Ashley's gaze was at the ceiling. Am I going to die here? She wondered, having many other thoughts about her life up to this point racing through her mind. "What...wan...babe?"
"C...speak...us. Go ...her."
The voices were further away, and she let her mind race.
It was a warm day, and the sounds of the waves hitting the shore and the screams of those riding a rollercoaster filled Coney Island. A thirteen-year-old Ashley Wilson had her dark brown hair wrapped in a bun, only having a few hair strands falling towards her face. Her red 'Wildcats Volleyball' t-shirt and dark blue jean shorts matched with her best friend.
"Hey, girls, don't get too far! Ashley, honey, Daddy and I are going to be sitting over here on this bench, okay?"
Both girls looked behind their shoulders to see Shawn sitting on the bench while Anne was waving at them.
"Okay, Mom. We got it. Thanks."
Ashley rolled her eyes as they turned around to walk further down the beach.
"Oh, my god. My parents are so embarrassing!"
"It's okay. My parents do that too."
At that moment, Shelby ran in front of Ashley.
"Ash, come on! Race you to the water?!"
Ashley started picking up the pace and gently pushed her best friend on the shoulder before passing her.
"You are so on!"
Both girls were giggling when they got to the water. They removed their flip-flops from their feet to throw them slightly behind them. Plopping down on the sand, they started splashing each other.
"Shelby, stop!"
"You splashed me first!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Okay, okay, truce, truce!"
Laughter from that day, that moment, was all that Ashley had in mind.
Angela was pacing the floor while Mike was still watching the game. "What do you want me to do, babe?"
"She won't speak to us. Go talk to her." Mike got up from the couch to stop his wife from creating a permanent indent in the floor.
"Angie, baby, she's a teenager. She doesn't have to tell us about everything."
"But what about that party she went to?"
"It's okay. I followed her to make sure that she was safe and she was. Look, she's safe in her room. Let's just give her some space, okay?" He wrapped his arms around her and leaned forward to kiss her on the temple. She slowly wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head onto his chest before exhaling the breath that she was holding.
"I hope you're right."
Jo walked up to Scott's apartment, but the door swung open before she could knock. He pulled her into a swift kiss before letting her inside. His gaze followed her as she moved out of the doorway.
"I missed you today, Jo. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I'm sorry about the other night."
He wrapped his arms around her to pull her into a soft embrace. "It won't happen again, I promise. Please forgive me."
He quivered as to refuse from crying. Jo returned the hug, whispering "I forgive you" as they both remained in the entryway.
I love him. He truly regrets it. It won't happen again, Jo thought as she was breathing in her boyfriend's cologne. But then again, she thought that last time too.