"You heard me, Pipsqueak. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I'll give you a lift to campus. I already live close and my shift doesn't start until 11. So it's perfect if you ask me." Larry's voice echoed through my head, vibrating confidence in his plan. I couldn't even argue against it, not that it would have mattered. After the conversation we had over dinner, it would seem counterproductive to do so. Not to mention, I doubted Larry would take no for an answer.
Leaning back in my chair, face turned to the ceiling, I stared at the white paint. My eyes grazed over the blank slate like I was waiting for a movie at the theater to play on the big screen. Over and over the memories ran, and all I could do was agree to his offer. Afterward, he took me back home and said he would see me on Monday if the gang didn't get together before then. I had the good conscious to text Ashley while I was with Larry, just so she wouldn't worry. However, by the time I got home, I was so tired that I said goodnight to Ash and went straight to my room. Hopefully, she didn't think I was upset or anything. Maybe I should go see if she's up. We both had Fridays off and typically she slept until 1 pm. Noon on good days. Sitting up in my seat, I picked up my phone and watched the screen come to life. The time read 12:30 pm and before I could stand to my feet; I heard a knock on my door. "Hey Pops, you up?" The gentle voice called out. "Yeah, come in!" Immediately, my face brightened when I saw Ashley walk in. Wearing cozy white pajama pants, a black T-shirt, and adorable pink bunny slippers. "Hey, good morning!" She sang as she walked further in to take a seat on my bed. I giggled at her warm aura. "You mean, good afternoon?"
"You know what I mean! And it's close enough to morning!" She shared my amusement. "I just wanted to check in on you since we didn't get to talk last night."
"I'm fine! Nothing to worry about. I was just exhausted after dinner." I offered a comforting smile. Ashley sighed with relief. "Good, I thought Larry did something stupid, and you were upset." Waving my hand in front of me as though I was shooing away a fly, I shook my head quickly. "Not at all! He was a perfect gentleman! We just hung out over dinner." With a teasing smirk, Ash leaned in my direction. "Ooooh? A perfect gentleman? Over dinner? So, you had a date with Larry?" Her voice was playful, with a suggestive expression in her eyes. My face swelled with heat like a thermometer. Again I shook my head more vigorously, while both hands shot out towards her in a stopping gesture. "No, no, no, no! You misunderstood! It wasn't a date! Larry just happened to find me on campus after class and offered to get dinner with me! Nothing more!" I word-vomited the first things that came to mind, my voice rising in pitch. I was so flustered my mouth was moving faster than my brain could keep up. It was like chasing a speeding train.
I must have looked like a big red lollipop that you get as a kid after visiting the dentist, because Ash burst out laughing. Holding her stomach for dear life. Ashley swiped her thumb over the corner of her eyes, preventing tears from falling over through her fit of laughter. "I'm just teasing, Pops! God, your reaction was so adorable and funny. Are you sure you don't have a thing for Larry? Because you know, I wouldn't have any issues with it, if that was something you were concerned about." Although her voice was sweet, it carried undertones of mischievous intent. It was like talking to a sour-patch kid. Sour and Sweet. "I don't have a thing for Larry! I just think he's a very considerate and down-to-earth guy who tells it like it is. He's a great friend, that's all!" With a huff, I crossed my arms over my chest with a pout. My face felt like it could steam up if someone threw water on me, like stepping into a sauna and splashing hot stones. "Oh, so you don't think he is hot?"
"I… I never said that…" Pausing, my body sank into my chair, wishing I could become as small as possible to avoid any more questions. Ash's suspicious gaze lingered on me, a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes. It was as if she had uncovered a secret I wasn't even aware of yet. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, desperately searching for words to salvage the situation. "Well, it's not that I don't think he's attractive," I stammered, feeling my already flushed cheeks migrate up to my ears. "I just... I mean, he is very good-looking and his personality is a big plus, but that's it! There's nothing wrong with thinking your friends are attractive." The words fell from my dry lips, echoing the tangled mess of emotions inside me. God, I could use a drink right now. Letting out a girlish giggle, Ash nonchalantly leaned back on one arm and sighed. "I understand what you mean. I've known Larry since we were children, even before Sally came along. He's always been a sweetie and chill dude. Even as kids, I thought he was pretty handsome, in a bad-boy rocker sort of way, but over the years, he became more like a brother to me."
"Well, what about Sally?" Since we were already on the topic of boys, I was curious to know how she felt about the blunette. I took notice that her posture tensed up as she answered my question with one of her own. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, what do you think of him? Do you find him attractive?" Elaborating on my question, Ash's cheeks seemed to darken a couple shades. That's interesting. "Sal is… different. He's a compassionate and level-headed guy. He has always been adventurous and tries to see the good in people, but he's not naïve either. Those things make Sal beautiful." Her voice was soft and enduring. Staring down at her hands, her thumbs soothingly rubbed along each other. "Um Ash, do you like-like Sal?" My next question must have snapped Ash out of her dreamy state because her eyes shot in my direction and she blushed. "What?! No! I was just answering your question! And 'like-like'? What are we in, middle school?" Now it was her turn for her voice to pitch a few octaves. I had never seen Ash defensive like that before. Her flustered response and her attempt to dodge the question made me think there was something behind that mask.
Raising a brow of disbelief, my body leaned toward her, a teasing smirk on my face. Copying the manner of interrogation she had used on me before. Huffing out a chuckle, I pressed further on the topic. "You really do have a terrible poker face, you know that? Are you sure there isn't something there for our dear ol' sweet Sally?" She rolled her eyes at me and crossed her arms over her chest. Slowly chewing on her lips like she was debating a decision within herself. "Fine. I admit it… I do like-like Sal". My eyes widened at her confession. I mean, yeah, from how she acted I could tell she had some sort of feelings, but I didn't expect her to easily cave in. Ash bashfully twirled a lock of her brown hair between two delicate fingers, avoiding my gaze. "I've… never told anyone before. Not Larry, Neil, Todd, and obviously not Sal… so please, just keep this between us?" Her new shy persona was undeniably adorable and refreshing. She typically carried herself with such confidence and certainty. "Don't worry, Ash. Your secret is safe with me." I slid from my desk to cozy up beside her on the bed. With a playful gesture, I nudged my shoulder against hers and held up my pinky, inviting her to join in. "I pinky swear."
Ash joyfully accepted my gesture, intertwining her pinky with mine and letting out a relieved sigh. In response, she nudged my shoulder and leaned in, resting her head against me. I caught a whiff of her sweet mango-scented shampoo from her soft hair. "Well, spill the tea, sister. How long have these feelings been eatin' you up?" Again Ash let out another sigh, but it was more of disappointment. "Long before you came into the picture, probably for the last year? More or less? But it's complicated."
"Complicated how?"
"Complicated in that Sal has had a thing for me since we were in high school. It was pretty obvious, but he never asked me out or said anything. For a time, I was kind of thankful that he didn't. I was worried about what would happen to our friendship if I turned him down. At the time, I wasn't interested in dating. I loved what I already had with the boys, especially Sal. But as we've gotten older, I found myself questioning my own emotions and wondering if I missed my chance with him. I don't know if he's moved on and if he did, can you blame him? Honestly, I don't even feel like I would be good enough to be with him anyway. I'm the complete opposite of Sal. He's so in tune with his feelings, confident in who he is, willing to see the good in other people, help them out even when they had done him wrong first, and keeps cool under pressure. Then there's me. If someone crosses me, I become jaded. I'm not as open with my emotions. I'm not even as confident as him. I always feel so lost, like what I'm doing isn't enough in my life. How could someone like me, even think of asking Sal out? After so long of waiting."
I couldn't make out her expression, but the velvety texture of her voice portrayed the hurt she felt. A small sniffle followed as Ash raised a hand to her face, sneaking away a tear. She must have been holding this in for a long time. "God, I'm so sorry. I just went off on a rant there without thinking." She lifted her head from my shoulder as she looked at me. Her emerald eyes became puffy from her tears and her nose turned pink. I offered a kind smile, taking her hand in mine. "Ash, you don't have to apologize. I don't mind listening and it seemed like you really needed to get that out." Her exasperated chuckle backed my theory. "Like I said, I love the boys, but it's different being able to talk with another girl about this stuff. The guys are the closest friends I've had for years. Sure, I've made some friends who were girls before, but it always turned a bit weird whenever I brought them around the group. Either they never clicked well or they were rude and stuck up. I wasn't going to allow someone to come in and disrespect my friends like that. Besides you, I have one other loyal girlfriend, named Maple. But, I don't get to talk and hang out with her as much since she's a mother." Her hand gave a gentle squeeze to mine and a grateful smile decorated her face. "You have no idea how happy I am that we became roommates. Probably would have lost my mind with anyone else, considering my luck with past girly friends. You seemed to take everything in stride when we first met, so open, fun-loving, and meshed perfectly with everyone since then." My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest from the sweet words. The familiar sting of tears poked at my eyes as I brought up my free hand to rub them away. "Aw, Ash! You truly have no idea just how amazing you are. Even when you're venting, you find a way to love dump the people you care about." We both giggle.
"Love dump? That's a new way of saying 'love bomb'."
"Don't try to change the subject, missy! Before you were talking about the 'negative' side of yourself and how you couldn't compare to Sal. But the thing is, you don't have to be just like him to be with him. I'm sure he doesn't even wish that. If he has liked you for as long as you have said, then clearly there's more to you than that. You are so thoughtful, kind-hearted, honest, creative, and incredibly dependable. Anyone, especially Sal, would be lucky to have a partner like you!" By this point, Ashley was a sniveling mess with the biggest puppy eyes I had ever seen. "Waah, Poppy!" She flung her arms around me into a tight hug and I just giggled as I returned the cuddle with a squeeze. "You're so sweet… thank you so much for dealing with my endless yapping."
"No need for thanks. Anytime you feel like yapping, I'm always here with a lending ear or shoulder." I soothingly pat her back. "Thanks, you're the best. But um, seriously, let's keep everything about me and Sal, between us. For now. I want to tell him eventually, but I gotta figure things out first." Ash pulled back from the hug with an uncertain smile. "Of course, we pinky swore! I take my pinky promises very seriously, I'll have you know." I say in a playfully snooty tone, placing a melodramatic hand on my chest, provoking a laugh from her.
"You know what? I haven't heard anything from the boys all day. I say we have a girls' night! We can order in and…" Ash took a moment as she looked over some of my anime posters hanging up. "You can show me a new show!" My eyes lit up with excitement. While Ash and the boys had some prior exposure to anime, turning others on to it was always a blast, solidifying my status as the group's anime connoisseur. "I think I know just the one for us to watch!"
"Perfect! Let's order Chinese tonight and we can camp out in the living room! To prepare for a relaxing evening, I will collect my Galaxy projector and an assortment of my fineness pillows for thy optimal comfort." Leaving my bed, she playfully twirled an imaginary French mustache.
"I got the blankets and snacks then!"
((A/N: Sorry for the late update everyone! I got pretty sick and needed to take it slow with this chapter, while also caring for myself.
P.S. Ash x Sal romance? Don't mind if I do~!
P.S.S. What is an anime you would suggest to a first-timer or beginner? I have some in mind, but I need some possible suggestions. ))