Chapter 11: Ashley's Choice
The next day, Karone went to see her brother and she looked at DECA. "DECA, unlock the doors," she instructed. The door to Andros's room was unlocked and Karone went inside. She walked over and sat on the edge of his bed. She stroked his hair and watched as he slowly started waking up. "Hey, Andros," she murmured. Andros looked at her before sitting up.
"What time is it?" He asked.
"It's about seven o'clock," she replied.
"In the morning?"
"Yeah."
Andros shook his head and laid back down. "I'm not going to school," he informed.
"You have to go," she insisted.
"We're Karovans, not Earth people, Karone. I don't have to do anything."
Karone sighed and knew that Andros was still hurting from Ashley's rejection. "Okay, I'll be back in a little while," she informed. She kissed the side of his head and left. Andros buried his head into his pillow and he fell back to sleep.
(Cheerleading Practice: After School)
Ashley was trying to get the squad to do a new cheer when she suddenly went into a daydream. She reached up and touched her lips, Andros's face appeared into her mind again. "Ashley," Melissa called. Ashley snapped out of it.
"You okay?" Rosa asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied.
She bit her lip as she started to daydream again about the other night. She rubbed the back of her neck and she looked at the squad. "Okay, everyone, that's it for today," she informed. She watched as they gathered their things and left. Ashley sat down on a bench and she closed her eyes as she thought about the dream she had about Andros that night when she finally fell asleep. It was too perfect to be a dream, too perfect. She closed her eyes and she shook her head. "I'm with Carlos," she whispered. She bit her tongue. "But I don't have to be," she pondered. She shook her head and she took a deep breath. She pulled out some paper and she started to write.
Ashley arrived at the soccer field and she found Carlos's soccer bag. She walked over and stuck the note inside. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Then she walked off.
(Megaship)
Ashley had TJ teleport her to the Megaship. "Andros," she called. She walked around the corner. "And…" she trailed off when she bumped into Karone. "Karone, hey," Ashley greeted. Karone crossed her arms over her chest.
"What are you doing here?" Karone asked.
Ashley started fidgeting with her hands. "I…I came to see Andros. Where is he?" She asked. Karone just gave her a cold, hard look.
"Why should I tell you after the way you treated him?" Karone asked.
"I…I never meant to hurt him," Ashley insisted.
"You broke his heart into so many pieces, I don't know if they could be put back together."
"I had a boyfriend."
"Then why did you kiss Andros back?"
Ashley stalled with that answer. "If you were so devoted to Carlos, why did you kiss Andros back?" Karone asked.
"I…" Ashley trailed off.
"I'm not about to have you hurt my brother. He's been through enough."
Karone leaned against the wall. "I just gave Carlos a letter to tell him that I can't keep doing this to him," Ashley informed.
"A letter? Why?" Karone asked.
"I couldn't bear to see the look on his face, Karone. I just couldn't. He's in love with me, but I don't love him in that way. I thought I did…but then I met Andros…"
"Don't you blame Andros for your breakup."
Ashley was silent again for another minute. "I'm not blaming Andros for my breakup," she murmured. She fought back the tears and she looked at Karone. "I didn't mean to hurt him. I never wanted to hurt him. He means so much to me, every time I'm near him I feel things," Ashley explained. Ashley played with the hem of her shirt. "Please, Karone, tell me where he is," Ashley insisted. Karone was silent for a minute.
"He's in his quarters," Karone answered.
Ashley nodded her head slowly and she walked down the hall towards Andros's room.
When Ashley went into Andros's quarters, she saw the broken mirror and when she walked closer to Andros, she saw the bandages on his hands. She fought back a sob as she gently reached out and touched his bandaged hands. Andros woke up with a jump. "Hey," she murmured.
"Ashley?" He asked.
She nodded her head slowly. "Yeah, it's me," she replied. Andros sat up and pushed his hair out of his face.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I came to see you," she replied.
"What about your boyfriend?"
"What boyfriend?"
Andros gave her a quizzical look. Ashley suddenly went down on her knees in front of him. "I'm so sorry, Andros. I never meant to hurt you. I know you've been through enough and doing that to you last night was the cruelest thing I have ever done. I'm so sorry," she apologized. Andros reached out and touched her hair. "Give me a second chance, " she murmured.
"What made you think that I wouldn't?" He asked.
Ashley smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug. Andros hugged her back before pulling her down on the bed with him. Ashley giggled and Andros kissed the side of her neck. Ashley looked at him and stroked his hair while smiling at him. "Get some rest," she told him.
"Why would I need to rest when I have you here?" He asked.
Ashley smiled and Andros kissed her deeply.
