Half Hearted

Chapter Eleven

| Ash |

"So that's all he actually said?" Oria asked again, after Teresa had hung up on her.

"What can I say? Maybe he isn't so concerned about who Teresa's with," Ash shrugged, playing it off coolly. He noticed the girl at the kitchen, the one who'd delivered his lunch the other day, trying to navigate her way out without stepping on his mattress.

She was timid, the girl. But she looked harmless enough.

"I wouldn't say he's not concerned," Oria suggested. "Maybe he just thought you were with me instead."

"Maybe we should make him think that," Ash's flirtatious side started to rise again. And Oria was more than happy to oblige.

Claire, on the other hand, stared at them awkwardly. She sat on the high chair in front of the kitchen counter, snacking on some Doritos. Looking down at the ground, she raised her voice enough for the both of them to hear, "hey guys... I think I'm going to head home now."

Oria's ears perked, and she smiled, "okay, I'll see you tomorrow!" 

Claire pursed her lips as she headed out. She was hoping to hear something along the lines of 'you just got here! Why don't you stay a little longer?' Instead she was met with disappointment at the fact that her friend hadn't even offered to get her a cab. Let alone walk her to the outer doors.

When Claire left the apartment, Oria was ecstatic. She was finally alone with Ash again. After an hour or so of small talk - which wasn't really small, considering they'd spent an hour talking - they found themselves inching towards each other. And before they knew it, Oria's tongue was deep in Ash's throat.

He didn't mind, of course. He was still in some unrealistic world of trying to get Cheryl back. Although he didn't admit it to himself, he knew he was only interested in Oria because she looked like her. And acted like her.

Before things got too heated, Oria pulled back, her breaths being mixed with his as she stared into his eyes.

He didn't feel the same, but he wanted it back. He wanted her back. And if this was a way of living vicariously, through some other world where he got the girl again, he didn't care.

| Teresa |

My shift ended, and I headed out of the building to my car. During my drive home, I kept thinking about all the possibilities of why Tyler would want to talk to me.

My thoughts got so wild that I started thinking he would confess some sort of hidden feelings.

My heart accelerated as I took the phone out of my pocket after I parked, and then dialed his number.

He picked up after four rings. "Teresa, hey!"

"Hey," I gave out a huge breath as I locked the car doors and headed inside the building. "You called me?"

"Yeah. So my birthday's coming up soon, and I wanted to invite you. It's going to be here, of course, so you'll have to drive back again, but I'm planning on setting it up on a weekend so you have enough time."

My heart sunk at this. It was only an invitation to a party. "Sure, sounds great. What're your plans?"

The elevator reached my floor, and I fumbled to get the keys out of my belt loop. "Nothing much, just head to a bar and watch the night's game like usual."

"Is there anything you need from the city?" I asked, with the door almost unlocked. It was a struggle balancing my bag in one hand while holding the phone to my ear, and also unlocking the door with my non-dominant hand.

He didn't really think about it, "how about a six-pack? A six pack of Molson will do - lay off some pressure on the new bartender."

I was going to laugh about the bartender story when I opened the door. Although the couch was facing the wall opposite to the entrance door, I saw what I needed to see. Oria was on top of Ash, her face clearly glued to his. I cringed, and they heard the door open.

They stopped what they were doing, but I immediately shut the door, returning to my conversation. "Hello? Teresa? You still there?"

"Yeah, I'm here," I composed myself. It wasn't much of a shocker - they looked like they'd wanted to bang each other from the moment they met. "Sorry, just got caught off guard a little there."

"No problem," he continued. "Anyways I invited your nephew, just thought you should know. Brett wanted his first drink to be with me. And since he's eighteen now, his parents cut him off a little slack."

"Mhm," was the only response I could muster. I knew I wasn't in my right mind right now, and it wasn't fair to Tyler. "Hey, listen, I gotta go deal with something. Text me when you need something, alright? I'll be sure to be there with some Molson."

I hung up and stared at the wall in front of me. Why was I so frustrated?

It's not like I didn't want them to be together. Of course I wanted Oria to get over Randy. And I wanted Ash to get over Cheryl, since he was so messed up about it last night.

I just didn't prepare myself for when they'd find refuge within each other, was all.

Mustering up the greatest smile, I returned back to the apartment and saw them casually sitting beside each other. The silence was unbearable as I went to hang up my coat. "Did someone sew your mouths shut?"

Because from what it looked like a minute ago, they were wide open for each other.

"I swear to you, we'll try making this as uncomfortable as possible," Oria stared at me with her big blue eyes. 

"You're making things uncomfortable by saying that," I cringed, heading to my room.

Ash stayed silent, sitting primly on the couch. Before I entered my room, I caught a glimpse of his smirk. Rolling my eyes, I didn't even bother saying anything. He was so full of himself, I didn't know if there was any space left for a girl in there.

I took a shower that night, since I was greased up from the restaurant. When I got back to my room, a knock sounded at my door. "Oria, hold on, I'm changing."

"Hurry the fuck up, then," his voice found its way to my ears. Sparks ran up through my body as I thought about him opening the door on me.

Annoyed, I locked the door to make sure he wouldn't barge in, and then I proceeded to slowly change into my pyjamas. Halfway through buttoning up my shirt, he spoke again. "I can pick locks, you know. Don't keep me waiting."

I closed my eyes and gave a grunting noise, knowing he'd hear. Then I quickly buttoned up my shirt and opened the door.

He stood there, a devilish smile played on his lips. "There's something we need to talk about."