Betrayal

Chapter 8: What were you thinking Ashley?

Ring... ring... Ashley groaned, blinking her eyes open. Ring... ring... She looked around the unfamiliar room that she was in- alone. Ring... ring...

"Oh right. My phone is ringing." the brunette picked it up from beside her on the bed. "Why is Bree calling me?"

She tried to sit up but felt a searing pain in her stomach. Declining the call, she got up and looked at the time.
"Why was she calling me at 3am?" Ashley rolled her eyes and opened the door to the room she was in. Oh right- she was at Jerrie's house. She vaguely remembered the redhead telling her that before she passed out.

Suddenly Jerrie appeared down the end of the hallway, racing towards Ashley's room.
"Are you okay? I heard a phone ringing." the older woman rubbed her eyes slightly.
"Yeah I guess." the brunette shrugged. "Did I say anything stupid before I passed out?"
"You started talking about Jessica. Then the price of chairs in Argentina." Jerrie chuckled softly. "Don't worry, it was only me who heard it."
"And everyone on the other end of the radio." Ashley sighed. "My microphone was on the whole time."
"I turned it off. In case we were pulled over the police couldn't link it back to the rest of the gang." the redhead shook her head. "But enough talking. You need to stay in bed, Missy, you lost a lot of blood last night. You need to recover." 

Jerrie ushered the younger woman back into the bed and sat in the chair next to it.
"Last night, when you were out of it," the redhead started. "You said that you think you have a crush on Jessica still. Is that true?"
"Oh my gosh." Ashley covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. "Of all the things I could have said. I said that?"
"Yeah."
"I mean. It is kinda true."
Jerrie's eyes widened.
"So last night you stabbed and kidnapped your crush?" the redhead smirked amusedly. "That's pretty badass Ash, I like it."
Ashley started laughing too, instantly grunting at the searing pain that emerged in her stomach. 

"Be careful with your stomach now." Jerrie mentioned. "I don't know whether it's damaged any of your organs. The most likely is your uterus but, as I recall, you said you didn't want kids anyway?"
"I said I probably wouldn't get the chance to, even if I wanted to." the brunette rolled her eyes playfully. "But it is 3am, so I'll let you go back to bed."

"Call me if you need anything." the redhead nodded and got up, leaving the room. Ashley nodded and picked up her phone. She groaned seeing the hundreds of text messages from Aubrey.
"It's 3 am Aubrey, would I normally reply at 3am? No so don't text me." the brunette rolled her eyes and put her phone down.
The next few hours were spent tossing and turning, trying to find a position that was both comfortable and didn't cause the searing pain to continue. She gave up and lay on her back, staring into the blank darkness that engulfed her.

"Life only gets better from here right?" Ashley muttered to whatever or whoever was listening. "'Cuz if this gets any worse, what is the point."
The brunette grabbed her phone and opened her chat with Aubrey. 

Aubrey: Where are you?
Aubrey: Ashley answer me
Aubrey: I swear to god Ashley Jones if you are asleep on the side of the road somewhere and you're drunk out of your head I will NOT be helping you.
Aubrey: I know I'm being harsh but I'm extremely worried. You aren't normally out at night.
+12 more messages.

Ashley rolled her eyes and typed out a message.

Ashley: I'm alright Bree. One of my friends invited me to a party so I went and forgot to text you about it. And yes I did get really drunk. And probably got into a fight seeing my state this morning. But I'm at my friend's house and safe. I should be back tonight. I'm sorry for not letting you know.

Jerrie walked in.
"Want a beer?" She offered her a bottle. "After yesterday, I think you need to let loose for a bit."
"Like hell I do." Ashley accepted the bottle and took a huge swig. "What the hell was I thinking? I could have killed her. Did I kill her?!"
The brunette scrambled out of the bed, eyes widened.
"No no no." she shook her head and started pacing.
Jerrie got up and stopped her. 

"You didn't. She's completely fine." the redhead chuckled softly. "You really need to work on your knife skills."
Ashley smacked Jerrie's arm and pouted.
"Shut up." she growled and sat back down on the bed. "Can I go see her? Also I promised Aubrey I'd be home by tonight."
"I guess you could." the redhead ran to her own room and came back with some clothes. "Wear these. I dare say she might recognise what you were wearing last night."
"Thanks Jer, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Perish." Jerrie burst out laughing.
"Shush!" Ashley glared her out of the room.
"Easy tiger, I'll let you get changed in peace." the redhead laughed and left.
Ashley quickly changed into the jeans and hoodie Jerrie had left for her and made her way to the kitchen.

"They fit alright?" Jerrie looked Ashley up and down, flipping a pancake.
"Perfect. I love baggy clothes." the brunette teased. The older woman shook her head, laughing. Ashley smirked and sipped her beer. She sat down at Jerrie's breakfast bar and leaned on the counter.

"How is your stomach feeling? Any better?" the redhead served the pancakes onto two plates, putting one in front of Ashley and sitting next to her with her own.
"A bit better." the brunette nodded and picked up her phone when it vibrated with a text from Stacie. "Stace is in labor."
"That's good." Jerrie nodded. "I mean, that means we have 2 inactive members for a while but you know, at least she'll be fitter to do missions after she comes back."
"Yeah. I think she's started dating my roommate. I walked in on them making out after the last meeting."
"Good for Stacie I guess."

They both let out a nervous laugh and finished their food. Ashley started washing up their plates and pots and putting them away. 

"Are you ready?"
"Yep."
"Let's go."