Ashes, Oh Ashes

chapter 3

At our designated time, I went by Ashley’s to pick her up. We had planned to go grab a bite to eat first, so I headed off towards one of the better restaurants here. For some reason, I couldn’t help but notice how much brighter her hair and eyes seemed. Perhaps it was just the sunset- but I could’ve sworn bits and pieces of her hair were aflame.

I didn’t say anything, but listened vaguely as she chattered about something. I knew I was being rude . . . but . . . she looked so beautiful.

I blinked as she smiled.

I nodded, hoping it was the right answer, and took a sip of my drink. Her smile faded quickly as her eyes were drawn to something over my shoulder.

Before I could turn to look, a beefy, rather douche-looking guy with dirty blonde hair in an ugly cut stopped at the edge of our table. Oh Lord . . . a jock. I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with a prick right now- especially the way he was totally ignoring me and eyeing Ashley like she was some whore up for grabs.

I watched as he ‘inconspicuously’ flexed his overly-muscled arms. Ashley didn’t look very happy at all. Her fiery-rust eyes bore into him with a malicious glare. I tried not to snicker at how pointedly she was making it to this oblivious idiot that she was not enlightened with his presence.

“Who’s this guy, ‘uh?”  he turned his baby-like face and jerked his head at me. He was leaning onto his palms, looming over us like parents do when two teens are alone together in one’s room.

“He’s my friend. Mit-Matt.” She calmly stated, not bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice.

I was glad she stopped herself from saying ‘Mitch’ to this loser. Only Ashley could call me Mitch.

He made a scoffing sound and turned back to look at her with horribly flirtatious attempts. How did girls fall for him? Oh yeah, dimwits like James’ sisters didn’t know any better.

“So babe, I was thinking about our talk the other day and—“

“Brian, no means no. Can’t you find some other girl to whore with?” her pleading eyes looked so convincing, it took me a second of realization who she was talking about.

That was Brian?! She dated . . . him?! I was appalled by her choice.

“C’mon babe! I’m not like that anymore!” he almost whined.

Wow. Did he really think girls believed that shit? That was like . . . the oldest, worst, most fallible trick in the book.

“Hey, man, she said no.” I spoke up, not wanting to waste our night arguing with this guy. His ego must’ve been bigger than his head, because he turned to glare at me as Ashley shot me a grateful look.

“Why, you fucking her?”

“You don’t fuck ladies, and no I’m not.” I glared at him. Douchebag.

“Listen, this bitch is mine, and if you dare get in the way—“

“Dude, look,” I calmed down, not wanting to upset Ashley by picking a fight in the middle of a restaurant. I had several fights under my belt- and I already knew how to take a baboon like him down. His size was his weakness.”She said no, so I’d take it like that before you really piss someone off.”

“Who are you to tell me what to do?” he snarled.

I stared at him. Was he as stupid as he was thickheaded?

He turned back to the glaring Ashley before I answered.

“Babe, let’s leave this idiot. We can go back to my apartment—“