"Benny!" came a shrill voice from the shore. We both turned to see Ashley waving at us- or more precisely him.
"Oh God," he muttered, and I looked to him for a cue as to what to do. Ashley was the same age as Ben and I knew they'd hooked up in the past, but I had been under the impression it was over between them.
"Ben?" I asked, questioning him but trying not to jump to conclusions.
"Kay, I swear it's nothing. We're not- I haven't- shit," he said.
"Well that's reassuring," I said, sarcastically, letting go of him and headed for the shore. I was ready to storm off the beach when Ashley stopped me.
"So you're the girl, huh?" she asked.
"What'd you mean?" I responded.
"Benny and I were going to go to the dance together. We'd planned it at the end of last year for Christ's sake, and then I go away for cheer camp and I come home to find he's dating some new chick. He won't answer my calls or texts, he won't hold up on his promise to take me to he dance, and I am not the kind of girl who takes rejection well. Just like I'm not the kind of girl who lets some little girl steal my boyfriend out from under me.
"Ash, we weren't even dating," said Ben, joining us.
"Umm, nice of you to tell me that!" came her snarky response, "Are you dating this one, or are you just 'having fun' with her too?"
"We're dating," I said, looking to him for confirmation, "We are dating right?"
"Yes. Of course we are. Babe, don't let her get in your head. You know how I feel about you; how I've always felt about you," he said, almost pleadingly.
"Well if you've always felt something for her why'd you sleep with every girl on two legs?" Ashley asked, making sure to emphasize the point to me.
"Ash it wasn't like that and you know it. We were just having fun. I couldn't have Kayla; that didn't mean I shouldn't be with anyone. I wasn't going to mope around until she noticed I was just as into her as Jack and for just as long," he explained, and I couldn't tell who it was more directed at.
"Well I think that's absolutely pathetic," Ashley spat, and I sort of agreed. It wasn't right for him to use all these other girls as a way to tide himself over until he could get me.
"I didn't mean to hurt anyone," he clarified, "I thought you girls were in it for the same reasons as me. I'm sure some of them were, if you were looking for something more serious, I'm sincerely sorry."
"Too little, too late," she said simply, clearly a bit put off by his heartfelt apology.
"I understand that might be the case," he answered, "But I want for us to be friends if you think that's possible."
"Doubtful," she snarled, having regained her composure.
"Well I'd like to start by accompanying you to the dance of you'll have me," he said, bowing slightly. "After all, a deal is a deal."
"A deal is a deal?" she questioned, looking at me, "You'd let your boyfriend go to the dance with me?"
"I mean, if he promised," I said, shrugging and half hoping she'd refuse his offer.
I know I said he could go with whoever, but Ashley was so not what I'd had in mind. Someone cute, sure, but not his gorgeous ex-girlfriend who he had chemistry with and who was clearly still into him.