8:15. My watch reads as I sit alone at the bar in Molly's where Ash said she'd meet me. I've waited six years to see her again. Six years to figure out what happened, what i did. My heart pounds in my chest, I've never been so nervous in my life. She's late, my foot anxiously bounces. She has a habit of being late, at least she used to...

As minutes pass, I can't help but think about what I should ask first, if I should ask anything at all. Taking a final sip of my beer, I look at my watch again. 8:23.

"Another beer?" A man behind the bar comes up to me with a cheery smile, short silver hair and a kind demeanour. I can't help but think if I miss heard her, is this the wrong bar?

"Yeah, thanks a lot." I nod, the man takes the empty bottle in front of me replacing it with a full one.

"Stressed? You have a bad shift?" The man asks, confusion rushing through me. I glance to my left seeing an Axe attached to the wall in the far corner.

"This a firefighter bar or something?" I question, i take a sip of my new beer. The man behind the bar nods. Of course, Ash is a cop now. She's not the same girl I used to know.

"Firefighters, doctors, cops whatever you wanna call them come to this bar. So, what's up kid?" I sigh looking up at the man.

"Just waiting for a friend." I counter, not sure how much information I should give.

"What's your friends name? I know most people in here. I can point you in their direction." He says. I glance around the bar once more, I don't need anyone to point her out to me, I couldn't recognise her in seconds. Anywhere, anytime.

"Ash.. Ashley." I watch as the man's eyes widen. I glance down at my watch again. 8:34.

"Ash Quinn, Intelligence?" The man questions, clearly he wasn't wrong about knowing people. I nod.

"Ask Kelly." He says before looking down the bar and calling; "Kelly come here."

I scan the room, for the man he'd just called and my eyes fall on someone unfamiliar. I watch as the built man with salt and pepper hair smiles at the woman he's talking to before making his way over to us. Who's he? Her new boyfriend?

"Where's Ash?" The man behind the bar asks kelly. I can't fathom to believe the possibility of Ash standing me up. Not after all these years.

"Said she'd be here for eight. Why?" He asks and the man behind the bar nods toward me.

"He's looking for her." Kelly's expression seems to fall as he looks at me, anger overtaking his features. The man behind the bar disappearing behind the bar to serve someone else and I'm left with Kelly.

"Why?" He questions.

"She said she'd meet me here at eight. You her boyfriend?" I ask standing up from the stool, ready to either protect myself or beat someone up.

"Nah. Who are you? Hm? The freak tormenting her?" The box, somehow in the midst of everything I forgot, it slipped my mind. I've been so focused on the fact ash is alive and will speak to me.

"I'm Brian. I just wanted to talk to her man." The visual changes across Kelly's face are noticeable.

"You're Brian?" Kelly asks worry clouding his features , "and she told you she'd be here at eight?"

"You think she's okay?" I ask Kelly as he looks over at the man behind the bar who instantly walks across the bar speaking to a slightly familiar man.

"I don't know." Is all Kelly says, and that's enough for my worry to spike to a dangerous level. Kelly walks off toward the door, a tall dark muscular man following. The taller man one I'd seen yesterday with the rest of Intelligence.

I follow them both outside, Kelly and the other man splitting up and walking opposite ways down the sidewalk, searching.

"Kev! That's her car!" Kelly yells pointing at a car, a car that was once mine. Both Kev and I rush over, my heart streaming with adrenaline. All three of us examine the car, until we spot something, something that makes my heart drop.

"There's blood."

***

Flashback.

"So if I win, I get your car?" Ash questioned with a bright smile that filled me with contentment, I ran a hand through my blonde hair.

"Yeah, and if I win, you get Dom off my back." Ash chuckled at my words, rolling her eyes like usual. But I wasn't joking, Dom was slightly protective over her, not that I blamed him.

"Deal" she held her hand out for me to shake and I did. Ash walked around to the dodge charger that she'd 'burrowed' from Dom and got inside while I did the same with my Nissan. We make eye contact through our windows, and i sent her a quick wink just to tease her and it seemed to work, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

The race began, i focused on the road ahead gradually upping my speed until we both hit sixth gear. The change smooth as ever. I stay in line with her car, i flip my NOS switch just a few seconds earlier than I should have.

A few seconds after, Ash does the same. Overtaking me, she passes the finish line. Her car comes to a stop just before mine. As I break undoing my seatbelt I watch her get out the car with a pleased grin. And that was always enough to make me feel like a winner. I get out my car and approach her, my keys dangling off my finger.

"I win." She smiled, wide and pleased. She looks up at me, happy as ever. How could I ever be upset about losing when she's this happy? Or did I press the switch too early on purpose ? She'll never know.

She took the keys off my finger, before hugging me tightly. I hugged her back, my arms securing her waist against my body.

She broke the hug and asked , "wanna head back to mine for a beer?"

I nodded, so that's what we did. Although the only problem is, she was staying with Dom. the spare bedroom in his house, was hers. She snook me up to her room with a few beers, and it almost felt like a rush, the not being caught. We spent a few hours drinking and laughing on her bed.

"I'll try and get Dom off your ass." She chuckled taking her boots off.

"I appreciate it." I smiled taking a couple sips of my beer. As sat back up, the small low cut top she was wearing along with the low waist baggy jeans driving me crazy. My eyes travel down her body, admiring her.

***

That car, it lead to Ash and I's first proper time together. Alone in her room that night. Now I'm staring at her blood, on the door of the same car. This car was the start, but it could also be Ash's end.

"I'm calling Jay." Kevin says, panic and worry lacing his voice which pulls me from my own thoughts. Reaching for my back pocket i pull my phone out. Dialling one specific number.

"Dom. somethings happened to Ash. She's gone"