Current time...
-Ashley's POV-
I grew anxious sitting at the table. It's just a reunion. No big deal. I said trying to calm myself. All the questions asking if I'm okay aren't helping her either. It wouldn't be the first time we would see each other, I bumped into her at the mall, she was at Troian's wedding, but today would be the first time we really had to interact. "Shay's here!" "Shay!" "Hey Shannon" greetings buzzed all over the room and I remained still to where I was seated. I feel someone's presence behind me, not that I had psycho powers but I'm sure it's Shannon. I could recognize her even with my head turned. My breathing hitched, I am now about to face the ghost of my past.
"Is this seat taken?" She asks patting me by the shoulder. A wide grin grew on my face uncontrollably. "Hi!" she greeted me. After 2 years of nothing that's all she could say. What else do you expect her to say you moron?
"Hey…Shannon. Hi! Take a seat" I could feel everyone tensing up but relieved when I responded fairly. I stood up and envelop her with my arms. I missed the warmth of her embrace. She still has the vanilla and strawberry scent on her hair and skin. She still wears the same perfume that I love. I pulled away quickly before any other emotions could take over me. It wasn't that awkward I guess. She sat down beside me and everyone was starting to ask her questions.
"We haven't seen you for a long time Shay. How have you been?" Janel asked.
"I'm great. I've been really busy but I would be free once we finish promoting the movie. We should hangout you guys" She says with all smiles out.
"Tots! We missed you Shay. You're everywhere but you're nowhere" Sasha says on her Alison DiLaurentis tone. I guess she can't take that signature tone from her anymore. We all laughed at her quoting the PLL line.
"I have a copy of every magazine you've covered except for one because Ashley took mine. She was out of the country when it was released and she wasn't able to…" Fuck it Tyler! I glared at him warning him to keep his my shout. "…and I should stop talking. Anyone wants some booze?" He went away to the liquor area as quick as possible.
"What?" I asked Shay who failed to keep her giggles low.
"Nothing." She said with a devilish smirk.
The night went on and everyone was dancing and drinking and having fun. I stepped out to the balcony of the room we're occupying lighting one stick of cigarette. I brought it just in case I had to release some bad vibes.
"Since when did you keep smoking as your habit?" she approached me out of nowhere.
"Since the 10th of September 2 years ago" Her face frowned with my answer. "Come on I'm just kidding" I playfully nudged her. She pulled the stick out of my hand and took a puff ending up choking on the smoke.
"Oh God" she said with her choking voice. I pat her back while she coughed heavily. Her face was turning red.
"I'll get you some water" I rushed inside to get a glass of water for her. She drank everything inside the glass. "Why did you have a puff? You don't even smoke. Don't do that again!" I raise my voice at her and she's completely taken by surprise. Shit! Why did I do that? I wouldn't even wonder if she's going to yell back at me telling me to mind my own business because we're not even together.
"I'm sorry." She says leaving me all alone at the balcony. I suddenly remembered her walking away like that on the day we broke up.
I still don't understand why she left me before. I thought we could just act civil during this reunion but I guess not. Seeing her reminds me of all the pains I went through. I've felt dead for months. There were so many instances I wanted to call her, so many times I wanted to find her but I didn't. Hearing her say sorry and walking away from me again brings me back to that day again. Why do you still have this effect on me Mitchell?
I couldn't find her around due to the people dancing on the floor. She might have gone to the restroom or who knows where I don't care anymore. I went to the liquor area and drowned myself with alcohol.
-Shay's POV-
When Ashley raised her voice at me I left her immediately. She still cares for you Shay even after what you did. She wouldn't yell at you for nothing. I took a couple of shots at the liquor counter before throwing myself at the dance floor. I'm here to have fun and fun is what I get. The power of alcohol had made me tipsy but I was still conscious of everything. I was dancing with Sasha when a drunken Ashley slipped herself in between. I gave Sasha an apologetic smile. She nodded moved to dance with Vanessa.
"Shaaannon!" she says in a loud voice dancing to the rhythm. I went along with her and our bodies moved in motion. Katy Perry's I kissed a girl song played. I haven't heard that song for a long time. She wrapped her arms on my neck. "I'm glad you're here" She whispered
"I don't want to be alone either" This scenario have had happened years ago. It's like a déjà vu; the song, our position, our conversation. I look at her eyes, it was sad and in pain. It's not the old sparking blue eyes anymore. I slowly moved closer to a kissing distance, one hand on her waist the other brushing the loose hair on her face. I leaned an inch closer, closer and closer and Ashley just passed out.
-Ashley's POV-
I stirred around the bed with a severe headache. Why did I even drink that much last night? Last night! I look around and notice that I'm inside my room so that's a relief. I look at my clothes and I'm wearing an oversized shirt and boy shorts now that's weird. Who brought me here and mostly who changed my clothes? I went downstairs to check if there was someone around but there's no one. I went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. There was a pot on the stove which is again weird because I never really cook especially when I'm going out for a party. A lot of weirdness had been going on around my house because when I checked the coffee maker the coffee was already ready. The mystery was solved when I saw the note plastered on my fridge.
'I made you chicken soup and there's an advil on the counter for your hangover. I made you coffee too but I suggest that tea beside the pill on the counter. –Shay' my eyes widened at the signatory. Shay? Shay as in Shannon Ashley Mitchell? My ex girlfriend? I shook my head trying to find sense of what's happening.
After over thinking about everything I took a quick shower and decided to go to the dance studio. I opened a dance studio just about 6 months ago. Everyone was there at the opening, except Shay. It's the only place I know where I could take away the troubles running through my head. Once I got there I blasted the sound and started moving my body. The headache's being a trouble but it's not that painful anymore thanks to the soup, tea and advil. No one was around because it was a Sunday. I was in the middle of the dance when someone came in through the door
"I'm looking for the owner of the studio" Shay said smiling shyly at me.
"uhh…uhmm…" I didn't know what to say. I know she knows that this is my studio. Wait how did she even know I'm here?
"I'd like to tell her how beautiful the studio is. I wasn't here when it opened and even if its 6 months delayed I would like to send her my congratulations. Do you happen to know if she's available for coffee?" I smiled back at her. I don't know why she wants to ask me for coffee but I went along.
"Right now?" I narrowed my eyes still with a smile
"Hopefully. Do you know if she's free until dinner time? We haven't talked for 2 years and I owe her a lot of things to talk about" she says with slight hesitation.
"She would love that. 2 years right? That's a long time. I guess you guys would need more than coffee and dinner for that..a sleepover maybe and…a day out tomorrow and another the day after that." I suggested and she gave me a very bright smile. I turned the music off and prepared to leave. "Ready?" She nodded and soon we left for coffee.
"So where do you live now?" I ask her taking a sip of my coffee.
"I just bought house. It's actually just a few blocks away from yours. You finally have your own studio, I remember you always dreamt of owning one." She replied
"Yeah it's a dream come true" She looked away looking disappointed
"I'm sorry I wasn't there at the opening" I squeezed her hand that was on the table
"It's okay. I know you've been really busy. Do you have anyone special right now?" I changed the topic only to come up the lamest topic. Damn it Ashley.
"None. I'm too busy for that. I'm starting to accept the fact that I'd grow old alone" we both laughed at what she said. Maybe if we didn't break up she wouldn't even think of growing old alone. She would have might think about growing old with me. I would have adjusted to her busy schedule. I was enjoying my thoughts before I was sucked back in by a waving hand.
"Are you okay Ash? You kind of spaced out" Shay asked with concern.
"Yeah. I'm okay. Well you don't have to worry about growing old alone coz I'm not doing any better either" I hope I didn't make it sound like I'm suggesting myself to her.
"Best friends stick together right?" I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. I haven't actually thought about us still being the best of friends.
"So you want to grab take out before we head home or do you want to cook?" I changed the topic again before I space out once more
"Home?" she asked teasingly
"I mean…my place…or yours…or" I rumbled with my words
"I would love to show you my place Ash and cooking sounds good" She saved me from my rumbling. I nodded prepared to leave. She pulled out her wallet just as I pulled out mine.
"I got it" I tell her but she places her money on the table
"No I got it" I push her money back to her and placed mine on top
"No I got it" she insisted and I insisted again and we both ended up tossing a coin to decide whose paying. It's just like the old times.
"Nice house Shannon! Oh my God the whale floater. Shannon. The floater" I said like a child seeing a puppy. It's the famous whale floater she has. She has had it for years and I wasn't expecting she would still have it until now. I roamed around the kitchen while she prepares the pasta noodles.
"You can change for some comfortable clothes upstairs Ash. You can use mine if you want to." She offered to me. It wouldn't really be comfortable to wear this exercise clothes while cooking.
"Sure. Is it okay if I go upstairs now?" Of course I had to ask her permission to go upstairs. Just because we're in speaking terms now that doesn't mean I could go back to my old ways of ransacking her place. It's not like we're still sharing a house anymore.
"Yeah. Feel at home. This house isn't too big for you to get lost." I made my way to her room opening every door since I forgot to ask her which room was hers. When I finally found the right room I opened her closet and changed into one of her oversized tee and her shorts. The first months of our breakup I kept wearing the clothes that she had left at my place but the feeling and scent of her clothes on me now is different.
We enjoyed ourselves to her very delicious pasta recipe and a glass of wine. We're now seated at her poolside watching the stars above us. The sound of the night, the light from the moon, the freshness of the air, everything seems so romantic but it doesn't really feel like that.
"Ashley? Can we talk about us?" I've always waited for this day to come, the day where she tells me what went wrong, the day she would explain why she had to hurt me, but imagining how I would feel when this day comes is far more different than what I'm feeling now. I can't find the words to explain what I really feel inside. Ready or not Ashley, it's time.