Chapter 10

I really didn't know where to take her. I didn't have money to buy milkshakes and so I parked in this parking lot outside of the park. We jsut sat there and talked. She was fine. She didn't get into the fight with Gavin, but suddenly I hated him. What could she have done that was so bad that would make her cry again? I don't know what they have to fight about. And why would she love someone like him? She said it herself. She loved him. That's what annoyed me.

I didn't meant to hate Gavin all of a sudden. He seemed like a good guy- don't get me wrong, it's just he seems so immature. How could yo be mad enough to make someone like Ashley cry? I would never. That would take too much and I don't see how anyone could possibly be mean to her. She was one of the nicest people I knew. Everyone in the halls said "Hi" to her and when she smiled you smiled with her. I didn't think someone could be like that to her. But I didn't know if I could say that. There was something stopping me when I almost did. We were friends. We worked together and talked a lot. I felt out of place getting all heated up about how much of an idiot her boyfriend was. Her boyfriend- that phrase bugged me all of a sudden. I hated him. I honestly did.

"You're always saving me," She said looking at me. We came to one of those rare pauses we always do. "I mean, not always but the first Friday and now? You are like a super hero of some kind." She smiled. I smiled back but shook my head.

"I'm not a super hero." I said.

She looked back at the door and locked it and turned looking at me. She sat cross legged on the seats. "You're the nicest person I've ever met." She said. "Everyone just says goodthings about you. I didn't know people like you existed. You always seem to know what to do for someone." Her eyes were so big and pretty now all of a sudden. we were sitting under a light with my car off so I could see her. I tried shaking those thoughts from my head.

I shrugged. "I just do what I'm supposed to." I said. "Anyone would have helped you that night."

She shook her head. "At least three people just walked by." She said. I shook my head in disbelief. "I'm serious, but thanks again." I looked forward and she kept looking at me. It was quiet. "It's weird, but I think you're one of my best friends. I mean I doubt Charlotte knows half of the things I've told you."

I shrugged. "I really like talking to you," I said. "I feel the same way." Except I couldn't say she knew more about me than my best friends. She didn't know about Matt and my dad and my life. She just knew about me. I almost felt sick. She was giving so much and all I was offering was little bits and pieces of me. Not my life. Just me.

We kept talking. I just kept noticing all of these things about her. When she laughs at lunch she has this quiet nice laugh. Here- with me- it's loud and real. It's not obnoxious, it's just not held back. She smiles differently. I wonder if she notices these kinds of things about me. Maybe she does. Maybe I act differently in front of her from Josh and them. I probably just never notice something like that about myself. She smiled a lot more in front of me- was that something she felt? Did she notice how much she smiled at me.

Probably not, but I could feel my cheeks grow numb from smiling too much. I never smiled this much.

At least not before getting to know Ashley.

She pulled a chair up closer to mine opening her paper bag. I was sipping the stale coffee trying to wake up. I started my shift at five- opening. She started a few hours later with a Carol's coffee cup in her hand. She looked nice in the morning. It was cooler and her cheeks had color to them. Maybe it was just make-up but I can't tell. She smiled though saying hi to me. We talked some more. And here our lunch was normal- as usual- she was taking out half of her sandwich and handing it to me.

I usually resist as always. She goes on to say: "You're getting too skinny- I thought I'd have to worry about Charlotte having an eating disorder, but you Will? Come on, just take it. It's fine." But no, today she had two bags. She passes one to me. I look at her. What is this?

"I told my mom about you," She said smiling. "She insisted on making you a lunch for now on."

"When did she decide this?" I asked. She was opening her bag taking out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I let mine sit and settle in in front of me. I was used to sharing with Ashley. Half a sandwich was enough. Was perfect. Here her mother made me a whole lunch. Was I special? I was special enough for Ashley to tell her mother about. I was special enough to be friends with someone like Ashley. I was special enough to be one of her "best" friends. She was probably close to being mine.

She shrugged. "She's been saying it for a while," She said smiling a little at me. "But she finally made one today. I just saw two lunches and knew. She works a lot and makes my lunch before she goes to work." I slowly opened it. There was my name written on it too. This was weird.

But it was the same as sharing. A full sandwich and an apple that wasn't already half-eaten- that was the only different. Plus there was a note: "Have a good day today- thank you for everything you've done for Ash!!!!" I smiled and Ashley reached over taking the note from me and reading it. She smiled a little blushing. She turned a nice shade of pink when she blushed. I looked away. She was my best friend- why was I feeling this all of a sudden?

"I had no idea she wrote that," She said. She put it down and ran a hand through her hair blushing a deeper shade. I smiled at her.

"It's fine, don't worry. That was nice, tell her I said a million thank yous." I said. I wasn't special until I met Ashley. Now I was special enough to possibly be a known part of her life. I didn't care if I was just a conversation at dinner or in a car ride somewhere- I wasn't just her friend within work and awkward lunches and study.

"I will," She said smiling. The sandwich was good. In fact I felt amazing. I felt like I was on top of the world. We talked normally. Laughing a lot and being us to each other. I felt comfortable. I even brought up Matt. Maybe in a little while I could explain to her Matt or my family- but it was seeping out slowly. I didn't want lunch to end. She still had register but I had produce. Then I got off and had to take Matt home. My grandmother had him today. This was what most Saturdays were like if my dad had work.

Ashley got off an hour after I did so she didn't see Matt and me. I waited outside for my grandmother's old used Volvo pulled up and she dropped Matt off. She smiled and told me to work hard and see her next week. I nodded saying to see her too. Matt looked up at me. He looked tired. He had been reading Harry Potter again.

"Hey," I said looking at him.

"Hi," He said. We didn't talk much after that. In the car ride he fell asleep. It wasn't that late but I felt bad waking him up so I pulled over to the side of the road shutting my car off. He'd be up tonight anyways- and I started on my homework. I didn't want to wake him up he'd just whine. I did an English paper while he slept in the backseat.

By the time I got home he had woken up turning onto our street.

A/N: What's happening? Predictions? Review please. I'm feeling pretty down lately with my writing. I don't get as many views or anything anymore :( where has everyone been?