Chapter Eight

I felt Ashton tense next to me, but with Marion's intense eyes staring at me, I didn't dare look away to see his reaction. I hadn't told him my birthday was coming up soon, and in any other situation, it wouldn't have mattered. If we were in a pretend relationship, like we are, that info would be important for him to know. With everything going on, I had forgot it was my birthday this weekend.

"Who told you it was her birthday?" Ashton asked.

Marion put a finger up to her lips. "It's a secret, I'll never tell. Besides, why do you look so upset? It's your girlfriend's birthday, and I want to throw her a party. You could look a little bit more appreciative."

"Who is to say I didn't already have something planned for the two of us? Did you even ask Ava if she wants a big party for her birthday?" I could feel the anger seeping off Ashton.

His mother was right. Why is he so angry?

She stammered a little. "Well, I– No, I didn't ask her. But who doesn't want a party on their birthday? And she is turning 18, what an age to celebrate. Now, I want this night to be perfect, so after breakfast, I want to sit down with you and get your ideas on what you like."

"Are you really going to use her ideas, or are you just asking to get some for yourself?" Ashton asked, sneering at his mother. I had imagined Ashton as a scary person when he was angry. I didn't want to imagine what his mother was like, or what happens when the two of them get into an argument.

And I was right in the middle of it all.

"I don't understand why you're being so hostile, Ashton. Have you forgotten I am your mother? What has gotten into you lately?"

"Because I don't want you ruining Ava's birthday, like you ruined every single one of mine, with your self-centered parties. You're just going to use her birthday, as an excuse to throw a party for you. Climbing the social latter, showing off what we have to those who have less, that's all it has ever been about with you."

Even I was blown away with the way he was speaking to his mother, and in front of me. This felt like a private conversation that I shouldn't be witnessing.

"You are being ridiculous, Ashton. You better be in happier spirits come the day of the party, I won't here anymore from you." Marion pointed a stern finger at her son, before stalking away, leaving Ashton and I alone with the aftermath.

I didn't look at him, too afraid of what I would see in his eyes. He started walking away without saying anything, causing me to scramble after him up the stairs. We reached my room, the silence stretching between us. I slipped into the room when he unlocked the door and walked over to my bed, waiting for the click of the door locking again. But it was silent. I turned around and saw Ashton still standing in the doorway, his frame blocking out the light.

"What's wrong?" I asked into the thickening silence. Ashton closed the door and walked further into the room, stopping within reach distance from me. My fingers itched to touch him again, remembering the feeling of his arms around me, and the muscles contracting in his back as I had clung to his shirt, trying to soak up his warmth.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered.

"Tell you what?"

"That is was your birthday this weekend." Oh. I supposed that was something that should have come up when we we're trying to get facts about each other, but then again I had also forgot.

"I didn't remember, these past few days has helped me forget about it." Part of me did want to forget that it was my "special day", because before everything had happened, I knew it wasn't going to be special. Sebastian and I would probably just plan a day together, either combine frosty flavours and hang out at the skate park, or have a stay-in movie night, with lots of take out and horror classics.

My parents never did anything big or special for my birthday, and as I grew older, I preferred it that way. I liked having a quiet night in, or one day filled with fun with a close friend or few. I never liked crowds, or being the center of attention, unless of course it was for a convention or book reading. Now that I knew I wasn't going to spend my birthday with anyone special, I wasn't looking forward to it at all.

I was going to spend it in a room full of strangers, playing an act in my own kidnapping. I had to admit, how many people said they did that?

"Did you want to forget?" Ashton asked, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"A part of me did, it's just another day," I said and shrugged my shoulders.

"You don't have to let her do this, you can say no. I can back you up, too."

"But why? This way, the plan might work out better than expected, there are tons of things you or I can do to start a fight on my birthday, it's the perfect setting actually." I tried to joke, though it was kind of truthful, but his eyes remained unwavering. There was so much guilt in his beautiful blue eyes. What was he so guilty of? Besides the obvious.

"I don't want to go through with the plan, we'll come up with some other reason as to why we ended the relationship." I backed up in shock.

"Wha– why? It's a perfect plan, I can't come up with anything better."

"I said I'm not doing it, think of something else. I'll see you tomorrow." He turned on his heel and stomped out of the room.

What the hell just happened?

Feeling completely lost, I slumped over to the bed and collapsed backwards on it, gazing up at the pitch-black ceiling. I was really starting to hate not having windows in this room. A little bit of natural light would be nice. I didn't bother walking over to turn on the light, and just laid there in the dark, constant thoughts running through my head. They were mainly all of Ashton, which bothered me just as much as the lack of light did.

He was invading my thoughts more and more every day, it was almost torture to be alone.

I shouldn't have these feelings, the urge to want to touch him every time he's near, feel his warmth and breath in his scent. I wanted to look into his deep, gorgeous blue eyes, and get lost in them for hours, wondering what his soft lips would feel like against mine, or the way his body curves into mine perfectly, like two puzzle pieces.

These kinds of thoughts are forbidden, especially for a man like Ashton. The man who kidnapped me for some stupid revenge plan that has nothing to do with me. I should be repulsed by him, but I was the complete opposite. I was so attracted to him; it was driving me crazy. It didn't help he was insanely good looking with the face of a God and a body to match. I haven't seen him without a shirt, and I could still tell he had an amazing physique.

I was shaken out of my thoughts when someone knocked lightly on my door. I was opened the door to reveal Charles, standing there with a bored expression on his face. This was a surprise. I had barely seen him since his mother first arrived.

"I'm here to bring you down for breakfast," he said, monotone. I imagined he was the most fascinating person in the world.

"Where's Ashton, or Lucien?" I said, trying not to sound like I'd rather be with them.

"They're in my Uncle's office, arguing about something. I'm sure you'll find out later, come on." He started walking down the hall, without looking to make sure I was following. I rolled my eyes and dragged my feet after him, hoping Ashton was going to be back in time, so I didn't have to spend anymore awkward family time then I had too. I was already going to have to sit alone with Marion after this, and make party arrangements, for a party of people I don't even know.

I was glad to see Lucien and Ashton come through the doors a few minutes after everyone arrived, leaving no room for any awkward small talk. I was a little curious when I saw how tense and agitated Ashton seemed. Lucien didn't look all that happy either. He smiled at everyone as he greeted them none the less, and we started eating.

Marion immediately brought up the party, and I felt the tension rise in the room as Ashton stiffened next to me. He hadn't so much as looked at me since he arrived.

I was actually disappointed when breakfast was over, knowing I was going to spend however many hours with Marion. Lucien stepped up to her however.

"I need to speak with Ava for a few moments, do you mind if I steal her first?" he asked her, confusing me further. Something happened between Ashton and Lucien in his office, and something obvious told me it wasn't good.

Marion frowned, but said she would find me later to talk. I let out a silent breath of relief, and thanked Lucien silently for delaying that horror. His smiled dropped, and he gestured for me to follow him upstairs. When in his office, he told me to take a seat, and walked to stand behind his desk, letting out a deep breath.

"Ashton came into my office before breakfast, and brought up some concerns he has for this weekend's party my sister wants to throw. I will admit, I was the one who let slip that it was your birthday, and I only knew due to the research I had done before bringing you here. I was trying to convince Marion to drop the party, to tell her it wasn't a good weekend because you would be leaving us– hopefully." A shiver went through my spine when he said that.

"I assume that made her question why," I stated, remembering the points Ashton had brought up earlier. Lucien nodded grimly.

"She wanted to why you were leaving, and if there was any way that you could stay. That was when I tried to use that bit of information, to convince her that it was right for you to return home, be with family for your birthday. That just convinced her harder to have a party, and also reveal that fact."

So, he was the little birdie that screwed everything up. For a master criminal, Lucien seemed to have a hard time thinking under pressure. Maybe it was different when it came to family, then when you're committing a crime. I would honestly never know, but I can understand why it might be hard to go against a woman like Marion. She frightened me.

"Did Ashton tell you the plan we had come up with?" I asked.

"Yes he did, and it's a brilliant plan." Ha! I knew it. So why was Ashton so against it suddenly?

"There is one problem, Ashton won't go through with it apparently. He wants to come up with another idea, though I am really running out of those right now. My sister is not an easy woman to fool, even myself, I am surprised we have slipped past her so far. This party smells disaster, and I would really like to keep her from finding out what I am having her sons do here."

"Does she know what you're doing here?"

"Of course she does, it is no secret from my family that I am a criminal. But she untrusted her sons to me, and I wouldn't say I have done what is best for them. Besides the point, I don't want her finding out anything, or she will go straight to the police, even if it means seeing her sons put behind bars."

"So why doesn't Ashton want to proceed with the plan? Did he say?" I eagerly asked, hoping to finally find out what is going through his head for once.

"Because of you." Huh? Lucien continued. "He doesn't want to go through with the plan, because it doesn't want to sour your memory of the day."

My mind started reeling, not completely understanding what Lucien was saying. He dismissed me from his office, saying he would speak to Ashton again, and figure something out. As for my father, there has been no word. I was surprised how empty I felt towards that. He didn't even ask to speak to me the last time he called, to see if I was still alive. But for some reason, I wasn't sad.

I slipped down the stairs, looking around every corner, cautious of Marion. I wanted to delay our meet up for as long as I could, and speak to Ashton. I wandered around the halls for a little, until I happened upon what looked like the living room. I was relieved to spot Charles, seated lazily on the couch, watching some BMX show.

"Hey, have you seen Ashton?" I asked quietly, trying not to startle him. He looked over at me and frowned.

"Why are you wandering alone? Shouldn't he be with you?"

"Lucien wanted to speak with me, so I left with him, I haven't seen Ashton since breakfast." And this house was way too large for me to go wandering on my own to find him.

"Last time I saw him, he was headed out back, you might find him in the garden somewhere." He turned his attention back to the TV, not bothering to point me in the right direction. I mumbled thanks, and walked off to try and navigate my way around. I was still cautious of Marion.

I thanked the stars when I took a turn, and spotted the doors to the back patio. It was the same door Ashton had led me through when he first showed me the garden, making it easier to try and remember my way down and around. I slowly walked the same path we had taken, retracing my steps, until I saw Ashton seated in front of a small tree in a secluded corner of the garden.

I walked over carefully, he looked deep in thought, and I didn't want to interrupt him just yet. I stayed back a little, and admired him. My eyes slowly crawled over his body, stopping to notice every detail, from his thick, wavy brown hair, to his chiseled cheek bones and blue eyes that dazzled in the sun, to his toned arms and muscular shoulders. My body shivered just looking at him, wanting to touch him so bad.

I decided to come out, before I lost my mind. I cleared my throat quietly, catching his attention instantly. He blinked his eyes a couple times when he looked at me, but I was able to catch the slight glaze over them, like he was on the verge of crying. That was impossible, I never imagined someone like Ashton crying, it was too wimpy for him.

"Ava, I didn't know you were done with Lucien. I'm sorry I wasn't there to get you, I can take you back to your room," he said, his voice rushed. I had a feeling he was trying to hide something.

"Can we take a quick walk in the garden first? I haven't taken a walk outside in a bit." I offered him a small smile. His eyes widened a little, before he cleared his throat and nodded, gesturing for me to lead the way. I happily bounded in front of him, no longer able to contain my excitement to experience the garden once more. Something about being surrounded by the flowers and trees felt freeing, almost breathtaking, as much as it was also breath giving. The fresh air felt amazing as I heaved in a big breath of it. I lifted my arms out slightly, letting the cool air wash over my skin in waves.

I walked slowly along the path, looking and admiring every piece of every shrub and tree. I felt something on the back of my head, and looked over my shoulder to see Ashton gazing at me, his eyes hooded, their lashes casting shadows on his cheeks. He didn't look away when my eye caught his.

I quickly turned my head back around, already knowing my cheeks were going red. His gaze was so intense, it made my insides quiver. I tried to distract myself with the view around me, but it was hard to shake the feeling of his eyes on me, watching my every move. It didn't feel like he was guarding me, making sure I didn't run away. I felt like he was taking me apart, stripping me with his eyes. I liked the feeling way too much. I wanted him to continue looking at me like that.

We stopped once again at the strawberry bushes, and I crouched down to fill a few in the palm of my hands, wishing I could pick more. I felt Ashton move behind me, and when I looked over my shoulder, he was gone. I looked around the garden, but saw no sign of him. Where the hell did he just disappear to? I wasn't sure if I should stay put, or try and find my way back to the house.

Before I could decide, Ashton emerged from the other side of the tall bushes, a small basket in his hand. He walked up to me silently and handed me the basket. I gave him a confused look, wondering why he left to grab this.

"For the strawberries. You said you wanted to pick more last time, fill the basket." He remembered that? I was sure he wasn't even paying attention to me on that day, though that was his job.

"Thank you," I said and smiled up at him softly. Our eyes met, and time suddenly seemed to stand still. His blue eyes sparkled brighter with the sun reflecting off them, reminding me of a calm ocean, or a cloudless sky. I was so lost in their beauty; I didn't realize he drew nearer to me. He lifted a hand, like he did in the library, but this time allowed his fingers to graze my cheek lightly, sending butterflies into my stomach. The tips of his fingers were soft and warm, electrifying the skin they touched, setting my body on fire.

Just as quickly as it happened, he pulled his hand away. Not wanting him to see the lust in my eyes and the burning of my cheeks, I turned back towards the strawberry bushes, and started filling my basket with the best-looking ones. I felt Ashton's eyes on me once more, making the feeling between my legs harder to get rid of. This boy was doing things to me that even I didn't understand.

He led me back to the house, but didn't head towards the stairs. Instead, I followed him into the kitchen, where he poured the strawberries into a strainer and washed them. He started cutting a few of them up, saying that he was going to give some to the kitchen staff to use for later. I immediately started helping him, fishing out a knife and grabbing another chopping board to stand next to him.

"Your clothes are getting dirty, you don't have to help," Ashton said, pointing to the slightly damp, red stain I had on the front of my shirt from the water and juices of the strawberries.

"It's alright, there are some oversized clothes left in the room I'm in, I could just use those and have these washed." I smiled reassuringly at him. In this giant house, I assumed there was a laundry room, and probably someone to even assist me in washing my clothes. Ashton said nothing, his eyes boring into mine. I trembled under his intense gaze, mesmerized. I wanted to know what he was thinking, how his mind worked.

I turned back to the sink, trying to busy myself to stop the waves of overwhelming feelings washing over me. My hands were shaking as I washed off the chopped of strawberries and the leftover berry juice from my hands. I barely felt Ashton behind me, until I felt his hands on my hips.

He turned me around, my back against the edge of the counter. Before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine. My eyes widened in shock, and I wasn't able to react for a few seconds. When my mind finally registered completely, my body relaxed, and I melted under his touch.

His lips were as soft as I had imagined, molding perfectly with mine. I felt one of his hands reach up and caress my cheek, before his fingers tangled themselves in my hair. He pulled on the strands lightly, which caused me to gasp, allowing his tongue to dominate my mouth. My entire body felt like it was on fire, my heart beating so loud, it was the only other sound I could hear besides our heavy breathing and the rush of the water, still running behind me.

My arm holding me against the counter finally gave way, and it slipped from the edge, hitting a one of the utensils next to me. It clattered onto the floor with a deafening ting as metal collided with stone. The sound seemed to snap something in Ashton, and he ripped away from me, like I was literally on fire, and didn't just feel like I was. We were both breathing heavy, sweat covered my forehead and neck slightly. He stared at me with wide eyes. I was unable to see what he was thinking, and wasn't given any time. He suddenly turned away and dashed off, disappearing out the kitchen doors.