Mistaken
Author's note: I've been thinking of this ever since…I'm not too sure when, but whatever it is, it's been bugging my brain. And since this won't really fit in to my other AshMay story (3 MORE REVIEWS! HELP ME ACCOMPLISH MY GOAL OF 50 REVIEWS PLEASE!), I just decided to write it out here. Um, yeah. R&R!
The first one-shot for this collection.
"Ash, c'mon, just get over with it…" May tugged her boyfriend's arm pleadingly. She had been whining for him to get inside ever since they got in front of May's quaint little house.
"But, May, it's your PARENTS I'm gonna meet." Ash retorted.
May thought for a moment. "Just treat it like you're a famous superstar and you're being interviewed." And after that was said, she fumbled in her pocket for her keys.
"More like interrogation…" Ash murmured.
May chuckled as she finally found her keys. "Ash, you'll be fine. I'm positive." She squeezed his hand tightly in an attempt to reassure him. Then she pecked him on his cheek.
Ash blushed. "What was THAT for?" he asked.
"Good luck."
"I suddenly feel like leaving my girlfriend now…" Ash remarked sarcastically. May dragged him in anyway.
Caroline and Norman both forced out a smile as the young couple came in.
"Welcome, Ash." Norman greeted, his cold stare almost piercing Ash's throat.
"U-Uh, yeah, thanks. Glad to be here." Ash felt a lump in his throat. He smiled at his girlfriend's parents.
"Well, do make yourself at home. May, you look like you've just ran 10 rounds around the area; go take a nice, LONG shower." Caroline slowly escorted May to her bedroom to get a bath. Ash had noted the fact her mum placed much emphasis on the word 'long'.
He gulped. This was not good…
Ash watched as his girlfriend walk into her bedroom. He laughed nervously as Norman stood up from his seat.
"Ash, take a seat. This will take a while." Norman escorted his young nervous unwanted guest to the dining table. Ash sat at one end, while Norman sat at the other end. Caroline soon joined her husband.
Norman cleared his throat. "Now, Ash, how is your work so far?"
Ash raised his eyebrows, but he did not question the validity of the query. "Well…" Ash wanted to lie, but he just couldn't. "Not that good."
Caroline and Norman exchanged glances. Caroline frowned. "So, how do you expect us to actually let you be May's boyfriend?"
Norman nodded. "May is one of the top in the school, and ever since she started schooling in this current school, boys have been wooing her."
"Yes, I don't see why she would date YOU out of all people. There's Drew, he's always one position above her…"
"…And that boy, ah yes, Brendan, he is the head of the prefects. I doubt you ever achieved something of such high standard?"
Ash cringed. This was getting out of hand. But yet, for May, he decided to come clean. Yes, for her…
"I'm just a member of the school basketball team. We have yet to win any major competition."
All he had, Ash thought, was his undying love for her.
He remembered the times when Drew and Brendan harassed May to no end, she was so upset. The fact that the two did not give up angered him.
He told them off in front of May, but they beat him up after school. May was crying, her tears streaking down her face, just begging them to stop.
But all Ash could think about was May.
Norman interrupted his chain of thoughts. "That's sad. Truly. Though I'm not surprised."
Ash got slightly maddened, but he did not show it.
This was for May.
His one love.
"We're working hard." Ash simply replied.
Caroline stood up abruptly from her chair. "This is simply outrageous." She slammed her hand onto the table top, jolting Ash. "You're just a normal average guy. How could such an accomplished girl like May ever date you?"
Norman placed his hand on Caroline's shoulder, calming her. "Well, after whatever we've told you…I suppose you know what to do?"
Ash felt his heart explode and shatter and stabbed all at the same time. He forced back a cry. All this…it was over.
"I understand. I'll tell her. And I'll take my leave now. Sorry for bothering you." Ash gave the two parents a small smile.
He left. He left behind his one and only love behind. All in the dust. They would soon become distant memories of his. Walking down memory lane anytime now would be hard. And it will always be.
Caroline and Norman, after ensuring the boy had left the house for good, smiled at each other. "Well, THAT'S over." Norman heaved a sigh, hugging Caroline.
Caroline giggled. "I'll make dinner." And she quickly pried herself out of Norman's hug.
--
"B-But why, Ash?" May cried. Her body was visibly shaking. "This had better not be some stupid joke of yours, Ash, 'cause it's not funny!"
Ash was at her doorstep, just resisting the urge to just hug her. Resisting the urge to tell her, no, he was not going to do this, because he loved her too much. Resisting the urge to tell her all about the talk with her parents. Resisting everything.
"May, you should get someone else for your boyfriend. You're almost perfect. I mean, you're smart, pretty, and most wonderful girl I've met." Ash reached out to wipe away her tears, but he stopped himself, letting his hand drop back.
"I'm just a normal average guy. And there are other even better boys out there for you, May."
May sobbed even harder. "A-Ash…" she couldn't speak. Emotions were too overwhelming.
Ash let a tear drop make its way down his cheek. "I'll see you at school then. Don't blame yourself, it's just me."
He quickly turned away and ran off, biting his lip just trying to stop the tears, to just bottle everything up.
May continued sobbing. Her eyes were already red from rubbing, and she was still shaking from the trauma.
No. She could not believe it.
"May…May…you okay?" Caroline cooed, her hands smoothing May's soft brown hair, all messed up and wet from crying.
"Mum..." May gulped hard to stop her cries. "He was so nice to me…I loved him for him."
May regained her composure. "Remember that time when I had to pass by some nightclubs to get home after school? And it was dark then. Ash…he followed me back."
May sighed as she looked at the school gate. She frowned as she remembered the gang fights she witnessed on her way back home. They were terrifying.
She was pulled back to reality when she felt a tap on her shoulder. "You're not going home?" Ash asked. His small smile warmed her, causing her to blush.
"Y-yeah…"
Ash looked at her face. "You're scared?"
May looked at him. "Yeah, kinda. I pass by some nightclubs before reaching home. They have gang fights there often."
"Well, I'll go with you."
"W-What?"
Ash blinked. "I'll follow you."
May smiled at the many memories she shared. "There was a gang fight after all, but Ash managed to get me home safely. He got a few bruises, so that explains the plaster on his arm. You didn't see that though."
Caroline was stunned.
May sniffed, and she recounted yet another incident.
"N-No, stop, no, please, don't hurt me!" May cried, her arms bruised up, and her cheek still stung from the slap she received from the girl.
The girl, she frowned. "Well, our top student, begging for mercy? Ha, that's pathetic." She laughed, while her friend lit up a cigarette. The tormentor took the cigarette.
"Now…" she gave May a grin. Let's see how our top student escapes THIS." And she stubbed her cigarette violently on May's arm.
May screamed in pain. No one would hear her cries though, she was in the female toilet, at 5. There were almost no girls here, only guys.
The girl grinned. She continued hitting her, blow after blow, screaming vulgarities. "This is for all that comparison teachers made between you and me!"
Just then, someone ran into the toilet. Ash tackled the unaware girl to the ground. "Get away." He hissed at her. The whole gang ran away.
Ash looked at May, crying from the pain she received. "You okay? Look, I'll carry you back. Hop on." He slowly lifted May from the ground and got her on his back. Then, he began a slow, somewhat tiring walk back to her house.
"I told him to leave me on the doorstep and he did just that. Mum, I didn't just hobbled back home like what I told you. I lied." May sighed, before sobbing once more, this time in her mother's arms. Caroline was shocked. That boy she chased away…he cared so much.
"May, darling, go to sleep, you'll be alright." Caroline cooed.
"I love him, and I always will." May whispered audibly. Then she slowly walked back up to the room.
Caroline watched until May went in. She heard the sobs, the wails, the cries. It was heart-wrenching.
She looked around, and called out. "Norman."
As suspected, Norman came out.
"You-"
"I heard everything."
Caroline sighed.
"We should tell him."
Caroline and Norman sat down, this time in front of the computer screen. Norman started typing:
Dear Ash:
We think we've been too harsh on you, and we weren't thinking of how our May would feel. She was crying uncontrollably, I'm sure you'll know that.
Now, back to our point. We Maples do not beat around the bush. So we're telling you this. We were mistaken. And we're sorry. You may take her back.
After hearing about the two incidents that May told us, we realized how much you loved her, how concerned you were for her. And May, she really felt the same way for you. Take her, my boy, but please, don't break her heart. That's all that we ask.
With warm smiles,
May's parents.
The two printed it out, and they signed on it. "Let's mail it."
The very next day, Ash appeared in front of the Maples' house. He was holding a bunch of roses, May's favourite.
The door was answered. Norman smiled at the boy. "She's upstairs. Go get her, my boy." He winked.
Ash laughed. "Thanks, Mr Maple."
Norman grinned. "And give her a kiss. It heals everything."