Friends Forever, huh?

Chapter 14 | for the low price of $19.99!

Sometimes you're at school and the day seems to go by in a reasonable amount of time. Not today. I'm fairly certain that today has actually been Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Classes have never felt so long. Thankfully, the final bell rings and I shove my books into my backpack and leave the classroom.

Free at last.

"Go home and get some sleep, Ash," Shelby says with a laugh, observing my clearly sleep deprived face.

I nod, stifling a yawn, "I need to use the sleep." She laughs again, giving me a quick hug before waving and walking toward the door.

Shelby and I have seemingly fell into the comfortable friendship we had before. I'd be lying if I said I trust her immediately. I definitely don't.

It's unexpectedly nice to have her friendship back, though.

Oh shoot. I didn't drive. Unfortunately Cole is nowhere in sight, so I seem to have no way home. I sigh, walking out to the parking lot in the hopes that someone will feel sorry for me and offer me a ride. Then I see a familiar car pull into the parking lot--Cole's. He grins at me, holding up a coffee, "Need a ride, sunshine?"

He got coffee for me? "I love you," I mutter under my breath as I accept the coffee and slide into the passenger seat.

I reach over and ruffle his hair, "thanks for the coffee!" I take a large sip to demonstrate my gratitude. Then I proceed to choke on the overly large sip of coffee. Why? How? Because I am a natural disaster, that's how.

Cole smirks, "Okay, Ash, you just need to sleep. You're a disaster."

I don't bother disagreeing.

"I can't believe we actually got that project finished in one night," I laugh, wondering how we pulled it off.

"Ashley and Cole: the ultimate duo! They can write your paper in one night," Cole says in a sports announcer voice, "Yes, you heard me right--one night!"

"Our services are available for the low price of 19.99," I continue his speech through my laughter, "and you don't even have to pay shipping and handling!"

"But wait. There's more!"

I've unwisely taken a sip of coffee after completing my part of the 'ad.' Aforementioned sip of coffee, gets spit all over Cole's car when I laugh at his statement.

He gives me a mock glare. I return it, trying my best to casually wipe off the coffee on his dashboard.

"Cole?" I say hesitantly a few moments later, once we've pulled in front of my house.

"Ashley?"

"I'm glad you were my partner."

My words don't scratch the surface of what I wanted to say. I want to tell him how much I've missed him, that I tried to find a replacement for him after he left but I just couldn't. I wanted to tell him I loved him before he left but I couldn't.

"Me too, sunshine," Cole gives me a genuine smile and before I can stop myself, I cross the distance between us and press my lips to his cheek.

I only get a glance of the surprise on his face before I hop out of the car and run up to the door. When I glance back at the car, I see small smile playing on Cole's lips and a fingertip touching the spot on his face that my lips touched. Then he must notice my eyes on him because he gives a slight wave and pulls alway.

What a day.

As soon as I make it upstairs, I fall into bed and fall fast asleep.

I'm in an abandoned warehouse, tied to a chair with no way of escape. I glance around, panicked. Why am I here?

Suddenly, Tom Cruise bursts through a door, untying my bonds. "Ashley," he says, "you need to come with me. I'll explain later but it's the only way you'll be safe."

I hesitate, unsure if he's worthy of my trust. He doesn't seem surprised, but raises a hand, almost as if he's creating an invisible bar. "With me," he says, hand held high. "Without me." He drops his hand.

"Ashley, wake up!" I stare at him, confused. I am awake. What is he talking about?

"Ashley," He repeats, except for his voice doesn't sound like his, it sounds like my mother's.

"Ashley!" My eyes fly open as I stare at my mother, only mildly disappointed that I wasn't actually with Tom Cruise. My mood clears up quickly, however. My mother is home early--a rarity with her job. Along with that, she's holding a bag of Chinese takeout that makes my stomach grumble.

I smile, stretching my hands above my head as I let out a loud yawn, "Hi mom!"

She grins, shaking the bag of Chinese food, "I thought since that one mother daughter Saturday we had planned didn't work out, that we could do it today!" I nod vigorously.

We've popped in the movie and are dining on the delectable Chinese when my mother turns to me, a mischievous look in her eyes, "so what's happening between you and Cole?"

I nearly spit out my food, my face instantly turning red in a way that makes it look like I'm hiding something, "W-what do you mean?"

"Well last you told me, he was ignoring you. Then he comes to our house at nine at night and I wake up to find you cuddling with him."

"We didn't cuddle!"

She raises a dubious eyebrow.

"We fell asleep, that's all! We had to finish the project and it took us all night," I look at her, eyes wide, "that's all it was."

My mother laughs to herself, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like, "that's what they all say," before returning to the movie.

"Are you su--"

"Mom!"

Its ridiculous. There's nothing going on between Cole and I. He doesn't like me like that--he likes Shelby and I don't blame him. I have his friendship now and that's enough. Right?

***

Okay I realize this is like a complete filler chapter, I'm sorry! I had to have an in-between before the next chapter. The next chapter is actually already written so it will be published like right after this :)

Thoughts on this chapter? I personally love Ashley's mom. I think she's fantastic. And on the subject of fantastic....Chinese food? It's so incredible.

Question: do you like Chinese food? If so, what's your favorite kind?

-J