The Piano || 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬

|55|

Ashley was happy. She had good chocolate and good company, and her cramps wouldn't hit until tomorrow. Smiling, she stuck another piece of the chocolate in her mouth, enjoying the sweetness and slight woody taste of the almonds.

"God, I really needed this," she sighed. "You know, when I was little, I always said chocolate was my favourite food. My mom used to get me these huge boxes with a ton of different chocolates. Like truffle and honey and a special dark chocolate and whatnot."

The more she chatted, the more intense Colby seemed to be listening. She couldn't imagine what was so interesting about her talking about goddamn chocolate boxes, but he just smiled and nodded, not glancing at his phone once.

"I've never really liked chocolate with nuts, to be honest," he said, shrugging. "I'm more a basic milk chocolate kind of guy."

"Seriously?" Ashley exclaimed. "Nuts are the best. Except for the one with entire hazelnuts maybe. That's too much."

"You like nuts, huh?"

Ashley's mouth dropped open, and she swatted at his arm. "That is not what I said!" she exclaimed.

"Sounded pretty much like it to me..."

"You're actually such a horny teenager, it's insane," she scoffed. Was she going crazy or had he made more such jokes in the last few days than usual? He definitely teased her more than last time. Not that she really minded.

"Why are you so upbeat?" he asked, leaning back on the couch. "I expected you to be more... I don't know, irritable?"

"Just wait for it," she sighed, taking another small bite of her chocolate bar. "Give me another half hour and I'll be a depressed, whining mess."

"It's that predictable?"

"Nah, not really. I just know that every time I'm this happy for too long on my period, the negative feelings will catch up to me."

"Isn't that annoying?"

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Of course it is," she chuckled in a duh tone. "But it's not like I can change anything about it, soo..." She shrugged. "It is what it is."

"So, I need to make sure I'm sleeping already before you reach that point?" he joked, tilting his head slightly.

"I'll probably be rolled up on my bed anyways, sinking into my own misery," she scoffed.

"Aww, poor you," Colby said sarcastically, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and rubbing her upper arm. Ashley chuckled, playfully swatting at his arm while she stuck the rest of the chocolate bar into her mouth.

They continued to chat for a while without a care in the world. Until she started getting restless, suddenly pushing off the couch.

"I'm gonna take a shower," she said. As soon as she stood upright, her face twisted into an expression of pure disgust.

"What?" Colby asked, frowning.

"Okay, so, very simple explanation: a woman's lower body is built something like this," she explained, forming a bowl in her hands. "When she sits or lays down, it's like this. And then, when she stands up..." She tilted the 'bowl' forward, mimicking pouring its contents out.

"Ew," Colby said. The regret on his face was immediate. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's fine. It is very ew, believe me," she quickly said, smiling. "I really need that shower now." Turning around, she stiffly hurried to get her pyjamas and locked herself in the bathroom.

They didn't talk much more that evening, but Ashley went to bed with a warm feeling blossoming in her chest, despite the growing uneasiness due to her period.