Chapter 6: Minute-hand and second-hand

Everything happened so quickly. I barely had time to process what was going on when Blake started beating up a guy in the middle of the school hallway. It was so unlike him to cause unnecessary commotion that especially doesn't involve the gang. For a moment, I simply stood by the lockers, my hands and back glued to the cold metal as I observed, wide-eyed. I have never Blake so angry and truthfully, it scared me.

With shaky hands, I used my phone and pressed the call button after scrolling through my recent calls. I flinched slightly as I heard a crack but I had no idea who it came from. Putting the phone to my ear, I waited for him to answer.

"Ashley? Why are you calli-"

"Harry, please come here. It's Blake, he..." I choked on a sob but that was all I needed to say.

"I'm coming. Just wait there, okay? I'll be there soon," the concern and worry in Harry's voice was clear but I couldn't bring myself to answer him before hanging up.

I shifted my attention back to Blake who was still punching the guy underneath him. I knew if I don't do anything right now, things will only get worse. As scared as I was, I had to stop him. Hesitantly, I start to take a step towards them. I looked at the people gathering around the fight before taking a deep breath and grabbing Blake by his arm. What I didn't expect was to be pushed to the wall with a firm shove.

"Blake!" I cried out just as my elbow came into impact against the rough wall in an attempt to protect my body from receiving the blow as I sat on the ground. My elbow stung from scraped skin that was now bleeding as I held my hand against the wound. I had only managed to lift my head for a few seconds to see Blake walking towards me before he was pulled back into the fight once again.

Just then, I heard the sound of the familiar voice. Blake had finally stopped fighting upon hearing Harry's voice.

Harry scanned the scene until his eyes landed on me as he immediately rushed to my side, "Ashley, are you okay? What happened?" His hand was gentle as he held my arm to take a look at my elbow. I bit my lip as the wound started to sting even more. Harry glanced over his shoulder as if realising that we were still in school and people were watching us.

He stood up, holding onto my arm to help me up as well. That was when I looked up to meet Blake's eyes. I couldn't read him. His expression was blank, giving me no clue as to what he was thinking. Past the fear I had from seeing how aggressive and angry he got, I silently hoped that he would run to me and show me how worried he was, hug me and tell me that everything was okay and that no one is going to hurt me but Harry was starting to lead me further and further away from him and Blake wasn't even moving a muscle. His gaze left mine as he looked at the other guys that came along with Harry, saying something to them.

"Here. Get in," I heard Harry speak up, making me turn away from Blake to let Harry help me up into the spacious van.

As soon as I sat, Charlie, who was seated on the opposite seat moved to sit next to me. He reached for my arm, "May I take a look at your elbow, Ashley?"

Charlie is the gang's only medic. He is in his early thirties. He studied medical in the University but didn't get the chance to be a doctor due to how money-based the industry is. He has brown hair with light brown eyes that seemed to always warm me up. I barely see him around these days since he's always dragged to some sort of meeting regarding the gang just in case someone decided to go on a suicide mission or a killing spree.

I nodded and turned my elbow up to show him the wound. Charlie mumbled something to himself before grabbing the bag the brought with him and started rummaging through it. After that, I stopped paying to him and what he was doing to my elbow as I saw Harry return with Blake by his side. His face was still blank as he took one glance at Harry before getting in the van, taking a seat opposite my but refused to meet my eyes. Harry got in the passenger side of the van and gestured for the driver to make a move.

A sharp pain from the liquid on my elbow caused my to bring my attention back to Charlie, "Sorry," Charlie mumbled quietly. He took a white cloth and started to dab the blood from the wound.

I gripped the seat with my other hand as I tried to bare the pain.

Charlie started to wrap my elbow with a longer white cloth and taping it securely, "There."

I nodded and muttered a brief 'thank you' as he shifted a few seats away to give me some space. I turn to look at Blake, waiting for him to realise that I was practically staring at him. His shoulders were tense as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His head hung low, avoiding my gaze. Throughout the whole ride back home, Blake didn't even make a single noise nor did he move. It was like he was frozen in ice.

As soon as the van came to a stop, Blake opened the door to the van and immediately got down as if it was on fire and about to explode any second. I pursed my lips as I tried to ignore the pain in my chest.

Harry moved to stand by the door and held his hand out to me. I shook my head and got down the van by myself, keeping my wrapped up elbow close to my body to avoid hitting it anywhere. Blake was already opening the door to the house, by the time I stepped onto the porch. He stood still by the entrance for a moment before his head lowered in a slight nod.

My brows furrowed as I stepped closer only to notice my father standing in front of Blake. Thankfully, Sloan was nowhere to be seen. I didn't want her to see me like him, in fact, I didn't want her to see me at all. My father's eyes narrowed at my elbow for a split second before he looked back at Blake.

I knew what was coming. This has happened many times before but never this extreme. If the consequences was already so bad before, I didn't want to think what it would be like now. "Dad," I started.

"Blake, may I have a word with you in my room?" my father asked, completely ignoring me and my pleading gaze. He didn't even wait for a response from Blake as he turned around and started to walk away.

Blake started to take a step towards my father and I immediately brushed past Blake, placing a hand on arm to stop him. I rushed to catch up with my father, "Dad wait, let me explain."

My father didn't stop as he responded, "Not now, Ashley. Go to your room."

"But-"

My father turned around and shot me a look but that wasn't what stopped me. Blake had walked past me and towards my father.

"No, wait, Dad-"

"Ashley..." Harry was at my side, gently holding my arm to keep me from running to my father. "It's okay, Blake can handle it. He'll be fine."

My head snapped towards Harry. "Will he? Because the last time, he..." I shook my head and pulled my arm out of Harry's grip. Taking one last glance at my father's closed door, I ran up the stairs and into my room.

The minute-hand on a clock will never be able to catch up with the speed of the second-hand, making a whole rotation around the clock and the minute-hand only making one small movement forward. Was there a way to speed that up? At this stage of technology, no one has invented a time machine. That would be the only thing I would ever ask for in my life.

It's been 38 minutes since Blake went in my father's room. I had stayed seated on my bed and staring at the clock on the wall, hoping that maybe some sort of superpower my eyes had would make time go faster. The whole house was unusually quiet. Clicking my tongue, I stand up from my bed and made way downstairs. Thankfully, Harry was nowhere to be seen. I stopped in front of my father's room door, nibbling on my lip. I hated that my father's room was sound proof. I wanted so badly to know what was going on inside. I lifted my hand to the doorknob but hesitated and let it drop afterwards.

Sighing to myself, I moved towards the living room and lowered myself onto the couch that faced the hallway of my father's room. After what felt like ages, I heard the door click and instantly stand up from the couch whilst hoping that it was Blake and not the sound of another door opening.

To my relief, Blake appeared at the hallway. "Blake!" I exclaimed and ran towards him, throwing my arms around him in a hug, ignoring the pain on my elbow but he quickly responded with a grunt and tried to pull away. Finally realising what was going on, I retreated my arms, "What did he do to you?"

That was when I took the chance to look at him properly. His whole posture was slumped slightly as if it hurt to stand up straight. His hair was a mess, the once perfectly styled quiff now hanging low on his forehead but he still managed to make it look really good on him. Around his right eye, a bruise was beginning to form and his left cheekbone was already bruised a dark purple and black. The corner of his lips was bleeding and that was also turning into a bruise.

"It's fine, Ashley. I'm okay," he answered, trying to reassure me.

I pursed my lips as I heard him call me Ashley. Even though it was my name, Blake had always called me Ash. This worried me but I had no time to think about my feelings right now. Blake is hurt and he needs my help.

"No, you're not," I slowly extended my hand and gently placed it on his side to which he instantly reacted by moving away with another grunt. It hurt to see him like this. This was all my fault. I swallowed, trying to hold back my tears as I took a step towards him. The whole time he was avoiding my eyes. I lift one of my hands and lightly touched his left cheek, making him finally meet my eyes. I expected him to pull away again but when he didn't, I let my thumb softly trace the bruise on his cheekbone.

"Ash..." His voice was a whisper.

Our eyes never left each others. I had no idea how long we stood there just staring into each other's eyes but I didn't care. I would stay like this forever if I could. At this point, I had blocked out my surroundings. My only focus right now was Blake.

I raised my other hand and brushed my fingers through his hair, moving the hair from his forehead so I could see his face before letting my arm drop to my side. I can hear my heart beating really fast against my chest as his hand wrapped around my wrist and slowly removing my hand from his cheek.

"Ash, I..." He started and I simply waited for him to get his words out, "I need to-"

"What's going on here?"

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- S.R. Fizz