Chapter 16

Ashley's Night...

After talking to Brian, Nick and I set out to his house.

I've never been to Ruskin; he told
me I'd love it though.

"So what's up with Leslie and Brian?" Nick
asked turning the stations.

"Nothing basically, but I don't want to talk
about it," I sighed as I looked out the window.

"Okay…what do you want to talk about?" He asked me.
I didn't want to talk, I just, ugh!
I wanted to kiss him right then and there!

"I don't know. Can we just sit for a
while?" I asked looking at his beautiful face.

"Yeah sure." He looked at me and
grinned and I kissed his cheek.

I looked out the window, 2 days until Nick was gone.

I couldn't tell him that I wanted more than
what we had, I don't think that's what he wants.

I think that's what he was trying to avoid in the first
place. But then again he's taking me
to his house to meet his parents…I don't know!

This is all too confusing, I think I'll just try to figure it
out at the apartment with Leslie since she's
figuring out Brian and I'm figuring out Nick.
We'll have a misery party.

"Nick?" I turned to him and asked.

"Hmm?"

"Have you ever been in love?"

"What? Why?"

"Just answer me."

"Okay. Yeah…once."

"Who was she?"

"Ashley, I don't want to go into it."

"Why?"

"I just don't okay? Have you?"

"You're changing the subject."

"No I'm not! It's the same subject I'm just asking
you the question."

"Yes. Happy?"

"Who was he?" I gave him an evil look;
he was turning it around on me.

"No one Nick. God." I turned to the
window and sighed. That one person, was him.

About ten minutes later we pulled up to a large house
with a lake in the back. He punched in the code
for the fence and pulled into the driveway.

"Ash I'm sorry. I totally took that the wrong way.
It's just hard to talk about," he turned to me and sighed.

"I'm sorry too. I rubbed my nose into your personal
business," I said taking his hand.
He kissed it, sending tingles up my spine.

"Come on, they're waiting for us inside," Nick said
as he jumped out. I shut the car door and walked
up beside him as he entered. "Mom? Dad?"
He said looking around.

"Nick? Hold on," his mother said from the
kitchen. A little boy ran down the stairs
and jumped up on Nick.

"Hey bro, who are you?" He asked me.

"This is Ashley, Ash this is my brother Aaron."

"Hey Ashley!" A familiar voice said from upstairs.

It was BJ! I had to show her around campus
about a month ago and we've been friends ever since.

"Hey BJ! I didn't know you were Nick's sister!"

"I didn't know you were Nick's girlfriend!" She said
as she hugged me. I knew it was bad
when she said 'girlfriend,' since technically I wasn't.

"Okay I'm not going to bother to ask how
you know each other," Nick said to us.

"Good cause we weren't going to tell you
oh brother of mine," BJ said as I laughed.

"Nickolas Gene Carter get you butt in here I need
some help in the kitchen!" His mother yelled.
Nick and Aaron ran to the kitchen.

"So you're Nick's girlfriend?" BJ asked
as we sat down. I shook my head.

"I want to be, but he strictly didn't want that."

"Well he said that last time to his girlfriend
Stacy and they were together for 2 years."

"Wow! You think that will happen with
Nick and I?" I asked curiously.

"I bet. Plus you're way nicer than she ever
was." I sighed and thought to myself.

'She must have been the one Nick loved, not me.'

"Dinner!" Nick yelled from the kitchen.

2 more girls from upstairs came running down to the
table and sat down. I sat in between Nick and BJ.

"Nick's father's on a business trip, he's not here."
Nick's mother said as she put all the food on the table.

"Can you pass the biscuits Ashley?" Aaron asked me
trying to reach them himself and getting
mashed potatoes on his shirt.

"Here, but I'd wipe that off first," I said
as everyone laughed.

The dinner I was basically quiet since Nick just
got home and everybody wanted to know what
was goin' on.

BJ talked to me the whole time, she was so cool for 16.

"I'll be back in a little bit mom." Nick said kissing
her cheek and walking out the door with me.

"Nice meeting you Mrs. Carter," I said as
I walked to the car.

"You too Ashley."

"Bye BJ I'll call you later!" I said as we drove away.

"You have a big family," I said as he got onto
the main highway.

"I love them all," Nick said glancing at me
for a quick second. 'I love you,' I thought
as I looked at him.

When we got to the apartment,
I saw Leslie's light on but not Wendy's.

"I'll call you tomorrow kay?" Nick said walking
me to the door. I nodded and kissed him.

"Bye," I said as I watched him drive away.
I opened the door and looked around.

"Les?" I asked as I saw her crying on the couch.

"Hey Ash. Just a Brian thing, I'm okay," she
said to me as I walked over to her.

"No tell me, it will make you feel better,"
I said as I sat next to her.

"I told Brian that we shouldn't see each
other. I mean you know where I'm coming from right?"

"Yeah, I think I would have done the same thing."

"I love him so much Ash."

"I know Les, I know." I started to cry
too as I thought of Nick.

"Why are you crying?" She asked me
handing me a box of tissues.

"I love Nick."

"Oh God Ash."

"I know! It just happened!"

"Then why don't you tell him?"

"Because that's what he was trying to avoid!"

"Good point, how about we just sit here and cry,"
she said as I laughed. The phone rang,
I looked at Leslie. "I don't want to talk to him."

"Hello?" I asked.

"Ash? I want to talk to Leslie."

"She's…she's not here Brian."

"Come on Ash, I know she's there,
let me talk to her." I handed her the
phone as she took it.

"Hello? No Brian, I don't care. No. Just…leave
me alone. Brian you're making this harder than it
already is. I know. Brian don't, just let me go okay?"
She hung up the phone and sighed as the tears
streamed down her face.

"What did he say?" I asked as I put the phone up.

"He doesn't understand basically is what he said.
Then he wanted to come over and I told him no.
I hope I'm doing the right thing." She said
laying her head on my shoulder.

"I'm going to go to bed, you need
anything?" I asked getting up.

"No, I'm going to make some more coffee
and try to go to sleep. I have a job interview
tomorrow."

"Cool, for what?"

"I have 2, one as a living model at the mall,
and the other as a cashier at JC Penney."

"Good luck huh?"

"Thanks Ash." I took a box of tissues with
me to my room with me, getting ready to cry
my eyes out.

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