Fool With Dreams

26 november, day after thanksgiving

Ashlee was just washing her dishes when the doorbell rang. Wondering who that could be, she dried her hands in the towel and went to see who it was.

“John? What are you doing here?” she asked, surprised at his unexpected visit.

“I was just in the neighborhood. Thought I’d come and see how you are,” he smiled. For some reason, Ash didn’t believe his ‘I was in the neighborhood’ excuse.

“I’m fine,” she smiled politely, wondering what did he really want.

“Can I come in?” John was still all smiles.

“Yeah,” Ash stepped aside and John walked past her, only to stop in front of a growling dog.

“Hemi! No!” Ash said firmly. She didn’t understand what went in to him, usually he was friendly with everybody. She grabbed Hemi’s collar and tugged him out to the balcony. He started barking and jumping up at the glass door the moment she slid it closed.

“Not much of a dog person, are you?” she laughed at John who was visibly relieved, being separated from the dog.

“I didn’t know you even had a dog,” he said, following Ash back to the kitchen.

“Well, you do now,” she resumed washing the last of her dishes. Her new dishwasher wasn’t set up yet, so she had to wash everything herself.

“Actually I wanted to ask you something,” John leaned his hip against the counter and crossed his arms. Ash gave him a ‘go ahead’ look. “My niece is getting married next week and I’d like you to come with me as my date.”

Ash turned to look at him. Why was he asking her this, she wondered. They weren’t that close. After all, they had been out together only three times and with a company, not once by them selves.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she muttered, crossing her own hands to her chest. She didn’t want to mix her job relations with her personal life.

“Why not? You know I like you. I know my family will like you too,” John came to stand in front of her, leaning down to look in her eyes. His hands on her shoulders bothered Ash a bit.

“Look, I am sorry if I’ve given you any false hopes. It’s just that I’m not ready for any kind of relationship. I’m not gonna be ready for a long time. And I think it’s best if we won’t go out together any more,” Ash tried to get out of this mess, giving John a sad look and backing away.

“I can be your friend for now and wait til you are ready,” he stepped even closer this time, cupping her face.

“No. I’ll never be ready. I’m broken and no one can fix me. Just go, okay,” she gently pushed him away and stood back once again. She knew now that Brian was her other half and no other man could fill that place. And she wasn’t gonna settle for anything less, at least not yet. Maybe in ten years she would feel so lonely that she wouldn’t stand to be alone any longer, but she doubted even that.

“You have no idea what you are turning down, doll” John muttered and turned to walk away.

Ash followed him, to lock the door behind him. On the way past the living room, he suddenly turned around, a menacing look on his face.

“Actually, I’m gonna give you a taste of what you’re tossing away so carelessly,” he growled and grabbed her by the hand, tossing her on the couch. He was on top of her before she could even comprehend what was going on. Ash froze for a moment when his lips forcefully attacked hers.

“Get off me, you asshole,” she screamed, pushing him as hard as he could. It didn’t help much. He grabbed her hands and forced them down.

“You’re gonna scream from pleasure soon, honey,” he started to unbutton her shirt and she felt panic come over. Suddenly she felt something small and hard under her hand, next to her butt. She grabbed it quickly, realizing it was her phone. With one last hope she pushed the dial button twice, to call again to the same number she had called last. It was Matt she had called only half an hour ago, cause she wasn’t able to reach Val’s number. She didn’t move the phone, scared that John would see it.

“Get the hell off me, you creep,” she yelled a few moments later, hoping that Matt answered his phone and that he could hear her.

She tried to fight with the man on top of her, screaming continuously, but he was stronger and slowly she was realising that even if Matt would hear, he’d be too late to help her. But she kept fighting non the less and she kept on screaming, refusing to give up. Somehow she managed to get her leg between them and that gave her a chance to push him off. He landed on his back, next to the coffee table. Ash jumped instantly up and ran. But John was fast too, he grabbed her by the ankle and she fell to the floor, trying to scramble up again.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he seethed, pulling her up and slapping her across the face.

Ash blinked back tears and tried to kick his grotch. She almost succeeded, almost. Of course it only made him more angry and he smashed his fist against her side. She even heard her own ribs crack before the terrible pain came. He dragged her back to the couch and threw her down, causing even more pain to her. Carelessly, he ripped her shorts away, leaving her in her panties and a half opened shirt. Smirking, he looked down at her, as she was writhing in pain.

“Now, be a good girl and do what I say,” he leaned down, crawling on top of her again. He roughly kissed her chin and neck, moving down, until her shirt got in the way. He ripped it off, totally enjoying her desperate cries of pain.

Finally, Ash’s instincts took over and she realised there was only one way to save herself. She could already feel the energy building up. Words for a spell were flying through her head, gathering into required sentences. She was almost ready to blast this jerk into space when suddenly he was tackled off of her. Unfortunately he had a strong grip on her and she too flew off the couch, coming to a stop at a very painful position, her shoulder blade somehow partially against the couch.

Raising her head, she saw Brian beating the life out of John. She had never been so happy to see him before in her life.

“Oh fuck! Ash? Are you okay?” Matt knelt down to her, afraid to touch. He didn’t want to hurt her more.

“Please stop him before he kills that bastard,” she begged, ignoring his stupid question. Everyone could see that she wasn’t okay. “I don’t want him to go to jail for killing someone who should be there instead.”

Matt got up and quickly unzipped his hoodie. He took it off and carefully laid it down on Ash, covering her up a bit. Ash gave him a weak but thankful smile.

Then he went to stop Brian.

“That’s enough Bri.” Matt hadn’t seen his friend so furious before. He really looked like he could kill that guy. Matt had to hold him back by his shoulders.

“Go! I got this,” he said, seeing that Brian had a serious trouble controlling himself. He stormed out without a word.

“Oh fuck,” Ash breathed, trying to sit up. She’d never felt a pain like that before. Matt was right by her side again, pulling out his phone. He called 911, reporting an attempted rape and the need for medical help for two, asking details from Ash when needed. John was still out cold, laying on the floor a few feet from them.

“You’ll probably need a new carpet. I don’t think that blood will come out of it,” he mentioned, frowning at the growing dark red circle that leaked from John’s smashed up face.

“I was thinking of getting a wood floor anyway. I hate this ugly carpet,” Ash snorted, trying to stay as still as possible.

Matt brought a wet towel from the kitchen and kneeled down before Ash. He leaned closer to her, making her jerk back a bit. It was uncontrollable reaction, she was still in shock. Matt pulled back instantly.

“No, it’s okay. I’m not afraid of you. I won’t go down that road. I just wont,” Ash muttered, trying to smile.

Slowly Matt leaned in again and gently cleaned away the blood that had leaked from her split lip. Ash fought the unwanted fear that was making a nest inside her heart. She had decided to kill it in the beginning, before it could grow into something worse. She wasn’t gonna start fearing all men just because of one asshole took advantage of her. Besides, he didn’t even get what he really had wanted.

Soon the police patrol arrived, a friendly looking female officer with a slightly overweight partner. Ambulance came only minutes later. It was all a blur to Ash from there. There was way too many people running around to keep track.

When she was patched up by medics and had given her statement, she grabbed Matt’s hand.

“Will you take care of Hemi until I get back home?” she begged, her voice dull from medication.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take him home with me so he doesn’t have to be alone here. I’ll see you at the hospital as soon as I can, okay?” he squeezed her hand and smiled reassuringly.

After everyone left, he found Ash’s keys and went to search for Hemi’s bowls and food. He knew that different type of food could upset his stomach and he didn’t wanna cause that. Staying with him would be stressing enough. He collected some of his toys too and his sleeping bed and took them to his car before going to fetch Hemi.

Hemi was still barking at the back door. Matt stepped out, blocking the dog’s way in and waited for him to calm down a bit.

“Hey buddy. You have to come with me for now,” he said calmly and raised his left hand a bit, Hemi’s leash dangling from it. Hemi watched him for a moment, his head tilted.

“Come on, sit,” Matt squatted down, so he wouldn’t look so threatening to the dog. He was just worried and confused. After all, he had seen everything through the balcony door.

After another moment, Hemi walked over to him and sat down, letting him attach the leash to his collar. Matt locked the door behind him, deciding to go around the house, not wanting to let Hemi anywhere close to the bloody crime scene. He planned on cleaning it up before Ash would get out of the hospital. Maybe the guys would come help and they could get her that wood floor she wanted.

“Hemi? What are you doing here?” Val cooed, stooping down to pet the dog who had just ran into her kitchen. She turned to her husband who came in after the dog.

“Honey, you better sit down. I have some bad news,” he sighed, already knowing that Val would freak out before he could even finish.