The Piano || 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬

|67|

Author's note-
> Istg if I see one more person saying Isle... it's Ilse. I-L-S-E 😔

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Ashley's eyes widened slightly. "He did?"

"Yeah. Well, of course he didn't know that would end with me falling down the stairs, but... yeah. To get something more special. For the video."

"Without asking me first? Or even you?"

He held up his hands. "I didn't know. I guess it was his idea of a better shock effect from you."

"Wow, that's..."

"... messed up?" he suggested.

"I mean, a little bit, yeah," she admitted. "The not telling me part, especially. Why, did he think I wouldn't agree?"

"I don't know, you have to ask him," Colby replied. "He's just... he really wants the evidence, you know?"

"So do I, but I'm not leaving people alone without warning," she said, snarkier than she'd wanted. Then she looked back at Colby. "Okay. I've got to admit, that was a smooth change of topic-"

"... oh, come on, that wasn't...."

"- but I'm not going to fall for it. If someone's going to talk with him about that, it's going to be me, but you're the one who's supposed to sort out... whatever it is you two have going on."

Before he could protest, she raised one finger. "I'm being serious. That's a problem between you and Sam, and since it's about me, apparently, I don't think coming here was the best decision."

"What are you saying I should do?"

"Well. He's never seemed hostile like that before, so there has to be a reason for it, right? Maybe he's just stressed out, maybe you're the one stressing him out, or maybe there's something else, but in any case, you'll need to find out what it is. Because, let's be honest, does this seem like him?"

Colby slowly shook his head. "No, you're right. He's been acting weird for a while, but I... kind of ignored it?"

"Alright, there it is. I'm obviously not saying it's your fault, but you should maybe just sit down and drink a beer or whatever it is you men do while talking." She tried to lighten the mood, and it seemed to be working at least a little. "I mean, you know and trust the guy, and I bet he trusts you just as much."

"And you're trying to tell me coming here wasn't the right decision," Colby scoffed. His expression was less clouded now, and Ashley smiled at how relieved he seemed. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

"Of course," she said, "now come on, go fix your friendship."

He nodded and got up from the bed, suddenly seeming like he was in a hurry. Ashley walked with him to the front door.

And when she got back, Jerry was still playing video games on the couch while Sadie was leaning against the kitchen counter. Of course.

"Trouble in paradise?" she asked.

"Nothing major," Ashley replied evasively. "None of your business, anyway."

Sadie frowned. "What's up with you?" she asked. "Why you so grumpy?"

Why you so nosy? Ashley wanted to ask, but she held her tongue. She was well aware, though, that it would take a single word of provocation from Jerry's sister for her to give in to the constant urge to start an argument.

"No reason," she muttered instead. "Just tired."

"Sure," Sadie said. "That's why you won't talk to me. Ever. About anything."

"No," Ashley replied sweetly before she could stop herself. "That's actually not the reason."

"Then what? You just woke up one day and decided to hate me?"

"No," she denied again, "I just woke up one day and decided I've had enough from your bossy attitude and your nosiness."

Oops.

Sadie opened her mouth, clearly agitated, when Jerry interfered. "Ashley!" he exclaimed. "What's going on with you lately?"

"Nothing," she replied, too defensive for her liking. "I just don't... like it when people are nosy."

Sadie scoffed and rolled her eyes so that even Ashley, who was looking at Jerry, could see it.

"Insensitive, much," she muttered.

Ashley cursed herself. There was no way she was getting out of this anymore. "I'm sorry," she attempted, "I've had a long week..." No, she hadn't. "And I'm really exhausted right now." Liar, liar.

The siblings clearly didn't buy it – why would they? Still, Jerry nodded.

"It's okay," he said, and Ashley took the chance to leave the living room and flee back into her bedroom.

She really needed to learn how to control herself.

But right now, all she wanted was to confirm Colby's words, so she walked over to her desk and awoke her computer from standby to open the newest video. Impatiently skipping back and forth, she searched for the moment. It only took a few seconds until she reached the moment they separated to go to different rooms. A few seconds before that, Sam was filming alone. No, not completely alone – he was with Nick.

Ashley's jaw tensed slightly as she watched.

"Okay, so, we all know Ilse is the most... obvious around Ashley, so I wanted to try something," he said, glancing at Nick. "Which is that, should the investigation not be going well, Nick's going to leave. Just for a few minutes."

The triplet nodded, looking clearly nervous but excited. "I'm honestly so nervous because what if something actually happens? While she's all alone?"

"We'll be really close by," Sam reassured him, "and Ilse likes her. It's going to be fine, and maybe even more than that."

The video cut to the part where a clueless Ashley was walking down the hallway, followed by Nick.

Ashley paused the video and crossed her arms. What a dick move, was the first thing that crossed her mind. Because, shit, he knew what Ilse was like. He knew this wasn't a game.

Or did he?

She stared at the screen for a few more seconds and then skipped ahead to the part where Nick had already left her. She wasn't keen on rewatching those moments, but she needed to see Sam's reaction.

Nick was standing in the ballroom with Sam and Matt, who seemed genuinely confused as to why his brother was there. They were talking in hushed tones as Sam got a text message from Colby. He didn't read it out loud, but something flickered over his face – Ashley didn't want to overinterpret, but it seemed a lot like triumph.

And then everything happened just as quickly as it had in real life, and Ashley stopped the video again after seeing Colby tumble down the stairs. At that point, Sam's expression was everything but triumphant, of course, and with a hint of malice, she watched a glimmer of ruefulness appear in his eyes.

Now that she was already watching, she couldn't resist going back and watching the scene in the greenhouse, her heartbeat already picking up over nothing but the memory.

But the footage showed nothing. Nothing of importance to her, anyway – her freezing up and staring at the corner of the room was probably more than enough for the video. For Sam. Still, she couldn't help the disappointment.

If Sam was going to make her stand alone in a creepy ass room, she at least would've wanted the entirety to be on video.

Because at that moment, she had seen Ilse.