You Lied

Chapter 12: Tightrope

 Ashley is fast asleep in her room when she hears a knock at her door, she groans and sits up, "What?" says Ashley.

"Time to get up cowgirl! It's your first day of high school!" says Jessie.

"Uh...don't remind me."

"Take a shower, and come down here for breakfast. Oh! And make sure to wear something nice, my momma always taught me to always make a good first impression."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." Ashley gets up and turns on the lights, her eyes take a minute to adjust to the light. She grabs a black long-sleeved shirt, and some blue jeans. She heads to the bathroom and takes a shower. After she's done, she gets out and brushes her hair, she then heads down stairs where Jessie is waiting for her. 

"Hey cowgirl."

"Hey Jessie, where's mom?"

"She had to leave early again, something about the hotel's other act canceling on them."

"Oh, okay, I just thought that she would want to send me off on my first day of high school, but whatever I guess..." She sits down.

"Hey." Jessie sits beside her and hugs her, "You know your mom would be here if she could, you know that right?"

"I don't know anymore Jessie..."

"Cowgirl, your momma loves you with all her heart and soul. The other day she was bragging about how smart you were to the hotel manager."

"She was?"

"Yeah, she cares about you so much, you're her only daughter for crying out loud. I remember when my daddy left us to go on the peace corps. It was hard, but he always kept reminding me every time he called that he still loved me and my mom, no matter what."

"I wish my dad would call every once in a while..."

"I know, but, hey you have me right?"

"Yeah, that's true, I don't know what I would do without you if I'm being honest."

"Aw, I love you cowgirl." Jessie hugs her tight.

"I love you too Jessie," says Ashley.

"There is also someone else who loves you just as much as I do, and is not going anywhere anytime soon."

"Really? Who?" The doorbell rings and Jessie smiles, she walks to the door and opens it to reveal Jeff on the other side, 

"Hey!" says Jeff as he hugs her.

"Hey!" says Ashley.

"That's who," says Jessie.

"What are you talking about?" asks Jeff.

"Come in, Jeff," says Jessie. Jeff walks in, he and Ashley go and sit on the couch. Ashley lays on his shoulder, 

"You ready for our first day of high school?" asks Jeff.

"Sure," says Ashley.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know, I just feel like things are moving too fast."

"What do you mean? What's moving too fast?"

"Just life, I guess."

"Ash, I hate to tell you, but life's always gonna be moving too fast for you. But you know what you do?"

"What?"

"You move even faster."

"What do you mean?"

"Ash, you can't just sit back and expect life to slow down for you. You have to work on yourself, be resilient, be savage, and most importantly never give up. That's how you beat all the obstacles life is gonna throw at you."