Chapter Three: Completely Different
"What did you think?" Nick grinned, waiting for Ashley's response. "Was it all you expected?"
"It was definitely wild. I can't believe that girl paid you to take a shot off her stomach."
"Yeah, it's fun working there." Nick tossed the keys to Ashley.
"So, you make enough money here to keep up your place?"
"No. This place is spending money." He responded.
"So you are a prostitute then? I knew it when we first walked in and everything..." Ashley's voice trailed off, as she stared at him. Nick was completely different from who she thought he was. He was ... better somehow ...
"I model."
"What?" Ashley asked, snapping out of her daydream.
"I do calendars, magazine ads ... stuff like that."
"Oh." She looked down, hearing her cell phone ring. It was Ellie. "Hey."
"You're not still with that Nick creep are you?" Ellie practically screamed, as if she had been worried all day.
"I'm fine ... I've been resting at home for a couple of hours and ... I feel a lot better." Ash decided against telling Ellie the truth ... partially because she felt some type of loyalty to Nick.
"Good. I thought he would've worked his charm by now."
"No. Everything's ... chill. I've gotta go though. Homework calls." Ashley and Ellie said their good-byes as Nick sat back listening.
"You're a really good liar."
"No I'm not." Ash responded after hanging up the phone.
"Yeah ... you're not."
Ashley woke up the next morning feeling just as horrible as usual. The bright sun outside completely contrasted with her mood. Normally, it was gloomy and foggy, just the way Ashley liked it.
She'd had another nightmare about Manny and Craig, but this time, Manny had tried to kill her in order to get Craig. She shouldn't have watched that Swimfn movie last night with Nick.
Nick ... how could she forget that she'd spend the entire day with him. "Stupid me." Ashley mumbled to herself. "He probably thinks he's won some prize by now..." How could she let herself be taken in by his charm ... Ashley should've known by now that no many could be trusted. Not her father, not Craig, and definitely not Nick.
"Ashley! Time to get up!" Ms. Kerwin yelled as Ashley groaned. Another day of high school hell. She forced herself to walk over to her closet, noticing that all her dark-colored outfits were gone ... dirty. Ash hadn't washed clothes in a couple of weeks. There was only bright red, neon orange, neon blue, hot pink, and lime green left to choose from ... those were all from the days when she had cheated on Jimmy with Sean ... so long ago.
"Neon blue it is," She mumbled, pulling the blue halter off of the hanger. "This'll do." Ashley picked up a dirty pair of bell-bottom jeans and a small jean jacket.
"Ash, wake up!!"
"I'm coming mom." She walked into her bathroom, determined to take a quick shower. Today, she didn't look half as bad as the way she felt.
(A/N: Not much, but it's a start. The transformation begins ... can't you tell with my use of "color" weather ... sorry too much analyzing from English class. NM else to say. But you guys can still comment and let me know that you're reading and liking/disliking it. Thanks! --NL)