14 Part 9 +1?

I turned and went back down the hall into my room, sitting down on the bed. What in the hell had just happened ? Several times she had offered me the chance to walk away, but I didn't. Then all at once, she bolted. I was more confused now than ever, things were really screwed up. I laid down on the bed and tried to analyze what had just happened. I knew one thing for sure, things between Ashley and I would never be the same. Not after what had just happened. I just laid there quietly thinking, hoping I would hear her bedroom door open and she would come back to me. Sometime during the night, I must have fell deep asleep, I woke to the sun streaming through the window, the clock read ten thirty eight in the morning. I sat up in the bed, listening intently to the sounds in the house but I heard none. I got up slowly and walked into the kitchen looking for Ashley, but she was not there. I looked out the kitchen window to the drive and I noticed her SUV was gone. I poured a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table trying to sort things out. Finally at about noon, I headed to the gym to get in a workout.

I finished my workout about three that afternoon, showered at the gym and changed. Rather than go home, I decided to take a ride into town and walk around. About five that evening I stopped in the diner and had dinner, I saw a few friends from highy school there, we talked for a while. On the drive home, I knew I had to pack right away and head back to school. There was no way Ashley and I could co-exist in the house right now with things this up in the air. As I pulled up to the house, I noticed she still wasn't home, I actually became worried somewhat. I packed my bags quickly, placing them by the kitchen door. I found a small notebook in the kitchen drawer and scribbled a quick note to Ashley.

[ I am not sure how or what you feel right now but I think it's best I go back to school and give you some privacy. I am so sorry if I offended you in any way, it was not my intention. I will call later on.]

I placed the note on the kitchen table where she was sure to see it, grabbed my bags and walked out of the door. I walked down to the corner, caught the first bus into town and arrived at the bus station. There was a bus leaving town in an hour, I quickly bought a ticket and sat down on the bench. I had been on the bus for maybe four hours when my cell phone rang. I looked at the screen, it was Ashley. I debated for a second, but decided to let it go to voicemail, I was not ready to talk. I arrived at school early the next morning, checked into the dorm and went straight to bed. I slept all of that day and late into the night. I got up, took a shower, then went back to bed again. I woke early the next morning, showered then headed out to get some breakfast. As I was walking across campus, I decided to check my messages. I had four missed calls from Ashley, she had left only one message. Nervously I dialed my voicemail and waited anxiously.

"Brian, why did you leave. Please, I am sorry, I just…. I needed to sort things out. This is your house, not mine. Please call me as soon as can. I miss you, we .... We need to talk, I feel terrible…. Please call me …"

she said softly.

I put the phone back into my pocket, I would call her later, it would give me time to think. After breakfast I checked in with the trainers letting them know I was back on campus and to be put back in a regular rotation in the gym and on the track. By the time I got back to my dorm room it was noon, I decided to call Ashley. Her phone rang six or seven times before she picked up.

"Hello.", she said, her voice cracking.

"Hey Ash, I got your message, so I'm ….", I started to reply.

"Brian, why did you leave like that? I have been a nervous wreck since I got back home. Please, never do that again.", she interrupted.

"Ashley, how do you think I felt when I got up in the morning and you were gone? I had no idea what to think.", I said.

"I'm sorry, I just needed to clear my head. I'm fine now, please come back home, you still have close to two months of vacation.", she urged.

"I think it's better that I stay up here for a while, I'll come home in a week or so.", I answered.

We talked for a few more minutes, but it was awkward as hell. I quickly made an excuse to get off of the phone. Early the next morning I began working out with the training staff twice a day, then running every other day. I did everything I could do to put Ashley as far out of my mind as I could. I worked out with a relentless drive that was even abnormal for me. Everyone up at school noticed it, I was quiet, distant and withdrawn. Ashley called several times the first few weeks, but every phone call seemed more strained than the previous one. Soon she stopped calling all togther and honestly, I was somewhat relieved. "Well if you ever need someone to talk to about anything, please come to me.", she offered.

"Ok Ashley, I promise I will. Thank you.", I answered.