Bestfriends Shouldn’t Know How You Taste novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“Thank you Ryan.” I mumble, closing the door of  the car with a soft thud. Ryan smiles, it comes out  awkward and cautious as he turns to stare at a still  enraged Arden.

“Let’s just hope he didn’t kill the guy.” Ryan  winced when Arden slammed the door of the car  unnecessarily harsh.I forced out a smile as we

watch him stride towards the house. He was still so  furious. This was all my fault.

“I did this.” I mumble but didn’t know I said it loud  enough that Ryan heard.

“What do you mean? How is it your fault?”  Curiosity dotted his features. I looked back at  Arden, watching him slam the front door closed  with brutal force.

I sighed, turning my attention back to my auburn  head best friend. “The boy Arden beat up was  calling me unforgivable words.” I gulped, my eyes  tearing up.

“If-” My voice cracks and I gulped, breathing in  some much needed air. “If I hadn’t kissed Blake  none of this would happen. This is all my fault I’m  a slut.”

Ryan’s eyes widen in shock at my use of words.  Regaining his speech, his eyes softened  considerably, but his tone was anything but soft.

“This isn’t your Fcking fault Ashley. I made that  Fcking dare, I did this! You’re not a F*cking slut  and you’ll never be. In fact if I had known the  reason why Arden was pummeling the kid I’d join  him, serves him right.” He says angrily.

I knew he wasn’t directly speaking to me harshly  but it didn’t stop me from flinching away from his  harsh tone. He sees this and sighs. “Look Ashley,  I’ll fix this-“

“Ryan just leave it be. Promise me you’re not  going to do anything reckless that will get you into  trouble.” I cut him off. I knew Ryan like the back of my hand, whatever meant fixing for him wasn’t  what everyone normally thought it was. It always  insinuated something illegal.

“They’re not going to stop unless someone does  something Ashley.” He hisses.

I forced out a smile, my lips felt so stiff, so  reluctant to part. “And it’s fine I’m not expecting  them to. I can handle this, just a few more months  until graduation and I’ll never have to see their  faces again.”

“A few months is a long time Ashley, I promise  that whatever I’ll do won’t cause any harm to  anyone, much.” He grunts.

My eyes turn to slits as I cross my arms under my  breast. “No, leave it be or else I’ll give Miranda  your number.” It was a low blow but I didn’t need  anything going bad right now, not for me.

Miranda was a small brunette that was usually  partnered up with me for chemistry. Everyone  seemed to stay clear of her. She was a bit clingy  and talked way too much.

I seemed to like her personality, it was probably  because she troubled Ryan a lot and it was an  amusing sight. In her words ‘Ryan was the love of  her life, her future husband’.

“I told you to stay out of trouble! Cops came to  look for you Arden, this isn’t staying out of trouble.  Why did you have to beat up the poor boy so  much?!” Dad roared. I flinched away, terrified of  what will happen next. Dad wasn’t easily angered  but tonight he definitely was.

I softly place my bum on the top stair, away from  being noticed. I could hear mom’s soft voice,  trying to calm everyone down. My hands shake  uncontrollably as I grasp unto the wooden railing.  My forehead press on the wooden surface as I  listened to the argument.

“The A*shole deserved it dad!” Arden hisses in  rage.

“No one deserves to be knocked out unconscious  Arden! If I hadn’t come home early tonight, you’d  be in a prison cell right now. You nearly got the kid  in a coma!” Dad raged on.

I gasped covering my mouth with my palm. Arden  was in this whole mess because of me. Tears  blurred my vision. I should’ve been the one  protecting him but I’ve failed.

“What I don’t understand is why you did it? What  did the kid do to provoke you so much that you  almost killed him?” Dad’s voice had lowered into  one of curiosity.

I stood up and walked down the stairs. My hands  shook but I was determined to not let Arden surfer  the consequences alone. This was also my  problem. So there I stood in front of my family  who hadn’t noticed me as yet.

Dad’s back faced me as Arden eyes were strictly  on him, not once moving away. Mom was beside  them looking helpless to stop the argument. I  clenched my fist at my sides, pressing them to my  thighs. “It’s because of me dad. It was my fault he  got into a fight.” I let out.