Tangled Hearts

Chapter Ten: Conflicted Emotions

After a hot shower, Ashley wrapped herself in a towel and sat on her bed, relaxing for a while as she began to dry off. Her mind kept drifting back to last night and that kiss with JT. She could still feel the way he tilted her chin, his soft touch on her face. But now, alone with her thoughts, she felt mixed emotions. She wasn't expecting for them to kiss that soon, but even more surprising was how much she'd enjoyed it.

Was she moving too fast? She wasn't used to this feeling of uncertainty. Her typical instinct was to tell Alana everything, but part of her didn't want any outside influence just yet. She wanted to figure out her feelings on her own terms before diving into anyone else's opinion.

After drying off, she pulled out her favorite lotion and started her skincare routine. She slipped into her usual practice gear, a pair of sweatpants and a fitted top. At least practice would get her out of her head for a while.

⸻

Practice started smoothly and Ashley was relieved to get lost in the routine. The cheer squad had been working hard, they were close to nailing down their new routine for the big game coming up. But her good mood didn't last long. As they wrapped up, she caught sight of Brianna heading her way, a smug look on her face.

"Look who it is," Brianna said.

Ashley sighed, barely hiding her annoyance. "Brianna, I don't have time to deal with you, okay?"

"Oh, but you had time to go snitch on me to your boyfriend, didn't you?"

Ashley rolled her eyes, keeping her voice calm. "He's not my boyfriend, and no one told him anything. Maybe don't act like a nut in public."

Brianna laughed, but it was completely fake. "Right, enjoy fucking him. Just so you know, you're never the only one, babe. Be grateful I'm even telling you."

"Not everyone's a whore like you, babe," she replied, mimicking Brianna's tone before she turned and walked off, refusing to let Brianna get under her skin any more than she already had.

⸻

Ashley packed up quickly and headed out of the locker room, exhaling a sigh of relief as she finally escaped Brianna's toxic presence. She walked past the field, intending to head straight to her car. But just then, something made her stop in her tracks. Sitting on the bleachers, JT was deep in conversation with another girl. She had long, dark hair, and her laugh echoed across the field as she leaned closer to him.

Ashley unexpectedly began to feel uneasy. She was far enough away that they couldn't see her, but close enough to see how comfortable they seemed together. The girl laughed again, hitting JT playfully.

What could be that funny? Ashley wondered.

From her spot, she could just make out some of their conversation.

"I was going to grab something to eat, practice drained me," JT said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

The girl smiled, already moving closer. "I'll come with you, honestly, I'm starving." she agreed, inviting herself.

"Cool with me," he replied. He didn't seem to mind her tagging along at all. She watched them walk away, side by side, which was the last thing she felt like seeing.

As they left the field, crossing toward the parking lot, Ashley tried to shake off her unease.

Why did she even care?

They'd only hung out a few times, she wasn't even sure about her feelings, so why did seeing him with someone else make her feel like this? Brianna's words replayed in her mind, stirring doubts she didn't want to entertain. Maybe she was being foolish and overreacting.

She sighed, crossing the field herself and heading toward the parking lot. Just as she reached her car, she noticed JT and the girl getting into his car. Her mind raced with assumptions that she hated herself for even considering.

The drive home was quiet, yet Ashley's mind was as loud as ever. She couldn't stop overthinking, replaying every interaction with JT, wondering if she was letting herself fall too fast. Her feelings were a mess, one she wasn't sure how to fix. By the time she pulled into her driveway, she felt drained, trying to figure out what was happening.

After a few minutes of just sitting in the car, she entertained the thought of texting JT, just to check in. Maybe a simple, casual message would give her some clarity. But almost immediately, she second-guessed herself. She didn't want to seem desperate or overly interested, especially when she wasn't even sure what he was doing.

With a frustrated sigh, she shut off the engine and headed inside, determined to get JT off her mind for the rest of the night. She'd sleep on it and decide how she felt in the morning.