Letters by Her [Book 2]

Chapter 22

"Bonjour, mon amie!" Ashley's enthusiastic voice came serenading up the staircase. Dusty got up and ran down to greet her friend, who embraced her before kissing her upon each cheek.

"What's with the continental greeting?" Dusty felt bemused.

"I've practically become French since meeting Pierre," Ashley said.

"You met a guy?"

"Correction, I met the guy!"

"Tell me all about him!"

"In good time, first, I need to unpack!"

Unpacking Ashley's luggage was always a task of epic proportion as the concept of travelling light was foreign to her. She also had a habit of buying loads of clothes that she thought would look good on Dusty.

"I found this in a little boutique off Rodeo Drive," she explained as she casually tossed a glittery vest top onto Dusty's bed. "It's so you I just had to get it."

Dusty really appreciated her friend's kindness but was also a little embarrassed about accepting such generous gifts, although Ashley was always careful to never label them as such. They were, in her opinion, items she'd bought which would just happen to look better on Dusty, so Ashley felt she was doing the world a favor to give them to her friend, who would wear them better than she could.

"I'm like a fashion savior," Ashley would say. During this latest bout of unpacking, Dusty's bed was already half-covered in jeans, T-shirts, shoes and accessories, which Ashley had found and thought were just perfect for Dusty.

"You didn't need to bring me so much back," Dusty protested, secretly delighted by all her new clothes.

"I know, but I wanted to." Ashley shrugged. Dusty suspected that Ashley was being particularly generous because of everything that had happened with Kyera. She hadn't even mentioned her name since coming back, which was unlike her.

Presented with lots of new clothes reminded Dusty of how she felt as a little girl whenever her father would return from a business trip. He'd always have something stashed away in his suitcase for her, like a new doll or, as she grew older, a rare vinyl record. It made his return even more exciting.

"You're really good to me, you know that," Dusty said sincerely as Ashley finally got to the end of her unpacking.

"Well, somebody has to be," Ashley quipped.

"So tell me more about Pierre," Dusty urged. Ashley held up her hand, ceasing any further communication.

"Wine first, then talk," she instructed.

****

Two glasses of wine each later and the girls were giggling on the sofa in the lounge area of the Kappa Pi house, relishing being back in one another's company. "I missed this place; is that sad?" Ashley asked as she gazed around.

"Not as sad as not actually leaving it." Dusty sighed. They were both sitting in their pajamas even though the sun was still shining, having decided to start their catch-up sleepover early.

Also, as Ashley pointed out, getting ready for bed prior to drinking removed the temptation to go out partying. She promised to keep an extra close eye on Dusty during their third year to ensure she didn't get kicked out of college.

"So how did you meet Pierre?" Dusty topped up each of their glasses from the now almost empty wine bottle.

"I met him at a club," Ashley gushed. "He was so suave, dressed in a suit like he was James Bond or something."
"So he's a snappy dresser?" Dusty smiled.

"Impeccable, he knows more about fashion than I do!" Dusty found that hard to believe.
"He works for Chanel in Paris and was in L.A. for work. I swear I have never seen a more beautiful man."

"What does he look like?" Ashley quickly grabbed her cell phone, and after a few drunken failed attempts, she managed to access the pictures of her latest squeeze.

Dusty watched as her perfectly manicured nails scrolled through images of a devastatingly handsome man with high cheekbones, piercing blue eyes and Dark-colored hair cut in a trendy style. He was perfectly put together and looked as though he belonged on a runway somewhere.

There was a picture of Ashley and Pierre together, beaming madly at the camera, and they looked like the perfect couple, both achingly beautiful. "You look amazing together," Dusty whispered in awe.

"I actually think this is the real thing, that he's the one," Ashley said excitedly, her words blurring together. "We haven't even slept together yet," she added.

"Really?" This surprised Dusty, given she'd been privy to her roommate's bedroom antics for the last few years.

"Nope, I want it to be special."

"That's really nice."

"Is it? Am I not just some romanticist setting themselves up for a fall?" Ashley's mood seemed to darken.

"Of course not, you said you think he could be the one. That's a massive thing to say. You must have had an amazing connection."

"Yeah, we did." Ashley sighed. "It just felt... right, you know? He's going to be coming back for Thanksgiving, so you might get to meet him." Ashley's optimistic demeanor was gone, and she gazed sadly into her half-empty wine glass.

"Ash, what is it?"

"I want to believe that he's the one. That our love is written in the stars, but what if it all falls apart like you and Kyera did? I'm sorry to mention her , but you loved her so much. You guys were perfect together." Dusty took a long drink from her glass and tried not to cry.

"Kyera and me, we were a short love story, but a love story nonetheless. Not every romance goes the distance."

"Are you quoting Sex and the City?" Ashley smiled slightly.

"Probably, you got me hooked on it, remember?" Dusty also managed to smile.

"Have you heard from her?" Ashley asked after a pause.

"Not once."

"Seriously? What a douche bag."

"Yeah." Dusty knew she should hate Kyera for how she'd treated her, but a part of her couldn't stop caring for her , couldn't stop loving her .

"How has summer school been?" Ashley attempted to change the subject.

"It's been okay." Dusty nodded. "I'm a lot more focused now than I have been. Maybe everything ending with Kyera was for the best. It's forced me to concentrate on my studies."

"Well, every cloud supposedly has a silver lining."

"But don't let what happened with me sour your view of what you have with Pierre."

"I won't." Ashley didn't sound convincing. "I mean, it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all, right?"

"Sure." Neither girl was sure if they truly believed the sentiment. "Why don't we watch a movie?" Ashley suggested.

"Excellent idea!" Dusty was grateful for the distraction from her own thoughts. "How about Sex and the City?"

"Perfect!"