The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 41

Tuesday

Pushing the basketball arena door open, Ashley eyed an empty, poorly-lit room instead. Jessica had asked her to come to a basketball game with her and Kyle in late afternoon today, but there was no sign of a game being held there at all. After having told Ashley there was something the couple had to sort out first, Jessica persuaded her to just wait inside and they would catch up with her in a minute.

Sighing, Ashley stepped inside and sat down on the bleachers nearest to the entrance, waiting for Jessica and her childhood friend-slash-new boyfriend. Since Jessica and Kyle got together as lovers, he had been staying in their apartment until his spring semester started next week. To be honest, Ashley was extremely happy for them, but on other hand, seeing them all lovey-dovey right in front of her eyes made her feel lonelier as well.

The guy from New Year's Eve party kept texting and asking her out, even after she already sugarcoated to reject him friendly and nicely by taking hours to reply. She felt guilty for letting him kiss her on New Year that had misled him to the wrong lane. The thing was the guy was simply not the one she wanted. He wasn't Joey.

Out of nowhere, four people carrying some instruments walked into the court that attracted Ashley's attention from her phone. Her face crumpled in puzzlement, exerting to figure out what was happening. And, speaking of the devil, Joey followed them to the center of the court with a guitar hanging over his shoulder and a picnic basket in his hand. She gasped.

After setting the basket on a picnic blanket, he looked up at her and shot her an enticing smile that got her bated her breath and glued in her seat. He looked so dazzling in a gray knitted sweater and dark jeans with a pair of black Vans. Without saying anything, the band and him simultaneously commenced playing some very familiar tunes.

"I know your eyes in the morning sun

I feel you touch me in the pouring rain

And the moment that you wander far from me

I wanna feel you in my arms again

And you come to me on a summer breeze

Keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave

And it's me you need to show

How deep is your love?"

Ashley had no idea what to feel and what to react, but tears already spiked her eyes. Absentmindedly, she got up and ran toward the entrance door. Storming across the basketball arena area, she couldn't cease her tears from falling. The only thing she wanted to do right now was just be away from Joey as far as she could. She wasn't prepared for any of this.

"Ashley, wait!"

She heard his voice shouting from afar, but she just ignored him and kept scurrying.

Joey grabbed her arm. "Ash, please!"

Stopping her pace, Ashley turned around to face him as she peered at him. "What do you want, huh? Why are you doing this?"

"I- I thought you'd like it. Your dream date, right?" he queried, grinning.

Her voice rose in pique. "Are you making fun of me, Joey? If this is just some- some kind of a joke to you, if- if you didn't mean any of this, please stop. You have no idea how much it hurts me!"

His grin wilted. "Ash..."

She exhaled heavily, lowering her voice. "It's just... I was doing fine without you, okay? Just please, don't mess with me again..."

"I just want to be the guy who... you know, makes effort for you."

Ashley scoffed scornfully. "Effort to get in my pants again?"