Heat

Ashley woke up as a groan ripped from her throat. Her vision was a blur as she squinted her eyes. "Omg, honey, are you okay?" A faint voice asked as Ashley tried to sit up but a pair of hands gently pushed her shoulders back. "Oh, no, Ash, lay back, my love, " said the voice as Ashley recognize it to be her mother's, "Mom, what happened?" She weakly asked as her vision became clear as she looked at her extremely worried mother "Honey, you passed out, your body was too weak to function on its own so it shut down, it's a good thing Anna was with you, " she said as Ashley furrowed, "Anna?" She asked as her mother nodded, "Yes, Anna was there when you collapse, you don't remember?" She asked as Ashley touched her head. 

"My head is pounding unbearably, " she replied as her mother nodded, "Yeah, that makes sense since I remembered you coming home last night soaking wet, you probably have the flu, " she said caressing Ashley's head as she closed her eyes trying to remember all the things that happened before she passed out. 

"We got a message for your step-brother, Jake, tell him that Jay's big brother is looking for him and that he should watch his back."

"Listen here, you little b**h, you and your step-brother are going to pay for what he did to Jay, now be a good messenger bird and deliver Jay's big brother's message before I-

"Remembered what I said, pretty girl."

"What are you going to do?"

"Nothing!" 

"Nothing!"

went

said trying to calm Ashley down as her breath was unsteady and her chest hovered strongly. Her eyes

_ _ _ _ _

at the river, where he had taken Ashley before. It always seemed to be peaceful here so Jake came here to kill some time before he leaves

letting things from the past get to him. He thought, she was still angry with him but the way she was wanting his attention, made him wonder what was so important that she needed to tell him. Jake sighed, pushing his thoughts aside as he bent down to pick a pebble up from the floor.

missed calls from Ashley and his Dad. Jake sighed annoyed before switching off his phone.

said as her mom's eyebrows furrowed as she places her hands on her hips, "Jay's big brother, why would he be looking for Jake, Ashley?" She asked as Ashley gulped nervously, "Jake kind of beat up Jay, last night, " she said as her mother's eyes widened, "What, why did Jake beat up Jay, Ashley?" She asked as Ashley groaned, "He was trying to protect me, " she said, "Really, Ashley, from what?" Her mother asked while folding her arms across her chest, "It's a long story, " she said as her mother hummed, "Yeah, I bet it is and you got a lot of explaining to do young lady, god, Ashley, what happened to us having a pact, " she said while walking out the door as Ashley sat there with a guilty look on his face. "Mom, I'm sorry, " she said but her mother already left, leaving