A/N: Hey guys sorry about the long wait. A surprise visit to see my Fiancee kept me from writing so take it up with her, she said she was willing to pay the price of having to wait longer for a new chapter. On with the story, we see Hayden trying to figure somethings out about Ashley and even more of the Hayden and Ashley banter that shows the friendship is still very much alive. Thanks for your patience and enjoy the chapter and be sure to check out my other stories if you have a few moments.
Surayo- I think Hayden could tell that Ashley needed the distraction and was happy to help. Don't worry though he has questions of his own.
No Account- That would be fun for them to research. Who knows maybe IKEA has an instruction manual on how to build a friendship back. I can see their being many fights about what piece goes where. lol
CB73- The project will be a gateway to more than just getting reacquainted. But that is for later on in the story.
supersandman86- Hayden is just able to work a few things out on his own. Plus he is a new set of eyes and might see something that no one else would. Thanks for the bits of info and as for your friends... it is probably just them ;p.
Thanks for the reviews everyone, let's try to get a few more as I love reading and as you all can see I respond to them so it is fun to communicate with you all like this. Anyway leave a review and tell me what you thought.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Mexican ;p
To my Fiancee who is away for her last semester of college, I love and Miss you.
Disclaimer: I own nothing... sadly
Thursday, October 24th, 2019
As Hayden sat in his WRX in the school parking lot, listening to music and taking hits of his vape mod, he couldn't help but think back to Monday and the incident with Ashley. All he could gather was that something had happened to Ashley while he was away and from the looks of things, she still hasn't fully recovered. Hayden wasn't blind, he could figure out that whatever happened to Ashley it had to involve a guy getting too close to her in some way, why else would she react like that to Steven getting inside her personal space. He just hoped that the worst-case scenarios that were running through his mind were just that, scenarios.
He let out a deep sigh expelling a large cloud from his lungs that fogged over his front windshield. He didn't know how he was going to bring it up with her but he knew that she needed to face this head on or it would only get worse. He figured that this weekend would be a great place to start. It was a rare treat during wrestling season to have a weekend off and Hayden just so happen to have that treat this upcoming weekend. He just had to ask Ashley if she was free to work on the project and find a way to bring up the incident without pushing Ashley too hard.
He placed his forehead down on the steering wheel and gave out another sigh. He knew it would be tough but now with the prospect of facing this head on becoming just a bit more real it seemed like an even more daunting task. He was shaken from his thoughts by a tapping on his window, turning his head he could see the girl in question peering into the tinted windows. Hayden unplugged his phone from the audio jack, turned his car off and opened the door just as little to signal Ashley to back up. She got the message and backed up enough to allow Hayden to swing his door open and step out of the car.
The vapor cloud from his mod that had filled the car streamed out of the door for the brief moment that it was open. Hayden closed the driver door, and opened up the back door to grab his back pack, he shut the door and locked the car before turning to his friend who was trying to hold in her laughter.
"What?" Hayden asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"You look like you were hot boxing your car." Ashley fought through her laughter.
Hayden turned his head to see the massive vapor cloud still ascending into the sky in the crisp October air. He thought about how that would have looked as he stepped out of his car. With a look of realization on his face he turned back to Ashley who was now failing at holding in her laughter. Hayden just scrunched up his face and turned back to Ashley and stuck his tongue out at her.
"Yeah, yeah, I can see the headline, 'Wrestler gets high in the parking lot' newsstands will sell out." Hayden drawled out.
"I don't know I think the newsstands would stay packed full once they find out it is you." Ashley replied.
"Wow your support in my time of need is overwhelming." Hayden shot back.
"What are friends for." Ashley quipped.
They stared at each other in silence for a brief moment before falling into a fit laughter. They leaned back against their respective cars and waited for their laughter to die down. When they were finally able to breathe again they looked up and smiled at one another. Hayden looked around and was surprised to see that Heather and Rebecca were nowhere in sight.
"So where are the other two?" Hayden asked.
"Both got hit with a sickness, we hope it is just a 24-hour bug." Ashley replied.
Hayden nodded his head before looking down at his watch and motioned for them to head in toward the school. Ashley agreed and followed Hayden to the doors. As they were walking Hayden remembered that he wanted to ask Ashley a question about her plans for the evening.
"So, Ashley…" Hayden started.
"I was wondering…" Ashley began.
They both tried to ask their questions at the same time and stopped thinking the other would continue. The both laughed and apologized before Hayden signaled for Ashley to go ahead.
"Oh, I was just wondering what you were listening to in your car. The bass was shaking my windows and I could feel it in my chest when I was knocking on your window." She asked.
"Oh that, I was listening to a dubstep song called Programmed to Love by Ray Volpe. Just another thing I picked up in my time away. I still listen to rock n roll, some alternative bands, and a little rap though too." Hayden replied.
"Well that is certainly new, but I kinda liked the song from what I could hear. You will have to let me listen some time." Ashley answered.
"Of course. Now then onto my question. It has two parts to it. One what are you doing tonight, and two what are you doing this weekend?" Hayden asked.
"Trying to score a date or something Hayden." Ashley laughed at him.
"Oh, trust me if I was trying to score a date, you would leave here thinking it was you who asked me out." Hayden shot back.
"Bold words there Haddock." Ashely responded with a smirk.
"I'm right here if you want to test it out." Hayden quipped back.
"Perhaps another time." Ashley said dismissively with a shrug of her shoulders, yet still with a smile on her face.
"Anyway, as for tonight I have another wrestling duel and wanted to see if you would come. You said you enjoyed the last one. Secondly, I wanted to start work on our project this weekend. I have the weekend off which is rare and I want to take advantage of it." Hayden asked with his own smile.
"Oh, I think I can move a few things around to make room for your event and work on our project." Ashley answered in honeyed tone.
"Your kindness is unmeasurable" Hayden replied in a flat tone.
Ashley just shook her head and laughed off the tone in Hayden's voice. She really did enjoy having Hayden around again. Everything felt so much easier and of course being able to banter back and forth like this was pretty great too, it showed her that even with their time apart they were able to pick up where they left off. It made Ashley smile when she thought about it, it showed how close they were as friends before he left. She looked back up at him to see he was still waiting for a real response from her and she laughed a little at how much like a little kid he looked like, waiting for mom and dad to allow a friend to come over.
"Yes, Hayden I can make it tonight and we can work on our project this weekend." She finally answered.
"Awesome, the duel starts at the same time and we can talk tomorrow to figure what time and where we want to work." He answered.
"We could also figure that out now." Ashley suggested.
"If you want to. I'm free Friday after 6:00 pm. Coach still wants us to practice. And anytime Saturday and Sunday." Hayden replied.
"Cool, why don't we start Friday night and work through most of Saturday and give ourselves Sunday off." Ashley responded.
"Sounds like a plan. Where do you want to work? My house, your house, library?" Hayden asked.
"Let's go with your house. I would like to see where you live and I still live in the same spot if you remember." Ashley answered as they walked through the doors and to their lockers.
"I do remember. Okay, so just text me on Friday when you are about to come over and I'll text you the address." Hayden replied over his shoulder
"Sounds good." Ashley replied as she closed her locker and looked down at her watch.
"Oh, shit we got to move, only a few minutes till class starts. See you at lunch Hayden." She called out as she raced down the hallway towards her class.
"Always on the move, see you at lunch Ashley!" Hayden called out as he made his way to his own class.
Later that night.
True to their words Hayden and Ashley did meet up at lunch where they learned that Rebecca and Heather had in fact come down with the flu and would likely be sick all weekend. Ashley and Hayden wished them to get well soon before getting on with the day. They talked about what they would research first for their project and in what order to do it so that it would be easier for them. This took up their lunch period and the one class they had together.
Now it was 7:00 pm at night and Ashley was sitting in the same spot she was last week, waiting for the team to make their entrance. When she asked Hayden what it would be this week all he would say was that the voices in head would come up with something. Ashley shook her head and went along with his cryptic words. Just like last week the lights went out, the basketball scoreboard lowered and the announcer stepped out into the middle of the mat.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Matt Cambridge and I am the advocate for your Berk Vikings!" The man exclaimed.
The crowd erupted into a frenzy as they waited for him to announce the team.
"Please join me in welcoming your conquers as they look to defeat, humiliate, and brutalize the visiting Bog -Buglers." The man said with fire in voice.
The light cut out from the man and soon and echoing voice filled the air.
"I hear voices in my head, they council me, they understand, they talk to me."
As the voice cut out a high-pitched guitar broke through and soon the strobe lights around the gym were flashing in time with the guitar riffs. Ashley was on her feet instantly waiting to see Hayden walk down the stairs and see what he would do for this duel. Just like before the music and atmosphere shot through Ashley like electricity and fired her up even more than she was before. She also realized, with a smile and shake of her head, that she owes Hayden a punch or at least a glare or two for his cryptic words being in the start of song.
"You got your rules and your religion, all designed to keep you safe, but when rules start getting broken you start questioning your faith."
Instead of running down the ramp like last time the wrestling team slowly, and methodically made their way down the stairs. This time Ashley was able to pick out Hayden when he walked by as the last man. His eyes were fixed and focused. He had this intensity that was almost terrifying and his normally bright green eyes looked dull and lifeless.
"I have a voice that is my savior, hates to love and loves to hate. I have the voice that has the knowledge and the power to rule your fate."
The guitar chords were heavy and built with growing intensity as the team stopped at the edge of the mat and parted like the Red Sea when Hayden walked through. He walked out to the center of mat and turned his gaze to the visiting team and slowly scanned over each one of them as if he was a predator looking for his next meal.
I hear voices crying, I see heroes dying, I taste blood that's drying, I feel the tension rising."
Ashley wasn't sure how Hayden was able to do but he somehow went from being 'The Game' to this predator that was on the top of the food chain and looking coldly into the eyes of his next meal. She suspected that since he knew what entrance music they would come out to he could get him mind in the right place but it still shocked her to see such a vast change. Didn't stop her from enjoying the moment and wanting to see whoever was unfortunate enough to wrestle him.
"I hear voices in my head, they council me, they understand, they talk to me, they talk to me! They tell me things that I will do, they show me things I'll do to you, they talk to me, they talk to me!"
As the voice rang out Hayden raised his hands above his head and leaned back slightly as he posed in front of the entire gym. The crowd roared out in excitement and Ashley once again found herself joining in and shouting out for Hayden.
"Kick some ass Hayden!" She screamed out.
She wasn't sure if she saw it, but when Hayden turned around to walk back to his own bench, it looked like he had the tiniest smile on his face and even turned his gaze in her direction. She smiled and screamed even louder with the crowd as the duel began and this time she would be sure not to miss it.
A/N: Ashley is primed and ready to go this time around. Next Chapter we get to see Hayden wrestle! and perhaps some post match stuff, haven't decided on that yet. Be sure to leave a review I hope to get more than 4 this time. I promise the next chapter won't take a week to get out. Peace.
