"Mad," Ashely said as she reached to touch his hands. "Does it hurt?"

"Not as much as Jim is right now." He flexed the hand she touched it gently.

She had never wanted this to happen. "He won't let this go you know."

He nodded. "I know." He caught her hand in his. "And you know what? It was worth it."

His thumb brushed her hand.

"You need to clean the wounds," she murmured, wanting to do something to help.

"It's nothing. I'll be fine."

She pulled her hand from his.

There was still too much between them for her to ignore how he had treated her. He hadn't even given her the chance to try to explain her way out it before believing it.

"I should never have believed that you would have done something like that."

She crossed her arms and listened.

"Someone showed me a picture of the two of under the stairs. From the photo it looked like you were kissing. I had no idea something else had been going on." He shrugged. "Why wouldn't you tell me if it was something innocent? I couldn't think of any justifiable reason for you to keep it from me."

"After what happened between us, it's difficult to think you would think I could do that." She still felt hurt by the whole thing.

As much as she cared for him was there any point in patching up something that had no chance in the real world outside of high school. Her heart had one answer, her head an entirely different one. She was torn.

"I'm tired. I need sleep."

It felt like she had been running on adrenaline for too long and she was going to crash.

He nodded.

She backed away from him and turned to retrace her steps to her house. She didn't look back before she went back into her house.

The night hadn't gone the way she wanted but she had done everything possible. She showered and got ready for bed.

She didn't know what tomorrow held but she knew to be able to deal with it she needed to get some much needed rest.

That night she hugged her pillow and drifted off to sleep but her sleep that night was broken and she knew it was because of Maddox and Jim but she had no idea what was going to happen the next day or if there was any way to stop what was about to unfold.

She didn't want Jim to get his way. He was a nasty piece of work that would just grown up to be some messed up adult who was used to stepping on other people to get what he wanted.

*********

"Did you hear?" Diane asked in that I know something you don't tone.

Ashley was tired and grumpy again. She had a night of restless sleep and tossing and turning.

"Maddox beat up Jim," she revealed.

"Yeah I know." She admitted, waiting for the barrage of questions to come her way.

"But why? What happened?" Sally asked.

Ashley stopped walking and pulled them to the side so they could talk without being overheard. "Jim tried to kiss me at the party." That only touched the surface of what had happened but she didn't really want to talk about the whole thing. It was like the more she talked about it the more it got under her skin and the more she had to face the idea that it hadn't been just a harmless unwanted kiss. It had been so much more and it was difficult to deal with.

She had more important things to deal with then that right now.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Sappy was the one to ask the question.

"Jim's been trying to cause trouble," she sighed. Her head was fuzzy from lack of sleep, it was difficult to think straight.

"Did he do something else before this?"

Ashley rubbed her temple slightly. "He came by the diner with Logan. He wanted Maddox to hit him so he could get him expelled. I think after the confrontation in the cafeteria he is out for revenge."

"So that's why you never said anything to Maddox because he would have pummelled him at the party."

Ashley nodded. "But it's too late now."

So far nothing had happened but she knew it was only a matter of time. Jim was an asshole who wouldn't allow Maddox to get away with what he had done.

It was in her next class there was an announcement for Maddox to report to the principal's office.

She fidgeted with her pen nervously. It was happening and she couldn't do anything about it.

It was only when she was on her way to her next class the hallways were a buzz with talk.

"He got arrested." Ashley overheard someone say to another student.

Alarmed she stopped. "Who got arrested?" Fearing the worst.

"Maddox."

Her heart sank. Jim was following through on his threat to follow through with ruining Maddox's future and it felt like, at this point, there was no way to stop any of it.

Her back ached and she put her hand to it to try and soothe it. It was then she had a thought. She had no idea if it would work but she had to try something.

The only reason any of this had happened was because she had dumped Logan. That is what had started this whole thing with Jim and Maddox. If it hadn't been for her that none of this would be happening.

She had been the cause of this mess in Maddox's life and she felt a responsibility to right it.

On her way to the cafeteria she messaged him.

What's happening? Someone said you got arrested.

She sent the message but she wasn't expecting him to respond immediately.

Maddox's arrest in the front of the school was the only topic in the cafeteria. She went straight to Jasper, who was seat alone at their usual table.

"Is it true?" She asked and he nodded solemnly.

"Yeah."

"Have you heard from him?"

He shook his head.

"I need a favour," she asked, flattening her hands against the table and she leaned closer.

He nodded.

"Do you know where Jim lives?"

"What are you planning to do?" he asked, seeming reluctant to help her.

The only other person who might know where Jim lived was Logan but she hadn't see him all day. He might not even be at school and she wasn't sure he would answer her call again.

"Are you going to help me or not?" she asked, not wanting to go into the details of what she had planned.

"Mad will have my head if anything happens to you."

"It's the only way to stop this whole mess." Was all she revealed.

He frowned as he contemplated her request. "I'm not sure this is a good idea, not after what he did to you." There was anger flickering just below the surface of his eyes.

"Please Jasper. Trust me. This is the only way to stop it." She was desperate. "This is serious. We aren't just talking getting expelled. We are talking about a criminal record now. It will be mark against him for the rest of his life. I can't let that happen."

"Only if you let me come with to make sure he doesn't lay a hand on you." He crossed his arms, having laid out the terms of his cooperation.

She bit her lip as she tried to accommodate what her actions with his request. "Fine. I'll text you my home address. Meet me there after school."

"I'll be there."

Ross arrived, just as she turned to leave and she headed to her table.

Food was the last thought on her mind. She was putting her plan into action and she couldn't fail.

She didn't miss the looks from passing students and she knew they were talking about Maddox. The last few hours of school seemed to drag on and she couldn't wait to get out of there.

The ride home was quick and just as he had said Jasper was at her house waiting when she arrived. He headed to her car just as she parked.

"I need you to do me another favour." She told him as they headed into her house.

"I'm all ears."

Just as she closed the door she handed him her phone. "I need you to take this."

Jasper frowned but took her phone. "And what am I going to do with your phone?"

"Take pictures."