Half Hearted

Chapter Thirty

| Teresa |

I felt bad. Guilty.

Even though I still had to finish my part of the assignment, I spent two hours washing the drink from the inside of his coat.

The whole day consisted of me thinking about how I'd treated him, but then I'd remember how he had treated me. And then I'd have mixed emotions all over again.

I was a train wreck.

And seeing pictures online of Oria and Steven having fun on their date made me even worse.

I mean, I knew that life wasn't all about your 'significant other', but still. I kept wondering when it would be my turn.

Even Claire, the school-obsessed friend, had managed to score up some Asian guy named Ryan.

Sighing, I hung up his wet coat in order to dry it, and then sat in front of my desk and booted up my laptop.

I didn't act too snobby, did I? I let my face collapse to my hands as I thought about how Ash would begin to think of me. If he even thinks about you at all, my mind retorted. But he has your coat, he has to think about you.

Suddenly remembering about my coat, I looked to my phone and turned it on. Unfortunately the only new message I had came from Oria, saying that she'd be staying over at Steven's for the night.

Going into my contact's list, I paused when I reached Ash's number. Would calling him be okay? Or would it be too awkward?

Deciding to keep it on the safe side, I sent him a message asking him when I could return his coat in exchange for mine. He replied shortly after, with a one word reply. 'Tomorrow.'

"Okay, thanks for being specific," I muttered to myself.

'But what time tomorrow? And when?'

This time it took him about an hour or two to respond. 'For fuck's sakes just give it to Peter and he'll give you your coat back.'

I spent a few minutes just staring at my screen, imagining what the conversation would have been like if I'd have called him instead.

I chose not to reply, and just kept working on my assignment.

| Ash |

"Why should I get your coat?" Peter asked, getting ready to sleep. He didn't have anything on but a pair of boxers.

"Because I'm busy tomorrow," Ash replied, wetting his toothbrush and then proceeding to brush his teeth.

"But it doesn't have to be tomorrow, does it? Can't you get it from her some other day?" The man sassed.

"It's just one thing."

"Fine," Peter breathed, lying down on his side. Softly, he muttered so that Ash couldn't hear, "but if it is just one thing, you wouldn't have a problem getting it yourself."

Ash spat the toothpaste out of his mouth and then stared at the mirror. Just a beaten down guy with meaningless tattoos. And it was true. He never really had an underlying motive whenever he went to the tattoo parlor. He just liked how the ink looked on his skin.

Was it the tattoos? Was that what turned her away from him? He knew that his style reminded her of her past, but he couldn't do anything about it. Getting his tattoos out with laser would hurt like hell. Worse than getting the tattoo itself. He would never even think twice about that.

Ash stared at his phone. Stared at his last word. Seeing that she hadn't responded, he knew that was the end of the conversation. He felt a twinge of remorse, but yet again, he kept telling himself that it was for the best. 

If she stuck around him, he wouldn't know what he'd do if she got hurt on his terms. Are you finally admitting your feelings, you knob? He thought of what Peter would say.

Shaking his head, Ash let his hands slowly fall to his sides. He was so sick of it - ignoring his own feelings.

He was sick of a lot of things.

He exited the washroom and saw that Peter was already lying on his side, snoring fast asleep. Ash took off his shirt and got in the bed, bringing his phone with him. Again, he stared at his messages with Teresa.

Would it be too obvious to message her again? Was she just too busy to respond? Had she even seen his message yet?

The thoughts rambled in his head until he fell asleep, phone still in hand.

~~~~~

The next day was completely normal, and they went to iHop for breakfast. His photo shoot for Vogue would be in two hours, so he made sure not to eat anything that would make him look bloated. It was a strict diet, but he was satisfied with the kale smoothie.

After Riel started up the car, Peter stayed behind while Maudie got in. Ash was about to ask what the hold up was - Peter was usually the one always in a hurry - but decided better of it, and got in the car as well.

"Is Peter going to get out of there soon?" Riel asked, staring at the car's digital clock. "We got an hour to make it there, and who knows what the traffic is like."

Maudie pursed her extra dark lips - making her look like Effie Trinket with help from her milky white skin. "He hasn't told me if there's anything wrong... I don't know, let's hope he's alright."

Peter exited soon enough, with a gleaming smile on his face, and got in the car. He then noticed the silence and the looks the two of them gave him. "What?"

"Is there anything in particular you want to tell us?" Maudie asked, trying hard not to sound too nosy.

Peter simply shrugged, the smile still remaining. "Not that I know of."

She let out an exasperated sigh, but decided not to pry.

The shoot went by smoothly, and the director had no complaints. Peter was grinning madly the whole time, so Ash grew curious with each second. Did he finally buy the engagement ring he was saving up for? Did his parents finally approve of his job? Were the thoughts swimming in his mind about Peter.

Ash shook his head, minding his own business. It was probably something minor.

As he headed down to the car, he was oblivious as to what Peter was asking of Maudie. So, during the car ride, he didn't think twice about when Maudie asked Peter to dine with her.

"Will that be alright?" Peter asked Ash.

"What're you asking me for?" The guy simply shrugged.

He wondered what this new behaviour was, but didn't act on it.

Riel dropped him off at the hotel, and Ash got into the elevator, tired and ready to fall asleep. The moment he entered the room, he noticed something was different. Not bothering to think on it, he proceeded to take off his shirt.

"No, don't do that!"

Alarmed, he turned his attention to the source of the voice and saw the familiar set of eyes.

Teresa.