Dave had hung up so Ashley closed her phone. He had never acted like that before. She pushed open the exit door and could see Dave leaning against her car looking fairly pissed. None of the fans had gotten out yet so Ashley hurried over to the car. After both got in Dave just took a deep breathe and looked out the window. Ashley knew this wasn't the time to talk. So, after a few minutes of driving around Ashley cautiously asked,
"So, where do you wanna eat"?
"Hmm? Oh sorry, uh I don't care… what about that place we ate at last time"?
"The Chinese place"?
"Yeah, is that okay with you"?
"Sure, I was kind of in the mood for a fortune cookie".
Dave gave a little half smile at that, but didn't say anything else. After they arrived, sat down, and put in their orders Dave still wasn't letting on.
"Okay B spill it".
"Spill what"?
"B, you know what I mean. I've never heard you that pissed on the phone before".
"Don't worry about it. I just let something get under my skin".
"Fine".
Ashley hated it when he played this game. He always tried to play shit down, and it always took Ashley forever to get him to talk about it. She just took a deep breath, and waited for him to start it up again.
"Why are you looking at me like that"?
"Just wondering why you do this crap".
"What crap"?
"This macho crap! Oh, I have to play everything down, and not talk about it. Even if I really need to. I thought I was your friend".
" Sigh. Ashley your one of my best friends…"
"Then why aren't you talking to me? You do this every time, and then afterwards you always say I'm the only person you can talk to".
"You are the only person I can talk to".
"Then why…"
"Because I don't want to hurt you! … Sorry… I didn't mean to yell, but really I'm just trying to protect you".
"B you know I'm a big girl, but what's really hurting me is that your closing me off. I just want to help".
Dave took a deep breath, and with an almost reluctant face turned back to Ashley.
"Okay, Trip said some things that got under my skin".
"Is that why you weren't at ringside"?
"Yeah, he ordered me to stay back because my head wasn't screwed on right".
"Okay, why…"
"He actually had the nerve to get on my back because I didn't handle my business to his satisfaction. He thought laughing and joking around with you was the worst way to handle it. He thought I should have told you off for having a life"!
Dave paused to regain his composure. Ashley knew it was best not to interrupt once he was on a roll.
"Oh and then he starts in on you. 'Why do you bother with her in the first place'? Then, he even has the balls to call you every name in the book! Ric was the only thing between my fist and his face. So, because I was so pissed Ric thought it would be a good idea if I took the rest of the week off to think about what's really important".
Dave practically spat out the last two words. Their food had arrived, but Ashley wasn't as hungry anymore.
"Then Hunter tried to forbid me from ever talking to you again".
"What did you say"?
"I told him to shove it. If he really wanted to lose the lat real body guard he had that was his burnt bridge".
"Dave I…"
"Don't worry, he took it back, but told me I wasn't allowed to accompany him to the ring until I got my head on straight. Honestly I was relieved. I wont have to watch over his ass every damn second of the day".
"I'm sorry".
"Why"?
"That you had to go through that shit".
"It was worth it. I'm not about to lose the one real friend I have for a large nosed asshole".
"Well, thank you… that means a lot to me".
"Oh, Ashley when he said those things about you I got so pissed. I mean I wanted to kill him".
"Was it that bad"?
"Worse, he said you were nothing but a dirty ass whore, and he sincerely hopes that you get taken behind a shed, beaten, and left to bleed".
Dave was shaking from anger by this point. Ashley reached across the table and grabbed his hand. He relaxed a little and held her hand tightly in his.
"I knew he hated me, but damn"!
Dave cracked a smile so Ashley continued.
"I mean come on, you'd think he was the Godfather. All hail King Snozer"!
Dave was laughing now, but Ashley didn't ignore the fact that that he was still holding tightly to her hand. After a few more jokes Dave loosened up, and they were able to finish their diner. When they got back in the car they cracked open their fortune cookies.
"Mine says, 'Keep your friends as close as you can, but keep one eye behind you'. Wow, that's very Godfather-ish".
"Only you Ash. Mine says, 'Your true friends are right under your nose, don't let them go without a fight'. Well, that's dead on".
"Aww, you'd fight for me"?
"Well, I was referring to the fact that your literally about 6 inches under my nose, but yeah, that too".
"Oh gee thanks. Lets all make fun of the V.C. girl".
"V.C."?
"Vertically challenged! Try to keep up Heeman".
"Heeman! So now I'm Heeman"?
"Would you prefer the Golly Green Giant"?
"No, Heeman is fine".
"That's what I thought".
"Oh, so you a tough girl"?
"Yep, and if you have a problem with it I can always call you B bear in public".
"You wouldn't"!
"No, but I love seeing that horror stuck look on your face every time I say I will".
Ashley had just pulled up to Dave's hotel, and it was a good thing to because Dave was trying to tickle her.
"Hey, are you trying to get us killed"?
"We're parked".
"Must you always worry about the details"?
"Ha… anyway! I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow"?
"Okay, well good night B bear".
"Night Ashley".
Dave reached over and gave her a big hug, but before he let go he leaned further over and whispered, "Thank you". Then he let her go and got out of the car. He waved bye before he went inside. When Ashley got home there was a message from Sara saying she was spending the night at Chris's. So Ashley went upstairs and went to sleep. She was having a weird dream about an egg roll beating her head into a giant fortune cookie when her cell phone woke her up.
"Hello"?
"Hey Ash, did I wake you"?
"Yeah, but its okay. I had this super crazy dream".
"Oh really? What was it about"?
"Lita, if I told you, you'd put me in a round padded room".
"Only if I could tell you to piss in a corner".
"With the dream I had, I'd find a corner to piss in".
While Lita went into a fit of laughter Ashley checked the clock. Wow, 9:00, I slept in.
"So, when do you want to hang out"?
"You can come on over, just give me time to take a shower".
"Yeah, because I'm sure you stink".
"Oh yeah, like rotten butt".
"Huh"?
"I don't know, it's too early".
Ashley hung up so Lita could recover from her second fit of laughter. About an hour later Ashley and Lita entered the mall. Wednesday afternoons weren't exactly the mall's busiest hours so they didn't have to deal with crowds. They decided to go into Hot Topic first, and Ashley was searching for her size in a kick ass cameo corset.
"Bingo".
"That's gonna look good".
"You should get one. You're always wearing those army pants".
"But then I'd look like you".
"You can't customize it"?
"True".
"Redheads"!
"Anyway! So, where was Batista last night"?
"Oh lord, you wouldn't believe it".
"What"?
"Triple H banished Dave from ringside that night because of me".
"You're kidding"!
"No! When I left Dave was waiting by my car. I've never seen him so pissed".
"Not at you"?
"No, at Triple H. Apparently because of me, B doesn't have his head on right, and I'm going to ruin Evolution".
"All by yourself"?
"Yeah, really, come on. And Trip like called me every name in the book, and Dave tried to kick his ass".
"What"?
"Ric got in the way and broke it up. So now he has the rest of the week off to think things through".
"Damn, you were a magnet for drama last night, weren't you"?
"Apparently. Geez, who did I piss off"?
"Bischoff! He's furious, and I can see why. You did a number on Trish".
"Do you blame me"?
"No, I know how she gets. Oh, but I bet it felt good. Taking all that shit out on her".
"Yeah it did, as much as I hate to admit it, but I hope she makes it to Wrestle Mania. I want to beat her ass again".
"Ha! Its addictive ain't it"?
"Yes it is. I wonder if they have A&A meetings for that".
"Lol… So, there's nothing going on between you and Dave"?
"What"?
"You and Dave"?
"Are friends".
"So, nothing else popping up"?
"Not that I know of. You know, lately everybody keeps asking me that. What, is it lets get onto Ashley because she hasn't dated in a while"?
"Sorry, just wondering".
"No, its not your fault. You the only person I'd say anything to… I don't know, maybe there is something".
"Its not a bad thing Ashley. Just take it slow and see what happens".
"Thanks".
As the girls continued their shopping Ashley was able to quiet her mind again. For now, she was happy with just going with the flow. She decided to just wait and see what happens.