The tour bus stops in a little parking lot by a large concrete bridge at about 5am. Everyone is too tired to get out, except Ashton, who is having trouble getting back to sleep after the stop woke him up.

"Hey, hey, Michael," he shakes his friend. "I'm going for a walk. I'll be back, okay?"

"Okay," Michael whispers into his pillow. "I'll make sure they don't leave without you..."

"Thanks," Ashton pulls on his jeans and a leather jacket, then walks out of the bus. The cool air comes as a shock to him after being in the warm bus, but it doesn't take long to adjust. The air is foggy, so much so that he can't see the other side of the bridge. He can see though a small figure, about halfway across. He quietly walks closer, trying to see who it is and what they're doing. When he does get close enough, the sight terrifies him. A tall but unnaturally skinny girl with blue hair is standing on the edge. She lifts one foot, ready to jump.

"WAIT!" He screams and lunges forward.

She turns around, looking startled.

"Who are you?" She asks, and as he walks closer he sees tears coming from her pale blue eyes.

"I'm Ashton," he says quietly. "Please come down."

"I'm sorry Ashton, you don't understand."

"No, no I do understand!" He takes another step forward and reaches for her hand.

She lets him take it, but doesn't move from her spot.

"Do you? Do you really?"

"Yes. I do," He moves his hands to her tiny waist, worried if he's not careful she might just break in his hands, and gently picks her up off the rail and sets her in front of him.

"I'm going to have to climb back up there later," She whispers.

"Please don't," he slides down the sleeve of his jacket and holds out his wrist.

As she sees the faded scars, tears again start to fall. "I'm sorry."

"Shh, no. I'm okay now. And you will be too. I promise you."

"I'll never be okay if I'm still here. Never."

"Then don't stay. But don't kill yourself. Just leave."

"I can't yet. I'm seventeen."

"Hand me your phone," He says.

"Why?"

"Please."

"Okay," she pulls it from her pocket and hands it over after putting in her passcode.

Ashton goes into contacts and makes a new one, typing in the name Ashton Irwin.

"I want you to promise me to hold on as long as you can, and when you can't anymore you call me, okay? And I'll come."

"I don't even know you, why would you help me like that?"

"Because you deserve to live, and I believe that you're going to find happiness."

"You're Australian," she bites her lip. "That's kind of far away from you to come for a stranger

"I don't care. I'll be here."

"Thank you," she wraps her arms around him.

Surprised, he hugs her back, playing with her hair. "It might not look like it, but it will get better. Not all at once, but slowly it does."

"My best friend would be really thankful to you if she knew."

"Tell her," Ashton replies. "You need someone on your side, someone to understand and help."

"I don't want to disappoint her."

"You won't."

The girl doesn't respond, but hugs him tighter.

"Ashton!" Luke's voice cuts through the fog.

"Who's that?" The girl asks.

"My friend. I have to go," he looks guilty to leave her. "Remember what I said, please."

"I will. I, I'm Chloe by the way."

"That's a beautiful name. Just like you."

"I'm not–"

"I think you are. Who cares about other people?"

"Thank you, Ashton."

"I'll see you later Chloe," He takes a step back.

"Yes. You will," she says, and that is her promise. Her promise that she won't take her life, that when
she feels the overpowering urge she will call him instead.

••••••••••••
So I know this sounds like the end of the book but it isn't lol
Hope you liked the chapter!
~Ali