Publicity • mgc

22. The Patience Loss

Karina walked out of John's kitchen, running a hand through her hair and yawning.

"Um, so are we eating?" She announced, her eyelids drooping. She grew tired from being in the kitchen, especially since she was cooking for so many people and her friends didn't even help as much as she'd wanted them to.

Everyone turned their heads and grinned, standing up and heading to the dining room.

Ashton waited until everyone was making their way to the kitchen to stand up, then he walked over to Karina and tugged at her arm.

Karina looked up, blinking slowly. "Yeah?" She softly said, her heart racing in her chest. She was still sadly in love with him, while he barely felt a thing.

"Can we talk?" Ashton asks, with wide hopeful eyes. He also needed some bit of closure, even though he would never admit it.

Karina nodded, not having the energy to argue, and walked behind Ashton to the backyard.

Ashton stepped out and waited for Karina, before sliding the glass door closed and walking further. He sat in one of the pool chairs, Karina sitting on the opposite one of him.

It was silent for a few moments. "You're gonna say something or?" Karina chuckled, tightening the cardigan around her. Her cheeks turned pink, embarrassed with the situation.

Ashton sighed. "I'm sorry I couldn't love you." He said, bowing his head. "I mean I loved you, I still love you, but I don't think I was ever in love with you. It's different. I'm sorry I lead you on."

Karina nodded, biting down on her bottom lip. She knew this conversation was going to come, she just wasn't exactly prepared for it yet. "Okay." She whispered, looking around at anything and everything around her except him. "It's okay." She repeated.

"It's not. Fùck, don't say it is Kari." Ashton slightly raised his voice, rubbing his hands over his face. "I always felt like you were my best friend, not my girlfriend. And I still jumped into such a long relationship with you despite knowing that I couldn't love you that way. I'm so sorry, Karina." He shook his head, feeling terrible and upset with himself for his actions.

Karina felt the lump in her throat, but then she looked inside John's house and found Michael laughing, doubling over and squinting his eyes. She smiled, shaking her head as well. Ashton looked up, watching her cute little smile grow. He furrowed his eyebrows, then followed her eyes and his mouth formed an O shape. He looked back at her, watching her wide pupils and her lips twitch with happiness.

"He's a good guy." Ashton mumbled, looking down at his shoes. She deserved someone who would love her like she wanted to, and if Michael would do that, than so be it. Besides, he always secretly thought Michael and Karina had much more in common.

Karina quickly whipped her head around. "Uh," she croaked out, then coughed softly. "no, no. I know he is but it's really not like that."

"Kari, it's okay-"

"Ashton I, even if I did like Mike, we couldn't be a thing."

Ashton shrugged his shoulders, looking at Michael. "I think you guys would be cute."

Karina scrunched up her face, scoffing softly. "Okay, ew, Ashton you're my ex stop trying to hook me up with your best friend."

Ashton chuckled. "What? Let's switch roles. I'll be your best friend now, and you'll date Mikey."

Karina smiled, shaking her head. It sounded so simple, but that wasn't how things worked.

Everyone inside was grabbing themselves a plate and serving each other food. There were tortillas, tortilla chips, variations of salsa, charred beans, and of course the rice and fajitas, just like Karina's mother taught her.