Hello, all! So, yes. I'm still alive... Yes, this is a new story, and no, I haven't updated NQACS in a while... Basically, long story short, all I seem to be getting lately is bad news, which was recently followed by one HUUGGGEEEE piece of horrendously bad news. Although that particular thing was kept from me until after my graduation, which I totally appreciate. I probably would've hit rock bottom had I been told any sooner, so yeah... writing's been the last thing on my mind, really.
Oh, and yes, I graduated! Waheyy!
Random piece of fun trivia: There's a place in Donegal called Muff. They have a diving club. Go figure. Like, they have a website and everything. It's pretty hilarious. For anyone interested, just type Donegal Muff Diving club into your search engine and it should come up. Oh, and they also have a Muff Festival. Sounds fun, right?
So this is T for now, but will probably be changed to an M at a later date for certain... 'activities'.
Oh, also... My last story was in first person. This one is not. I figured it was time to improve my writing, and this was the way to do it. I tried to read my other story back and found the writing really shoddy, so...
Anyway...
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination and dignity. With alcohol however, that dignity goes swiftly out the window, and my imagination seems to run wild.
Chapter 1:
The blonde checks her watch for the seventh time in the last five minutes, anxiously fiddling with the lid of her takeaway coffee cup. She's always preferred takeaway cups; less hassle, and less dishes to clean. They should be thankful she specifically asked for one, she muses.
As she checks her watch once more, the blonde decides that it's time to throw her coffee away and prepare herself. She's only managed to drink half of the cup, due to nerves, and wouldn't be able to stomach anymore. Besides, she'd let it sit long enough already, meaning it would be lukewarm. She hates lukewarm coffee.
Getting up from her seat, the blonde goes to make a move, but a sudden impact forces the coffee out of her hand, and onto her blouse.
Gasping, the blonde freezes, before regarding the brunette in front of her.
"Oh, shit! I'm sorry!"
Spencer growls at the apologetic brunette, as she takes a second to assess the extent of the damage caused by the coffee on her crisp white blouse.
"Yeah, well, you should have watched where you were going!"
The brunette flinches, taken aback by the sudden snappy tone of the blonde.
"Geez, I said I'm sorry."
The brunette takes a few seconds to look the blonde woman up and down as she mutters under her breath whilst wiping furiously at her now horrifically stained shirt. She has to admit, she's kind of attractive, in a sexy secretary kind of way. Her black skirt shows a generous amount of leg, which the brunette notes, seem to go on forever, those black heels accentuating her height. And that blouse, had the blonde not been scrubbing vigorously at, she figures, would hug her figure in all the right ways. The black framed glasses aren't exactly off-putting either; after all, smart is kind of sexy, she thinks.
The brunette is pulled out of her daze as the angry blonde snaps once more.
"Do you realise what you've just done? I have a job interview!" She looks at the brunette, astonished at her stupidity.
"Well, what time? Where? I'm sure we could get you fixed up."
The blonde simply raises her eyebrows as she replies.
"Uh, five minutes!" She stated, "Right here!" She raised her arms gesturing to the coffee shop in which they stand.
"Oh..." The brunette looks apologetic for a second before thinking that sarcasm would be the best way to approach the matter at hand. Maybe Blondie will lighten up a little. Maybe even crack a smile...
"Well..." She starts. "You know, this way you can tell them that you like their brand so much that you're wearing it..."
The only thing she gets in reply is a frustrated scream as the coffee-covered woman races past her in the direction of the bathroom.
Thinking it best not to follow the raging blonde, the brunette lets out a puff of air as she makes her way out of the coffee shop.
It's just gone 4pm when she gets home, rolling her eyes as she walks through the door and hears the yelling from the living area.
"Are you two playing NBA again?" she shouts. "Once I get my hands on that controller, you know it'll all end in tears... And they won't be mine!"
She makes her way through the apartment to join the boys, who are sitting on the sofa, eyes glued to the television.
"What? No way! How the hell did that go in? I totally blocked it!" The blonde haired boy whines as the darker haired boy grins smugly.
"Game over, Glen. Now move over. Let me show you how it's done. You ready to get your ass handed to you on a plate, Aiden?" she turns to her opponent and raises a perfectly sculpted brow.
"Yeah, right! You won by fluke last time!" As the game starts, Aiden struggles to compete with the brunette's expertise, and he's down by one in a matter of seconds.
"Oh, shit, son! I think Ashley just owned you!" Glen grins as she winks at him before getting off the sofa and moving towards her bedroom.
"What did I tell you, Aid? The dishes are all yours, big boy!"
When she returns from work that night, Glen has disappeared, and in his place, is Aiden's girlfriend Lisa, though they certainly aren't playing NBA...
"Ugh, why do you insist on bringing her here? Can't you just go to her house?" Her query seems to go unnoticed though as the pair on the sofa continue sucking each other's faces. "Oh, please... don't stop on my account..."
As she pulls away, Lisa rolls her eyes at Ashley, running a hand through her long, blonde hair in an attempt to smooth it. It still doesn't make her look any better though, Ashley muses.
"Just 'cause you're jealous. Go play your shitty guitar or something." She flips Ashley off, but the brunette simply grins back smugly.
"Like I've said before; I'm a vagitarian. I don't eat sausage..." She moves closer to the girl on the sofa before reaching out a hand to brush her cheek. "You, on the otherhand... Well... You, I can do." She throws in a wink at the end, just to rile the blonde up, knowing it's worked when the girl in question's cheeks flush, her eyes dangerous.
"Ashley... Come on, just leave it, yeah?" Aiden tries to diffuse the situation, but doesn't need to say anything else, as Ashley is already making for her room.
"Whatever. I'm going to stay at Nikki's tonight."
As she shuffles around her room, packing an overnight bag, she hears the pair muttering about something from outside.
"She's not going to be happy," Aiden states.
"Yeah, well, I'm not going to be happy either, as long as she's around, but she'll have to suck it up. Just tell her tomorrow."
Ashley rolls her eyes at the conversation. She's never liked Lisa. Ever since Aiden started dating her all those months ago, she's had a problem with Ashley. Apparently it's not possible to be best friends with a guy without wanting his dick. Even when you're a lesbian. Yeah, go figure. Lisa has always been the clingy, over possessive type, which of course, only inflates her boyfriend's huge ego, and while Ashley appreciates the confidence boost given to her best friend, she can't stand the way his girlfriend acts when she's around.
Whatever it is Aiden wants to tell Ashley, it can wait until tomorrow, when the girlfriend from hell has left.
Satisfied with the items she's packed, Ashley emerges from her room with her overnight bag slung over her shoulder, not even bothering to look at the pair sat on the sofa as she strides towards the door.
"I'm coming back in the morning to get changed for work. When I get here, she better be gone."
The door opens, revealing a slim redhead, who seems surprised to see the other girl at her door.
"Hi."
"Hi," Ashley replies. "Sorry I didn't text. Lisa's at ours. Can I stay?"
"Sure. As long as you promise to be my pyjamas," the redhead responds with a mischievous grin.
The brunette smirks in return.
"Have I ever let you down?" She moves towards the other girl before the door is swiftly kicked shut.
When she wakes the following morning, Ashley is greeted by a foot in her face.
"Babe, what the hell? Why do you always end up sleeping in such weird positions? Seriously, like, what shape are you?"Ashley raises an eyebrow as she takes in the form of the girl next to her, who groans in response.
"After the shapes you put me into last night? Are you surprised?" she replies sleepily as she stretches her body.
Ashley considers this for a second, a pensive look on her face as she replays memories of last night in her head.
"Huh... True." She checks the clock on the bedside table. "Shit. I got to go. Duty calls."
She gets out of the bed before packing her things and heading to the bathroom for a quick wash. When she emerges, Nikki is in the exact same spot as she had been before Ashley got up.
Ashley picks up her bag and quickly presses a kiss to the sleepy girl's head.
"Bye. I'll call you."
Ashley's relationship with Nikki is, well, complicated. They do most of the things couples do; comforting each other, hanging out with each other, and occasionally going out together, only without actually being 'together' together. They have an arrangement where they occasionally sleep together when the fancy takes them, but are free to sleep with other people, as long as the other knows, however, around about two months ago, Ashley had stopped seeing other people and noted that it seemed Nikki had too. Nothing had been said about the matter though, and so the pair just continued as normal, only without the added complication of other people.
Ashley admits that while she doesn't feel a lot for the redhead, she still cares for her, and has grown comfortable in her presence. It helps that the sex is good too...
Ashley groans as she returns to her apartment only to find that Lisa is still there.
"Seriously, Aiden. Why is she still here? Go back to where you came from." Aiden looks sheepish as Lisa looks at him, urging him to tell Ashley.
"Well, she uh... She actually doesn't have a place anymore..."
"Oh. Well don't worry," she says as she turns to the blonde. "I hear there's a nice homeless shelter down the road. And they do soup for lunch. Yummy!"
She makes to go into her room, but stops when Aiden calls her name. Turning around, she raises her eyebrow in question.
"Uh... Me and Lisa have been together for a while and... Well, we decided that she's moving in here."
Ashley blinks incredulously.
"We?"
"Yeah, me and Lise." Aiden replies, innocently.
"Right... You and Lise. Okay. And you just forgot to include me in this decision? Your current housemate slash best friend?"
Aiden pulls a face at this.
"Come on, Ash! I know you'd say no!"
"You're damn right I'd say no! Aiden, what the hell?" As Ashley continues to stare her best friend out, his girlfriend interjects.
"I brought most of my stuff last night, but we'll get the rest from Sarah's later."
Ashley scoffs at this.
"You've actually started moving your things already? This is ridiculous..."
"Oh, I haven't started moving... I've moved." Lisa smirks.
"Great. Good for you." Ashley claps slowly before turning to Aiden. "I'm moving out."
"What? Don't be stupid! It'll be fine!" Aiden shouts, only to be flipped off by Ashley as she goes to get ready for work.
"Shit. So, like, you have to live with her now?" Tessa asks as they stock the shelves.
"Yep. Well... No. There is no way in hell I could put up with that shit every day. I'm moving out."
Tessa stops to look at the back of the girl stocking the shelves opposite.
"You're moving out?" Ashley turns to nod before refocusing her attention on the shelf. "Where?"
Ashley stops, finally turning to look at her as she replies.
"See, that's where I was hoping you could help me..." She lets the implication linger as Tessa continues to stare at her.
"Whoa!" The realisation hits her. "Sorry, Ash. You know I would love to have you bunk with us, but with Rafael's cousins moving in, it's a pretty tight squeeze. Like, we actually have to book the bathroom out in the morning, and that latina bitch takes forever. God, I swear she does it on purpose!"
Ashley chuckles as Tessa goes on about her annoying housemates. She's loved Tessa since they started working together at Wal Mart two years ago. They were in the same group interview and instantly hit it off. The pair of them went out on the tear together, and both proved to be excellent wing women, until Tessa met Rafael, the buff Latin-American who didn't have a clue what the difference was between fluoride mouthwash and anti-plaque mouthwash. After helping him out by explaining each of them, and of course, in true Tessa style, telling him that his smile is 'perfect just as it is' he asked her out, and they've been with each other ever since.
He's actually a pretty nice guy as far as Ashley's concerned, and Tessa moved in with him a few months back, but two weeks ago, his cousins, Sofia and Gabriel decided that they'd like to live in the city like Rafael. Of course, he couldn't say no when his 'little' cousins showed up at the door, and so Tessa's been wound up like a spring since then. They said they'd move out when they earn enough money, but when one works at a car wash, and the other, a laundrette, there's only so much cash available... Not that the cash is great at Wal Mart, but it gets the girls by. Besides, when you choose not to go into further education after high school, there are only so many employers who will take you. And after what happened at her previous place of employment, Ashley figured that beggars can't be choosers.
"Having a nice chat, are we?" Greg, the superviser cuts in. "Get back to work." Both girls roll their eyes as they go back to stocking the shelves. "Oh, and Davies... Once you've finished that batch, I need a clean up on aisle four. You can get the rest of your shelves done after."
A muffled growl slips through Ashley's lips as he leaves and the girls turn to face each other, both pulling faces.
"Be right back," Ashley states before grabbing a mop and bucket and making her way to aisle four, where a beautiful blue puddle is waiting for her.
Vomit. Great, she thinks. And there's the culprit right there. Her eyes land on a stout kid who's clearly had too much ice cream from the store around the block, as his mother gives her an apologetic look before shuffling away with her son.
Sighing, Ashley sets a 'wet floor' sign out before wringing out the mop. Just as she's about to lift the mop, she's knocked over by a strong force, her hands straight into the blue puddle of goodness. She scoffs, but seeing a grinning Ben looking down on her, her face softens.
"Miss me?" he asks.
Ben was another of Ashley's colleagues. The third musketeer, if you will. He'd been on holiday in France for the past two weeks and the place had been quite boring without his boisterous personality present.
"Of course I did, ass!"
She lifts up her right hand, covered in a sheet of blue and flicks it at him, though having seen it coming, Ben dodges. Greg however, walking right behind Ben as he comes to check on the clean up, is not quite as quick.
The foul liquid drips from his face as he addresses Ashley with a red face.
"Davies! Out back now!"
She's sitting drinking a vodka and coke when Glen walks into the bar.
She's only known Glen for about a month, after he and Aiden got friendly at a basketball game, but apart from Aiden, he's the one she knows she can rely on when she needs a good drink.
"So what happened?" She throws Glen a look before taking another sip of her drink. "Come on! I get a text saying meet me at the bar, and you're sitting here alone looking pissed? Something happened."
Ashley sighs before relenting.
"I got suspended." She fiddles with the beer mat in front of her.
"Shit. What for?"
"Throwing vomit at a superviser." Glen's eyes bug out.
"No way! Seriously?" He starts to laugh. "That's epic!"
Ashley scoffs.
"No it's not 'epic'. I've been suspended for two weeks, unpaid. Which means I won't be able to pay my rent, which I don't even want to have to pay, because I want to move out, but obviously, I can't now, because I'll have no money... and Tessa can't even take me because Rafaels's cousins are staying there, and there is no way I am staying at that apartment..."
Glen let's her ramble on for a moment, before interrupting.
"Wait, you want to move out? Why? I thought you loved living with Aiden." He orders a drink as the bartender comes over.
"Aiden, yeah. Lisa, not so much." Ashley pulls a face.
"Oh... So he asked her then..." Ashley turns to face Glen as he takes a large gulp of his beer.
"Wait... You knew?" she asks in disbelief.
"Uh... Well, when he found out the girls were getting kicked out over that rent issue, he said he was thinking about asking her... He didn't say he was definitely going to though."
Ashley just sighs as she takes another drink.
"Hey, my sister's actually looking for someone to share the rent with her. Little two bedroom apartment a couple of blocks from here. The rent's pretty cheap too. It's right above a Chinese restaurant. Probably why the rent's so low...Although it kind of smells like fried chicken. Just a bit though..."
Ashley's ears prick up at this.
"How soon is she looking?" she asks.
"Now? The girl she was living with moved over East for some big job offer two weeks ago, so she needs someone by Wednesday," he replies.
"Two weeks ago? And no one's filled the spot yet?" She asks. Surely if no one's taken it within two weeks, there's something wrong with the apartment.
"Nope. Honestly, I think the constant smell of fried chicken was too much for them. But you get used to it! They were only there for a thirty minute viewing... Trust me, one day in that place, and you won't even notice it!"
"Apart from that, it's all good though, right?" she asks
"Of course it is! Would I offer you if it wasn't?"
Ashley thinks for a second before replying.
"Okay. I'll take it."
"You will? Sweet! You want a viewing tomorrow?" he asks.
"Nah. I won't need one. I trust your judgement. Besides, now that I'm suspended, I do not want to be spending two whole weeks in that apartment with Lisa. Ten minutes is more than enough."
Glen chuckles at this.
"Ha! Well, here..." He writes his sister's number down on the beer mat Ashley was fiddling with earlier. "I'll call her later to give her the good news."
When Ashley gets home, Lisa's there, but no Aiden.
"I thought you were moving out," the blonde quips.
"I thought you were leaving. Guess dreams really don't come true after all," Ashley replies.
"I live here now, remember?" the blonde snaps.
"How could I forget?" Ashley drawls as she disappears into her bedroom.
After getting washed and changed, she throws herself onto the bed before checking her phone. One message from Tessa. Figures. She's been so pissed off, she'd forgotten to let her friend know what had happened.
Where did you go today? You say you'll be right back and then do a disappearing act! I asked Ben what happened, but he was laughing so much, I couldn't make him out. Xx
Got suspended. Xx
No! What did you do, you bad girl? Xx
Threw some vomit at Greg... Accidentally, might I add. Xx
Shit! That's hilarious! Did you hit him? Xx
Of course! Right in the face! He wasn't pleased... Xx
I can imagine. How long you suspended for? Xx
Two weeks. Xx
Sucks. Xx
Yep. Xx
Another message beeps through, this time from Glen.
Hey, dude! So I called my sister earlier and it's all good. You should call her to sort everything out.
Cool, thanks, bud!
Np ;)
She sets her phone on the bedside table before turning out the light. It's late. The call can wait 'til the morning , she thinks.
When she wakes the next day, she's forgotten all about the previous day's escapades. It isn't until she's making her morning cup of coffee and Lisa pops up behind her that her memory becomes clear once more. Groaning, she pours her coffee and takes a seat at the breakfast bar.
Thankfully, Lisa hasn't said anything to her, except 'morning', to which Ashley simply muttered a 'mmmph', but as the pair sit, Ashley finds herself becoming more and more irritated by her presence. Maybe it's the way she sips her coffee noisily, or keeps humming that stupid song. Or maybe it's the way she's sat there painting her nails, various shades of nail varnish scattered all over the bar as if she owns the place.
Ashley takes this opportunity to send off a text to her future roomie as the blonde continue to hum out of tune.
Hey, it's Glen's friend, Ashley here. Just checking that you're still okay for me to move in. I don't need a viewing or anything... it's kind of urgent.
A few minutes later, her phone beeps.
Hey! Yeah, it's fine! Glen said he'd already warned you about the slight smell, so I take it you're ok with that?
She smiles as she reads the text.
Haha yeah, it's all good. Smells don't really bother me. When you've lived with a guy for two years, you kind of get used to it...
Excellent! When do you want to move in?
Chancing it, she replies straight away.
Is today too soon?
She watches as Lisa ponders over her thumbs, two different shades of pink as she decides which one to go for, when her phone goes off again.
Today is perfect! Though can it wait 'til after 5? I have some stuff to do before then and I want to tidy the place up a bit.
Sure. I'll call round at 6?
Perfect! I'll see you then!
Heading straight for her room, Ashley gets changed and packs up all the necessities she needs. She can call round for the rest another time, she thinks. Leaving the bag on her bed, she sets off for the day, in search of something to do until six o'clock. Maybe she'll pay Nikki a visit, she thinks.
After spending the day with Nikki, completely innocently, helping her find an outfit for her brother's upcoming birthday, Ashley decides to pick up a few essentials at Wal Mart.
Just as she grabs a jar of coffee, an irritating voice grasps her attention.
"Davies, what are you doing here?" Greg asks as he stares her down
"Uh... I'm buying coffee?" Really, she thinks, what does it look like?
"You're suspended," he states.
"Yeah, but –"
"You're not allowed on the premises," he iterates.
"Yeah, to work..."
"No. Period. Until the two weeks are up. Hand the coffee over," he urges.
"What? But I'm not doing anything! I'm just buying coffee!" she whines.
"Not on our premises, you're not." She looks at Greg in disbelief as he seems unwavering in his stance.
Scoffing, she shoves the coffee at him and walks off.
"None of that attitude, or you'll be suspended for another week, Davies!" She rolls her eyes at this. If the store had an award for biggest asshole, Greg would definitely have it in the bag.
In a foul mood, Ashley returns to collect her bag before starting to make her way to her new apartment, noting that it's already ten to six. This girl better have decent coffee, she thinks. If she doesn't, mornings aren't going to be pleasant...
She reaches the apartment at five past six, the smell of fried chicken instantly hitting her as she moves towards the door next to the Chinese restaurant. Pressing the button on the panel, she waits until a voice comes over the intercom.
"Hey! Ashley?"
"Yeah."
"I'll buzz you in. Come on up."
The door buzzes and the brunette makes her way up the stairs, the smell fading slightly, but still hanging thick in the air.
She knocks on the door which is opened immediately, before dragging her bag in and setting it down inside.
"Hey, I'm Spencer!" The other girl states, before Ashley has a chance to look at her.
"Hey, I'm –" The words catch in her throat as Ashley finally raises her head to meet the other girl's gaze. "No shit..."
The pair mirror each other as they both look like rabbits caught in headlights.
Blonde coffee bitch from the other day.
From one bitch to another, Ashley thinks... Well this is going to be fun...
.
.
.
.
A/N – Yep, so there you have it. I haven't written anything else for this as of yet. I kind of wanted to see what people thought about it before putting more work into it, but I think it's a pretty solid idea so far.