Chapter 5 : Accidents

Ashley POV

He didn't follow me, though. But I knew he had seen my tears. I tried to wipe them away as I hurried out of the stadium. I didn't know why I was crying. I should have been screaming with joy, celebrating his betrayal, maybe drinking a beer by myself. I was free. My life is so ironic, isn't it? Like some kind of cheesy drama in a TV series. Then why did it hurt so much?

When I arrived, I saw Eva's face immediately turn serious when she saw me, and she silenced her tired and cranky mother and her friends. There seemed to be something in my expression that made them worry and not talk to me, as they remained silent all the way home. Eva's mom made sure to drop me off first, even though the trip to Beverly Street would take the longest because of the detour from the stadium.

"I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" Eva asked after I thanked her mom. Her eyes were worried.

"Sure," I said quickly as I got out of the car. I found myself sounding much more harsh than I wanted to, so I added, "Thanks for the ride."

Her mother nodded with a face so similar to Eva's that when I first met her, I thought they were sisters far apart in age. After all, she was also very young, having become a mother at the age of 22. "Are you sure you don't want to sleep over at our house? I know school is tomorrow, but Eva said your parents are in London and will be there until next week."

"I'm fine, Auntie," I said quickly. "I'm used to it." I was definitely not in the mood for any kind of hang-out at the moment. Even though Eva was more mature than most, she still couldn't help but ask me what had happened.

And there was no way I was going to repeat the events of Jayden's cheating affair, which hadn't really happened yet. Although I couldn't talk about it even if I wanted to.

"Bye!" Eva and the others said. I could see the curiosity in her friends' eyes. But I wasn't in the mood to talk about it.

I could only smile slightly. "Yes."

My parents' apartment was empty at the time. There was a note on the refrigerator door to remind me that they were on a business trip and vacation in London with Jayden's parents. The four of them were gone until Saturday. That meant that if I told my parents now, his parents would know and they'd have six days to argue.

Well, I debated about contacting my dad. Maybe I should tell him and my mom right away. Even if it wasn't the right reason, because there was something as simple as the face cam option on W******p or G****e Meet. Still, I was reluctant to call.

With a tired exhale, I rummaged through the cupboard for a packet of instant noodles. I had already skipped dinner because of Eva's sudden invitation, and my stomach had been rumbling for a few hours. I also had the feeling that I was about to eat something bad.

But I refused to know why. Lea had been blocking me out from her until now. Poor thing she must have been pretty shattered by this whole unfortunate turn of events and I knew that very well.

While I waited for the water to boil, I prepared a tray with a fork, spoon, water, and a small portion of parmesan and parsley so I could take the food into the living room. I was used to eating by myself. When my paternal grandparents were alive, I almost always had to eat with them when my parents were away. It was all they could do after they got too old to travel, so they gave my father the responsibility of being the chief representative of Red Moon Inc. But ever since my grandmother died and my grandfather got sick from grief before he finally passed away five years ago, well, for werewolves, when one of their mates dies, it's bound to be a deep sadness because we only have one soulmate, so I understand the situation my grandfather was in.

In fact, my family is of werewolf blood, along with Jayden's extended family. They try to blend into society side by side with humans. From the moment my grandparents died, I had to cook for myself. I also never knew my maternal grandparents, as they died before I was born, and none of my relatives lived in the neighboring town.

But it didn't really matter. Apparently, I've always felt lonely all my life, as far back as I can remember. The curse of fate, I guess.

I put the noodles in steaming hot water and added the packets of various spices and dried vegetables. The little screen on the microwave said 11:30 p.m. I hated myself for eating so late instead of sleeping, especially since I had to go to school at eight in the morning. But as I stirred all the ingredients and watched the noodles and ingredients soften and the clear water turn reddish, I realized that I was waking up with an eerie feeling.

Lazily, I remembered the expression on his face. It seemed like he was about to say something in our earlier conversation. Maybe something important. What was it? He's not stupid enough to think that he can go out with his girlfriend while he's engaged to another girl, is he? No, I don't think so. There had to be a reason - either bad or unexpected - why he'd decided to stay with me now that his heart was hers.

"Ugh, stop it," I hissed inside. "Get him out of my mind, he's not worth wasting my mental energy on. Well, just give my parents a call in the morning, since they're probably asleep right now. Let them take care of their poor only daughter."

My tone sounded bitter. I think my face looked bitter as well. But hey, at least I was out of a hell marriage and a cheating mate that was probably doomed to end badly. I don't know what I would have done if I found out about Blair Anderson after I walked down the aisle. Let's just say that a bowl of noodles in the middle of the night would be the least of my worries.

At the moment, I'm sitting in front of the TV, absentmindedly flipping through the channels, when I finally feel drowsiness creeping into my eyelids and my body. The long-cold pot of sauce and my glass of water had already been emptied and refilled twice. I turned off the TV and headed for the kitchen with my dishes when a voice suddenly broke the silence.

Ring, ring, ring.

The sound was coming from my cell phone. I immediately ran to the kitchen, having forgotten to put the phone in the kitchen, and picked it up. But, the caller was someone I didn't recognize.

Why would someone call me in the middle of the night?

Screw that, it's already past midnight, I noticed as I looked at the microwave. But there wasn't enough time for me to think, so I answered right away, without considering various possibilities.

"Hello?" I said hesitantly.

"Um..." a male voice sounded soft. "Who is this?"

"Shouldn't you know, since you're the one calling?" I parried, immediately becoming suspicious. The person sounded vaguely familiar, though I couldn't guess who it was.

"Well, this is the only number I haven't called on this phone, and it doesn't clearly state the person's name."

I frowned. "What?"

Suddenly I heard a voice in the background near me - or rather, a speaker on another phone - and I realized, "He's really cracked the code!" and "Who are you talking to?" until finally, "Tyler, give me the phone."

There was a rough scraping sound in my ears. My brow furrowed further as another male voice spoke to me.

"It's Clark Walter, one of the lead managers of Boyz Hits Bullets."

"Okay?" I said slowly.

"Are you related to or friends with Jayden Ronan Keller?"

"I wouldn't say either," I replied, feeling cold at the sound of his name. "But I do know a guy by that name who happens to be in this group."

There was a sigh in the voice. A long, laborious breathing out and I suddenly stiffened.

Suddenly I knew that something was very wrong.

"Over there... there has been a serious accident. If you could come to the Silvercross Healing Center as soon as possible, it would be a great help. Did you need help getting here?"