ASHLEY

𝟎𝟎𝟔 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓

𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 ！

ᶠᵉᵇʳᵘᵃʳʸ

VICKY LOOKED AT Ashley, eyes wide with shock, her grip tightening on the steering wheel as she processed what she just heard. "I'm sorry, who's coming to the engagement party?" she asked again, as if hoping she'd misheard.

Ashley fidgeted in her seat, staring out the window to avoid Vicky's gaze. "Renee," she repeated, her voice quieter and tinged with nerves. She knew how this must sound—inviting an ex-girlfriend to the party meant to celebrate her engagement to Vicky. It was impulsive, a decision made in the heat of the moment, and now she wasn't sure how to justify it.

Vicky's silence was heavy, the tension in the car palpable as they continued down the road. Finally, she spoke, her tone measured but laced with disbelief. "And why exactly did you think that was a good idea?"

Ashley took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I don't know, Vick... I wasn't really thinking, I guess. It just happened. She reached out, and it felt... I don't know, like maybe it could be closure or something? I didn't want to make it weird, but now I realize it probably is."

"Probably?" Vicky echoed, her voice rising slightly in frustration. "Ash, you invited your ex to our engagement party. How is that not weird?"

Ashley winced, knowing Vicky had every right to be upset. "I know, I know. It's just... I wasn't trying to cause any drama or anything. I thought maybe if she came, we could all just move on and be adults about it."

Vicky huffed. She nodded though and continued to drive.

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Renee walked through the grand entrance of the building, her nerves jangling as she rubbed her hands together, trying to calm herself. The polished floors and elegant décor did nothing to soothe her anxiety. She silently prayed she'd run into someone familiar soon—anyone who could ease the tension gnawing at her.

As she wandered through the crowded space, her heart jumped when she accidentally bumped into someone. Turning to apologize, her eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the face before her. "Salem! Thank God," she breathed, relief washing over her.

Salem, who had been mid-conversation with someone else, turned around at the sound of her name. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the sight of the woman in front of her. It took her a moment, but then recognition dawned. "Renee?" Salem said, a bit incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

Renee blinked, momentarily stunned by how much Salem had changed. The last time she'd seen her, Salem had been a kid—barely a teenager. But now, standing before her was a confident young woman. "Holy shit, you got older," Renee blurted out, unable to hide her surprise.

Salem smirked, a little amused by Renee's reaction. "Well, I mean, that's life," she shrugged casually, as if growing up was no big deal. But her curiosity quickly returned, and she tilted her head slightly. "Now you—what are you doing here?"

Renee hesitated, suddenly feeling self-conscious under Salem's gaze. "I, uh, got an invitation," she finally admitted, her voice a bit unsure. "From Ashley."

Salem raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Ashley invited you?"

"Yeah," Renee confirmed, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "I wasn't planning on coming at first, but... I guess I wanted to see her. And, you know, wish her well."

Salem nodded slowly, her expression neutral, though her eyes betrayed a hint of skepticism. "Well, you're here now. Might as well make the most of it, right?"

Renee offered a small, grateful smile. "Yeah, I guess so. It's just... a little weird, you know?"

"I bet," Salem replied, her tone softening a bit. "But hey, it's a party. Just try to have fun. And if you need anything, you know where to find me."

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Renee had been nursing her drink for a while now, making her way through the party and running into familiar faces—London, Salem, even Camren and Carol—but still, no sign of Ashley. As she meandered through the crowd, she absentmindedly grabbed a strawberry from a nearby table, biting into it just as she turned a corner.

Suddenly, she bumped into someone, and she quickly began to apologize. "Oh, I'm sorry—" Her words caught in her throat as she looked up and saw who it was. "Ash..." she started, her voice soft with surprise. But then her gaze shifted slightly, noticing the girl standing beside Ashley. Her heart dropped a little. "...ley."

Ashley's face lit up with a smile when she saw Renee. "Renee! Hi!" she exclaimed, pulling her into a warm hug. As they embraced, Ashley's hand lingered, slowly running down Renee's arm before they finally pulled away. There was a brief moment where they just looked at each other, a mix of emotions passing between them.

"Wow, you're..." Ashley started, biting her lip as she struggled to find the right words. She could feel the weight of Vicky's presence beside her, but seeing Renee again stirred something inside her that she hadn't expected. She stopped herself from finishing the sentence, knowing that whatever she said next could complicate things.

Renee tried to smile, but it felt forced. "Yeah, it's been a while, huh?"

"Yeah, it has," Ashley agreed, her voice a bit softer now, as if they were the only two people in the room. She could see the unspoken question in Renee's eyes, the one she wasn't sure she had an answer for. But before the moment could stretch on too long, Ashley remembered herself. "Oh, uh, Renee, this is Vicky," she said, gesturing to the woman beside her.

Vicky, who had been watching the interaction with polite curiosity, extended her hand with a friendly smile. "Hi, nice to meet you."

Past meet Present.