Chapter Four

                                    

                                          
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. 
                          
"Don't you want to go?" he asked me sadly.
                          
"You know I don't like shopping." I answered. 
                          
"I know, just humour me okay" he replied chuckling slightly.  
                          
It didn't take long to reach the shopping centre,  I just followed Ashton,  he seemed to know exactly where he was going.  
                          
"Ash,  where are we going?" I complained. 
                          
"I am going to treat you to a dress." he stated happily. 
                          
I grabbed his wrist to stop him.
                          
"Firstly,  you are not paying, I pay my own way, and secondly, I can't wear a dress." I stated stubbornly. 
                          
"Why not?" he asked.
                          
I just stared at him, waiting for him to make the connection in his head. He stared blankly back at me. We both burst out gigging in unison. 
                          
"No seriously, Ash, I can't wear a dress,  as people will see the bruises."
                          
He stared at me for a while,  clenching and unclenching his fists.  I felt guilty.
                          
"I'm sorry, Ash,  I know you hate talking about what he did. " I said softly, stepping towards him.
                          
" It's fine,  we'll be able to find something suitable." he said smiling slightly. 
                          
I could see the smile was false, and I knew that I had upset him with what I said. I made a mental note not to mention anything about it again. On pure impulse,  I closed the gap between the two of us and hugged him tightly. He sighed as we held each other. 
                          
"What's wrong?" I asked him nervously. 
                          
"Nothing, I'm fine." he stated and walked away, leaving me to follow him.
                          
After what felt like hours of dress shopping, I finally found one that I liked. Ashton convinced me to try it on. I looked at my reflection in the changing room mirror.  The dress was beautiful and it complimented my figure perfectly. A tear started to run down my cheek as I stared at my legs, the bruises looked really ugly. I guess I would have to wear tights. 
                          
"Does it fit?" Ashton called from the seating area.
                          
I sniffed quietly and said:"Yep, it's really nice."
                          
"Show me then." he asked.
                          
"No, Ash." I protested. 
                          
"Aww please." he said in a sad voice
                          
I glanced in the mirror one last time, opened the door and stepped out. I watched him closely. 
                          
"Wow, you look amazing. " he muttered. 
                          
As I was standing there a middle aged woman pushed past me.
                          
"Sorry." she said and turned to face me.
                          
She gasped when she noticed my bruises, and turned to Ashton:
                          
"You make me sick!" she spat before looking daggers at him. With that she left. I looked at Ashton and could see that he had his head in his hands. 
                          
"Ash, are you alright?" I asked softly.
                          
He looked up then and I could see him staring at my bruises, I saw the hurt in his face inflicted by that woman. Suddenly he turned and walked away. As he turned, I could have sworn I saw a tear forming in his eyes.