been hard. Jeff would be waiting at lunch. He graduated last year, me, well I'm going to this year. We are a year apart, but he doesn't act like it. All the girls go crazy for him. When they found out about us, well lets say school got harder. I was an outcast before and I was perfectly okay with it. I don't want the attention. Everybody knew I was Randy or Amy's younger sister but it didn't bring much attention like it has with me and Jeff. I miss those days.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't see Jeff standing by the main entrance. As I walked by he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Hey babe!" He kissed my neck. "I miss you."

I just kept walking. I'm sure by now he would now what happened. And lately he has been by my cousins a lot. Phoning me from there as a "Private Name, Private Number" How do I know he is there? I could here my uncle Pete yelling in the back. He doesn't talk, he yells.

I got to my locker and opened it. "Hey" Jeff said once again as he held me from behind. "I've been trying to call you."

"And I've been ignoring you and everybody else." I was putting my stuff in the locker.

"Babe. I'm sorry." He turned me around and looked at me.

I looked at him and then away. "Well that's all you can do" I looked back at him. "I have to deal with all this bullshit. I have to get the beatings from my brother and your crew. I'm tired off it Jeff. You might think we can do, you might think it can work but you don't have to go threw what I am. All you get is the verbal beatings. I can't keep doin' this." I turned back around.

"What are you saying?"

I turned back around. "Jeff, why do you like me? Why do you keep coming to me? Honestly, have you thought of it?"

He looked at me blankly. I knew it, he didn't know. "Jeff, just go."

Unexpectly he punched the locker by me. I jumped a bit. He looked a little pissed. He grabbed my bag out of my hand and pushed me out of the way. He closed the locker and grabbed my hand and started to pull me as he walked. "Jeff let go!" He didn't listen. I didn't want to make a big scene so I just went with him. We went out the main doors and to his car in the front. He opened the door and threw my bag in the back and looked me. "Get in!" He didn't say it in an angry tone but a settled tone.

"Jeff, no. I told you, I'm done." I went for the back door to grab my stuff.

"Ash." He said as he put his arm on the car to stop me. I looked at him and crossed my arms. "Please."

"No!" I attempted again but he stepped in the way this time. "No! I'm not gettin' in."

"Please!"

"Why? Where are we gunna go?"

"Lets get out of here. You and me."

"Jeff you lost it. Listen to yourself. This isn't gunna work. We are to apart."

"Babe, get those people out of you head. Your brother, sister, Darren, Joe, everybody! You know this can work!"

"Jeff you don't even know why you like me, why you want to be with me." I walked around him but just kept walking.

I couldn't believe this. He is right. I think we can make it work. We just got to get all the people around us away. It's getting in my head. But I am sick of the beatings. I don't want to go on like this. Running away? I don't think so. Honestly, I couldn't do this to my brother. The only one that shows affection to me.