Half Hearted

Chapter Twenty Two

| Teresa |

I was scared. What if Ash ruined my reputation back at the town? Would my parents be disappointed in me? Would I have to explain to everyone, beforehand, that he was only my pretend boyfriend?

Letting out a heavy sigh, I handed the man my debit card and paid for the six-pack. Ash was still inside the car with Riel, waiting for me.

After, we dropped by my apartment building and I packed enough clothes to last a day. Oria came out of her room, wearing only a large shirt. "Off to Tyler's?"

I nodded, slinging the backpack over my back. I pointed my chin at the direction of her room. "Steven in there?"

"Yeup," she answered, making a popping noise with her cheek.

"You two finally did it?" I asked.

Oria gave a chuckle and shook her head, "who do you think I am? We finally did it like a week ago."

I shook my head, giving a slight - and disgusted - giggle. "I'll be going then. Enjoy the empty apartment."

"You know I will," she said in a sing-song voice.

I left the apartment building and headed back inside the car. Ash and Riel were in the middle of a discussion, but they stopped when I came in. I was curious, but I was too tired to ask about anything anymore.

"May I ask the address of your destination?" Riel asked, looking at me through the rearview mirror. I felt odd being on the opposite side of things.

So I told him where Tyler's bar was, but then I noticed something. Turning to Ash, I asked, "don't you need your stuff too? We're going to stay there overnight. And you too Riel - it's too much to drive here and back just to get us."

Riel smiled, shook his head, and merged onto the main road. "I can sleep in this," Ash stated. I cringed at his hygiene, and then nodded, not even bothering to insist anymore.

I let my eyes rest for the whole drive, and when I woke up we were already driving past the barns. The town would only be a ten minute drive from then on.

I sat up from my half-awkward leaning position, and saw that Ash was on the phone. He looked to be in a heated debate with someone on the other end of the line, as his eyebrows were furrowed together, and I saw his fists clench every now and then.

"That's not going to work," he said through his teeth. I noticed a neck vain becoming more visible. "Stop. Just stop, alright? I don't give a shit anymore, you made your decision. I'm hanging up. Don't call me again."

He shut his eyes and let his phone fall on the empty seat beside him.

I didn't bother asking him about it, I was too scared he would yell at me if I did. So I just let the drive run its course, and soon enough we were at the bar. I heard the guitar right when I got out of the car.

Ash was hesitant in getting out or not, but he made the decision when he followed me shortly after I walked in the bar.

"Teresa!" Tyler announced, making his way towards me with a glass of beer in hand. "You made it!"

I smiled, trying to conceal the tired look in my eyes, then I held up the pack of beer in my hands. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

His green eyes crinkled, but I noticed something. His perfect smile didn't have the same effect on me anymore. Odd, I thought. Usually I'd be having moments of nostalgia whenever I saw him. This seemed to be a temporary stop.

"Well, I'll go grab you a..." Tyler's voice trailed off as he focused his eyes on something behind me. Someone. "Who's this?"

I turned around and saw Ash walking in, looking inside the bar for the first time. "He's-uhm- my boss," I informed, not really lying. I was just hiding a part of the truth, was all. "Tyler, this is Ash. Ash, this is Tyler, my childhood friend."