Eva's PoV

My blood boiled as I reread the message over and over. Why did I ever think this was a good idea? Ashton is a hot headed loose cannon. You'll never get anything good out of him. Him or his friends. The one time I took the step of trying to help someone, it turns out like this. This is exactly why I don't bother. I got questioned by his friends, shoved up against a wall when I ordered food and got horrible messages like that one. Was it time to show him who was boss or did I risk getting myself in trouble? Surely he wouldn't know it was me, would he?

Me: more important things? Like what? Your delivery job? Going after Sirgani? Can't do any of that while you're in hospital. Your friends can't even visit.

I had an attitude that even I could admit was a bad one. However, by keeping to myself and keeping my music in, it never got to a point where I needed to use it. This was the first time someone I knew was going to be on the receiving end of it and for some reason I was excited. Excited that someone like Ashton was going to see what I really kept quiet.

I could see he'd read the message but there was no response yet. Had I thrown him? Scared him even? Each day I seemed to be telling him things about his life that he kept deathly quiet. Maybe this rush of adrenaline I'm feeling is what he feels when he acts out in college? Maybe this is why the bad people keep doing bad things?

College: what the fuck? How do you know about my job? Even my friends don't know I do that.

There was a pause on both our ends before the next message popped up.

College: Earphones

My stomach dropped. Shit. I'd been found out. Of course he'd remember dropping food off to me, telling me I wasn't allowed to tell anyone he did this job. He said he avoided college people on purpose but seeing as he never knew my name, he drove mine to me. How was I going to get out of this one?

College: Did she tell you?

Relief washed over me. At least he hadn't guessed it was me. Maybe he didn't think I was capable of it, or that I wouldn't bother doing something like this, but either way I was grateful for now. I wasted no time making up more stories. If he wanted to act out to me, I was going to scare him as much as I could. I could teach him a lesson or two whilst I helped him, there was nothing in the rule book to say I couldn't do both. He needed someone to tell him the truth anyway, and maybe I was going to be that person.

Me: who? Earphones is a person?

College: just someone at college. She knew I had that job.

Me: ha I've got much better sources than some college girl who has a nickname.

Then the evil grin slid on my face again. Maybe I should ask him about me and see what he says? See what him and his crew really think of me.

College: right.

Me: you've intrigued me though. How does one gain a nickname like earphones?

College: does it matter? She's just a girl who listens to music all the time. Doesn't really interact with anyone. Keeps to herself.

He didn't use it. The word everyone used to describe me. A loner. He, of all people, was rude enough to not care what he spouted and whether it hurt someone - yet to a stranger, he was describing me in a nice tone. Time to up the game.

Me: a loner?

College: suppose.

Me: if she doesn't interact with anyone why did you bother giving her a name?

College: I've had a couple of run ins with her. We, the gang, came up with that name cos we didn't know what hers was.

Me: I think I know who you're talking about.

College: of course you'd know everyone in college too. Wait, do you go there?

Me: maybe, or maybe I just have sources in all the right places. The girls name is Eva. Your friends already know that though because they dragged her off after your speedway race to interrogate her. News travels fast around this place and you know that.

He'd forget about me seconds after this conversation would end, so I had no issue with grassing up his friends. He wouldn't action it, he wouldn't scold his friends for interrogating someone like me because he wouldn't gain anything from it. News wasn't really travelling fast, in fact I bet half the people who witnessed it didn't even know who we were. But I had one person who did. Dean. He'd be able to tell Sirgani and he'd tell his friends and soon this could be something everyone knew about. As much as I wanted that to happen, I didn't. Something about me conversing with Ashton over this time had made me care about him slightly. I didn't want to be the one who caused any of the pain he was going to feel. I wanted to help him get through his break up and back to his 'normal' self - with a few changes after I was done with him.

College: they did what? Why?

Me: clearly the news hasn't travelled to you yet. Everyone is talking about it. After the crash she wanted to see if you were okay but your friends as always were assholes. When everyone started clearing out, they grabbed her and questioned her intentions with you. Calum kept thinking something was "going on" with you two. They made enough of a scene that loads of people saw what happened.

College: fucks sake. They're always getting us into more trouble than we need to be in. I don't even know this girl. Never said more than two words to her.

On the contrary, Ashton. You're actually texting her right now. Once again the smile was back.

Me: well I'd be careful. They're going to get you in trouble one of these days. Especially when she was hanging out with some big names.