"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul." 

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Hailey POV

Four weeks later

It's been just over a month since I last seen or heard from Asher, it's been that long since I left his house with my things and went back to Ivans to my old bedroom above the restaurant. 

Since a few days ago, the texts and calls from Asher had stopped completely, I've not heard from him since.

I should be happy that he gave up and is moving on, after all, isn't that what I wanted when I first saw the news? 

My insides dropped when I first read it, at first I thought it was some joke or rumor, after all, he is Asher Reed, the ASHER REED, there is daily fake news about him online one way or another that he is either seeing someone famous or is spotted somewhere with someone, but a child? 

The last I heard about it all was that the woman who says he is the father is actually a well-known Brazilian runway model that Asher had ties to in the past, in other words... he slept with her on more than one occasion.

I had listened to some of the voice mails he had left me, I stopped when it got too hard to listen to his voice, the voice that whispered in my ear before bed that said I was beautiful and that I made him happy, it all hurt too much to take, so I stopped listening to them.

I'm still going to my lessons, and I'm working again to pay Asher back, without Asher I wouldn't be going back to school at all, id still be working day and night to just afford to breathe, at least this way I can pay him back now.

I'm in my room with my laptop and going through Facebook. Since me and Asher split up I had been flooded with hate messages and messages from reporters asking for a comment on our current status and what I think about his new 'family'.

Family...

Something I... can't..

Theirs a knock at my door and I close my laptop shut and wipe the tears from my eyes. "Come in." I call out, sitting up straight on the bed.

The door opens and Rafael struts in wearing the most colorful outfit I've seen him wear yet, , he's got a bag slung over his shoulder, looks at me then clicks his tongue in disapproval at my outfit

"Oh babe, no no this won't do." He says looking me over. "It's the weekend and we are going out, you are far too hot to be this depressed." He says closing the door and I snort.

"Raf, I don't know-"

He holds his finger to the air. "AH-ah!" He interrupts me saying and places the bag on the bed.

I look at him and then the bag. "I just don't feel like it Raf, I have a test coming up and I need to go over my notes and-"

He gives me a look and I stop talking, not feeling like making any more excuses.

"Fine." I cave in and give up.

He claps his hands excitably. "Yay!" He squeals. "Okay so I went shopping and saw this beautiful dress and I just couldn't put it down! Then I remembered I have this straight friend who would look fabulous in it, so I just had to get you the shoes too, obviously!" He fusses, opening the bag and showing me the outfit.

Jesus, he had really outdone himself, he even bought me a bra for the dress, which is light baby pink with thin straps and a cut in the side of the bottom, it's beautiful and he really does have good taste in clothes.

"You really didn't have to do this." I say to him and he waves me off.

"Thank me later!" He grins at me. "A night in the town is just what you need honey, trust me, I've been through enough breakups to know that nothing fixes a broken heart then slut dropping on the dancefloor." 

I laugh out when he bends over and twerks, I move myself out of bed and sigh, I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him. "Thank you." I whisper out in his neck.

He hugs me back and kisses me on the forehead. "That's what gay best friends are for." He jokes.

I guess I'm going out tonight.

*****

It's loud, too loud.

This dress is riding up and I feel like everyone is looking at me, or am I going crazy imagining this?

The club Pheonix is packed, it's a well-known club in L.A and Rafael didn't mention until we got here that his current boyfriend worked here and got us in for the night, he told me that an hour ago and it's been exactly an hour since he has not left the dance floor.

He's grinding on some poor straight man's crotch with his hands on his knees singing to the music and I can't help but laugh as I watch him, knowing that he is most definitely doing it for his own amusement.

The song changes and the music has gotten louder if that were possible, I look down at my empty cocktail and frown, from the corner of my eye I see Rafael stumbling over to me with a different guy, his fist is clenched onto the man's shirt as he drags him over to me.

I can't help but watch amused.

"Now sit! I will be back with drinks." He says, pushing the man onto the seat in front of me.

Rafael looks satisfied then turns with his hand in the air. "SHOTS!" He yells out, strutting into the dancefloor, making his way towards the bar.

"He is.. wow." The man says in front of me.

I turn to see he is still watching Rafael, who is now talking to the bartender at the front of the club ordering our drinks. "I'm so sorry, I'd love to say he's not usually like this but.. he is." I chuckle out.

"I'm Ethan." He says, and I shake his hand.

"Hailey, Rafael's friend." 

He nods his head and eyes me. "I know you, don't I?" He mumbles and I freeze and pale.

Shit, is he one of Asher's fans? Does he recognize me from online? 

Shit shit shit.

He clicks his fingers and I snap out of my thoughts. "I knew it, you work at Ivan & Ivvys, I love that place, you waitress there right?" 

I release the breath I didn't know I was holding in and nod my head, he grins and taps me on the arm gaining my attention, causing me to look up at him.

"I never forget a face, small world huh?" He jokes and I nod my head and laugh.

"Very." 

The night ends with a very drunk Rafael and Ethan making out at the back of the taxi as we just get inside, the taxi driver looks in the rearview mirror and shakes his head and I can't help but silently agree with what he is thinking which no doubt is. 'Seriously, guys?'

I give the taxi driver Rafael's address since his place is closer. 

I can't believe I had this much fun, I didn't realize how much I had missed this, going out with friends and dancing all night, my feet hurt and these heels are killing me, I'm definitely going to wake up with bad feet and a headache in the morning with the number of shots Rafael and Ethan bought.

The taxi stops outside Rafael's apartment and they both get out, after making out in the backseat sloppily, I roll down the window and smile up at him. "Look after him for me Ethan?" I ask him as I watch Rafael fumble with his keys, dropping them a few times trying to open the door.

Ethan leans down and gives me a kiss on the cheek. "Of course." He says giving me a flirty wink.

I laugh. "I love you Raf!" I call out and he turns around and waves his hands in the air.

"I LOVE YOU MORE!" He yells out before giggling.

I wave at both of them as the taxi drives off, sitting back in the seat I smile to myself at how much I love them both together, Ethan could be good for Rafael, especially since the guy who got us into the club ditched Rafael halfway through the night for another guy, but Rafael wasn't bothered, Ethan kept him busy, and happy.

The taxi stops outside the restaurant and I pay him and say thank you as I get out of the car, I go into my purse to get my keys out, knowing that Ivan is not home and won't be home until tomorrow for work, he takes the weekends to go fishing with his friends, meaning I get to have weekends alone.

I manage to open the restaurant door after failing multiple times, I feel sober but try telling that to my hands and my legs which are anything but sober right now.

I was about to close and lock the door before I see a sleek black limo pull up outside of the restaurant, and for some reason, I get odd butterflies in my stomach as I stand there and watch the door open.

Asher?

Asher stumbles out of the limo and mutters something angrily at himself and I am completely frozen on the spot as I look at him, I can't see him that well because it's so dark but it's very obvious that he has been drinking as he hasn't even noticed me yet.

When he turns and shuts the door, that's when our eyes meet and his eyes widen in surprise, almost shocked to see me here.

Why does he look so surprised? He knew I lived here before I moved in with him, why is he even here?

"Hailey? He slurs out, stumbling as he steps over the curb, walking towards me to see me clearer.

I shake my head and begin to shut the door. "N-No." I stutter, my heart beating a mile per second from seeing him.

He looks absolutely handsome, not a day goes by that I haven't missed seeing him, but.. even a blind woman could see that he looked a mess, he has dark circles under his eyes and he looked exhausted, yet awake and alert.

Is he on something?

He fumbles forward. "Hailey? Baby... I missed youuuu." He says, putting his hand to the glass door, his eyes are filled with hurt as he slurs my name.

"Shit, you look so fucking beautiful Haileeyy." He mumbles, his beautiful green eyes looking me over before they fixate on mine. "Do you missss mee?" He slurs our and my heart skips a beat, he sounds how I feel.

"Go home... Asher." I say, barely hearing my own voice anymore from the sound of my heartbeat in my eardrums.

Behind him, I see the limo door open and two women calling for Asher to get back in the car, they look beautiful, obvious that they had also just gotten back from a club as they are all drunk, both blonde girls drink from a champein bottle and giggle as I tore my eyes away from them.

He moved on, I had expected this... but...

I just didn't think it would hurt this much.

Asher turns to them then to me, guilt written on his face. "N-No, it.. baby, I-"

"I'm not your baby!" I snap out and clench my purse, tears threatening to spill.

From his face I can see that my words hurt him, but.. it was true, I was no longer his and he was no longer mine, we were over.

He needs to leave before I break down in front of him, with the two girls watching with annoyance on their faces as they pout for Asher to come back into the limo.

Oh god, why did he show up with them? Why is he doing this to me. "Your... friends are calling you." I say quietly, closing my eyes. "Don't come back here.. just... leave." I say, my heart breaking into pieces as the words leave my mouth.

His eyes widen in fear. "W-Wait, n-no, don't go, Hailey!" Asher bangs on the glass as I turn and leave. "TALK TO ME!" He yells out.

It takes everything in me to not stop walking as I turn and leave and head for the stairs, he's still banging on the door calling my name out, I have to ignore it, this is too much, I still don't understand why he came here with them, why can't he just leave me alone after four weeks?

It's been four weeks and this is the first time he shows up here, with two club girls who looked like they had just been fucked in the back of a limo.

It hurts.

Tears fall from my eyes freely as I slide down my bedroom door. It hurts so much.