Ashley stood and popped a crick out of her neck. They had just landed in Greenville, SC and were now unloading the plane. Ashley collected her carry on's and began making her way up the aisle. As she was making her way through first class she bumped into someone's shoulder.
"Oh I'm sorry… Dave! Hey"!
Dave turned around and gave Ashley a big smile.
"Hey girl".
Ashley moved out of the aisle so people could get by.
"So, look at you all dressed up".
Dave was wearing a business suit, another one of Evolution's rules.
"And you're all dressed down".
"Duh, what kind of freak do you take me for"?
"The kind that's standing on an empty plane".
Ashley looked around; the plane was indeed almost empty.
"Oops. Come on".
Once off the plane Batista put his arm around Ashley's shoulders.
"By the way, I never got to properly congratulate you about your match".
With that he picked Ashley up into one of his bear hugs. He gave her an extra squeeze before setting her back on the ground.
"Aww, thank you B, but I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you. You were the first person I thought of. Hell, I didn't even tell my mom until this morning".
"Well, what's done is done. Don't worry about it".
Ashley knew Dave wouldn't bullshit her, but she still had a feeling he was upset about it.
"So… your not mad"?
"At you? Hell no. I'm just pissed at myself".
"Why"?
"Because I should have been there".
"B, don't, its Randy who needs to be checked. I would have told you in person had it not been for him. I'm gonna talk to him about that tonight".
"Well, for what its worth. I guess he was all right when we hung out. Arrogant as hell, but all right".
"Funny, that's what he said about you. Except you weren't arrogant".
They had reached the luggage area, and Ashley had just spotted hers when she was pulled into a huge hug. A pair of arms, blonde hair, and flowery perfume surrounded her.
"Ashely! It's been forever"!
Sara was Ashley's best friend and roommate.
"It's only been a week".
"Yeah, but you know I hate being left alone".
"Ha, too true".
"Hey Dave, what's up"?
"Same old, how about you"?
"Boredom"!
"Damn did you miss me that much"?
"Of course I did Ashley".
"Hey, I hate to break things up, but I'm going to head out. Trip just had to wake my ass up for a celebration party, and I gotta get some sleep".
"Celebrate what B"?
"I have no idea, but anyway you two girls behave… Oh and Ash I put your luggage behind you so don't trip".
"Oh your so funny. Thank you".
Dave gave Ashley another hug before heading for the rental car department.
"Well, you ready"?
"Yep".
During the drive Ashley was quiet and just listened to Sara recount what had happened in the past week.
"So you wanna tell me why you're being so quiet over there"?
"Huh? Oh sorry, just tired I guess".
"Well you better wake up and tell me what's going on with you and Dave",
"What do you mean"?
"You two act more and more like a couple every time I see you together. Yet, you still deny there's anything there".
"We're just close friends".
"Oh okay, so when you hugged him good bye you didn't notice huh"?
"What are you talking about? Notice what"?
"How he held you a little longer than necessary. How he almost looked pained to let you go. How whenever you're talking he's always touching your shoulder, or your arm, or just the fact that when you're around him he always looks happier".
"No I haven't, and I think your imagining things".
"Oh sure, fine, Mrs. Naïve. Whatever you say, but the thing is do you want to be more than friends"?
"I haven't thought about it since we're just friends".
"Okay, just food for thought".
The rest of the way was silent except for the radio. Of course Ashley had never considered what it would be like to date B, but now that Sara had said it… Dammit, now I have all these screwed up things in my head. I'll never be able to relax. Ashley took a deep breath, and for the moment was able to push all thoughts to the back of her mind. Once they got home Sara said she needed to run to the grocery store. Ashley knew it was just to give her time to wind down. She decided to take a nice long hot bubble bath. She wouldn't have time to take a nap, so she might as well relax and get clean at the same time. By the time she got out Sara was back.
"Hey Sara".
"Yeah"?
"Sorry if I was short earlier. I was just tired you know"?
"Don't worry about it. I'm sorry if I sounded pushy. I was just trying to say Dave's a great guy, and you haven't dated in a while. I thought you two would make a cute couple".
"Your right, Dave's a great guy, but for now at least I'm happy with us being friends".
"I hear you".
"Well, I got to go get ready".
"Alright".
"So, you still coming to the show"?
"Yeah, I'm going to meet Chris at his house and then we'll head over".
"Okay, cool".