Crystallized Truth

Chapter 34 - Murderer or Not

"What's the plan?" Ava asked calmly.

"About?" Amelia asked sitting beside her and reaching out for the water in jug.

Ava gave out a sigh. This whole thing was getting to her. Why was everyone being so damn difficult?

But just like last time someone entered. This one happened to be Ethan with a bundle of clothes.

"Hey, Ash, I got your clothes." Ethan called cheerfully from hall as he made his way to Ashley's room with the bundle in his hands.

"Yeah thanks," Ashley grumbled stuffing another piece in his mouth before realizing what happened and pausing in his actions, blue eyes snapped to them and widened under the suspicious glare of Amelia and curious stare of Ava.

"Why does Ethan have your clothes?" Amelia asked leaning over the table towards Ashley, eyes narrowed and and fierce.

Ava too wanted to know that but somehow she also didn't want this conversation in front of Amelia because she had a feeling it wasn't going to help Ashley with his pursuit of Amelia. But as Amelia had already spoken the question there was nothing that could be done about it.

"Nothing that concerns you."

Wrong move, Ash, Ava winced.

"Excuse me?" Amelia hissed, eyes narrowed further. "That's my boyfriend holding your clothes as if he is your personal robot and you say it doesn't concern me."

Ashley stared her, Ava detected a hint of hurt before his expression turned cold and blank.

"Who is doing your laundry?" Ava asked hitting right on the topic not wanting to let the matter escalate into something else the way feelings were being added as main topic rather than the side topic that they were.

Ashley flustered for a moment, running a hand through his impeccable hair before giving out a sigh and looking straight at her rather than seething Amelia.

"We don't own washing machines as wherever we went until now hotel provided them or my personal robot was present." Ashley paused willing her to understand but as Ava continued to stare he had to complete the tale. "And as you know the machines here are so old fashioned that I barely understood them so Ethan offered his help and then..."

Ashley gestured his hand uselessly, a gesture so completely different from the nonchalant tone that he used.

Ava gave him an exasperated and fond glare. Of course he wouldn't know how to wash his clothes with these machines and Ethan had to help being the sweetheart that he was. Ethan now boyfriend of Amelia making the matter far complicated that it was.

Nothing was ever going to be simple for this guy. Ava shook her head in sympathy for him.

"And you had the audacity to accuse the friend you treat as your personal robot," Amelia spat making Ava frown.

What was that about accuse? Ava stared at Ashley for answer but he averted his gaze from her; a sure sign of guilt.

"Look Amelia, I..." Ashley tried to speak, a desperation in his brilliant blue eyes.

"Ash," Ava interrupted not wanting him to blurt something that he would regret later. Ashley paused and stared her. Ava turned to Amelia and held her hands softly. "Amy, when Ethan has no issue in helping his friend, we should let this matter rest here."

Amelia opened her mouth to object but Ava gave her reproachful stare. "You can obviously explain your concern to Ethan after listening to his feelings on the matter."

Amelia pressed her lips but gave a reluctant nod of understanding after glaring at hopeful Ashley, who looked torn between hurt and relief after her reaction.