Betrayal

Chapter 3: Just talk to her Ashley.

The next morning seemed to drag on forever for Ashley. Aubrey had taken the day off and was cleaning the living room. Ashley had decided to make them both a little sweet treat and was baking cinnamon rolls in the kitchen. She had a knack for baking, although she wouldn't admit it to herself. The brunette dished some out onto plates, and called Aubrey over.
"Why so tense Ash?" the blonde frowned, sitting down and trying one. "This is delicious."
"Thanks. I'm just kinda nervous. I guess. Maybe." Ashley mumbled, cleaning up the pots she used to make the cinnamon rolls. "Like you said, she was deadly furious. I've only seen her angry once before, and that was one of the scariest things I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot. Lord knows what she's like now."

"I get what you mean." Aubrey nodded. "But if you'd have left it longer it probably could be even worse. Hey, how about you give her some of the cinnamon rolls."
"And she'd think I put cyanide in them." Ashley rolled her eyes. "I should have never left."

"You shouldn't have, we know that. But you can't change the past, only the future." the older woman got up. "So prove that you're really sorry and everything should work out. It's gonna be hard, but everything gets worse before it gets better. Think about that."

"How are you so wise Ms. Posen? Teach me your ways." Ashley chuckled slightly, getting up and grabbing her bag. "I'm gonna go a bit early. Just y'know to prove I mean it and, yeah. And also in case traffic is bad of course." 

Aubrey nodded and opened the door for the brunette, who raced out of the apartment building to her car. Hastily stopping at a shop for some of what she remembered as Jessica's favourite snacks, the brunette made it with 10 minutes to spare. She sat down at a table and mulled over how she was going to apologise to Jessica for being an idiot.

In the corner of Ashley's sight, a mop of curly blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail and familiar blue eyes appeared. However the blue was rather icy than the deep cobalt she remembered. She bit her lip but beckoned her over like she wasn't completely terrified.

The blonde was wearing a black low cut tank top, covered with a sangria red leather jacket. The matching ripped jeans with maroon Doc Martens accentuated her height and the daunting aura around her. Dark eye shadow and eyeliner framed her eyes and the former permanent smile on her face had disappeared years ago into a chilling frown.

Jessica sat down and looked at Ashley closely, taking in every fold of her clothes, strand of hair, freckle on her face. She took in the denim jacket draped over a mustard yellow tank top, scanning her eyes over the skinny jeans that hugged the brunette's legs in all the right places and the navy converse. At last the blonde gazed into Ashley's eyes, slightly shielded by a matching yellow beanie.

"Hi," the older girl finally spoke up. "Thank you for letting me do this."
The blonde nodded softly and said nothing. Ashley continued with a sigh.
"I'm still not sure why I left to this day, honestly." the brunette looked into her eyes solemnly. "What I do know is that it was a stupid decision. Aubrey's been reminding me all these years."

That earned a slight chuckle from Jessica. Ashley closed her eyes briefly in relief and continued.

"And I want to make it up to you. I want to become friends again." the brunette held her breath, desperate for a chance.
"Well considering you managed to remember my favourite coffee shop, fit this meeting into my schedule and are willing to make it up, I will give you a singular chance. I don't let just anyone do things like this so you better make it worth it." Jessica's stare bore into Ashley's eyes and she shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "You've changed a lot also, I can see."
Ashley nodded.
"Yeah, same for you." the older girl passed the bag of snacks to Jessica. "I got some of what I remember are your favourite snacks. Although it could have changed." She shrugged and watched the blonde look into the bag of food.
"I'd say it's pretty accurate." Jessica let a small smile embrace her lips. "I forgot about your incredible memory. I'm impressed."
"Yeah." Ashley let out a chuckle of relief and got up. "Same order still? Or has it changed?"
"Same." the blonde nodded and checked her phone. Ashley went over to order the drinks. She paid and made her way back to the table. She passed it over to Jessica and recited the order with ease.
"Perfect." the younger woman nodded and took a sip. "So, what do you do for a living?"
"I'm a midwife, but sometimes I get to edit movies." Ashley smirked a little at her achievement. "I edited Desperados, that Netflix romance movie, it's probably the biggest film I've done. What about you?"
"Impressive." Jessica smiled softly. "I write songs, sometimes sing them if I'm feeling it but mostly I just write for other singers."

"That's amazing!" Ashley forgot all about how intimidating Jessica looked, how they were both in rival gangs, how they hadn't talked in 4 years, for when she laid her eyes on her, all she saw was the hyperactive blonde she fell in love with all those years ago. "Your songs are the best. Any significant others? Kids? Or not?"
"Yeah I have a boyfriend, no kids yet." Jessica shrugged.
"Yet? So you want kids?" the older woman asked.
"Yeah....no...maybe...I don't know." the blonde took another sip of her coffee. "What about you?"
"Understandable." Ashley nodded. "I'm single, no kids and living with Aubrey, so definitely no one for a while. She always scares them off."
"Well, would you expect anything less from her?" both the women chuckled. "Where abouts do you both live?"
"Ashbourne apartment block." Ashley sipped her coffee and looked into Jessica's eyes, glad that the blonde had already softened up. "And you?"
"Doncaster road." Jessica shrugged.
"Wow, in the rich area huh?"

"Yeah, well, I expected it to be the other way round when we were in college." Jessica swirled her coffee around in the mug. "I thought you were gonna be this great successful rich person and I would be living on the streets or something."
"I would have never let that happen. You know that. I wouldn't care if you were pissed at me or not. I'd give you somewhere to stay." Ashley shook her head.
The conversation carried on for a few hours before Ashley realised the time.
"Shit, sorry I'm gonna be late for a meeting for work." she hurriedly got up and grabbed her bag. "Text me?"
Jessica nodded. "I'll see you around."