11/19/18…
Ashley Hardy smashed the driver's window on Dean's rental car before heading down to the trunk and started to carve Seth's logo into it.
"Mess with our shit I'll mess with yours." Ashley growled as she kept scratching the logo in.
She heard footsteps and looked up, seeing Amanda.
"Ash, what the hell are you doing?! Put that down! You can't fuck up someone's car, doesn't matter whose car it is!" Amanda replied, taking the keys… and Ashley turning furious at the pregnant brunette.
"This is Dean's car, I'm letting some good old stress out. Everyone had turned crazy so I figured, why don't I go crazy?!" Ashley responded.
"You're the only one who has gone crazy, no one else! Dean's playing mind games and you're the only one falling for it, do you see Seth vandalizing the car?!" Amanda responded angrily before she tossed the keys.
"Actually this was both our idea, he's in the middle of trying to lure Dean out front so I can bring the car around for him." Ashley explained.
"Corbin, Lashley and McIntyre already went off script tonight, you two really want to lose your jobs over some storyline?! Calm your asses down!" Amanda replied.
"Dean had gone unscripted one too many times or has your brain rotted enough from carrying that brat to forget those things?! You haven't been thinking clearly since Finn knocked you up!" Ashley yelled before Amanda punched her.
"You know what, Ashley Louise? Do whatever you want. You always do… don't come around me or my family, I don't want you there for mine and Finn's son." Amanda responded before she turned and stormed off, Ashley realising that she hurt Amanda.
Amanda reached the hallway and Finn saw tears in her eyes and ran to her before they hugged… at the same time, Seth stopped and walked over to them in a cautious manner.
"Have either of you seen Ashley?" Seth questioned, Amanda glaring at him.
"Not the Ashley I grew up with. She insulted mine and Finn's child, that bitch is not being involved in Liam's life." Amanda responded angrily.
"Hang on what do you mean she insulted your son and where the hell is she?" Seth asked.
"She called mine and Mandy's son a brat! Your crazy girlfriend was keying Dean's car." Finn responded, Seth turning to Amanda.
"I'm telling you this Mandy. I don't know what's gotten into her lately. I'm sorry she acted like that." Seth replied.
"She feels like Mandy's abandoning her is what's gotten into Ash when in reality, Ash is shoving her away." Finn responded before he guided Amanda to the locker room.
"I don't know why I thought that she felt happy. Or why she insulted him and claimed that my brain is rotted." Amanda replied as she rested her right hand on her stomach and Liam kicked.
"I'm sure she didn't mean it Darlin'. She was just probably saying it in the heat of the moment." Finn responded as he rested his left hand under where Amanda's was… and Liam's kicks calmed down.
But Amanda was understandably upset…
Present time, 1/3/19…
"I can't believe you talked me into this." Ashley muttered as she and Seth were outside of Finn and Amanda's home, a gift in Seth's hands.
"Ash, you've got to try to reach out to her instead of being sure that she'll reach out to you. Mandy's been on leave since early December and you haven't even been honest with her." Seth replied before he knocked on the door.
Amanda managed to stand up with Finn's help and readjusted her faded blue A Pea In The Pod maternity chambray shirt and navy colored Motherhood Maternity under belly jersey knit relaxed fit jogger pants before they headed to the door and Finn opened it… and his and Amanda's eyes widened as they saw Ashley, who turned to Seth.
"You didn't tell either of them, what are you trying to pull?" Ashley responded with her arms crossed.
"He's trying to get us to be how we were before. Seth, it was a well intended gesture but I don't think it'll work." Amanda replied as Finn lightly rubbed his left hand up and down her back as she was already sore from standing, Finn getting her to sit down and Seth putting the gift down on the table as gently as he could after he and Ashley walked in.
"Well this is awkward." Ashley muttered.
"Try your best." Seth responded before he opened the door… and Ashley's eyes widened as TJ walked in with a gift as well.
"They seriously let the stoner come..." Ashley replied quietly.
"Aw go to hell." TJ said before putting the present down.
"Did I miss out on something? They never fight." Finn replied quietly, Amanda simply shrugging her shoulders as Seth turned to see Bryan and Lara and Lara and Amanda hugged as Bryan set the present down.
"What's Seth up to?" Lara responded quietly as they let go.
"Trying to form some kind of truce." Amanda replied.
"Good luck with that one." Lara said.
"It's an attempt at least. Gotta start somewhere, right Ash?" Seth responded after closing the door.
"Yeah I guess so." Ashley replied.
Amanda tried to get comfortable as Liam moved around, Finn lightly rubbing her stomach… and Ashley stood up to open the door to try to get some fresh air.
Only to see Dean and Renee.
"Why are you two here?" Ashley asked.
"For the baby shower… that is mine and Renee's godson that Mandy's carrying." Dean responded after he and Renee walked in and set the gift down.
Ashley turned back to the door and hers and Jeff's eyes widened.
"I didn't think I'd see you here, Sis." Jeff replied after he walked in, putting the medium sized gift on the table.
"Nice to see my brother still have faith in me, not." Ashley said, before walking over to TJ. "You got your granddaddy's flask?" She whispered.
"Meet me upstairs in 5 minutes." TJ responded quietly.
"Leave your keys on the red and white coaster, you two." Amanda replied.
"Why? Are you scared I'm gonna do a runner?" Ashley asked.
"She doesn't want you and TJ driving drunk and getting killed, Ash." Finn replied, Ashley turning to him… but Amanda gave her a warning look and the two left their keys and headed upstairs.
"Fucking nerve of him, knocking her up!" Ashley hissed angrily.
"Maybe you should confess the truth to her instead of harboring resentment." TJ replied.
"I don't even know where to begin with that and she say it's all my fault and I should have spent less time partying and popping pills." Ashley said.
"Mandy ain't like that but you've treated her like she and Finn fucked you over and that ain't fair." TJ replied after retrieving the flask.
Ashley thought back to the night that Amanda left.