I Met Her On the Balcony

by Sandra Corton

  “What about the Mindy Taylor thing?” Penny shoved her head out of the door, and confronted them.

  “I just never denied the rumours that she made up. Until yesterday.” He sent a smirk to Lucy, who couldn’t prevent the slight blush that bloomed on her face, as she thought about their maddening kisses of the day before.

  “Oh, God, you were kissing before that video, and… and he wrote you a song, and he loves you,” Penny cried out.

  “Yes, to all of that, Penny.” Lucy said softly, as she pulled her sister in for a hug.

  “This is… way too much information to take in on a Monday morning.” Penny finally stuttered.

  “I did try to tell you last night.” Lucy murmured, while Penny bit down on her nail anxiously. She looked over her sister’s shoulder at Ash, who was putting his glasses back on.

  “This is too weird. Look, I’m going to get ready for school.” Penny pushed away from Lucy, went back into her room, and closed the door decisively behind her.

  Lucy let out a sigh, before tightening her fingers in Ash’s hand, and pulling him downstairs to have breakfast. When Penny still didn’t appear a while later, Ash decided to volunteer to talk to her. Lucy tried to protest, but he just shook his head at her, and walked up the stairs, while gesturing for her to stay put. He knocked on the door to Penny’s room and waited.

  “Penny, let me in so we can have a chat,” He said softly.

  He was surprised when the door opened. Shock reverberated through him when she threw herself at him, and laid a kiss on his lips. He gently pushed her away from him, only to see tears streaming down her face.

  “Dammit, it’s like kissing my brother," she said in despair

  “What’s wrong with that, Penny? You are like a little sister to me. I know it’s not what you imagined, but really I’m just a normal guy.” Ash told her truthfully.

  “You’re not supposed to be.” She whispered, looking away from him.

  “Why? Why do I need to be this special person?” He asked, as he wiped a tear from beneath her eye.

  “Because…. I don’t have anyone.” She replied sadly.

  Ash looked at her, the stricken expression on her face upsetting him. He had only seen Penny as a bubbly, incredibly cheerful girl before, so this was unexpected. She seemed to have friends at school and many of the boys paid her attention, so he couldn’t understand what was wrong.

  “You have a lot of people in your life,” he said to her, his tone puzzled.

  “But I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said with a cry.

  “Is that all?” He asked, and she sent him a glare.

  “No, of course, that’s not all. All my friends have boyfriends, but boys don’t even talk to me. They stare, babble out stupid words, and that’s about it.” She told him crossly, and Ash finally understood.

  “Do you talk to them?” He asked, and was surprised when her face went bright red.

  “I try to, but they just stare dumbly at me.” She grumbled.

  “Okay, firstly boys are a bit on the dumb side, especially around girls as pretty as you. Give them a chance, alright?” He advised, giving her a quick hug.

  “You’re not going to tell Lucy that I kissed you?” Penny bit down on her lip, and stared at Ash with an anxious face.

  “No, that can stay between us.”

  “You really are Martin James?” She asked, and he could hear the hope that he would deny it strong in her voice.

  “I really am Martin James.” He told her seriously.

  “Bugger!” She muttered, and he couldn’t help the small laugh from escaping.

  “Do you think you could handle being the sister of Martin James?” He asked her with a raised brow. She frowned, and considered it for a moment.

  “I guess it’s better than you just living in my dreams.” She finally conceded, and he smiled.

  “Good, let’s get to school. C'mon, I’ll give you a lift.” He said, as he left the room.

  “So, I can’t tell anyone?” She asked, as she grabbed her bag, and followed him down the stairs.

  “No, it's mine, and your family's secret to keep.” He said with a grin.

  “Okay, I can do that.” She said assuredly.

  “Thank you.” He whispered.

  “You know I expect concert tickets from this, right?” She teased.

  “Penny!” Belinda chided, surprised to find her daughter so calm.

  “Ugh, give me a break, Mum.” Penny gave her a stern expression.

  Lucy looked over to Ash with a bewildered expression. He just shrugged, pulled her into his arms, and briefly kissed her forehead, before leaving for school.

  Lucy spent the whole day rather baffled at how well Penny had taken the news. Yes, she seemed to send them a few odd looks every now and then, but was otherwise fine. During lunch, she couldn’t resist checking on her sister, only to find her sitting with Rachel’s sister Lucinda.

  “Hi, you two, what’s happening?” Lucy said as brightly as she could manage.

  “Hi, Lucy,” Lucinda said softly, while Penny sent her an odd look.

  “Nothing much,” Penny replied.

  “Listen, Ash is giving me a lift home this afternoon, if you want to join us,” Lucy asked, and Penny sent her a rueful look before nodding.

  They were all in the car later that day, and Lucy felt surprised when Ash drove straight to the café. She sent him a questioning look, but proceeded to get out of the car. He smiled and reached for her hand, which she linked through his.

  “So, is there some other diabolical thing that you haven’t told me?” Penny looked between the pair of them after they had all ordered. Lucy shrugged, while Ash stayed quiet.

  “The truth is, I felt bad for how you reacted this morning, and I thought you could use a treat,” Ash finally filled the silence.

  “Geez, in that case I should have ordered more,” Penny teased. “I’m fine Ash. I will admit I was slightly weirded out earlier, but now, well it’s kind of cool,” she finished with a little giggle.

  “You can’t say anything,” Lucy reminded her firmly.

  “Oh, yeah, that’s a no brainer, Lucy.” Penny said dryly, so Lucy swatted her arm.

  Before long, they were chatting away contentedly together, as if nothing had changed. When the food arrived, Lucy could only smile, it seemed that everything was going well. She felt a deep sense of happiness fill her, which instantly turned to dread when she heard an all too familiar voice.

  She looked up, and cringed back down in her seat. Ash noticed the motion, and glanced around for whatever was bothering her. When Crystal marched decisively into the room, he swore under his breath. He quickly pulled Lucy’s chair closer to his, and put a hand around her shoulder. He saw Penny’s eyes widen, before a fierce, angry expression engulfed her face.

  They were in a corner of the café, not easily noticed, and Ash intended for them to stay that way. He watched Crystal walk up to Jolie, whose expression went from openly friendly to hostile and ferocious in under a second.

  “What do you think you’re doing here?” Jolee asked in a severe voice.

  “You certainly haven’t changed that attitude of yours,” Crystal told her in a haughty voice.

  “I’m not the one with the gall to walk back in here after stealing money from me,” Jolee retorted, which the other woman waved an uncaring hand to.

  Ash felt nervous, as the blonde woman glanced eagerly around the room. She was looking for someone specific. Her greedy eyes scanned the area. When they stopped on him, and a malicious, greedy smile spread across her face, Ash felt his anxiety increase tenfold.

  “No bother, I’ve found what I’m after.” Crystal’s voice sounded malevolent in its very sweetness.

  She walked over to them, casual and calm. Ash could feel her triumph in every step she took. She seemed to want vindication for something that Ash couldn’t even remotely grasp.

  “Well, if it isn’t the boyfriend. You know I never did catch your name,” Crystal sa
id shortly, but Ash knew all about reporters, and their many pointed questions.

  “And you won’t be getting it either,” Ash responded, making the woman purse her lips, and turned to Penny.

  “Ah, the true beauty of the McConnell clan. You should have been my daughter, you stunning girl.” Crystal moved in to touch Penny, who looked appalled and quickly moved further away from her.

  “Don’t touch her,” the words spoken with the blackest emotion, as they spilled from Lucy’s lips. She pushed her mother’s hand away, and a strange connection seemed to go through the pair of them, as they glared at each other. “You will never hurt her, do you understand me! Now get out,” Lucy pointed fiercely to the door, which only made Crystal chuckle.

  “Always the tough one. Shame it never lasts.” The woman let out a sarcastic chortle.

  Lucy flinched away, as Crystal came close enough to touch her daughter’s chin. For some reason, the older woman seemed completely fascinated by Lucy’s skin, as she ran her finger repeatedly over the same spot. It took Ash a moment to realise that there was a scar in that spot under her chin.

  It appeared to be a small concise cut. By the evil smirk Crystal sent her daughter, there was a lot more involved. Lucy froze, caught in something too horrific for words, by the expression on her face.

  “That’s enough,” Ash said abruptly, which broke the spell around them.

  Crystal seemed completely satisfied with herself, as she stepped back, her smug triumphant smile in place. Lucy was looking deeply disgusted. A shiver went through her, and Ash felt its intensity, as mother and daughter’s eyes met again.

  "I guess I should be leaving now. Farewell, Ashton.” Crystal said cheerfully, and he blanched.

  She knew his name. He could only wonder at what else she could possibly have learnt about him. His thoughts swept from him, when he noticed Lucy’s vague expression; Penny’s panicked look and everybody else in the room staring at them.

  “Belle?” Ash called her name gently. She shook her head, before glancing his way, and leaning into his warm chest for support. “C’mon, I’ll take you home.”

  His arms surrounded her, keeping her secure and warm. She shivered again, but determinedly focused on the world around her. She didn’t want a black out in public where everyone would know. She took in a shaky breath, relieved when Ash’s citrus smell engulfed her, helping to soothe away the evil she had just endured.

  That scar, that small insignificant scar that had started the worst day of her life. It had only been the first inflicted on her that day.

  The shaking was getting beyond her, her limbs trembling with the effort to keep still. Why did that woman keep coming in and taunting her with the weaknesses within her? She hadn’t realised her thoughts had consumed her for so long, until she saw the car pulling up in front of her house. Penny had jumped out, and rushed into the house. Lucy knew it was to warn everyone that Crystal was back in town.

  “Belle, you have to talk to me about this,” Ash encouraged, as he reached over, and ran a delicate finger across the scar on her chin. She flinched away, remembering her mother’s cold, hard touch.

  “No,” she replied simply.

  “You’re giving her the power by not saying anything. You’re letting her have all the control.” He reminded her softly, and she let out a sigh.

  “I know, but its… nobody knows,” she forced herself to take a breath. “I can’t prove anything, and unless I get my hands on that video tape then I’ll never be able to prove it.” She muttered under her breath.

  “Video tape? Belle, what are you talking about?” Ash said more firmly than he meant to, as she looked panicked, before her face went completely blank.

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Plus, if she was smart she would have destroyed that tape.” She finished on a mutter, but Ash heard every word.

  He bit down on his tongue to prevent himself from starting an argument. It seemed he would have to do his own sleuthing on what had happened between Lucy and her mother. This videotape appeared to be the key, and he would stop at nothing until he found out the truth.

  She stared out the car window blankly. Ash watched her with concern, wondering if she was about to have another black out. When she let out a sigh, he did too before reaching over to clasp her hand in his.

  “I can’t understand why she is even here.” She finally whispered.

  “Yeah, it does seem rather odd. Let’s get out of this hot car, and go reassure your family that you’re okay.” He forced cheerfulness into his tone at her stricken expression.

  “Yeah, alright.”

  She got out of the car on automatic, and stumbled towards the house. Just as she reached the front door, she collapsed into a heap. Ash quickly tried to stop her from falling, but only managed to prevent her head from crashing into the ground. Panic hit him at her unconscious figure slumped, looking incredibly defeated. He heard footsteps, and called out to whoever it was.

  Before long, she was upstairs in her bed, and her family were watching her anxiously. Penny was telling them what had happened, while Ash just watched this pale, beautiful girl look broken once again.

  “Does anyone actually know what happened between Lucy and Crystal? What is this scar from?” Ash demanded, as he pointed to the scar on Lucy’s chin.

  They all stopped and stared at him for a moment, before a solemn looking Bill strode over to him, and clasped him firmly on the shoulder. He looked at the older man, and waited patiently for an explanation, which seemed slow in coming.

  “Alright, let’s head downstairs, and we will see if Lucy can come out of this herself,” Bill told them all firmly, while the rest of the family sent him a concerned look, but followed him out.

  The silence in the dining room was almost unbearable as everyone took a seat. Ash felt a hundred different emotions swamp him, as he waited. Bill began pacing, as the rest of the family watched with uncertainty.

  “Has she told you anything?” Bill asked seriously, which seemed loud in the quiet of the room.

  “A little. I had a feeling she left something out. After the way Crystal treated her today…” He trailed off with a frown on his face.

  “Did she tell you about the fall and the coma?” Bill asked, and Ash felt like he didn’t want to have an answer anymore.

  “No.” He replied, and the older man let out a sigh.

  “Then sit down, son, this may take a while,” Bill told him, Ash took the seat opposite, as the older man dragged out a chair and sat down. “I need you to know that we think there is more to this story too, but Lucy has refused to tell anyone about it.

  “These are the facts, as we know it. When Lucy was thirteen her mother came back to town. I refused to let her see Lucy, and Daz was still away at the training college for most of it. She was here for at least six months; she left shortly after the accident.” The older man scrubbed his chin with his hand.

  “The accident?” Ash interrupted.

  “Ash, haven’t you wondered why Lucy is eighteen when most of her classmates are still only seventeen?” Bill asked him seriously, and Ash pondered his question.

  “Not really. I’ve never really been to high school before, so it never occurred to me that she was older.” Ash replied with a shrug.

  “Alright, I will explain that part later. I never realised that Crystal was trying to get Lucy alone, but she managed it one winter morning when we were in town. I had assumed she’d gone to see her friends. It wasn’t until I got the phone call to head to the hospital that I guessed her mother had found her.

  “Crystal was quite frantic when we got there. When I saw Lucy attached to so many wires with doctors surrounding her looking worried…” Bill stopped, his face filled with despair and grief, as if he was still in the moment. Belinda came up behind him, and squeezed his shoulder to comfort him, while Penny gripped his hand tightly.

  “Her mother claimed she had fallen down a set of stairs, but I was never sure if that was the truth. She was in a
coma for a long time. The doctors thought that either she wouldn’t survive, or that she would have some form of brain damage. She came out of it fine, but the road to recovery was long. She missed most of that school year, and she ended up repeating that year. Not that she minded.”

  “Because Ren was then in the same year as me,” Lucy’s voice came from the doorway, and everyone turned to look at her apprehensively. “Why are you telling him this?” She demanded, looking between her family members accusingly.

  “I asked them to,” Ash answered, as he walked over to hold her in his arms and make sure that she was fine. For a second, she resisted, before allowing him to comfort her. “This is my fault. I brought her back into your life, and I’m sorry.”

  “Ash, you can’t take the blame for this. She has probably run out of money, and hopes to get some off everyone again.” Lucy tried to reassure him, but he shook his head firmly.

  “If that was the truth then why would she be so insistent on saying my name before she left?” He argued, and she let out a sigh.

  “I don’t know, but I have the mother of all headaches right now, and I don’t want to talk about her anymore.” Lucy exclaimed, so Ash backed off and left her be.

  She pulled out of his embrace, and headed to the kitchen. The other family members sent him curious looks, but said nothing. Lucy came back into the room with a glass of water and some tablets, which she quickly swallowed.

  “Come on, I need to have a rest, and you can talk to me while I’m doing it.” Lucy told Ash firmly.

  He nodded, and she led him upstairs. He followed wordlessly holding her hand tight, until she lay down on her bed. She pointed next to her, and Ash gingerly lay down with her. She grabbed hold of hold of his arm, and placed it around her waist, while snuggling closer to him.

  “I just need you to hold me right now. I have to convince myself that everything is alright,” She whispered to him, and he tightened his arms around her.

  “I feel responsible,” Ash muttered. She frowned, and reached up to place a finger against his lips.

  “Not your fault. Just let me sleep, and then we can discuss this later.” She said looking defenceless, so he nodded.