Bring Out The Best In Me

Chapter 17.

Chapter 17.

After I gently closed the door behind me, I ran outside. Fortunately I was wearing my hoodie because it was chilly outside.

When I ran over to Ash I hit him on the shoulder, but playfully this time, of course. He faked an ‘Ow’ and laughed.

“Are you crazy?” I asked, hitting him again. “Do you know what a clock is?” I crossed my arms, but he just blinked back at me, and then chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” I narrowed my eyes.

“five minutes ago you were hurrying to get to me,” Ash said, a smug smile forming on his lips.

I looked away. Damn it. He’s way more observant than I thought he was. I was forced to look back at him when he put a finger under my chin and turned my head.

“Soooooo. Guess what!” he exclaimed.

“Shh, my parents will wake up, idiot. And if my sister sees us she’ll wanna come too!” I warned, whisper-yelling.

“Wow, take a chill pill, Taylor. Don’t be so uptight.” Ash nearly rolled his eyes. “But if Vanessa did join us then, well, the more the merrier right?” Ash winked.

“She’s 14.”

“I like ‘em young,” I hit him again, harder this time.

“You will never change, Ash.” I sighed.

He grinned. “Is that a bad thing?”

I smiled. “No.”

We stared at each other, just smiling, until I finally snapped out of it. “So, uh, what do we do now?” I asked.

Ash shrugged. “I guess we could walk.”

“Ok. Sure.”

It wasn’t long till he broke the silence. “So hows Lauren doing?”

“Good.”

“Hmm. I’m guessing she wasn’t the best substitute for a best friend, right?”

I glanced at him. “What do you mean by ‘substitute’?”

“Well, you weren’t really friends with her 2 years ago, meaning you replaced her because I was gone. Making her a substitute.”

“No, actually, she’s the bestest best friend I could ever ask for.”

“Bestest isn’t a word.” Ash laughed.

“Shut up.” I huffed.

After a few minutes of walking we stopped. We were now in the park, and Ash sat down on a bench.

“Tired already?” I teased.

“I thought it was time to take a quick rest.”

“Old man.” I laughed and joined him. “Um...” I pondered on whether or not I should say something, or if he was going to break this weird yet not really too awkward silence.

He did. But he said something I was not assuming he would. “I missed you, a lot. 2 years without my best friend was like...” he thought for a minute.

I sighed. “You were never good at metaphors and such.”

“No, I really wasn’t.” He chuckled. “I thought about what you said and...you’re right. I was a coward, running away.”

“Ash-“

“No, I know it now.” He looked at me, his sapphire eyes glazing into mine. I was thankful that it was dark and he couldn’t see I was blushing.