Chapter 9.
Later that day Ashley had been summoned to the Song/McCartney home. So she had a shower got dressed and went to see her best friend. Knowing full well what to expect when she got there.
As soon as she entered the house, Brenda was stood in front of Ashley spilling out question after question. When her fiends had finally stopped babbling on with her questions Ashley moved to the kitchen, grabbed a drink and sat at the breakfast counter.
Frustrated that she hadn't yet been told a single thing, Brenda sat on the other side of the counter to Ashley and calmed herself enough to let her friend talk.
Ashley: "Are you done now? So I can actually answer some of those questions."
Brenda: "Yeah. Sorry I expected you to call last night when you got home.
Ashley: "Well, I did actually call you once I got home and had spoken to Jenn."
Brenda: "But you called me today… not last night."
Ashley: "I know that. But I was only home about 30 minutes before I called you."
Brenda: "So I gather it went well then. Care to fill me in now?"
After laughing at her friend Ashley told her everything she wanted to know and once she was done Brenda actually remained completely silent. She was so happy for Ashley that she didn't know what to say.
Brenda: "So you stayed the night at his?… I know you didn't want to talk about this the other day but I'm still going to ask… Did you do what I said you guys might have done if you were alone downstairs the other night?"
Ashley: "You're asking if we had sex?… Well, yeah we did… he was so gentle and caring and made sure on two separate occasions that it was definitely what I wanted to do."
Brenda: "I knew you would given the right circumstances. But I don't want any details on that… not yet.. But me and you are going to sit and have a detailed chat about our men one day haha."
Ashley: "You're going to ask me about Chris and if I didn't have sex with him who I lost my virginity to now aren't you?"
Brenda: "The thought had occurred to me."
Ashley: "Well okay. Remember my friend Kyle?"
Brenda: "The one that's in the band?"
Ashley: "That's the one. We dated for a while when we were like 16. And one night it just happened. And it was more or less perfect. But we quickly realised that as much as we cared for each other we weren't supposed to be more than friends."
Brenda: "Ooooh, now it makes much more sense as to why you both were so close. But you and Chris were together for around a year and a half how come you never had sex with him?"
Ashley: "Because, well to be honest, I have no idea. I just never felt like I wanted to when I was with him. And I mean for a long time we were on and off so often I wasn't sure what was even going on. And on our off times, let's just say even as just friends Kyle and I had other benefits, which is probably why you noticed how close we are."
Brenda: "That is over now though right?"
Ashley: "It was never on enough to be over. But there is no way I would cheat on Zac. I know how it feels and I would never want him to feel that way again. Kyle and I… we're just friends who have fallen into bed together in the past but we have no romantic feelings for one another. I swear on it Bren."
Brenda: "I believe you. By the way, I was wondering if you would like to go on a double date with Jess and I, you know since you guys are coming along so well."
Ashley: "Well, I could ask Zac and see what he thinks… but I would definitely agree to that, it would be fun."
Brenda: "Well Jesse went round to see Zac just before you got here and I think they were going to the gym or something. I'll give him a text and ask him to check with Zac."
Ashley: "So what do you want to do today?"
Brenda: "How about rather than having a double date out somewhere… you splash the cash that you need to since u lost the second wager the other night. And me and you make dinner for the boys?"
Ashley: "That sounds good. Lets go grab some stuff and then hopefully have it ready for the guys being finished at the gym."
45 minutes last the girls had bought all the ingredients they would need to make Ashley's Spaghetti Bolognese. Brenda was made up with this idea as she absolutely adored Ashley's cooking… before she got together with Jesse, the two of them were going to get a place together and the deal was Ashley would cook if Brenda cleaned up after. But then Ashley introduced Brenda and Jesse to one another and sparks flew from the second they met.
While Ashley was cooking the dinner, Brenda set to preparing the table for the two couples.
Brenda: "I'm so glad one of us can actually cook y'know haha."
Ashley: "Brenda, you are a much better cook than you seem to think. And if there's ever anything you want to learn to cook, I can help you. Just let me know, it would be fun. But you can never go wrong with following a recipe book."
Brenda: "Still, everything always tastes much better when somebody else makes it."
Ashley's phone begins to ring and she lets a small smile play on her lips when she reads the screen.
"Hey."
"Hi there. What are you doing later?"
"Actually Brenda and I are in the middle of cooking dinner for the four of us."
"Sounds amazing. Can't wait to see you."
"Me either. See you soon yeah?"
"Erm, we're just about to hit the showers so around 30 minutes?"
"Looking forward to it."
"Me too. I better go or we're going to take longer and dinner will get cold. See you in half an hour."
"Bye."
Brenda: "I'm guessing that was Zac?"
Ashley: "Yeah he said the two of them will be here in about half an hour. Dinner should be almost ready by then."
Brenda: "Good. I'm famished. Need help with anything?"
Ashley's phone rang again,
"Sara? How come you're calling?"
"Ashley, darling I have amazing news. Can you talk?"
"Of course I can. What's the news?"
"Babe, remember that audition I got you for next week? Well the television company just got back to me… they have a different script that they want you took look over, and if you want the part there's no audition necessary. But if you turn it down they still want you to do the other audition."
"That's amazing. Of course ill look the script. Ill swing by your office tomorrow and pick it up."
"See you tomorrow then."
Ashley: "Wow, when one thing in your life goes right everything else does certainly seem to follow suit."
Brenda: "What did Sara say?"
Ashley: "The company my audition next week is with want me to look over another script. They've said that if I want a part, its mine… no audition necessary. But if I don't feel the show is for me I'm still welcome to do my other audition next week."
Brenda: "Congrats honey. Its nice to see things finally getting back on track."
Ashley: "Trust me it feels even better than it looks."
Both girls laughed then Ashley announced: "Dinner is almost ready. I'm just going to turn it down to keep it warm until the boys get here. Then I'm popping to the bathroom."
Just as Ashley exited the bathroom Jesse and Zac came in the front door.
As soon as he saw Ashley, Zac's face lit up with happiness and he walked towards her pulling her into a hug.
Zac: "Heeey. I missed you."
Ashley: "Me too."
Ashley tiptoed to kiss him sweetly on the lips.
Ashley: "Now come get dinner, it should be ready now."
Zac: "In a second. Come here first."
He pulled her in close for a proper kiss and after a couple of minutes Ashley pulled away.
Ashley: "There will be plenty of time for that later. Come, this is me paying back my side of the wager from the other night. Not only did I pay for it all, I cooked too."
He leant in for one more quick kiss before following her to the kitchen.
Jesse: "Dinner smells great Ash. I've missed having you cook, how come you don't do it so often anymore?"
Ashley: "Well, to be honest I don't really know, I mean I enjoy it so much I could totally do it everyday."
Brenda: "You did until me and Jess moved in together. Haha."
Ashley: "True. But then once you two got together and were always on dates, mom and dad were working late a lot of the time and Jenn was starting to date Danny. I guess I didn't see the point in cooking a meal from scratch for just me."
Jesse: "Well, you can always come round here and cook whenever you like. You should start having dinner parties haha."
Laughing at Jesse, Ashley and Brenda dished out dinner between four plates and took it over to the table.
Once all four had their dinner in front of them they began to eat.
Zac: "What's the plan for the rest of tonight then?"
Brenda: "Well. There isn't one. So we can do whatever we all agree on."
Jesse: "How about we rent a movie and all just chill out here for a few hours before you two leave so Brenda and I can have some time alone."
Ashley: "Jesse… stop right there. We get the hint, you don't need to tell us why you want to be alone with your girlfriend."
Brenda: "Yeah, Jess that's enough. Finish your dinner and you and I can go find a couple of DVD's. We can plan the rest of our night when we are out."
Jesse: "Okay. What kind of film would you two prefer?"
Zac: "Anything is fine by me. Let the girls choose."
Ashley: "I'll watch anything. Horror, rom-com, literally anything goes. Let Brenda pick… and when you guys get back we can plan her birthday."
Jesse: "Good idea Ash. We won't be long."
When Jesse and Brenda had left, Ashley stood up and started to clear the table.
Zac: "What are you doing?"
Ashley: "I'm clearing up the mess and then I'm going to wash the dishes."
Zac: "let me do it. I mean you and Brenda done all the hard work earlier."
Ashley: "If you're sure you don't mind. Ill put them away. But first come here."
As soon as Zac was standing close enough to her she pulled him into another kiss. Getting just a little bit carried away Zac lifted Ashley off the floor and sat her on the breakfast counter behind her. Running her hand up his clothed torso Ashley then remembered where they were so she slowly pulled away.
Ashley: "Zac."
"Hmm?" was the muffled reply she got as he had taken to kissing her neck.
Ashley: "Not here. This is their house. Its wrong."
Looking slightly dejected Zac stopped what he was doing and looked at Ashley,
"You're right. Sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking about where we are. Lets get these dishes done and then go sit on the loungers and look at the sea."
Ashley: "Looks like I'm not the only one who likes being outdoors."
5 minutes later the new couple made their way out on the deck area at the back of Jesse's home.
Ashley: "I would love to live right on the beach like this. Hopefully once I move away from home I'll be able to have a house somewhere near here."
Zac: "There's nothing quite like listening to the sea lapping the edge of the beach."
Zac then stood behind Ashley and wrapped his arms around her waist. Sighing contentedly Ashley rested her head back against his chest and entwined her hands with his and they just stood there in silence watching the waves rise and fall.
After a few minutes had passed Ashley released Zac's hands and turned herself around so she was facing him. Looking into her eyes Zac lifted his right had and pushed her hair behind her left ear, pulling her in for what he intended to be a short kiss when his had reached the nape of her neck.
Although this kiss stayed very much less heated than their previous one it lasted for a long time. Both of them were so lost in the moment that they hadn't even heard Brenda and Jesse come home.
It wasn't until Brenda reached the kitchen and seen they weren't there that she made her way to the back door of the house. Stopping in the doorway she felt terrible at the thought of having to interrupt them.
"Guys? I'm sorry to stop you, but Jesse is putting the first movie on."
Both Ashley and Zac jumped at the sound of Brenda's voice and then burst into laughter.
Ashley: "Oh my god. Brenda, you scared us to death."
Brenda: "Sorry. But you guys were miles away. Haha. You coming?"
Zac: "Yeah."
He took Ashley's hand and followed Brenda to the living room. Making themselves comfortable Zac sat with his left side against the arm of the sofa. Ashley then sat with her back rested against his right side and held the hand that he draped over her shoulder. During the movie, Ashley played with Zac's fingers and as soon as it finished she sat upright and whispered in his ear, "I think we should leave."
As she said this, she discretely motioned to their friends who she knew had spent more than half of the film making out.
Zac: "Hey guys, Ashley and I are gonna leave now. Talk to you later."
Ashley: "See ya tomorrow B. Jess… erm I don't know when ill see you next haha."
Brenda: "Bye. I'll call you before I come over."
Jesse: "See ya. Zac… I'll call you about that thing tomorrow."
Zac and Ashley stood on the friends doorstep and closed the door behind themselves.
Zac: "So… what do ya wanna do now?"
Ashley: "Well, I would very much like to spend some more time with you. Beyond that, I don't care what we do."
Zac: "Wanna just go and chill at my place?"
Ashley: "Sure."
Zac: "We have to take your car though, Jesse picked me up earlier."
Ashley: "Here's my keys, I'm too tired to drive."
