Dedicated to Sameera1234 for pointing some errors out and commenting. I recieved comments after so long
After all this time I felt like I had finally found some closure. Like I was not dirty. I felt whole again. Ashton deserved someone whole and now I felt like I wouldn't cringe away the next time he held my hand.
Ashton. I had forgotten all about him which was strange since he was the reason I was here.
'Have you heard from your dad?' I asked Tessa, wanting to know everything I had missed out on
Her face fell and I squeezed her hand. Her father had left them when she was nine without an explanation. Her mother was the most uptight woman I had ever come across in my life and dictated Tessa's every move that sometimes I worried that Tessa might break under all the pressure. Everytime she got upset, I would find her hiding here and that was how it had become our little haven.
'He hasn't contaced?' I asked and she shook her head. 'it's okay really. I have my mum. Sort of. And I have Noah' she smiled and I admired her for being so strong.
'What's Noah upto these days?' I asked.
'What is he ever upto? He's gone to a State Maths Quiz and won't be back for a week' she answered and I grinned. Trust Noah to be neck deep in studies.
We sat in silence for a while, both of us lost in our thoughts when I spoke.
'I may be in love with a guy' I whispered and she shrieked.
'WHAT? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?'.
'Calm down you crazy woman' I grinned and launched into my story of Ashton. At least now she wasn't thinking about her father. By the end of it, my smile was so wide that it hurt my cheeks and I realised just talking about him made me happy.
' So today I ended up yelling at him in a fit of jealousy, demanding to know what I am to him and he kissed me. Which of course brought all these memories and I decided I needed to talk to you' I concluded and she narrowed her eyes jokingly.
'Good thing he's here or it would have taken you another 3 years to call me' she teased and I laughed.
'Show me his picture' she demanded and I took out my phone, finding the picture of him standing in a grey shirt against a wall from his facebook profile pictures.
'Wow' Tessa nodded and I giggled. It was silly yet so comforting how two old friends could giggle over a guy and all worries in the world evaporated.
I noticed the time and realised I'd been here for only two hours and had two more before I needed to get home.
I'm sorry for leaving without meeting you. I was in a rush. Meet me at glenda's in an hour?
I typed quickly to Ashton. He replied in less than a minute.
I was worried I had scared u away. See u there. Can't wait xx
His text made me smile and I shoved my phone in my pocket and Tessa and I talked about everything and everyone. An hour later, I got up to leave and she walked me to the door.
'Don't disappear on me again' she said and I hugged her one last time.
*******
As I entered the coffee shop, I cringed at my reflection. I was still in my school clothes and my face was a mess. My hands were dirty from sitting in the dirt and I cursed myself for not cleaning up before leaving Tessa's.
Glad to be five minutes early, I rushed to the restroom and after washing my hands and face pulled my hair from the ponytail and combed it with wet fingers, hoping to get them curled naturally.
After fixing my hair and dusting my clothes, I pulled my phone out just as Ashton texted. Instead of replying I simply walked out and found him sitting in a corner alone.
'Hey' I smiled and his answering smile lit up his entire face. He looked so relieved that I wanted to laugh at him.
'You thought I had ditched you again' I said and he grinned in response. 'Come on! I'm not that bad' I sighed sitting next to him.
I noticed he has
d changed out of his school attire and his black jeans and black shirt made me conscious of my clothes.
'I went to see a friend and came straight here' I told him even though he hadn't asked.
'Someone I know?' he asked and I shook my head.
'Just an old friend I hadn't gotten a chance to see in a while' I replied, looking at my hands. I felt stupid for losing all the time I could have had with her.
'I like your hair better this way' he said noticing my silence and I mentally thanked my hair for curling perfectly.
'Too bad yours is still a mess' I teased and he cringed which made me laugh. He loved his hair way too much and worried about it even more!
'Do you want me to get you something?' he asked, still running his hand through his hair trying to fix it and we both got up together.
'Have you been here before?' he asked and I nodded.' It's close to my house and their brownie with ice cream is to die for' I said.
As we approached the counter, Ashton took his time looking at the flavors while I ordered my favorite.
'One killer brownie with red velvet ice cream' I said while Ashton made gagging sounds.
'Who orders red velvet ice cream?' he asked and I scowled at him.
'That's my favorite' I said and he pretended to puke.
'What would you like?' the guy asked Ashton who was still looking at the flavors. He was considering every flavor with so much attention, as if deciding which one to marry and eventually ordered half a scoop of every flavor except red velvet. His brownie was completely covered with ice cream by the time he was done.
As I pulled out my wallet, Ashton beat me to it.
'Hey don't' I said and he ignored me.
'Ashton let me pay' I protested but he completely ignored me and the cashier gave him the reciept without even looking at me as I pushed my money forward.
'Take it' I turned to Ashton scowling but he ignored me while taking his change back.
'This is the last time you offer to pay' he said seriously. 'You're my girlfriend and I would never let you pay' he said and his words send a round of butterflies in my stomach.
Before turning around, he put ten dollars in a the tip jar which made me raise my eye brows. I knew he was loaded but really?
Having noticed my raised eyebrows he explained, "while we were arguing over ice cream flavors he got pulled back by his boss and from his expressions I'm guessing he got yelled at but instead of being an ass to us he was pretty nice. So he sort of deserved it' Ashton explained shrugging and I was genuinely touched by his thoughtfulness.
'You notice a lot of things' I commented.
'I am pretty observant' he winked and I chuckled.
'So what have you observed about me?' I asked and he pretended to study me for a second.
'That you have ice cream on your chin' he said and I blushed, vigorously rubbing my chin as he cracked up.
'Real mature' I rolled my eyes at him and he continued laughing.
As his laughter finally died down he looked me in the eyes, 'you don't have to take on the world alone. You look like you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. This is the time when you need to have fun or else you'll end up miserable' he said and I looked away. His change of mood left me uncomfortable. Besides I had long since come to terms with how things were.
I took a spoonful of my ice cream and offered Ashton but he pursed his lips tightly and shook his head vigorously.
'Come on. It's really good' I urged him but he shook his head stubbornly.
'Ashton...' I scolded him and he laughed at my expression and I shoved the spoon in his mouth and he looked like he might choke and die.
'See that wasn't so bad' I said and he stared at me like I had actually poisoned him.
'I almost died' he said dramatically, making me laugh.
'Here' I said offering another spoonful but just as he opened his mouth, I ate it myself.
'Who's acting mature now?' he asked and I stuck my tongue out.
*******
read this. I'm so sorry I know I'm swtiching between present and past a tense a lot. I write in past tense but there's a story I've beem reading and it's in present tense sooo when I'm writing I just don't realise when I switch. But please vote and comment.