A Walk Apart (Episode 4: All In)

Chapter Ten

The doors of the elevator opened to the roof and Ashlee found herself face to face with Jared. She quickly retreated back inside and palmed the lobby button. 

"Ashlee, wait." Too late. Jared hopped in just before the doors shut him out. She was trapped. Why couldn't the floor just open up and drop her down the shaft?

As if things weren't unbearable enough, he turned to her with a wounded look on his face like he was the one getting his heart broken. He had no idea. "You know, you're only making it weird by avoiding me."

She focused on the blinking numbers, the ceiling tiles, the walls painted like tree bark. Anywhere but his eyes. "I wanted to give you your space. I think it's for the best."

"What happened, happened, but I don't want it to make things weird between us." He inhaled like he was trying to catch his breath. Imagining him racing up the stairs to beat her there made her feel even worse for running off. She needed a time machine. Then she could rewind everything and alter their tainted friendship. She'd make sure to leave herself a note: Don't kiss Jared. It'll ruin your life. Jared took a deep breath. "I want us to still be friends."

Ashlee's insides squeezed at the word. Friend. It's what she wanted. At first. Until it became a barrier for what she really wanted. What she knew she would never have. She was delusional to think she ever could. "What would your girlfriend think?" She wouldn't be thrilled about him spending so much time with another girl when they had no time together at all, living so far away. Ashlee wanted to spend as much of the day as she could with Jared, and they weren't even dating. She couldn't really call it that now knowing where his heart truly was the entire time.

"She's okay with it. I told her all about you."

"What?"

The doors dinged open to the second floor and a short, smiling man entered forcing them to pause their discussion. He stood in front of them, oblivious to the elephant in the room holding its breath. "They should start putting televisions in these things, huh?"

Jared stared at the door, his patience shrinking like the distance between floors. "Yeah. Sure."

They crept toward the lobby in silence until the elevator dropped the man off. "God Bless," he said, offering them each their own personal smile.

"Thanks," Jared said, watching the doors return their privacy.

Ashlee pressed her floor number and folded her arms, wishing she could escape as easily as that man. Free to live his happy life without someone hunting him down to discuss things he wanted to simply walk away from. They really should put in a TV. With blaring sound systems and broken remotes. "What exactly did you tell her about me?"

"That you're a good friend. That's all." So he didn't tell her about the kiss. At least she wouldn't have to worry about being hated from a distance. "I'm sorry if I led you on."

"You didn't. That was all me." Her and her runaway thoughts. Next time she'd be sure to do a fact check before visualizing a life with someone. Or at least a social media rundown.

Jared moved closer, begging her to look at him. Ashlee exchanged breathing for eye contact as their moment replayed in her head and her heart. Wanting to do it all over again. "It was one mistake. This doesn't have to change anything between us."

He didn't get it. Everything changed the moment she kissed him. Apparently, it wasn't as obvious as she thought. "It's too late. I'm sorry." The doors opened and she slipped out, completely aware that her last words sounded like goodbye.

***

Is this the end of Ashlee and Jared's friendship? Stay tuned! 

-Love, Charly