TW: Talks of Rape

My eyes fluttered open as I looked to see a strand of sunlight peak through the glass windows, the red curtains being tucked at the sides of them. I turned my body over to see Pierce who laid right beside me, his eyes boring into me.

"Good morning beautiful." His words made me blush, his fingertips tucking the loose strands of hair behind my ears before caressing my cheek. "Morning." I gave a small smile as I adjusted the blanket around my naked body. Last night had been incredible, it was just what I'd imagine being and Pierce made sure to make me feel amazing. 

"Round 3?" He questioned making me roll my eyes in response as he pulled my body closer to, our legs tangling underneath the comforter that laid on top of the both of us. Pierce's arm laid loosely around my waist while I stared down at his chest. 

"I don't know if I could handle another round." I let out a small chuckle before tearing away from Pierce and getting out of bed. I grabbed an oversized t-shirt from my drawers and a pair of underwear before walking over to Pierce's side of the bed. 

He grabbed my hand, pulling me closer as he traced circles on the back of my hand. "How was it?" I asked bluntly as the thought had been pressing on my head since last night. I knew how it was for me but I couldn't help but worry about what Pierce had thought. After Cayde I was in such need of validation after sex because if I ever did something wrong with him he'd never let me forget it. 

Pierce sat up in bed as he watched my face fall, catching on that something was wrong. I knew Pierce knew it was about Cayde and how I constantly compare myself to back then and everything he had ever said to me. 

"What's wrong?" He asked as he got out of bed revealing only the pair of boxers he had on. "Nothing, it's stupid." I shook my head, wanting to just drop the subject because it was pointless to bring up plus I didn't want to make Pierce uncomfortable. 

"Aspen." Pierce grabbed my face in his hands, his eyes narrowing to mine "You were the best sex I've ever had. Trust me." The words were flattering especially knowing how many girls Pierce has been with, it was a lot to live up to.

Pierce pressed his lips to mine, leaving a soft gentle kiss on my lips before the door had flown open. We both jumped away from each other only to reveal Juniper and Triston at the door. "What the fuck June?! Knock for christ's sake!" Pierce shouted at her as he gathered his clothes from the ground.

"Looks like you two had fun last night..." Triston trailed off as she looked over the room with our clothes thrown in all different places. "There's an emergency meeting, Xander wants both of you downstairs right away." June ignored Triston's comment and gave us a look of worry. 

I looked over to Pierce in confusion as to what the meeting was going to be about. We had already talked about what happened last night at the party, and frankly, I didn't want to continue to talk about it. 

After we both got ready for the day we walked down to the study where Xander stood pacing in front of the desk while Aster leaned up against the bookshelf with his arms crossed. "You wanted to see us?" I asked as I approached closer to the desk before Pierce and I took a seat in each of the red leather chairs. 

"Aspen...Pierce.." Xander trailed off as he stopped pacing and stood in front of the both of us "I've called you both here because we have a few things to discuss. After what happened last night at the party it has been proven whoever did the shooting is after us, if they found us there they will us here. School starts back up tomorrow and Aster and I have decided we will be going back home."

"Are you out of your fucking mind?! They know where she lives, she can't just go back home!" Pierce scoffed at Xander, the defensiveness building up in him. I looked over to Aster with wide-eyes, as I couldn't believe he was agreeing with us going back home with what a threat the Coinston's had been.

"We are taking the precautions." Xander sighed before digging in the drawer attached to the desk and pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. The words 'Found you' were written in what I could only assume was blood or this person had very intensely colored ketchup.

"W-what is that?" I swallowed a lump in my throat as I stared at the stained piece of paper before Xander tossed it onto the desk. "I found it this morning taped to the front door. They found us, they are just waiting for the right time to attack even though we don't know what they are going to do to us. No matter where we go they will follow us. It is best we return home, Aspen you will never be alone. It doesn't matter if we need to rotate throughout the gang, your protection is our number one priority."

"What about Cayde?" I forced the words out, I was scared to ask about Cayde. I didn't know what kind of answer they would give me or what I would do if I had to see him again. I didn't even know if he had left conscious after Pierce had been done with him, I knew it took every bone in his body to be held back and not kill him right then and there.

"Cayde Matthews is a threat with a goal of revenge. He must know how to do his research if he was able to find you but he's not nearly as big of a threat that the Coinston's are right now." Xander admitted honestly "After what Pierce did to him last night I don't think he'll be coming around anytime soon. I have instructed everyone to begin packing their bags, we will be returning home immediately."

Xander had left the room while I watched Aster follow behind him in silence. I couldn't believe this, I didn't want to return home with everything that had been going on. What if Cayde was up to something? I had to worry about not only a rival gang but also my psycho ex-boyfriend who will do nothing to get his revenge. 

"This can't be happening.." I muttered the words under my breath as Pierce looked at the crumpled up piece of paper that laid on top of the desk. Pierce grabbed my hand and dragged me behind him as we walked up the steps. As we entered the bedroom, Pierce immediately grabbed my suitcase and began shoving my clothes in it while I watched him. 

"I don't want to leave." I shook my head in denial of everything happening and that today I would have to face school after the break which seemed to go away in a blink of an eye. Pierce continued to gather my stuff as I asked him to stop, wanting him to convince Xander otherwise. 

"We can't stay here!" Pierce shouted, shutting down my word "It's not safe. They know we're fucking here, what makes you think they aren't going to show up tomorrow and take you? I'm not losing you, Aspen! I've already been close to it before and I'm not going through it again!"

There was a knock at the door before Mercury opened the door, crossing her arms over her chest. "So because of you, I have to go back to hell hole Northeast? Do us all a favor and go the fuck back to Washington so we don't have to give you a second thought."

I ignored Mercury's comments as I began helping Pierce pack my bags. Apart from me felt bad that the whole gang had to bend over backward because I was most wanted by some gang that I did nothing to. 

"Piercey would you please let me ride with you back?" She stuttered towards Pierce as she walked her fingers down his chest "Mars always bags me the entire car ride. I just know that I would be better with you, I mean everything is."

I grabbed Pierce's pocket knife off the nightstand near the bed and slammed Mercury up against the wall. I sent her a glare as I held the blade up to her neck while I watched her swallow a lump in her throat, trying to keep a stern face. 

"Piercey him one more time and I swear to god Mercury I will slit your throat faster than you can say it." I gritted before allowing my hands to drop at my side along with the knife. I was not in the mood one bit to deal with Mercury and her bullshit. 

I could hear Pierce let out a laugh as he watched me threaten Mercury, I'm sure it had been entertaining for him to watch his girlfriend and ex-girlfriend want to kill each other half the time, made for an interesting relationship. 

"Babe I don't think you need to kill her just yet," Pierce added sarcastically as I backed away from Mercury with a warning look. I was going to absolutely lose it on her one day and I wasn't going to feel bad about it one bit. 

* * * * * * 

The next morning was awful, I hadn't slept all night with the fear of the Coinston's randomly showing up at the house. Although Evangeline and Aster were with me the whole night I couldn't help but still be freaked out, who else would sleep if you had the constant thought of being kidnapped or killed on your mind. 

It was good to be home though as I did miss it and being able to just have my own personal room. My happiness was soon ruined when I had realized I had started school this morning, officially ending Christmas break. Pierce had picked me up this morning and drove me to school but the car ride was filled with me trying to get any 15 minutes extra of sleep before first period came. 

"We're here." Pierce's voice woke me from my sleep as my head laid against the seatbelt. I rubbed my eyes, trying to force myself to wake up. "Why didn't you sleep last night?" Pierce asked as he put the car in park. 

"You wouldn't either if you were most wanted by a gang," I mumbled under my breath as I pushed the passenger door open and grabbed my backpack. The first bell had already rung, meaning the rest of the gang was inside. I slung my backpack over my one shoulder and Pierce slung an arm around my shoulders as we walked inside. 

The minute we walked into school all eyes began to land on us. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as people began to whisper things into each other's ears like a cliche high school movie. I soon came to the realization that it had been official that I was Pierce Gunner's new girl, taking him off the market for other girls.

Pierce and I started dating on Christmas Eve, no one from school seeing us since before that. Juniper also demanded that we both make it "Instagram official" so that quote "Those hoes stay away from your man." Pierce and I had both posted pictures from the party last night before everything went to shit, our relationship now being announced to the public of Northeast High. 

It was a big deal for Pierce to be off the market, he was Northeast Bad Boy and Mr. Player, every girl wanted a chance with him thinking they'd be the one to turn him good when in reality all they were was a fuck. 

Pierce pressed a kiss to the side of my head before we reached my locker where I grabbed the textbooks I needed for my first two classes till lunch. Pierce leaned up against my locker while I shoved my backpack into the back of my locker, hugging my books to my chest and slamming it shut. 

"I am not ready for today." I sighed as I threw my head back against my locker, looking up to the ceiling. "Not ready for what?" A familiar voice spoke up, making my hand whip over to Finn who adjusted his backpack that hung off his right shoulder as he ran a hand through his messy blonde hair.

"Back the fuck off." Pierce stepped in front of me, standing up to Finn who looked at me with amusement. "So I guess the word going around that you two are together is true." Finn let out a small laugh before turning his eyes directly to me "Such a shame that you're off that market Ambrosia, most girls would kill to look like you...I mean that body.."

Pierce gripped Finn's shirt and slammed him against the lockers while holding a death glare in his eyes. "Pierce it's not worth it," I warned, pulling him away from Finn while Finn brushed off his shirt, trying to get the wrinkles out made by Pierce. I didn't know if I was exactly ready for the possessiveness that came with dating Pierce Gunner, I knew he wouldn't have any limits when it came to me even if it meant he'd end up behind bars. 

"You better watch it, Gunner." Finn sent him an equal glare "I know some very powerful people that can ruin your life in a minute." Pierce didn't let his glare fall while I sent Finn a look before he walked away down the hall, people in the hallways stares intensifying as they waited for a fight to break out. 

"Please don't get into a fight today, it's not worth it. I don't need you getting suspended." I narrowed my eyes at Pierce while letting out a deep sigh. "I'm not just going to let some asshole harass my girlfriend." Pierce rolled his eyes at my plea, the annoyance still built up in. 

With that said the final bell had rung, signaling that we had already been late to class. Pierce walked me to English before pressing a small kiss to my lips and heading down the hallway to his first block. I entered the classroom where all eyes snapped at me due to me being late, making me hurry to my seat. 

"So?" Triston cocked an eyebrow at me "What happened with Finn? I walked by you guys as he went over to you." 

"Nothing, just being an ass as usual." I shrugged in response to Juniper and Triston who listened intently, waiting for something exciting to come of my words but it didn't. I flipped through the pages of my textbook as I searched for today's lesson plans. 

"What about you? I mean what happened with you and Cypress the other night?" I asked June, watching her face flush red in response. Triston let a grinny smirk appear on her lips as she obviously had known what was up between Juniper and Cypress. 

I raised an eyebrow at Juniper as I waited for her to tell me as her face grew redder. "We um..." She trailed off "We did it." 

"It?" I furrowed my eyebrows together, as I wasn't clear on what 'it' exactly meant before my jaw dropped in realization "Oh my god, you guys had sex?!"

"Shhh." June looked around the class, making sure no one had heard or was watching us "Yes after we got back from the party. One thing led to another and it just happened...But what about you, looked like you and Pierce

"You and Pierce had sex too?! Oh my god, I am so single right now..." Triston said dramatically "I couldn't get a new Year kiss and both of you got your insides rearranged. Please tell me you were both safe I mean I'd love to be an aunt one day but could you imagine if you both got pregnant at the same time- they'd be super cute cousins but I could not handle the pregnancy hormones from both of you."

I chuckled at Triston as I skimmed over the page of my textbook, rolling my eyes at her rambling while our teacher began to take attendance before telling us to work in groups. June shared the same chuckle and eye roll as me while Triston looked between us, her eyes landing on June then landing on me.

"Juniper Parsons and Aspen Gunner, not too shabby." She teased before I turned my attention back to June. "So what does this mean? Are you two like a thing now or?" I was glad to hear June was moving forward with Cypress, I could tell how much she liked him just by how she lit up whenever his name had been mentioned. 

"No, I guess not. I don't know if we ever could be, Pierce would flip if his best friend started dating his own twin sister." June sighed, running a hand through her long blonde hair as the stress of Pierce came over her. 

"Well, Pierce is dating your own best friend," Triston added and I nodded in agreement. I knew why June was worried about telling Pierce, he wasn't exactly one to handle his temper well and was super possessive of the people that were close to him. The reason Pierce didn't want Juniper and Cypress together was if something were to happen, he didn't want to have to pick between the two of them, I knew that was the reason why. 

"You cannot let that stop you. Pierce loves you June, he wants to see you happy even if that means you being with Cypress. He just doesn't want to see you get hurt." I forced her a small smile of reassurance as I could tell it wasn't something she wanted to bring upon herself. 

"I know, I just don't even know if he likes me back like that. Sure we had sex but you know how the guys are, they're willing to fuck any girl as long as they'll get off from it." 

"Well I texted Cypress about and he said he liked you," Triston said smugly as she scrolled through her phone. June's eyes widened in response as she reached over and ripped Triston's phones out of her hand as she searched through her text messages between her and Cypress.

Triston: So it looks like you and June were really hitting it off tonight

Cypress: Yeah we did

Triston: When are you going to tell her you like her?

Cypress: As soon as I find a way to prevent Pierce from killing me

"So he does like me?" June asked in shock before handing the phone back to Triston. I couldn't help but feel happy for her as I watched her face turn bright red and the stress wash away from her body, finally getting the answer she had wanted. 

"As if it wasn't obvious?" Triston scoffed a laugh "I swear to god you both are so oblivious it pains me to watch sometimes."

* * * * * 

The rest of school dragged and Pierce ended up skipping after our first class, going out with the guys which left Triston, Juniper, and I alone at lunch today to discuss more about her and Cypress. We pulled up to the warehouse as we had a meeting immediately after school, Xander wanting to check up on us all since it was our first day back. 

June put her car in park before we all headed into the warehouse where the rest of the gang had gathered. We all took our seats as Xander walked out and stood in front of all of us as we gathered around in the couches that were set up. I glanced over to Pierce who sat with Mars and Cypress on the other side of the room, his eyes meeting mine before sending a wink my way. 

"So now that we are back, I just wanted to catch up and have meetings as much as possible considering our circumstances. I cannot stress enough how important it is right now to communicate with me and each other, we are not leaving anyone behind so I ask you to please put your personal feelings aside." Xander looked at each of us, trying to make his point clear. 

Xander sighed and I looked over to Aster who closed his eyes, rubbing at his temples. Aster's reaction made me nervous as Xander dug into the front pocket of his jeans. Xander pulled out a pile of polaroid pictures before throwing them down onto the center wooden coffee table before sending me a look of sympathy. 

"What are those?" Alexandria asked as I pushed out of my seat and approached the coffee table. I was in horror when I saw the photos from me when I was about 16, all taken by Cayde. There were four different pictures of me and one with him as well as one of me squished between two of them. I gathered all the polaroids, shuffling through each of them as I could remember every single place they were taken. 

"H-How did you get these?" I stuttered over my words as I looked over to Xander who looked defeated as ever. There was no way for anyone to get them, Cayde had every single one of them as he loved polaroids - especially if they were of my body. 

"They were in our mailbox this morning." Aster sighed as he spoke up, standing up from the arm of the couch he was leaning on. Our mailbox? I didn't understand what was going on, this had to be an act of Cayde because no one else would be able to get them. The question wasn't who but why, he was trying to scare me. 

"Let me see them," June said as she looked over them with me while Pierce joined at my other side. First the paper at Xander's house and now this, I was practically living my life in fear just waiting day by day for something bad to happen. It was no way to live, especially when I was confused as to why this was even happening to me in the first place.

"You had a maid's costume?" June asked as she stared at the polaroid picture of me when I was probably 15. The polaroid was a picture Cayde had taken and if you looked close enough you could see the bruise on the side of my head after he got frustrated with me and pushed me so hardback that my head smacked on his nightstand. I pleaded for him to take me to the hospital because I thought I had a concussion but he refused out of fear I'd report him. 

"Yeah..." I trailed off blinking slowly at the polaroid as I recalled the events that happened the night of the party "It was my sophomore year, and Halloween night. Cayde dragged me along to some party with all his friends and forced me to wear a maid's costume so he could boss me around all night. Then later forced me into having sex with him after getting me drunk."

I looked up to Aster who looked away from me as I knew he was reliving the moments as well. Aster got the phone call that night of the party, I called him sobbing while he was in New York. I was broken and told him everything that had happened, he begged me to call my dad but I couldn't face him. Not after the humiliation, I went through, but Aster called him anyways and he came and picked me up. My clothes were torn up and my dad saw the major bruise forming on my head, and he took me to the hospital.

"Cayde got into a fight with me because I didn't want to wear it, I wanted one night where he didn't degrade me but this was just an excuse to do it more. Right before the party, he pushed me into his nightstand, I smacked my head against it and begged him to take me to the hospital. He didn't of course and we went to the party where I could barely stand because of the pain in my head. He pulled me up to one of the bedrooms in the house, forced me down, and had sex with me. I remember him spitting on me that night, and the maid's costume that I once hated was now the only thing I wanted so I could cover my body." I paused for a moment "I called Aster that night because I didn't know what to do. He called my dad and my dad picked me up at the house. I threw up in the car from nausea and he took me to the hospital. I had a severe concussion and was on bed rest for what felt like forever.

"Aspen...you weren't just sexually assaulted, you were raped." June gave me deep eyes filled with sympathy as she took all the polaroids from me. I had always known in the back of my head I was raped but I never wanted to admit it, people already looked at me enough because I was assaulted by half the football team the night Cayde tied me down. It was hard to admit to yourself because every time you thought about it made it one step harder to forget it.

I could feel the pressure building up in my throat, that feeling you got in it when you were about to cry but tried to hold it back. The words made it even harder to accept it as I had been putting it in the back of my head since the first time it happened, but thinking back I was raped. I told him no over and over again but my pleas were ignored. 

"I-I..." I choked on my words, trying to get them out but I failed to, Pierce grabbed my hand and pulled me into his chest. His arms wrapped around me while he rested his chin on the top of my head before placing a kiss on it. Tears pricked my eyes, no longer being able to hold them back as they streamed down my cheeks. I knew all eyes were on us but right now all I could focus on was being in Pierce's comfort.

"Pierce, how about you take her. The meeting is dismissed." Xander offered to Pierce, and I had felt bad for being the reason the meeting was canceled early but I couldn't hold it together when I saw those pictures. He picked pictures that all had a bad background for them, he knew those pictures would specifically get to me. 

"Come on baby, let's go." Pierce nodded his head towards the exit and grabbed my backpack from the ground. We both headed down the stairs and outside where the temperature had been below freezing, making a shiver go up to my spine. 

I got into the passenger seat while Pierce went around to the driver's side. He started the car and looked over to me, wiping a few tears away that managed to fall down my cheeks. "I'm so sorry Aspen, I would do anything to take the pain away. I know how it feels and if I would've known everything I would've fucking killed that piece of shit at the hotel."

"Violence isn't the answer," I muttered the words under my breath as I sniffled. I wanted nothing more than revenge on Cayde but for Pierce's sake, I couldn't afford him getting arrested after beating up my ex-boyfriend while I was already fearful of the video that had been going around from the hotel. 

"It is when someone hurts my girl." Pierce's crystal grey eyes flickered from the windshield to mine "I swear to god Aspen if any guy lays a hand on you I am not holding back. You've been hurt way too much and I'm not going to just sit back and watch my girlfriend take shit after shit."

I didn't say anything, I didn't know what I was supposed to say. With that Pierce reversed away from the warehouse and took off down the center of the road. I rested my head against the seatbelt, looking out the window as we passed by a land of trees. 

Pierce reached over, grabbing my hand and resting it in his lap as he traced circles on my skin. Pierce gave me the silence I needed but I knew he still knew exactly how I felt- it had been part of the reason he knew to give me what I needed and when.

We soon reached Gunner's house as I didn't feel safe going home, knowing Cayde or the Coinston's knew where I lived now. Pierce pulled the car up to the front of the house before putting the car in park. We both got out at the same time as we walked up the front porch steps to the house, Pierce pushing the door open that had been unlocked. 

"Oh..you're home." Reese froze in her spot as she came out from the kitchen, glancing from the kitchen to Pierce. I could feel a sense of nervousness all over her face as if she was trying to hide something. 

"So Aspen," She blurted, trying to change the subject "Do you want to come to see my room? I just cleaned it and mom even says we might be able to paint it a different color but Pierce says it'll never happen."  

"What are you hiding?" Pierce narrowed his eyes to her and her eyes grew wide as she glanced back to the kitchen once again. "I'm not hiding anything-" She started but couldn't finish as Pierce started to walk towards the kitchen, Reese jumping in front of him.

"Pierce you really really shouldn't go in there," Reese begged him as she tried to push him back, looking all the way up to him. "Not now Reese." Pierce pushed past her, obviously not wanting to play her little game of what she was trying to make him avoid. 

"Oh no.." Reese mumbled as we both followed Pierce into the kitchen before he came to a stop and I could feel his body become tense as he forced the words out of his mouth, the two words raging with anger. 

"Aunt Deliah..."

* * * * *

A://N Hi sorry I couldn't update yesterday like promised, I had a migraine when I woke up and couldn't finish the chapter. Plus I have had super bad writer's block lately so I've been getting stuck a lot when writing. 

What did you guys think of this chapter? A lot happened in it

Dedicated to: @theONLYzeida

What do you think about Juniper and Cypress? How do you think Pierce will react after finding out they slept together?

Any theories on why the polaroids were sent? Do you think it was Cayde or the Coinstons? 

What do you think now that you know more about Cayde and Aspen's past history together?

What do you think about Pierce seeing his Aunt Deliah? What do you think will happen next?

Any guesses on why his aunt is there after all those years?

Do you think Xander is handling the gang well now that Archer is gone for now?

If you could KILL off ONE character who would it be? You guys have so many kill list lol 

What do you think will Happen with Aspen and Pierce next?

~Ash