A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Sorry I took so long updating. I got preoccupied with my other story. If you haven't already you should check it out, it's called 'Don't Forget To Breathe'

Disclaimer: I own Nothing except the OC's!

Chapter 3: Never Giving Up.

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Ashlee must have sat for about an hour, trying to get over the shock of the letter before her senses kicked in. She knew there was no way she could stay in her apartment now, not with him knowing where she lived. It wasn't safe any more.

She ran to Eva's bedroom and began to throw things into a bag, some clothes, a few toys, pictures, etc. Then she went to her own room and did the same. As she was zipping the bag closed she stopped suddenly running to the kitchen and pulling the letter out of the bin.

Reading over it she gasped - "You can dye your hair blonde again too, I don't like it dark."

She hadn't noticed that part before, she was too hung up on the fact he knew where she lived, but now she knew that he had seen her. Had he been watching her? If so for how long? She began to panic now, suddenly feeling very vulnerable in her own home. Had he been in the house?

Ashlee walked back to the bedroom, finished her packing, grabbed the bag and made her way to the front door. She took one last look around the apartment, the place that had been her home for the past while, a place she had grew to love, a place where she used to feel safe. She sighed as she let a single tear fall from her eyes, putting her coat on and exiting through the door.

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Ashlee pulled up outside Eva's school just as the final bell rang. She had been busy trying to organise stuff all day. She needed to find some where for them to go, find someone to pack the apartment up, let her boss know she was quitting and tell her land lord she would be leaving her apartment. After a few phone calls she had managed to sort most of those things, everything apart from where they were going to go. Ashlee had called everyone she could think of but to no avail, of course she was offered to stay at her friends houses but she couldn't do that. She couldn't drag any body into her mess, into this nightmare, also the reason why she wouldn't contact her family. She had finally decided that she and Eva would check into a hotel for the time being, Eva could continue at school while Ashlee worked out a plan for them to get out of this city.

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Ashlee climbed out of the car, shutting the door and leaning against the side of it as the little blonde girl came bouncing up towards her, running right into her arms. Ashlee lifted her daughter up and smothered her in hugs and kisses before buckling her into her car seat in the back of the car and getting back into the front herself.

As Ashlee began to drive Eva started to tell her mother about all the things she had done at school that day. Pulling into the hotel the blonde child was still cheerfully describing how she had drew the prettiest picture ever.

Ashlee took Eva out of her car seat the little girl paused and began rummaging through her backpack for something.

"I have to give this to you." She proclaimed as she handed the object to her mother.

Ashlee smiled and escorted her daughter towards the elevators, as the doors were closing Eva began to wave at a group of people.

"Who are you waving at Buttercup?" Ashlee asked trying to get a good look before the doors locked shut.

"Nobody" She replied humming to herself.

As they got settled in their room Eva went off to play leaving Ashlee in the lounge area with a coffee.

The brunette pulled out the object Eva had given her, an envelope. 'Probably another fund-raiser' she thought to herself as she ripped open the envelope.

Bile rose in her throat and she dropped her coffee mug as the true content of the envelope became clear. Ashlee sprung from the couch and rushed into the bedroom.

"Eva where did you get this?" She asked her voice shaking.

"School"

"Eva sweetie, it's very important. Tell mummy where you got this." Ashlee spoke calmly as she bent down to the child's level.

"Somebody gave it to me."

"Who?" The brunette replied fear now evident in her voice.

"Umm..." Eva bit her lip "I'm not supposed to say."

"Buttercup you know you can tell me anything, we don't have secrets do we?"

"Phil gave it to me." Ashlee's eyes went wide.

"When was this?"

"Today when school was over, he was outside waiting for me. He said to give it to you but not to tell you he was there. He said it was a surprise." Eva replied, looking innocently at her mother.

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Ashlee stood upright, running her hand through her hair she began to pace the floor absent mindedly. "Mommy, what's wrong?" Eva asked, looking up at her mother.

"Eva, promise me you will never keep another secret from me again, no matter who asks you to keep it."

"Ok"

"And you are not to speak to Phil again, if he comes near you or tries to speak to you, you go and tell someone, a teacher or me. Got it?"

"But why?" The blonde girl asked.

"It's complicated baby, but trust me."

"Ok, I promise Mommy."

"Good girl." Ashlee smiled as she hugged her daughter.

Ashlee left the bedroom and went back to the living part of the hotel room. She took the photo of her, Phil and Eva that was in the envelope and threw it in the bin. She began to bit her nails, a habit she had acquired in times of stress. Phil had been there, outside the school at the same time as her. He had the nerve to approach Eva and speak to her, to tell her to keep a secret from her mother. Ashlee was livid, he was trying to get to her, mess with her head, he was trying to turn Eva against her again. He was not going to succeed, she be damned if he'd step a foot near her child again.

The next morning Ashlee dropped Eva off at school, she had a word with the teachers about Phil and asked them to keep an eye on Eva. She explained how Phil was an abusive ex and he was not to be let near Eva under any circumstances, and if he made an attempt they were to call the police. She also gave them strict instructions not to let Eva go home with anyone but herself. Feeling slightly more relaxed now she continued with her tasks of the day.

She hit the shops, buying some of the things she would need while they were in the hotel, and some things to keep Eva occupied.

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As she was walking through Walmart, she kept getting the feeling she was being watched, like someone was following her. Every aisle it was the same, she'd hear footsteps behind her, turn around only to find either bewildered shoppers or nobody. She was beginning to think she was losing the plot, either that or her paranoia was getting worse, she was that preoccupied that as she rounded a corner she crashed her trolley into someone else's trolley. She smiled and apologised to the man for her clumsiness before making a hasty getaway.

Crossing the parking lot she arrived at her car, finally feeling relaxed, she put her purchases in the trunk of her car. As she made her way to the driver door, something caught her eye on her windscreen. Under the wiper was a white envelope. Knowing what lay inside the envelopes she'd been getting recently she swallowed hard before she snatched it from it's spot.

Ashlee looked around the parking lot as she opened the envelope, trying to see if he was lurking about the place. She furrowed her brow as she realised the envelope was empty, confused she threw it into a nearby bin and climbed into her car.

Starting the engine she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself when her phone sounded a new message. The jungle sending her jumping in her seat. Ashlee pulled her phone out - one new message. She opened her inbox and began to hyperventilate as she opened the message.

It was a picture. Ashlee in the very Walmart she had just exited, when she crashed her trolley into the man. The text underneath read; 'You Can't Hide From Me'. Ashlee laid her head on the steering wheel and began to weep, this was all getting too much for her, she wasn't sure if she could carry on any more.

Her phone began to ring, stirring her from her crying. Without looking at the device she accepted the call and brought the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

"I've missed your voice." Came the reply.

Ashlee was frozen in place, she knew that voice oh so well.

"Don't hang up"

"Why should I listen to any thing you say?" Ashlee spat.

"Still as feisty as ever Ash, just like I remember."

"What do you want?"

"To talk." Phil replied.

"I don't want to talk to you."

"Ashlee, do not hang up!" He commanded and for some reason Ashlee found herself obeying.

"I've missed you, honestly you have no idea what these past two years have been like." He spoke and Ashlee laughed sarcasticly.

"Really? Because my life hasn't exactly been peachy either. Do you know how hard it is to have to keep looking over your shoulder? To raise a child living like that, have you any idea how miserable my life is?" She yelled down the phone.

"Yeah I do, because that's what my life has been since you left – miserable, empty. Life has no meaning without you."

"You have got to move on, find someone else, settle down, be happy..."

"I can't be happy without you Ashlee. Don't you understand yet, I'll never move one, I'll never give up on you."

Ashlee felt the tears prick her eyes, she just wanted all this to end.

"Don't cry baby."

"What the hell do you expect me to do? You are ruining my life, please just end all of this." She cried.

"To make all this stop all you have to do is come back to me."

"No!" She objected. "I'll never come back to you."

"Well then I guess I'll just have to keep chasing you until you change your mind."

"Go to hell!" She spat as she hung up the phone and peeled out of the parking lot.

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She drove for about ten minutes, until she was a good distance away from the store before she pulled the car over to the side of the road and began to cry.

She was tired, tired of running away, tired of having to start all over again. She wanted to live a normal life, where she didn't have to keep wondering how long until she would have to move again.

Ashlee looked at her watch and wiped her eyes, erasing all traces of her tears as she turned the ignition on and began driving in the direction of Eva's school.

Thanks for reading! Roxxi =)