Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Asher

The roar of the crowd pulses through my veins as I strum the last chord on my guitar.

Sydney's voice rings out, hitting the final note perfectly.

The stage lights dim, and for a moment, the world is nothing but darkness and the cheers of thousands.

"Thank you, Three Forks!" Sydney yells into the mic, her voice echoing around the arena. "You've been amazing!"

We exchange a quick, satisfied glance before heading offstage.

My heart is still racing from the adrenaline, and I can see it mirrored in Sydney's eyes.

She gives me a high-five, her smile wide and genuine. "That was electric," she says breathlessly, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.

"Yeah, it was," I reply, nodding. "You killed it out there. It's hard to believe you're so new at this. You look like you've been doing this your whole damn life."

"Now you're just floatin' my ego," she says, her tone sincere. "Bellamy mentioned she wants us to collaborate on a couple songs, and you'll be coming on this leg of the tour with me. Is that true?"

"Yeah, and I'm looking forward to it," I say, meaning every word.

We make our way backstage, the noise of the crowd fading into the background. Crew members bustle around us, packing up equipment and preparing for the next leg of the tour.

"Hey, I'm gonna grab a drink," Sydney says, pointing toward the green room. "You want anything?"

"Nah, I'm good," I reply, waving her off. "Catch you later."

"Later," she says, giving me a thumbs-up before disappearing into the throng of people.

I take a deep breath, savoring the post-show high. There's nothing quite like it. But as the excitement starts to ebb, something else settles in—an unsettling mix of nostalgia and bitterness.

I know why. It's all because of one person—Polly.

Shoving my hands into my pockets, I scan the bustling backstage area.

That's when I see her again.

Standing by herself, looking around as if she's searching for someone.

My chest tightens, and before I know it, my feet are moving toward her.

"Polly?" I call out, my voice barely audible over the buzz of activity.

Her silver blonde hair catches the light, framing a face that's both familiar and painfully distant.

Her eyes widen when she sees me, but she quickly masks her surprise with that sassy confidence I remember so well. "Hey, Asher," she says, her voice steady but guarded.

It's like a punch to the gut.

Years may have passed, but those eyes—they're still the same. Full of fire and secrets.

"Hey," I reply, trying to keep my tone casual even though my mind is racing. "Long time no see."

"Yeah," she says, folding her arms across her chest. "It's been a while."

"How've you been?" I ask, trying to keep the conversation light. But there's an edge to my voice that I can't quite hide.

"Good," she replies shortly. "Busy."

"Same here," I say, nodding.

An awkward silence stretches between us, filled with all the things neither of us is saying.

"Listen, I... I should go," Polly says suddenly, glancing around as if looking for an escape route.

"Wait," I blurt out, stepping closer. "Can we talk? Just for a minute?"

"Talk about what, Asher?" she asks, her eyes narrowing. "There's nothing left to say."

"Please," I insist, feeling a familiar frustration bubbling up inside me. "I just need some answers."

"Answers?" she repeats, her voice rising slightly. "What could you possibly need answers about?"

"Why you went into that room with that guy," I say, my words coming out harsher than I intended. "The night I didn't show up at your apartment. Rachel told me everything."

Polly's face goes pale, and she takes a step back. "I can't fucking do this with you," she says, her voice trembling. Then, without another word, she turns and walks away.

"Polly, wait!" I shout, following her through the maze of corridors.

She's fast, but I'm faster.

I catch up to her just as she reaches a dead-end hallway underneath the stadium.

"Let me go, Asher," she says, her back against the wall, eyes blazing with a mix of anger and pain.

"Not until we talk," I say firmly. "You don't get to walk away this time."

"Fine," she snaps, glaring at me. "What do you want to know?"

"Why?" I demand, my voice breaking. "Why did you cheat on me?"

Her expression shifts slightly, but she keeps her cool. "Rachel told you everything, huh?"

"Yeah, she did." My hands clench into fists at my sides. "I never thought you'd cheat on me."

"Cheat on you?" She laughs, but there's no humor in it. "You really believe that?"

"Why wouldn't I?" I retort. "You disappeared into a room with another guy. What was I supposed to think?"

"Maybe you should have asked me instead of jumping to conclusions," she shoots back, her eyes flashing. "But you didn't, did you? You took Rachel's word for it and ghosted me. Just like that."

"Because I trusted her!" I shout, my frustration boiling over. "And she made it sound like you were—" I stop myself, taking a deep breath. "I just need to know the truth, Polly."

"Fine," she says, her voice icy. "You want the ugly truth? I'll give it to you. But don't say I didn't warn you."

She takes a step closer, her eyes boring into mine. "That night, I went to a party. I drank too much and started feeling sick. The next thing I know, I'm waking up in the morning with my dress ripped and my panties gone. And then I get a text from you saying we're done, and your number is out of service."

My mind reels as I process her words. This isn't what Rachel told me. Not even close.

"Why would Rachel lie about this?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Why don't you ask her?" Polly replies bitterly. "All I know is she had it out for me. Maybe she saw an opportunity and took it."

"Polly, I—" I'm at a loss for words. Everything I thought I knew has been turned upside down.

"Save it, Asher," she says, turning away. "I can't do this right now."

"Wait," I plead, grabbing her arm. "Just... please. I need to understand."

"Understand what exactly?" She whirls around, her eyes filled with pain. "That you believed someone else over me? That you abandoned me when I needed you most?"

"Polly, I'm sorry," I say, my voice breaking. "I should have been there for you. I should have trusted you would never do something like that to me."

"Yeah, you should have," she agrees, pulling her arm free. "But you didn't. And now we have to live with that."

"Can we just... talk?" I ask, desperate to make things right. "Please."

She hesitates, then nods reluctantly. "Fine. But not here. Let's go somewhere more private. I don't want anyone eavesdropping on us."

"Okay," I agree, leading the way to a quiet room backstage.

Once inside, I close the door behind us, feeling the weight of everything that's happened between us pressing down on me.

"Talk," she says, leaning against the wall, arms crossed again. "I'm listening and this is the best opportunity you're ever gonna get."

"Polly, I never wanted to hurt you," I begin, trying to find the right words. "When Rachel told me what she saw, I felt like my world was falling apart. I didn't know how to deal with it."

"Not knowing how to deal with it doesn't excuse what you did," she replies coldly. "You left me, Asher. Without a word."

"I know," I admit, shame washing over me. "And if it makes a difference, I've always regretted how I ended our relationship."

"Regret doesn't change anything," she says, her voice softer now. "It doesn't undo the past."

"Maybe not," I agree, stepping closer. "But maybe we can start over. Try to fix what's broken."

"Start over?" She looks at me skeptically. "After everything that's happened, you really think we can just start over?"

"Yes," I say firmly. "Because I still care about you, Polly, and I think you still care about me too. And knowing what happened, I know how wrong I was. I want to fix this. I want to make it better."

"You're right," she admits after a long pause. "I do care about you, Ash. If I'm being honest with myself, I never stopped loving you. But it's going to take more than words to fix this."

"Then I'll do whatever it takes," I promise, reaching out to take her hand. "Just give me a chance."

Polly laughs, but it's not because she's amused. "There's no way in hell I'd ever give you another chance to break my heart again. It was a one time deal, Ash."

"Polly..." I whisper, but the words die on my lips.

My mind races, struggling to process everything I'm learning tonight.

My heart pounds as memories of that night flood back, distorted and twisted by years of misunderstanding.

"Do you have any idea what it's like?" Polly's voice breaks, but she holds my gaze with a fierce intensity. "To be violated and then abandoned by the person you thought loved you?"

"Polly, I... I didn't know," I stammer, my voice barely audible.

"Of course, you didn't," she spits, tears welling up in her eyes but refusing to fall. "Because you never bothered to ask. You just believed whatever bullshit you were told and walked away."

I stagger back, the words slamming into me like a freight train.

Polly's eyes are wild, filled with a pain that cuts right through my core.

My mind spins, trying to grasp the reality she's laying before me.

The walls of the small room seem to close in, the air thick with years of misunderstandings and misplaced anger.

"Polly, I?—"

"Save it," she snaps, swiping at her eyes angrily. "You never gave me a chance to explain. You just assumed the worst."

She takes a breath, composing herself.

Her shoulders are squared, her chin high, but I can see the tremor in her hands, the vulnerability she's desperately trying to mask.

"That night," she begins, her voice steadier now, "I went to a party. My dad did his usual shit and didn't show up. I needed you, but you were at that meeting with the record label. So, I felt alone. So, I went to a party. Just to blow off some steam. I drank too much, started feeling sick."

I swallow hard, my throat dry as sandpaper.

Her voice cracks, but she pushes on. "That was the worst night of my fucking life. That party... it was supposed to be fun. Just a break from everything. But I drank too much, Asher. Way too much."

Her fingers tighten around the hem of her crop top, knuckles white. She's holding on for dear life, trying not to fall apart.

"Everything got fuzzy. I remember feeling sick, needing to lie down. Someone offered to help me. I thought they were being kind..."

A shiver runs through her, and I reach out instinctively, but she steps back, shaking her head.

"Don't," she whispers. "Just... don't."

"That night changed everything for me," she continues, her voice a mere whisper. "I lost more than my dignity. I lost you. And the worst part? You never even gave me a chance to explain."

"Polly, I swear?—"

"Shut up," she snaps, her eyes blazing with a fire that both terrifies and enthralls me. "Just shut up and listen."

I bite my tongue, nodding.

"After that night, I was a wreck. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face. And every time I looked at my phone, I saw your message. Over and over again."

"God, Polly," I whisper, my heart breaking for her. "I'm so sorry."

"Sorry doesn't change anything," she says icily. "Sorry doesn't give me back what I lost. Sorry doesn't rewrite the past."

"It doesn't even surprise me that lie came from Rachel," Polly's laugh is sharp and bitter, like shattered glass. "I should have known she said something to you."

"Polly, what—" I start, but she cuts me off with a raised hand.

"That night," she begins, her voice trembling slightly, "I told Rachel to stay out of our business. She'd been meddling for too long, trying to come between us."

"Why would she do that?" I ask, confusion knitting my brows together.

"Because she's always wanted what I had," Polly snaps, her eyes flashing with anger. "She couldn't stand seeing us happy. So when I told her to leave us alone, she lost it. We got into a huge fight. She threatened me, Asher. Said she'd make sure you never looked at me the same way again."

"Threatened you?" The words feel foreign on my tongue.

"Yeah," Polly confirms, her lips curling into a sardonic smile. "And I guess she made good on that threat, didn't she?"

"Jesus, Polly," I mutter, running a hand over my head. "I had no idea."

"Of course you didn't," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You were too busy believing her lies to even ask me what happened."

"Polly, I—" I try to find the right words, but they elude me, slipping through my fingers like sand.

"Save it, Asher," she interrupts, shaking her head. "Just save it."