A/N: A very special chapter in honor of 100k reads. Thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heartu <3
I told you.
Ashlyn, I told you to hate him.
Now look at you.
A mess.
You always were, torn between two dilemmas because of your kindness but...
Where is the self respect?
You were fine being friends with the enemy.
Then you fell in love with the enemy.
You've become the enemy's pawn.
Now, who has the leverage?
Check mate.
So what's your next move?
/////
The flight I boarded two hours ago has landed me in good ol' Kansas.
My sister, Kate, came to visit my parents again before her semester started so I decided why not me too.
Oh yeah, this is also the week of the lawsuit so there was that.
I have been running away from my problems.
I know.
I just need to find my solutions to stand up to those problems.
Then maybe I'll face them.
"Ash Catch'em, wanna go get some food," My sister blatantly says, poking her head into my room.
Which has now turned into my Mom's personal closet but okay thanks Mom.
"Sure, what are you feeling for?" I ask, looking up from my laptop.
She ponders about it for a quick second, "I'm thinking of Chinese?"
"I'm down," I oblige.
"Let's go."
We hopped into our Mom's car and drove to Lucky Dragon for some high quality Chinese food.
Once we ordered and got our food, my sister and I brought it inside the car to eat.
"Don't spill any food onto the seats, Mom would kill us," Kate warns.
I sigh in annoyance, "Blah blah blah, chill."
She rolls her eyes, "Stop being a snob and just listen noob."
"Whatever," I chuckle, pestering her even more.
"Oh, how long are you staying?"
"A week, I think that will be long enough for the people to mourn about their loss at the trial."
"You really did not wanna go testify," My sister laughs.
"Yeah, I just couldn't go back and see my friends looking at me and tearing me apart with their stares because I said no to help them win a case they're going to lose either way. I'd much rather be here in Kansas with you, Mom, and Dad."
"Agreed. I feel like California and Connecticut are very alike. Both competitive states," Kate nods.
"How is it in the North? I know this is your second year," I ask, shoving my mouth with shrimp.
"Cold in the winter, like Kansas. Hot in the summer, like Kansas. Basically nothing really has changed besides the fact that kids are so annoying here. I have a small group of friends I like though."
"Met any cute guys?" I question, wiggling my eyebrows.
She gives me a weird glance, "Pervert."
"How am I being a pervert?" I retort.
"You really wanna know about my love life?"
"You have one?" I joke.
She slaps my thigh with the back of her hand.
"Hoe bag."
I laugh, "C'mon spill."
She sighs, "I have a boyfriend."
"No fucking way," My jaw drops, "—Does Mom and Dad know?" I question, shocked.
"No, so don't say a fucking word you twat."
"I won't but like how long have you guys been together?"
"Just a few weeks. He's an older guy, but is working to become a surgeon. He visited my friend who is his sister just recently and I think it was just love at first sight," She smiles lightly to herself.
"Love at first sight? Sounds cliche," I joke.
She rolls her eyes, "It was romantic. He was just visiting his sister and parents for family business or something. He is currently living in California but he said that after his internship is over, he's going to move back to Connecticut so we could be together. As of now, it's long distance but I couldn't be happier. I'll go visit him and you in LA, aw you'll get to meet him! You'll love him, he's so smart and—"
"Okay, slow it down sister," I interrupt,
"-You're like rambling like a lovestruck puppy. You just met the guy and you're so... in love."
"That's what love does to people. New love, new perspective," She shrugs, happily.
"What's his name?" I ask.
"Kai Brooks."
I almost choked.
"HUH?"
I almost kissed this guy.
He almost hit me with his car.
He came to my friends' one million follower party.
I thought about a future with him.
He's up against my friends in a lawsuit.
"Oh fuck."
Kate eyes me weirdly, "I'm getting the feeling you know him."
"Like hell I know him. He ran over Sam! He is going against my friends in the fucking lawsuit, Katie. LAWSUIT," I holler.
Her eyes widen, "H-he's the guy who did that shit to Sam?"
I nod, "He was also the guy who almost hit me with his car, lives in my building, I almost kissed... geez Kate, what the hell. I used to think he and I were going to start dating but he was so heartbroken by this girl who left him that he couldn't move on yet. How in the world are you two together?"
"Fate?" She shrugs, "I don't know! He made an exception for me, because he did not seem heartbroken when he came to me and we hung out a lot. We got together pretty quickly."
"This is mind boggling, I am so shook."
"Whatever," She chuckles.
"Be careful, don't just be some rebound."
She munches on her spring roll, eyeing me up and down. I glare back, putting a spoonful of rice into my mouth.
Kate looks down and nonchalantly asks, "How's Colby?"
I feel a shutter run through my spine.
"H-he's good," I choke out.
She immediately raises an eyebrow, not believing my response, "He's good... are you?"
I stuff my mouth with some stir fry, chewing, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I'm not stupid, Ash. Did you tell him you like him?"
"A while ago— "
"YOU DID?"
I stutter a shy 'yes.'
"OKAY AND?" She demands, getting all up in my face.
"And we are strictly friends."
"That some dumb shit, baby sister the fuck is wrong with you."
"I can't do anything about it anymore, I kinda lost my chance to Ellie. I think he really likes her now," I sigh.
"Fuck that. There's always a chance, you just have to decide when to take it."
I finish the leftover of my Chinese food and cross my arms.
"So what should I do then, huh?"
She raises an eyebrow, "You still like him even after he said you guys should be friends?"
"Worst."
"Well what's worst than liking your friend who has a girlfriend already?"
"Being in love with your friend who has a girlfriend already."
/////
Fast forward.
Bye Kansas, I very much enjoyed being in your presence for the week.
Hi California, I very much don't know how I feel about you.
I have arrived to my apartment.
I creek the door open, slowly.
Sam, Colby, and Ellie were there sitting down quietly.
It creeped me out.
"Hi guys," I slightly smile, dropping my luggage and coming over.
They look over at me, with gloomy auras in their presence.
"What are you guys doing?" I finally ask, hovering over by the kitchen counter and not into the living room yet.
"Nothing much," Colby replies bluntly.
I nod, "Okay... how is everything.?"
"Fine," Colby quickly responds.
The awkwardness was seeping deep into my skin and it was absolutely a terrible feeling.
I go and sit by Ellie who is on the couch across from Colby on the other side and Sam sitting on the beanbag with his crutches next to him.
Ellie gives me a hug.
"H-how was the lawsuit?" I ask, finally addressing the elephant in the room.
"We lost," Ellie sighs.
"I'm sorry to hear tha—"
"It's your fucking fault, Ashlyn."
I turn to see Sam staring immensely at me.
"Sam, what are you saying? It's not my fault."
He stands up abruptly, leaning to one side so he can balance comfortably. "If you were there, maybe we would of had a chance in winning. When we lost, you know how heartbroken my parents were? They we're devastated! I can't believe you just allowed that to happen for your own personal benefit."
I now stand up angrily, "My own personal benefit? What exactly am I getting out of this? How is your loss benefitting me!"
"Oh I don't know, maybe because you like Kai! Not Colby anymore huh?"
I freeze in my place.
He remembered.
My body stiffens, and my face burns like ten million candles were just lit onto my face. I glance slowly at Colby who too, was there sitting uncomfortably, straight, and staring at the fuzzy carpet as if his eyes were glued to it. He obviously did not want to make eye contact with anyone either.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Ellie mumbles, sitting up.
I look at Ellie, feeling the room become smaller and smaller as I do so.
Think quick.
Pretend like you don't know what he's talking about.
"Yeah, what is that suppose to mean, Sam?" I ask, with fake confusion.
Sam crosses his arms, "Don't play dumb. I'm sorry Ellie. This was suppose to be a conversation just about Ashlyn but the truth is, Ashlyn likes Colby."
I stand up, "It's not true! We're just friends, now!"
"AND, Colby likes Ashlyn too."
——————
INTENSE.
Now, let me just say how thankful I am for practically 100k reads.
100k.
Did I ever think this number was possible? No. Not at all HA.
When I first started this story, I was just Colby Brock trash who had a story in mind and just kept writing. The motivation I get is from you all who continue to read and vote:) This book was going to be about different things at one point but my writing flow took it's own path. Like, Ashlyn was gunna have a secret brother and someone was gunna die but like that ain't my style, it wouldve been garbage if I wrote that type of stuff. I think you guys really have been enjoying this book and im so thankful, thank you for reading. It really means alot, I'm just saying. Storytime? Kay, so im a crippled girl until thanksgiving as some of you may know... and i feel like being crippled is the best and most legitimate excuse for everything. But what kinda put me at shock was that this random ass girl was trying to go through this crowd and she goes to me "move crippled" and i was literally like excUsE mE biTCH. but k. theres a difference when ur joking and being rude. Like that was just plain stupid for that dumbass girl but k. LOL thats been lokey bothering me today so i just had to tell some1.
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comment ur fave band cuz i wanna listen to some new music
hugs, kt