The Guily Ones

Nothing but Pie

A loud "crack" pulled me back into the present.

I jolted.

Sookie was waving and snapping her fingers in front of my eyes.

"Hey Aaash. Wake up. You okay? We're here!"

Dazed, I shook my head, feeling its weight on my shoulders.

"Yeah... Sorry, think I'm still a bit groggy from my shift yesterday."

"Shift yesterday?"

"At Merlotte's?"

"Ash, you didn't work yesterday. Arlene had her engagement party at Merlotte's. Missed you there, by the way..." She peered at me, concern furrowing her brow. "You sure you're alright?"

Had I really slept through a whole day? Unaware? My forced smile must have been anything but convincing, as Sookie's worry lines deepened while I desperately tried not to dwell on it. I could almost feel her mind trying to pierce mine

TV static. Birdsongs...

I tried to think about anything other then why this fatigue followed by headaches felt so familiar...

"Ashley Simmons, should I be worried about you? Why do I have this feeling that your hiding something from me?"

The probing feeling increased, tingles shooting down my spine. Blinking I slipped, if just for a second, thinking of Tom. My heart squeezed uncomfortably.

"Get out of my head," I snapped as she was about to pry further. Wisely, she ceased, pivoting to "We're here!"

"Fantastic!" I was in the mood to shake out some information out of someone. Maybe gaining information needed some punching of some kind...

"Don't forget, we're just asking a few questions!"

I grumbled deeply. Then I summoned my most convincingly learned Southern smile. "All righty, sweetie pie."

Sookie seemed like she still wanted to say more when a familiar truck honked behind us. Sam leaned out the window, his head swaying in the breeze like a dog's. Sookie's eyes widened, and she snorted before turning to Sam, buoyant.

"Hi Sam, thanks for coming."

Did I imagine it, or did her cheeks actually flush a bit?

Sam briefly glanced at me, nodding amiably, then grinned broadly at Sookie, leaving me feeling like the third wheel. "Let's catch a murderer, girls!"

So much enthusiasm, great. Who knew, if this went well, I might try to enlist the two for more crime hunts. Sookie, Sam, and Ashley. SamSookAsh, AshSamSook, AshSookSam...

"There it is."

In front of us stood a coffee shop shaped like a cake. Big Patty's Pie House.

"Someone got real creative, huh?" I muttered sarcastically. Sam shot me an irritated look, and I summoned my Southern smile again, feeling myself ripping at the seam.

Damn it, keep it together Ashley...

"Shall we?" I needed to regain my inner peace urgently. Ashley Simmons seemed to be slipping away more and more. Instead, New York Ash took over – and honestly, she could be quite the bitch!

His irritated expression softened to a frown as he held the door open, a bell chiming as it swung, wafting us with the scent of cake. My stomach grumbled.

"Hey there!" Sookie jumped in, pulling the still-confused Sam behind her. "My fiancé and I heard from friends that this is the best cake place in the entire South, so I told him right away, 'Honey, that's where we're getting our wedding cake.' Our friends told us how sweet they were advised by a young woman named Cindy, and I hoped she might be here again today and could help us?"