So, I hope I still have readers and reviewers left after my LONG-ASS absence!! I was on vacation for two weeks, and then I came back and didn't really know how to continue this story. I'm still not 100 percent sure ... but I kind of have an idea? haha Whatever, I'm just gunna roll with it and let me know if it sucks, okay?

I want to thank my amazing reviewers from last chapter:

slimshadyzlady: I'm sorry you felt that way about my last chapter. But don't worry – the one thing I definitely know about this story's end is that Michelle will get her just desserts.

6Ellie6: Yeah, you can guess things with Bradin and Ashley are gunna be pretty awkward for the next few chapters ...

Ash Riley: Okay, so I got off Facebook for the next hour or so to write this chapter! haha And it's gunna rock!! Thank you for saying how believable my dialogue is – that I believe is my specialty and I love hearing that I'm doing a good job on it. If you don't like happy endings ... you may actually like this chapter. A lot. But who knows, right? Enjoy!

Also, thank you angelprncess18, SummerBreezeGurl77, JmacKarla, and acciodanrad9 for your kind reviews. Enjoy the new chapter! And I hope it makes up for the LONGG wait.


Chapter 28: For the Windows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti

The following morning Ashley awoke to the sound of The Bravery on her cell phone, the bright California sun blinding her through her blinds, and a major headache the second she opened her eyes and the memories of the night before hit her. She groaned and quickly looked over to Brooke's bed, hoping to not have woken her, but was not shocked when she saw the bed still fully made.

"At least some things in my life never change," she thought as she sat up in bed and reached over for her phone. One missed call and one new text message. "Wonder who they could be from?" she thought dryly. After a moments hesitation, she flipped open her phone and read the message not surprisedly from Bradin:

"Ash … i don't kno how else 2 say this but just 2 say it – i'm sorry. i'm SOOO sorry, baby!! God gave me the fortune, or curse, 2 actually remember wht happened last nite & i was an idiot – a HUGEE idiot! i don't know wht else 2 say but tht & again sorry … but i remember tht u have a meeting 2day & i'll b there. mayb we could talk after? i just want 2 explain myself-"

"Enough of this!" Ashley slammed her phone down on her bed and bit her lip to keep from crying this early in the morning. "What time is it?" Checking her clock, she saw that it was 8:45 a.m. and she had to be at Mr. Rainy's office promptly at 10 a.m. and she still didn't know exactly where it was. Pushing all thoughts of Bradin, Michelle, and the sight of Bradin and Michelle together to the back of mind, Ashley quickly got out of bed and began getting ready for her meeting.

--

Arriving precisely at 10 a.m., Ashley walked up to the secretary's desk. Even though it was a Saturday morning and normal office's would be closed, Mr. Rainy's was not. Seeing everyone bustle around, it seemed just like a regular day to her. The secretary – a Mrs. Watson – was even shuffling through papers, taking notes, and answering calls just like a regular day in the office.

When Ashley walked up to her, however, she stopped what she was doing and smiled at her. "Are you Ashley Danes?" she asked and Ashley could sense a hint of a southern accent.

"Yeah. Yes, I have a meeting-"

"-with Mr. Rainy, right? He just called down to see if you had showed. I'll take you up there right away."

"Thanks," Ashley said as Mrs. Watson came out from behind her desk and walked with her to the elevators in the lobby.

"So, who exactly is in this meeting?" Ashley asked while they were in the elevator. She tried to keep the nervousness from showing in her voice, but Mrs. Watson could sense the girl's nerves the second she walked up to the desk and gave her a pat on the back.

"No need to worry. It's just between you, Mr. Rainy, and the head of the talent department, Mr. Woods. Besides, I let in a friend of yours about five minutes before you came."

"Friend?"

"Yes, a handsome young man came in here earlier and said that he was your moral support. I think the name was Brandon …?"

Ashley's face went white. "Bradin," she said quietly.

"Yes! That's it!" Just then the elevator doors opened and Mrs. Watson was leading her down a hallway. "He seemed like fine young man. Boyfriend?"

She opened the door to the conference room and the first face that Ashley saw was Bradin's front and center. "He was," she answered, looking directly at him with sadness in her voice. But then she regained her composure as Mr. Rainy and Woods stood up at the sound of her voice and began shaking her hand. "Thank you for showing me the way, Mrs. Watson," Ashley said politely as she turned to leave.

"Now, Ms. Danes. Why don't you have a seat next to Bradin over there and we can begin this meeting," Mr. Rainy said joyfully. That was the last place Ashley wanted to sit, but she had to oblige. The second that Bradin turned to offer a smile, she looked straight ahead at the two figure heads before her and forced a smile.

"I'm so sorry that I was late."

"No worries; you're here now," Mr. Rainy said. "Now, let's get down to business."

--

"Bottom line, Ashley," Mr. Woods said at the end of what seemed like a Shakespearian monologue by Mr. Rainy, "we want you to sign with Rainy Records today because we believe- No, we know that you have talent, you have the voice, and you have the conviction to make it in this business. So, what do you say?"

Ashley looked back and forth from Mr. Rainy and Mr. Woods' smiling faces and then down to the contract Mr. Woods had just placed in front of her. She didn't know that a small meeting she had originally set up could turn into a life-altering experience. This was too much for her to take in, especially with Bradin right beside her giving her little nudges and whispering in her ear that it would be a great opportunity for her to take.

"But, I haven't even graduated from college yet," she said, "and I'm not even sure I want to become a singer, professionally. I'm sorry, but … I don't know."

Bradin spoke up. "I think what Ashley's trying to say is that she didn't expect today to turn into a contract. Can you give her a few days to think it over?"

"How dare you tell them what I think!" Ashley thought. "Even though, that kinda was what I was thinking …"

"Okay," Mr. Rainy said. "I understand. Is that what you want, Ashley? Because we can always have you come back later on this week to make a decision."

"Yeah, I think that would be better," Ashley said, looking up from her lap.

"Okay, we can do that," Mr. Woods said. "But before you go, I want to remind you that we currently have JoJo, Vanessa Hudgens, and Cheyenne Kimball under our management and they are all around the same age as you. Just to let you know: it can be done. Tutors are always available if you wanted to continue your education on the road and-"

"Bryan," Mr. Rainy interrupted as he stood up, "I think she gets the picture. We'll be in contact, Ashley."

Mr. Woods and Mr. Rainy exited the room, leaving Ashley and Bradin alone the first time since the night before. Ashley didn't know what to do with herself. A million thoughts were running around inside her head that she couldn't even think straight. She grabbed the glass of water provided for her and took a long sip until it was empty. Putting it down on the table, she didn't dare look at Bradin and sighed.

"Well, that was … interesting," he spoke up. She could tell he was looking at her, waiting, hoping for her to say something back to him, to acknowledge his presence since she had pretty much ignored him since walking into the room an hour before.

But she would not give him the satisfaction. She stood up, picked up her purse, and walked out to the elevators, all the while Bradin following her. They got into an elevator together, but Ashley stared straight ahead and waited patiently until they reached the lobby. Even outside, she put on her sunglasses to shield her sensitive eyes from the always bright California sun and walked to her car. She had not taken the time to realize before, but she was parked right next to Bradin's car.

Bradin followed her to the parking lot before he could take her silent treatment no longer and had to say something to her. "Ashley, don't you think this is a little childish?" She spun around on her heel and glared at him the best she could through her sunglasses. He waited for her to yell at him, but nothing came. "You won't even acknowledge me enough to yell at me? Wow, that's cold." He stepped closer to her and came around his car to stand next to her at her driver's side. "Did you get my text message this morning? I tried to call too, but you didn't answer."

"That's because you woke me up, jackass," she thought bitterly. "Even though, technically I would have been even more late if you hadn't …"

"I know that that does by no means justify what I did last night, but I want you to hear my side of the story. And since you aren't talking to me, I guess now's as good a time as ever." Ashley sighed, put her keys into the pocket of her jeans, and crossed her arms in front of her chest, not looking him in the eye but giving him her full attention. "Okay, this is gunna sound lame, but I was drunk. Obviously. I was waiting for you inside, when Michelle came up to me and we started talking. She actually made a couple of good points-"

"What could she have said that resulted in you two making out?" Ashley snapped.

"You're talking to me now?" Bradin asked hopefully. "It's a step closer."

"Just answer the question." He could practically feel the coldness dripping off her words.

"Well, this is gunna sound really bad …"

"Just tell me."

Bradin took a deep breath. "I told her that it would be nice if I could be the one in control in this relationship for once." He braced himself for the slapping and yelling.

"Wow," was all Ashley could manage.

"… And she basically sweet-talked me by telling me that to her it seemed like I'm always waiting on you, like a little puppy, and if her and I were together that I would be the one in control the whole time."

"Woah …"

"Yeah … I-"

"I can't believe you talked to her about something that should have been discussed with me!" Ashley yelled. "Disregarding your actions afterwards, you could've easily come to me and told me what you told her. Relationships are about communication, Bradin. Without it, we're pretty much screwed. And you chose to take the low road, turn into a jackass, and confess our issues to her! Oh, and then you liked her answer so much that you rewarded her with a heavy make-out session and who knows what more."

"It just stopped at that, I swear," he was quick to interject. "The truth is, Ashley, that I didn't even know we had a control problem until she brought it up. I thought our relationship was perfectly fine before she suggested otherwise. I love you, Ash, and I made the biggest mistake of my life last night. I knew how much you hated Michelle, knew the dirty things she's done to you in the past, but I just didn't think and-"

"You sure as hell didn't think last night," Ashley said, pulling away when he tried to grab her hand. "I loved you too, Bradin. I thought that you loved me and respected me, but that obviously wasn't true. And the whole 'I was drunk' excuse doesn't fly here. We both know that you act on your true thoughts when there's alcohol involved."

"Ash, please! Just listen-"

"No! You know what, I am done listening to your excuses and lies. I thought I loved you, but I don't, I thought I could trust you, but I obviously can't," Ashley got into her car and shut the door in his face. Before she backed out of the lot, she said, "You just lost all of my respect, Bradin Westerly, please don't ever think of talking to me again."

She then drove off with a broken down Bradin hanging onto his car to keep from passing out. Never had he ever lost someone that he cared so much about and loved so much as Ashley. His past relationships couldn't even hold a candle to Ashley, and now it looked like he would never even see her again.


Sad, right? Well, y'all love the drama so I gave it to ya. Review for a quicker new chapter, because in the time I spent writing this I got my idea for the ending!! It'll only be a few more chapters now ...

Song of the Chapter: "For the Windows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" by Sufjan Stevens as heard on The OC. I think you have to hear the song to understand why I chose it for this depressing chapter.