The Piano || 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬

|73|

"Wow. That was... certainly something. You really meant it when you said you'd let it all go tonight, huh?"

Ashley gave him a lopsided smile. The elevator was humming around them, and she buried her hands in the pockets of her biker jacket. It didn't fit the black dress and golden jewellery since she hadn't planned to wear it tonight longer than for the ride here, but that didn't matter right now.

"It had to be said."

"You're really good with words," he noted. "You always get out of these situations so easily, by just cornering the other person. It's impressive. More mature than how a lot of people would react to provocation..."

She huffed a laugh, the adrenaline of the fight slowly fading. "Mature? Trust me, I'm not half as mature as you're thinking. I always say I don't like arguments, and yet I jump at the chance to confront people directly... I shouldn't."

He gave her a pointed look from the side. She didn't react.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I don't know. I start arguments, and then pretend to be the saint by solving them, all mature and impressive and good with words..."

Colby made a sound that could've been anything between a scoff and a chuckle. "That's a talent, though."

Ashley let out a bitter laugh. "Maybe. But it's nothing to be proud of. I win every argument, yes, even the ones I couldn't care less about. Problem? I start most of them. Just for the sake of arguing."

"I don't think that's-"

Ashley shook her head, and he shut up again. The elevator stopped, and they stepped out into the lobby. She didn't even look around, making her way to the front door of the building.

"It was often like that with my mom; we'd spend entire days bickering back and forth... I moved out pretty early, partially due to that, partially because my career was starting to take off."

Colby was entirely silent, just glancing at her face every once in a while and listening to her words as she talked and they neared the exit. It was probably the alcohol that made her talk so freely. He let her.

"I try to be less rude, more open-minded, and then someone like Sadie, who didn't even do anything wrong comes along, and I fall back into old patterns, and everything just goes to hell from there and I lose my best friend because I can't shut up, because I want to argue about anything and everything and I can't control myself and always mess things up..."

She stopped right outside the building, clenching her fist and staring at the road in front of her. It was silent for a few seconds, except for the constant traffic noise, before she looked up at Colby, for the first time during their conversation.

"Does that make me a bad person?"

He shook his head and stepped forward, gently reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"No. Do you want to know what I think?"

She nodded.

"Alright. I don't know about your mother, but I do know you're the opposite of a bad person. Because even when you dislike people, you keep trying to be nice. You don't confront them, you just let them do their thing, because you think avoiding an argument is what a 'good person' does."

Ashley let out a weak laugh. "I don't think that's..." Colby laid a finger on her lips and silenced her, simultaneously drawing her eyes to his.

"Sh. So, anyway, for you, confrontation is a bad thing, and you suppress it, instead of expressing your dislike for people by directly arguing, which is be the answer most people would choose. And you suppress it as long as you can, and then you end up having an argument with the person over weeks instead of a few hours, because all you can think about is the dislike you're supposed to be suppressing. Which makes you feel bad because you think you've disappointed the other person by making them think you like them. How does that sound?"

Ashley blinked a few times with genuine surprise. "Did you just come up with that?"

"Mostly," he chuckled. "Well, I've seen the way you act around Sadie, and I've tried to understand it. Now it makes sense, I guess."

"I'm sorry, I don't believe that you needed my help when you argued with Sam," she finally said, "not after that monologue. Do you have a pen or something, I need to write that down..." She cracked a smile, and he reciprocated it. "And you're telling me I'm the one good with words-"

"Alright, we get it, you liked my monologue," he scoffed, waving it off. "So, is there a reason you brought me to your bike, or can I suggest something?"

Ashley glanced down at the motorbike. "Uh, I don't know. I just wanted to get out."

"Leaving your own party is an interesting move."

"Eh. Jerry's taking care of the organisational stuff anyway, he didn't want me to have to be responsible for anything. I was supposed to just get drunk and have fun. He'll make sure the others will have fun."

"What do you want to do? Tell me I didn't follow you just for you to go home," he said jokingly. "It's your birthday. Shouldn't let it go to waste."

If she was honest, Ashley had planned to go home and bury herself in pillows after this, but Colby's words made her straighten her back.

"You're right, I won't let her ruin my night. You said you'd suggest something?"

"Oh, nothing special. I was thinking fries and a series marathon?"

A grin spread on her lips. "If I get to decide the series."

"Deal."

She was tired and the alcohol was still coursing through her veins, so they called an Uber to drive them to the next fast food place and then to Sam and Colby's home. Ashley picked at the paper bag while Colby texted Sam, telling him what they were doing. Her phone was buried in her shoulder bag, and she didn't bother checking it. Why would she – she knew what kind of messages would be awaiting her.

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Author's note-
> Just watched the newest video... What do we say, Ashley hypnotisation yah or nah?