Chapter Two
Ashley
"Damnit, Ashley! Do it! Or I'll do it for you!"
I knew Miley was right. The only way I was going to get over Scott was if I got rid of everything that reminded me of him. That included my favorite picture of us at the beach, while he was hugging me closely as the sun began to set.
I even remember the words he said to me that day.
"I'm going to be here with you, at every sunset. Same time and place."
But now I guess, those words are meaningless now. So many sunsets have already passed, and he wasn't here with me at all.
"Give me the god damn picture frame, Ash! Now!"
I was so busy day dreaming that I forgot that Miley was trying to take the picture frame from me. I surrendered and handed the frame to her with a sigh.
She could tell I was still upset, and it was going to take time for me to heal.
"Well, you're still going to my party right? I mean, you've got to find a way to get him off your mind."
I looked at her. How could she ask me to do something so impossible?
"Miles, there's no way that I'm going to stop thinking about him. Scott was everything I ever needed. He was... perfect."
"Yeah, uh... perfect, my ass. That turd face needs to realize what he missed out on, ok? You don't need a guy that doesn't like you for who you really are."
"Maybe I don't like who I am."
You could totally tell that I was having an emo moment.
"Do you hear yourself? Ashley, you're a beautiful, smart,intelligent girl. And if Scott doesn't see that, than you need to find somebody else who does. It's ridiculous how girls right now are basing their looks, intelligence, and personality on a male's preference. I mean, we might as well alter how we look in order to fit the preference of a primative gorilla."
"You're saying that Nick is a primative gorilla?"
I love my best friend, Miley, to death. But it's kind of hard to take in her advice... considering that she and Nick have literally had no relationship problems for the year that they have been dating. It's like they were made for each other by God Himself. And sometimes, I can't help but feel jealousy when she tells me day after day to forget about Scott and find a guy who appreciates me for who I am. She doesn't know how hard it is to get over someone. And she never will until she and Nick get out of their fantasy world and come back to reality and have an actual fucking relationship issue.
"No, of course not. There are some exceptions. And Nick is one of them," she says with a smile.
God it's like I'm in the twilight zone or something. Ughhh.
"Well, I'm not sure if I'm really in the party mood. And it's pointless for me to go if I know that I'm not going to have a good time."
"You've got to come though, Ash! Otherwise, you'll never meet anymore cute guys. And if you want, I'll take you home if you are still having a crappy time."
I still wasn't convinced. It was going to take a miracle in order for me to go that party.
"Miles, I'm sorry. I just- I can't."
She stared at me, she was running out of things to argue about. So she took a comforting approach. She sat down next to me, and hugged me. Just like I wanted her to do, the minute she came over.
Zac
"She's WHAT?!"
"Miley told me that she refuses to go. She doesn't think that she will have a good time."
"What the hell am I supposed to do? She has to be there, otherwise I can't tell her."
God damnit, why does she have to be so depressed after break ups? I feel like I'm going through deja vu or something.
"Look, all I know is that you better convince her to come."
"What? If she didn't listen to Miley, what in the world would make her listen to me?"
"Because you're her friend, and she needs you."
"I don't want to go through another Jared incident, you know how long she didn't speak to me after she yelled at me over the fucking phone?"
"If you really love her, man... you'll take that chance. Now, come on."
He handed me the phone. I reluctantly took it from him slowly. I looked at the phone, and stared at it. I knew her number so well that I could dial the number with my eyes closed. Without messing up once.
"Come on Zac, I'm growing a beard over here. Just dial, it's not that difficult."
"She's not going to listen to me, I'm telling you."
"Then don't try to make her come, just comfort her and tell her it's ok and shit. I'll be right back."
He gets up and leaves the room. I dial the numbers slowly, making sure I get them right. Even though I knew that I would.
"Hello?"
Shit. What did I just do?
"Hey, Ash. Uh, it's me." My voice crakced. Smooth. Yeah, lots of girls get turned on when they hear a five year old girl's voice come out of a 17 year old's. Yup, it just turns them on.
"Uh, hey. What's up?"
"Well, I- I just wanted to make sure you were ok. I mean, I heard that you weren't coming to Miley's."
"I know, I just can't. It's really stupid for me to go when I know that I don't want to."
Come on, Zac... think. Think of something that would make her want to go. Instantly. Oh wait, I've got it!
Ashley, you've got to come to the party. Otherwise, I can't confess my love to you before the summer ends and I'll never get to tell you how I really feel.
"Why don't you want to go? Because of Scott?"
"Yeah, I'm just- I'm still bummed out."
"Well, it's understandable that you would be sad. But that's no reason for you to miss out on having a good time."
"I honestly don't feel like having a good time right now."
"But you don't want him to see that he won, right? You're admitting defeat when you sit here at home, all by yourself."
Hey, I think I'm actually getting somewhere.
I could tell she was smiling, because I swear that I could hear a small giggle through the other line.
"Yeah, I guess you make a good point."
"I know I made a good point, now you've got to promise me that you're going to forget about this asshole for just one night. Just one night. And after the party, you can go back home and mope again if you still wish to do so. But I probably won't let you do that anyways. So bottom line, you're going to have because you deserve it."
Now I could clearly hear her laugh. And I loved it. I just can't explain that feeling I get when I make her laugh. It's like nothing else in the world.
She sighs. "Alright, I promise to go. But Miley says that she will take me home if I ever feel lousy."
"It's a deal."
"Ok, I'll see you this weekend. And thanks, Zac."
"You're welcome, see you later. Bye."
"So, how did it go?" I was so into the conversation with Ashley, that I didn't even notice that Nick was standing right in front of my face.
"She said she's coming." I couldn't help but smile when I said it.
"See?! I told you man, you got it! She can't resist you."
"Yeah, well... the hardest part isn't over yet."
"That's right, and did I tell you that I got a brand new razor today? Just for you, in case you decide to wimp out."
"I'm not going to wimp out, got it?"
"Yeah, uh huh. Right." He wanted to see it to believe it.
Well, believe it dumb ass. I'm asking Ashley out this weekend, it's going to happen. Well, I hope.
