"You have to, take a deep breath. and allow the music to flow through you. Revel in it, allow yourself to awe. When you play allow the music to break your heart with its beauty." 

– Kelly White

Hailey POV

"It's no problem, it's on my way."

I tighten my boots and look up to Asher amused, who is channeling his best puppy dog eyes as he stands there looking like the sexiest guy alive.

"It's fine, really, I still have my car." I reassure him.

His face turns unreadable but I can assume it's worry. "I promise to drive carefully." I laugh out, standing up to look at myself in the mirror one last time.

Today is the day I start University again. 

It's been two weeks since we went public on Instagram and since then it's been heavenly bliss, it was not what we were expecting at all but despite the die-hard fans Asher has, they have to give us their blessing and left us alone, it's only a fair few that I had noticed online whenever he would post something of us that I look at the comments and someone is not amused by me being in his life.

Asher has been great with handling his fans while he is with me, he introduces me and never hides me behind him whenever they barge into his face. His fans are incredible, meeting first hand with his world and how he handles it, it's truly something to see.

I can honestly see why Asher Reed is the most sought-after man in the world, he's so kind to his fans and strangers, greeting them and asking how they are.

Although he did practically force me to live with him, it made him so happy, I didn't realize it then but ever since I moved in with Asher, I've been completely at ease.

He has this weird thing about him where he instantly puts me at peace with myself.

"Babe, please." He mumbles into my ear as he comes behind me and wraps his strong arms around me.

I chuckle at how desperate he is being and give in. "Fine, but we take a less flashy car, I don't want to draw attention to myself.." I groan out, turning in his arms to hug him back.

He grins down at me, with his pearly white teeth. "Deal."

We make our way to one of his less flashy cars, a custom tesla that he had bought a few days ago, and it's definitely one of the less expensive cars in his collection.

When we're settled in the car and on our way, with Asher in the driver seat, I go over my schedule for today and tap my foot along with the music on the radio.

"Are you excited?" Asher asks beside me.

Tapping my food I nod my head. "Of course, I have a year left.. I just need to finish." 

I'm nervous, and Asher can see it instantly from him smiling at me and putting his hand on my leg, comforting me. "It'll be alright, if not theirs always online right?"

Grimacing, I try and relax against the seat. "No, I'll finish, I won't run or hide anymore." I say confidently.

Asher hums.

We arrive at the university parking lot and once Asher finds a spot with no one around, he turns the engine off and leans over to kiss me on the lips, his minty breath makes me slightly less nervous.

"I'll miss you today." He whispers against my neck as he brings me close to him.

My heart swells at his words, it feels like I'm melting. "I'll miss you too." I sigh out.

He groans and leans back and glances around annoyed, it makes me laugh at how this handsome older man is so much like a cute child when I leave him. 

When he smiles at me, my chest clenches and my heart beats faster, the words I so desperately want to say are there on the tip of my tongue but I can't say them, I open and close my mouth as fast as I opened it.

Swallowing back the fresh pain in my chest, I open the door and get out, closing it behind me I bend down and look at Asher watch me with an unreadable expression. 

"I'll see you later?" I ask, smiling.

He blinks then nods his head, almost as if he was stuck in a trance. "Of course babe, I should be done before your last class, 3:00 right?" 

I nod my head and he grins. "I already miss you and you haven't left yet." He admits with slightly red ears.

I giggle and lean in through the window, he leans over and we meet each other halfway as I place my lips on his. "I'll see you later handsome." I say smiling, moving away, and standing backward away from the car.

Asher starts the car, pulls out of the parking space, and stops before he drives off, bending down so I can see him, he blows me a kiss and I laugh and catch it.

When he sees that, he grins and shakes his head and begins to drive off, as I wave and watch him pull out of the university parking lot.

He's too cute it's almost insane that he is in his 30's and a world-famous singer.

Taking a deep breath, I then make my way toward the university with the image of Asher smiling in my head to calm my nerves, this is the first time I've gone out alone without him since we started dating.

I just hope nobody notices me too much.

*****

"See you later Hailey!" A girl called Hannah calls out as she waves at me.

I wave back, forcing a smile as someone laughs beside me.

Turning I see Rafael, a guy who is in every one of my glasses, and the only one so far that hasn't tried to befriend me because my boyfriend is Asher Reed.

Rafael is super sarcastic, also totally gay. 

"She's such a square." He huffs out, hinting to the girl who waved, Hannah.

She had tried to sit beside me once seeing who I was, she and her friends had tried so hard but little did they know, a certain sarcastic gay man had refused to move.

And that is how we became friends because he was rude and stubborn, we had been joint at the hips all day, we had learned we aren't that different and we have lots in common, apart from being overly sarcastic, we got on really well.

"Come on, don't be mean." I nudge him with a chuckle, holding my books close to my chest.

He gives me a look. "She tried to sit on my knee, I almost knocked that bimbo out, if you didn't stop me I'd be someone's bitch in jail right now." He scoffs out dramatically making me laugh and to people to turn and look at us.

"Shhh!" I scold him, hiding my amusement.

Grinning, he links his arm in mine and we head out of the building, it's currently 2:50 and Asher had sent me a text saying he is on his way from the new studio.

Apparently, he's been in the studio since he dropped me off at 8:30 this morning, working on some new music I can't wait to take a sneak peek at.

"Hailey." I hear someone call my name.

Turning around I see someone I didn't expect to see.

Rafael gives me a look as he looks Austin up and down with a quizzing expression. "Who's this? Rafael asks.

I swallow hard. "Nobody, lefts go." I say dryly, dragging Rafael along with me.

What is he doing here? Why isn't he leaving me alone? It's been two months! 

"Hailey can we just talk?" Austin calls, running after me.

Leave me alone, leave me alone, LEAVE ME ALONE.

Rafael laces his hands in mine and makes me stop walking, he turns and glares down at a broken looking Austin who look at our hands warily.

"Listen you creep, leave her alone or I'll report you for harassment!" Rafael grits out angrily at Austin.

Austin looks unmoved as he glares back. "Who are you, her fucking protector? This doesn't involve you fag." He spits out in pure hatred.

I feel myself grow angrier by the second once he said that word.

"What did you just say." Rafael whispers out seething angry as he steps forward.

I hold onto his hand tighter and pull him back. "Don't, leave it!" I tell him, while glaring at Austin.

There are now crowds of university students who have gathered around to witness what is doing on, some people have their phones out and pointed towards me and Rafael.

"Just leave Austin, go home and leave me alone." 

Turning around, pulling Rafael with me to leave, I hear Austin snort loudly, making me halt in my steps. "So it's true, your fucking that old man." He says with a grin making my skin crawl.

Old man? Asher is 31! He's only six years older than me, that piece of shi-

"He will use you like the rest of his whores, then you will come crawling back to me Hails, I look forward to seeing you beg!" He says smiling and chuckling.

My body is shaking with how pissed off I am right now, I clench my hand and step forward to Austin, I go to raise my hand to punch him in his smiling face, but not before someone else beats me to it.

Austin goes down onto the floor from a single punch and that is when I look up and see who hit him.

"Asher!?"

His eyes are blazing and I have never seen him look like this before as if he is ready to jump onto Austin and throw more punches in at his cowering form as he lays on the floor, holding his jaw where Asher hit him.

Asher grinds his teeth, with clenched hands. "Stay the fuck away from her!" He says, deadly towards Austin.

Austin doesn't back down as he glares up at him. "Do you know who my parents are? You're fucking dead!" He taunts Asher.

Asher scoffs bored. "Do you know who I am?" He says lowly, bending down in front of Austin as he grabs him by the collar, making Austin look into his eyes terrified.

"I am your worst nightmare mate." He grits out. "Stay away from my girl or else." He whispers deadly against his face then shoves him forward, making Austin fall backward in surprise.

Asher comes up to me, as Rafael holds onto my hand. "Are you okay?" He says softly to me as both of his hands go to either side of my face as he searches for any injuries.

My heart swells as I see the blood on his knuckles from hitting Austin, causing tears to form in the corner of my eyes. "Y-Yeah, your hand.." I say quietly, leaning into him as I release my hand from Rafael.

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest as campus security arrives on the scene and begins to tell people to 'move along'. 

"He will never bother you again Hailey, I'll make sure of it." He swears, a hint of dominance in his voice.

Even though I am beyond words emotional, the feel of being so angry and scared at the same time, I believe Asher's words wholeheartedly.

I nod my head into his chest as he rubs comforting rubs on my back, I see the security walk up to us from the corner of my eye, making Asher frown. "Quite the display back there Mr. Reed." One of the security men say.

I see Asher's eyes roll at their amusement, but then he replaces it with a confident and calm smile. "Do I need to call my lawyer here boys?" Asher asks, making both the guards look at each other and shrug, still amused.

"No sir, the boy isn't pressing charges." 

Figures, Austin is smart.

He doesn't want his parents to find out what he has been up to, with harassing me and causing trouble, they would take his card or worse, his car away from him, I know it all too well.

"I see." Asher says dryly. 

He looks down at me and smiles warmly and puts his hand in mine. "Let's go home babe." He says pulling me along with him.

Rafael nods me as Asher pulls me along with him, I wave at him and keep up with Asher as he drags me to his car, which is parked in front of where the fight erupted.

Asher is quiet and my heart is beating out of my chest at how thick the air is inside of the car, neither one of us has said a word, he drove out of the university lot and is now on the road towards his house.

Is he mad at me?

Looking over to Asher, I see his hands are white against the steering wheel as he grips onto it roughly, he looks really pissed off so... I decided to turn in my seat and stare out of the window.

What turned out to be a good day... it looks like it's ending in a not-so-good day.

I hear Asher let out a sigh beside me.

"I love you Hailey."

My heartbeat jumps at his words, and it was so random that I didn't think I heard him right, I turn in my seat to look at him to see that he is already looking at me, the air around him is less suffocating as he looks at me with a genuine smile.

"W-What?" 

He laughs huskily and shakes his head, turning to focus on the road. "I love you Hailey, I have for a while now." He says again, this time with a grin on his face as he turns to look at me.

His eyes soften suddenly. "Oh no- baby, please don't cry." He says reaching his hand over to touch my face.

I feel my cheeks and notice it's wet, I'm crying? "I-I... I-."

He smiles sadly and before he could speak, I stop him. "I love y-you too A-Ash." I sob out, holding onto his free hand on my lap.

"I love you s-so much."