Chapter 14

~ALLISON~

The dinner hall was hushed as I noticed Cara's concerned gaze flitting between me and Ash.

I couldn't help but notice the wound on Ash's knuckles and wondered if he had gotten into another fight.

"What happened to your hand, Ash?" Cara's voice was filled with worry.

Ash raised his head slightly from his food, his eyes meeting Cara's before turning to me. "Nothing you need to be concerned about," he replied, his tone cold as he resumed eating.

The tension from the previous night's drama still hung in the air, putting everyone on edge. Cara's eyes filled with tears as she excused herself and quickly left the dinner hall.

I glared at Ash, frustration boiling inside me. "If you want to act like a jerk, do it with someone who deserves it, you jerk," I muttered under my breath.

Ash's lips curved into a smile as he reached out and grabbed my hand, his gaze locking with mine. "I'm still waiting for your answer," he said, his voice low and seductive.

I struggled to resist the urge to give in to his charm. "I don't have an answer. I don't want to," I replied, my voice shaky.

Ash's fingers trailed along my palm, sending shivers down my spine. I clenched my other hand into a fist, trying to hold onto my resolve.

"Are you scared?" Ash teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I've been told I'm a monster in bed, but I'll take it easy on you, cupcake."

I felt the temptation pulling me towards him, but I knew I had to stay strong. One more move and I might find myself giving in to him completely.

I pulled my hand away from him and stood up my heart racing. "I'm not scared of you, I just...I can't do this. It's not right."

Ash let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair, his gaze piercing into mine. "Fine, but just know that I'm not giving up on you. You can try to resist me all you want, but I know you want me just as much as I want you."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "Just leave me alone, Ash. I can't deal with this right now."

He gave me a smirk, his eyes filled with desire. "I'll be waiting for you, sweetheart. And when you're ready, I'll be right here."

With that, I turned and walked out of the dining hall, my mind racing with conflicting emotions.

Ash was a danger to my sanity, but I couldn't deny the attraction I felt towards him. I knew that this wasn't going to end well, but I couldn't seem to stay away from him.

Allison tried to quicken her pace, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Ash. Lost in her world, she didn't notice Justin sitting there at the stairs until she accidentally bumped into him.

"Whoa, watch where you're going, Allison," Justin said with a chuckle, helping her regain her balance.

"Oh, sorry Justin," Allison replied, offering him an apologetic smile.

"You don't mind joining me" Justin chimed in.

As I stood there, Justin's eyes bore into hers with a serious expression. "Allison, I need to talk to you about Ash. I don't want you getting involved with him."

Allison's heart sank as she listened to Justin's warning. "Am not involved with him, what made you think that?" she asked, feeling unease.

Justin said nothing, his eyes held mine, I sat next to him, trying to compose myself, and he gave me a small fleeting smile before continue speaking.

"I know my cousin too well After Amanda he just snapped, He has hurt so many girls, and toyed with their feelings, he is not the committed type Allison, just so you know"

I knew deep down that he was right about Ash not being the committed type, but I couldn't deny the way he made me feel.

Justin continued, "Ash has a lot of issues that he needs to work through. I just don't want you to get hurt."

I nodded, understanding Justin's concern for my well-being. I knew I should listen to his advice and stay away from Ash, but the attraction she felt towards him was undeniable.

Justin placed his hand on mine, causing me to flinch. I tried to pull away, but he held firm.

"And one more thing," Justin said, his mesmerizing gaze holding mine.

I managed to speak, "W-what is it?"

"Please stop avoiding me and don't refuse my gestures towards you. It hurts me," Justin explained.

I forced a smile, trying not to read into the meaning behind his words. He couldn't possibly have feelings for me, right?

No, I needed to stop overthinking things. Justin was not the type to fall for me.

Before I could respond, Justin interjected, "I don't know what you're thinking, Allison, but yes, I do like you."

I sat there in shock, unable to form words. This was unexpected. Why would someone like him like me?

"But... you never showed any interest before. You couldn't possibly like me," I finally managed to say.

"I've always liked you, ever since Cara introduced you as her friend. You were my sister's best friend, and I couldn't bring myself to ask you out and risk ruining your friendship. It was amusing watching you try to seduce me," Justin explained.

I blushed, feeling embarrassed as I recalled my failed attempts to seduce him.

"That was embarrassing," I said, standing up and taking a step back. "But..."

I pulled my hand away from Justin and continued, "I can't accept your feelings. I'm sorry, but I value my friendship with Cara too much to risk ruining it by dating her brother."

Justin smiled and replied, "I knew you would say something like that. I'm not trying to force you, Allison. I just wanted to be honest about how I feel. I hope this doesn't change our friendship."

He stood up and moved closer, stopping just inches away from me. His height towered over me, making me feel small. Leaning in, he placed a kiss on my cheek.

"You're a great friend, Allison. Cara is lucky to have you," Justin said before walking past me and heading to his room.

As I watched him leave, I whispered to myself, "What was that all about?"

Today didn't unfold as I had hoped. Standing in front of Cara's door, I took a deep breath before unlocking it and entering her room.

"Hey Cara, still sulking?" I playfully teased as I approached her on the bed, her large teddy bear resting on her chest.

Cara gazed at me with eyes swollen from crying. I sat beside her, offering a comforting hug. "I never realized Ash's words had such an effect on you," I remarked gently.

Silence filled the room, and I felt a sense of unease in Cara's intense stare. Eventually, she spoke, catching me off guard with her mention of Justin's feelings for me.

My eyes widened in surprise. How much had she overheard? Did she also know about Ash? I hoped she hadn't heard more than she could handle.

"You heard everything," I inquired nervously. Cara nodded in confirmation. As I attempted to explain myself, she interjected with unexpected words.

"Justin is a wonderful guy, and thank you for prioritizing our friendship over him." A genuine smile graced her lips.

I was taken aback, realizing that perhaps Cara had not heard about Ash. A wave of relief washed over me, and I managed a smile in return.

"Our friendship means the world to me, and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it," I fibbed, despite the knowledge that my deceit was already putting our bond at risk.

Cara embraced me tightly, expressing her gratitude. "Thank you, Ally," she said warmly.

As I returned the hug, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for my hidden truths and the strains they were placing on our friendship.

The day passed in a whirlwind, Justin's words echoing in my mind, rendering sleep elusive as I tossed and turned in bed. Eventually, I rose from my restless state, making my way to the hallway.

My gaze lingered on Ash's door, contemplating whether he was inside. Slowly approaching his room, I halted in front of the door, fixating on the door handle.

After a moment of hesitation, I reached out, grasped the handle, and was startled to find it unlocked. With a mix of surprise and curiosity, I pushed the door open and ventured inside.

The room greeted me with darkness and emptiness, leaving me wondering in bewilderment, "Where on earth could Ash be?"

The bathroom door swung open, revealing Ash as he emerged, his eyes meeting mine before scanning over to the door.

"I guess I need to start locking my door," he remarked, casually discarding the towel he had been using to dry his hair onto the floor. "What brings you here, cupcake?" he inquired.

I remained silent, my eyes inadvertently drawn to his naked form, though I was relieved that he had put on his shorts before exiting the bathroom.

I quickly warded off my gaze as Ash stepped closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming.

Before I could collect my thoughts, he reached out and gently lifted my chin, making me meet his gaze. Without warning, he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine in a tender kiss, sending a rush of emotions through me.

The soft touch of his lips against mine left me breathless, my heart racing as I tasted the sweetness of the moment.

It was a brief yet electrifying connection that lingered in the air, leaving me yearning for more. With a soft smile, Ash pulled back, his eyes locked on mine as if silently asking for my response.

"Please don't stop" I begged, wanting more.