The Piano || 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬

|23| Are you saying what I think you're saying?

Author's note-
> This is my favourite chapter lol

> I have no idea about Sam and Colby's friend group or their private life. That's why all of the following characters, influencers, friends, and enemies will be made up, except for the publicly recognizable.

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Somewhat halfway through the night, Colby disappeared from the seat next to Ashley. He had got up and said he would be right back, so she was left waiting for the brunet. If Jerry had seen them right now, he would've laughed at them, just sitting on a couch in a garage while the party was happening all around them, people playing games, dancing, and having fun. But she was perfectly content with Colby's company. They had been talking all night long, the topics already slipping from her mind.

The world was a good place to be.

She stared up at the ceiling, another red cup in her hand, almost tipping over. Ashley closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

Someone moved the cup and put it back up so it wouldn't spill. Ashley opened her eyes but had to squint at the sudden flashes of lights. How long had she been lying there with closed eyes? At least Colby was back now.

But it wasn't Colby who had sat down next to her. She couldn't quite pinpoint where she'd seen the guy's face before, but Ashley was certain that she had. Probably another influencer. She politely nodded at him before looking up and searching the room for Colby with her gaze. He was nowhere to be seen.

"What's a cute girl like you doing alone at a party?" the guy asked. Ashley sighed and sunk back into the pillows. She'd had her fair share of experiences with creeps like this, but she would never get used to it.

"I'm not alone," she said with a smile. "Just waiting for my friend."

"Friend, yeah?" he asked. His breath smelled like bad alcohol, and she had to refrain from holding hers.

"Yeah. And I'm not interested in you." Ashley bit her tongue. Bad move, if he was the kind of guy she thought he was, that would only make him more aggressive.

As expected, he scoffed. "Playing hard to get, I see."

"Nope. Respectfully, if you're going to give me that shit, fuck off." He didn't move. Ashley wouldn't, either. She was doing everything wrong. Or was she? The alcohol in her veins didn't let her think clearly anymore.

"Come on, don't give me that attitude. Just relax," the guy said, scooting a little closer. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No, but I have a boy-friend who's soon going to be back," Ashley said, getting irritated by the guy.

"What's he gonna do?" he asked, his words slurred. Without looking at her phone, she unlocked it and began recording, hoping that his face would be in the frame as well as hers. He would regret this.

"Get you thrown out of the party," she replied lightly.

"Pfft. For having fun?"

"For harassing a girl who told you to fuck off. I can tell you again if you didn't hear," she offered. "Just leave me alone."

He laid an arm around her shoulders. She was quick to try and push it away, but he held onto her too strongly. Now she wished she could recognize him. She would have to find out if he behaved like this all the time.

"Stop touching me," she said, trying to take his arm off her again. He hardly reacted, only leaned closer. This close, his breath smelled even more disgusting. She scowled at him and swiftly stood up from the couch. Before she came far though, he grabbed her wrist and wanted to pull her closer again.