Chapter 3: Too Little Too Late

Ashley sighed as she pushed her hair out of her face as she walked around the park. She sat down in front of the fountain and looked at her watch. "Where are you Andros?" She muttered. She tapped her foot and she looked at her planner.

"Glad to see that you came," Andros commented.

Ashley turned around and looked at him. "You had me waiting for half an hour," she snapped. She pushed her hair out of her face again.

"I had things to do," he answered.

"You show up at my fashion show last night saying you need to talk to me and then you just let me stand here like an idiot," she snapped.

Andros just stared at her. "I've done nothing wrong," he told her.

"Bull, I bet I can guess why you're here," she answered.

She walked around him. "You heard about my success and you were happy to hear that, but when you heard about my engagement you came running," she snapped. Andros stared at her. "Damn it Andros!" She hissed.

"I just couldn't…" he trailed off.

"Newsflash Andros! We're not seventeen anymore! We broke up two years ago and now you expect me to still be back in Angel Grove waiting for you?" She demanded.

Andros rubbed the back of his neck. Ashley glared at him. "It's time we grew up, Andros. We need to stop playing these foolish high school games. I'm going to marry Mark and there's nothing you can do about it," she added.

"But…" he trailed off.

"No more buts, no more maybes, no more of any of this."

Ashley held her hand out to him. "Goodbye Andros," she told him. Andros stared at her outstretched hand. He bit his tongue as he placed his hand in hers and shook it.

"Goodbye," he answered.

Ashley turned to leave. "Oh and here," she added. She took something and threw it at him. Andros was able to catch it and when he opened his hand he felt like he would just fall over dead right there. Ashley turned and walked away. Andros sat down and stared at what she threw at him, the necklace he gave her for her birthday.

Ashley sat in her car when her cell-phone rang. "You got her," she answered.

"Hey, Ash," Mark greeted.

"Hey, babe where are you at?" She asked.

"At the airport."

"What? Why?"

"I have that meeting in Rome remember?"

"Oh yeah! Now I remember."

Ashley put her cell-phone headset on and started driving. "So, when will you be home?" She asked.

"A few weeks," he replied.

Ashley smiled. "And when I get back we'll spend the rest of the time planning," he added.

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed.

"So what are you plans today?"

"Hmm, I'm going dress shopping today."

"Didn't you do that yesterday?"

"Mark…"

Mark laughed on his end. "You're cute when you pout," he commented. Ashley rolled her eyes. "Did you talk to Andros?" He asked.

"Yep, we don't have to worry about him anymore," she replied.

"Well, hun, I think we should try to make friends with him."

"Mark!"

"What?"

Ashley sighed. "You're taking a huge leap here, Mark. You don't know Andros like I do," she replied. She rubbed her forehead.

"You guys broke up, I'll be the one trying to make friends with him then," he put in.

"Sweetie, you don't know Andros."

"I would like to get to know him, he sounded like a great guy when we met last night."

Ashley sighed. "Mark, you're putting the duh in dumb," she told him.

"What is so bad about him?" He asked.

"Nothing."

"Then you know that party that's coming up the week after I come back."

"Yes."

"Invite him!"

Ashley sighed. "Fine," she muttered. Mark chuckled.

"I can't wait to marry you," he commented.

Ashley smiled. "Me neither," she agreed.

"I'll see you in a few weeks," he informed.

"See you then."

"Love you."

"Love you too."

Then she hung up.

(Andros's Hotel Room)

Andros was laying on his bed letting the necklace float in front of him. He sat up when the phone rang. "Hello?" He answered.

"Andros…" Ashley trailed off.

Andros sat there for a second before letting the phone drop back into the cradle. He laid back on his bed and just stared at the ceiling when the phone rang again. He rolled his eyes as he just picked the phone up and just hung up again. After about fifteen minutes he just let the phone ring.

(Ashley's Apartment)

"Damn it Andros," she muttered. She hung up the phone, grabbed her car keys, and left.

(Andros's Hotel Room)

Andros heard a knock on his door. "Andros open the door," she insisted.

"Go away Ashley," he answered.

"Not until you listen to me."

"I think you said enough."

"Andros…"

"Unless you have something else to throw back at me."

"Andros I'm sorry."

"No you're not."

Ashley sighed. "Andros, Mark wants to invite you to a party. He's in Rome right now, but when he comes back we're having a party and he wants you to come," she informed. She slid an invitation underneath the door. "He wants you to come," she added. She turned and left. Andros picked the invitation up and then he sat down on his bed. He read the invitation and let out a sigh.

"I'll be there," he muttered.