Heat

Ashley woke up as a groan ripped from her throat. Her vision was a blur as she squinted her eyes. "Omg, honey, are you okay?" A faint voice asked
as Ashley tried to sit up but a pair of hands gently pushed her shoulders back. "Oh, no, Ash, lay back, my love, " said the voice as Ashley recognize it
to be her mother's, "Mom, what happened?" She weakly asked as her vision became clear as she looked at her extremely worried mother "Honey,
you passed out, your body was too weak to function on its own so it shut down, it's a good thing Anna was with you, " she said as Ashley furrowed,
"Anna?" She asked as her mother nodded, "Yes, Anna was there when you collapse, you don't remember?" She asked as Ashley touched her head.
"My head is pounding unbearably, " she replied as her mother nodded, "Yeah, that makes sense since I remembered you coming home last night
soaking wet, you probably have the flu, " she said caressing Ashley's head as she closed her eyes trying to remember all the things that happened
before she passed out.
"We got a message for your step-brother, Jake, tell him that Jay's big brother is looking for him and that he should watch his back."
"Listen here, you little b**h, you and your step-brother are going to pay for what he did to Jay, now be a good messenger bird and deliver Jay's big
brother's message before I-
"Remembered what I said, pretty girl."
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing!"

"Nothing!"
Before everything went dark.
Ashley's eyes snapped open as she remembered what had happened and what was going to happen. "Woah, sweetheart, calm down, " her mother
said trying to calm Ashley down as her breath was unsteady and her chest hovered strongly. Her eyes slightly widened as it searched for something
around her room before it met her mother's worried ones. "Jake's in danger."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Jake was currently at the river, where he had taken Ashley before. It always seemed to be peaceful here so Jake came here to kill some time before
he leaves to the place he always goes when he's stressed.
He really felt guilt for leaving Ashley, especially in that state but he was stubborn and decided to act childish by letting things from the past get to him.
He thought, she was still angry with him but the way she was wanting his attention, made him wonder what was so important that she needed to tell
him. Jake sighed, pushing his thoughts aside as he bent down to pick a pebble up from the floor. He remembered when Ashley told him about her

and her father's favorite thing to do when they would come to the river. He looked out in the waters before tossing the stone as he watched it bounce
along the water.
Jake sighed again as he felt his pocket vibrate. He pulled his phone out of his pocket as he watched the missed calls from Ashley and his Dad. Jake
sighed annoyed before switching off his phone. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Goddamit, pick up, " Ashley said frustratedly at her phone as her mother paced in front of her, "Okay, Ashley, you got to tell me what exactly is

happening?" She asked as Ashley sighed, "This morning I was ganged up by a group of girls, who wanted me to deliver a message to Jake, " she
said as Roger walked into the room, "What message?" He asked as her mother nodded as she wanted to know as well, "The girl said that Jay's big
brother was looking for him and that he should watch his back, " she said as her mom's eyebrows furrowed as she places her hands on her hips,
"Jay's big brother, why would he be looking for Jake, Ashley?" She asked as Ashley gulped nervously, "Jake kind of beat up Jay, last night, " she said
as her mother's eyes widened, "What, why did Jake beat up Jay, Ashley?" She asked as Ashley groaned, "He was trying to protect me, " she said,
"Really, Ashley, from what?" Her mother asked while folding her arms across her chest, "It's a long story, " she said as her mother hummed, "Yeah, I
bet it is and you got a lot of explaining to do young lady, god, Ashley, what happened to us having a pact, " she said while walking out the door as
Ashley sat there with a guilty look on his face. "Mom, I'm sorry, " she said but her mother already left, leaving Roger and Ashley, "What about Jake?"
She asked as Roger sighed, "Jake's strong and I know I may not have raised my son, but ever since he was born, he always has been strong, he'll
be fine, Ashley, " he said before leaving the room. Roger's words didn't exactly make Ashley less worried, she was still very worried about what was
going to happened to Jake.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
The sun was setting as Jake was driving to the place where he always goes when he's stressed or felt creative. He found it when he first came here,
it was abandoned so he used it. It was probably illegal to spray paint but Jake didn't care, he was the type to always break the rules anyway.
He parked his car in a place where no one can find it before exiting the car. He pulled his hoodie over his head before walking towards the
abandoned building. Not too far behind him was a group of guys. Their faces were covered but they looked dangerous and angry especially since
Jake was in their sights.
Jake felt like someone was watching him, but as he turned and saw a familiar person amongst the group of guys that were following him, his eyes
widened before he did the most common thing possible.
He ran...
TO BE CONTINUED