"Mia."

"Ashton."

''Um..hi.'' I don't know why the fuck was I nervous.

''You came.'' He stated.

''Yeah. Kinda had to. I wasn't given a choice. Blaine dragged me here.'' I left out the part where she emotionally blackmailed me.

''Yeah. I forgot how Blaine was. But I did not expect you would actually come,'' he said.

''Why? Do you think I'm a cold-hearted bitch?'' I couldn't help but ask.

''No. I would never think that. I just never expected you would willingly put yourself in the position where would have to face me.''

He was not entirely wrong.

Before I could utter another word, he decided to change the topic.

"Take a seat, Mia. I don't bite." He laughed, teasing.

I tried to ignore his chiming laugh, and took a seat on a padded winged chair next to his bed.

"So. What brings you and Blaine to my humble abode?" he was back to teasing.

"I don't know. She dragged me here, and now she's off to Roland. I think she didn't want you to be alone.'' I said truthfully.

Ashton was actually not in a very good shape. His arm was still in a cast, and bruises hadn't completely faded from his face. I actually felt a pang of sadness wash over me. Whatever happened between us, I still wouldn't wish this on him.

I think I saw silver in his eyes when I looked up, but he quickly bent over to retrieve something from his nightstand. I didn't want to ask him, so I went off-topic.

''The house is really nice. Did you move recently? '' I asked.

''It's been almost 3 months since I moved here. I bought this house last year, but it was under renovation so I only moved in in January.''

''Well the interior designer did a really good job. Its impressive.''

''Had to hire one. I don't have a streak for these kind of things.'' He laughed again.

''Haha, don't I know. You couldn't tell a carpet from a rug.'' I referred to an old joke from when we were in high school.

''That was one time.''

I chuckled and changed the topic.

''So, how are you?'' I asked.

''As good as it seems,'' he tried to joke his way around it.

''Seriously Ashton. How are you?''

He took a deep breath and sighed.

''I don't know. Everything seems complicated. Everything's been complicated from the day we broke up. When I was in that accident, before I passed out. I thought this was how it was going to end. The same way it started. Emil hasn't talked to me since our father died. I moved here to get away from everything, and I ran into you. As soon as I started accepting everything, I got in an accident.''

I sat there, stunned into silence. He was ranting, like he used to when we were friends.

''I don't know why but I don't seem to catch a break. These past five years had been very difficult for me. I just wanna move forward and forget everything that happened in the past.''

Without looking at me, he got up and walked out of his room.

He seemed sad, miserable. He could have easily lied about everything he said just now, but his eyes didn't. There was genuine sadness there.

Now, I really wanted to ask him something. Something that has been on my mind since the day he said he never wanted to see my face again.

Making up my mind, I got up and started after him. But my phone rang immediately. I quickly fished it out of my purse and read the id.

It was Trevor. I realized  that from the moment I stepped out of the house, I haven't once thought about him or why he wasn't taking my calls or answering my texts.

There was nothing to be guilty about but I felt it. I answered the call.

''Hey babe.''

''Hey. I called you last night.''

''Yeah. I'm so sorry I couldn't take your call. Actually I'm not in Seattle rn. A family emergency. ''

''Family emergency? Is everything alright?''

''No actually. Nothing's alright. My grandma passed away last night.''

''Oh my god. That's awful. Are you alright?''

''Yes I am. But mom's not. She lost her mother. She is taking this very hard. Hasn't eaten anything since she heard the news.''

''I feel awful for her. It must be really hard for her. It's not something you could easily get over. Please give her my condolences.''

''I will. The funeral is on Monday. We'll be back by Wednesday.''

''Don't worry. I'll take care of everything here.''

''I know you will. I'll call you as soon as I can.''

''Okay. Just take care of her and yourself.''

''I will.''

And with that he disconnected. I felt awful for her. Trevor was not very close with her grandmother but his mother was devastated. Losing a parent is not easy, no matter how old you are. It always leaves a gaping hole in your chest. I cannot even imagine what I'll do if I'm faced with a similar situation.

I will have to figure out what to do when I'm in the office, without Trevor or his dad around. But for now I was to get my answers.

It was almost an hour since I got here but neither Blaine nor Rol had showed up till now. I doubted if they would at all.

I stepped out of the room to in search of Ash. I was not at all familiar with this house, so it was difficult for me to find my way around.

But finally I found him in the sitting room, with a tall glass of something.

''Don't you think it's a bit too early to get drunk?'' I couldn't help the sarcasm in my voice.

''It's not alcohol. It's apple juice.''

''Ewwww. You still like that thing. It tastes vile,'' I said, cringing.

''Yes, I do. My likes and dislikes don't change often. Once I like something, it remains with me for the rest of my life.'' His voice turned serious.

''Did you never like me then?''

There. I asked THE question. I couldn't keep it in me anymore. I wanted answers. What happened that made him break my heart.

He looked at me once and then turned his attention back to his glass. I thought he wasn't going to answer my question. But after a few moments of silence, he responded.

''I did. I more than liked you. And you know that.''

''That couldn't be true. I stopped believing that five years ago.''

''What took you so long to find me?'' He changed the topic immediately.

''I got a call from Trevor.''

''Oh. Your perfect boyfriend. Was he missing you already? Does he know, you are at your ex's house?''

''Mind your tone Ashton. It's not gonna work on me.''

But I felt a small jab of guilt. Trevor didn't actually know I was at Ashton's place. But in my defence, he didn't ask me where I was. And I didn't want him worried about me at his grandma's funeral.

''It never did.''

''It never will.''

''I see Blaine ditched you for his boyfriend. '' He was desperately trying to waver me from my question.

''Answer me. Why did you break up with me?''

I tried to keep my face as straight and emotionless as possible.

''It wasn't working for me.''

''Stop with that bullshit, Ashton. You and I both know that's not true.''

''I'm not in the mood to talk to you right now. Can you stop with these twenty questions.'' He was trying to act all aloof.

''Well, I wanna talk. So you are gonna talk.''

''No, I'm not gonna talk. You cannot tell me what to do. You are sitting in my house.''

''What made you break up with me Ashton? That day I was not in my right state of mind to demand answers. But now, I want to know. And you are going to give me the answers.''

I could see it in his face, he was getting frustrated. That was exactly what I wanted.

''You really wanna know what made me break up with you?'' I could hear the slight anger in his voice.

''Yes, I wanna know.''

''My father made me break up with you. He was the reason why I broke up with you.''

          
So, finally the cat is out of the bag.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. It's a very late post and Im really sorry for it.

I'll make it up to you in the later chapters.

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Have a good day.
Xoxo.