Changing paths

Silence

Ashley POV

I left with the girl whose name I had already forgotten, that’s bad I know. Hand in hand we walked out of the bar and around the corner to a small park. It was dark and should have been creepy but I didn’t feel scared at all.
   ‘So my place?’ the girl asks.
    Wow she was forward I thought to myself. But then again wasn’t I the one to lead her on.
   ‘I just want to sit out here for a while’ I almost whispered. The girl just shrugs and nods.
   
    ‘Ok I’m heading back to the bar, it’s been nearly an hour, do you want to come?’ she asks snapping me out of my trail of thoughts. I’d forgotten she was even there.
   ‘No I think I’m going to stay here for a little while’ I reply.
   ‘Oh ok well be safe then’ she stands up and leans down giving me a peck on the cheek before walking off.
   The park was back to being the silent place it was. I didn’t even know why Joe had thought a one night stand would have helped me forget about Charley. It had only been days since we broke up. I never really got where they got the idea that I was some super slut from. I never had one night stands it’s just that most of the relationships I had had lasted less than a week. I got bored of relationships easily. But with Charley that was different.  I sighed and lay down on the park bench I was sitting on. I know that was pretty reckless of me any weirdo could come anytime. Suddenly I heard a cracking noise. It stopped I looked around and nothing was there so I lay back down. I heard a shuffling sound this time I bolted straight up. Suddenly a shape appeared under the light of the moon.
   ‘Stay back I know karate’ I lie. My trembling voice totally away how nervous I was.
    As the figure stepped closer I squinted my eyes to see who it was.
   ‘Lana?’

Lana POV

Joe and Laura decided to make the best out of the rest of the night. They insisted that I should do a shot drinking game which I unwillingly joined in. After a few shots I guess it was becoming kinda fun.
   ‘So Laura said you upset over something?’ Joe slurs.
   ‘Um I guess. But I don’t really want to talk about it’ I mope. He shrugs.
   ‘Why is everyone so moody at the moment’ he laughs.
   ‘You forget that Ash and Charley only just broke up and I’m sure Lana has good reasons of why she’s upset’ Laura trys to be helpful. I just nod I didn’t need anyone to ask any more questions.
   ‘Did you know that Ash had a crush on me?’ I ask.
   Both Joe and Laura turn around to me as if I asked a stupid question. ‘Duh for ages after she met you. And you know she isn’t the relationship type. I guess Charley was the only one to snap her out of it’ Laura answers truthfully.
   ‘Oh’ I mouth unsure of what else to say. Tonight was supposed to help me snap out of my thoughts I’d been having, but it definitely hadn’t worked. Suddenly overcome with heat I decided to get some fresh air. ‘I need some air’ I breath.
   ‘Wait we’ll come with you’ they say. I shake my head.
   ‘No you guys stay here I’ll back soon’ I lie.
   I walk out of the bar unsure of where to go. I didn’t want to go home just yet but I didn’t want to stay in a bar. I turned the corner and decided to visit a familiar spot. The park.
   This time of night was probably the worst time to visit a dark deserted park but I knew I could sit in silence there and think properly. I suddenly realised that I was crying as I felt a tear fall down my cheek. Why am I crying? I turn to the opening of the park and peer in. It was dark and deserted I took a step forward. I thought I heard a noise but ignored it as I took another step towards the park bench.
   ‘Stay back I know karate’ a voice calls out. It sounded familiar. I stopped breathing. I shuffled forward quietly.
   ‘Lana?’ the voice asks. I quickly realise who it was.
   ‘Ash…Ashley?’ I call back. I walk forward confident that it wasn’t some creepy homeless guy sleeping on the park bench.
   As I get closer I see Ash sitting alone on the park bench. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or all of the emotions rolled up and exploding at once but I was going to do something I probably shouldn't do sometime soon.

Ashley POV

‘Ash…Ashley?’ who I was sure was Lana now called back.
 She walked forward so I could see her properly it looked as if she had been crying. It reminded me too much of the way I had left Charley crying.
   I stand up to face her. ‘Why are you crying?’ I ask concerned. I use my thumb to wipe the tears away, she shivered slightly.
   She shakes her head and begins to laugh. ‘You know what. I actually don’t know why I’m crying.’
   ‘Well that’s pretty silly then’ I chuckle back. I sit down on the bench pulling her down to sit next to me.
   ‘So where’d that girl go?’ she asks quietly.
   ‘Back to the bar. I was apparently way too boring for her’ I laugh out loud breaking the eery silence.
   ‘Why do you ask?’ I wonder.
   ‘It’s just Joe was saying all these things how you were not the relationship type…’
   ‘…how I was a free spirit’ I air quote finishing off what Joe had kept telling me. ‘He makes me out to be some kind of slut just because I’ve never had a long term relationship’ I vent.
   ‘And you’re not’ she says not as a question but a statement.
   ‘I’m not’ I reiterate.
      Minutes of silence passes us, but it felt comfortable.
       ‘I want to tell you something but I don’t know what to say or do’ she whispers. My eyes dart to hers she’s looking straight into them.
     ‘As we’re laying out our deepest darkest secrets out go for it’ I say.
     ‘I,I’ she begins to stutter reminding me of the way Charley had stuttered when she was nervous.
    ‘What makes the confident Lana into this nervous wreck?’ I joke making light of the serious atmosphere.
   ‘You’ she whispers. Did I hear right.
   ‘Huh?’
   ‘You’ she repeats again.
    ‘Oh’ I say my mouth suddenly dry.
    ‘I can’t stop thinking about you, your eyes, your hair, your face, your hands, the way you joke about things…’
   ‘The way I smell of summer’ I try to force a joke.
   ‘Exactly.’
    ‘Ok.’
    ‘I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’m not….’
    ‘Like me’ I suggest.
    ‘Exactly’
    ‘Ouch’ I mumble.
    ‘No, no I’m sorry’ she whispers back. Her eyes flicker down to my lips, I wasn’t the only one that notices this as she leans forward. ‘But I know that my heart flutters the closer I get’ she says barely making a sound. Her soft lips make contact with mine, I find myself kissing her back before pulling away. She grumbles to herself about how stupid she’s been.
   ‘You’re not stupid, but I’m still getting over a relationship and you’re just figuring stuff out. Give it a while?’ I ask.
   ‘Ok’ she says quietly looking embarrassed.
    ‘If it’s any consolation my heart flutters too.’