Tangled Strings

Chapter 19

Ashley

Water the plants. Water the plants. Water the plants. I kept chanting to myself as I drove home in fury. As soon as I reached the front door, I kicked my shoes from off my feet and threw the socks away. Barefoot I trudged and on our front garden and started watering the plants. It relaxed me. Everytime when I was angry at something I'd always come and water the plants. It was a productive work and as far as for me, I calmed my brain down with it. Although it's stupid, yet it doesn't involve scribbling or doodling on paper. Yeah, I just saved loads of paper. I'm awesome like that, thank you.

But today was different. Even while watering the plants I couldn't zone out. I couldn't relax. I just kept thinking about what happened back in school. Why was Bryan so rude to Mike? It can't be just because he thinks Mike gives off a bad vibe, can it? I don't know. Mike kind of creates a bad boy façade with his clothes and looks and attitude but I don't think he's actually like that. I just feel that there is more to him than what others see. I may not be talking sense but... Urgh! Leave it. It's better that way.

The whole time I couldn't think of anything else. I just wanted Bryan to clean off the confusion; what he meant, and be like before. I don't know, I never thought we'd ever end up fighting over such a petty issue. It's stupid. But it's his fault. And I won't talk to him, I don't know till when, but I won't.

I'm sure Ed will be curious to know what happened because it's not that I water the plants every other day. So more or less I just grew suspicion in Ed's eyes. I hope he doesn't pester me with questions.

"Oh, hey!" came Edward's cheerful voice. I couldn't help but smile at him, although I know it wasn't the grin I usually gave him, adding more suspicion. Thanks a lot, stupid smile!

"Hi!"

"So? Watering the plants, huh?" he gave me a skeptical look. Everyone in my family knows that I don't work. I hate doing laundry, and gardening and whatever. So they know that whenever I'm in the garden doing some work, something's wrong. They know something is wrong when I'm not my usual self.

"Yeah, just felt like it."

"Really? You're going to lie to me, Ash? Me?"

"Look, Ed. I'm really not in the mood, okay? Can we please talk some other time?"

"Sure." I started going upstairs to my bedroom to lock myself up, when I turned around.

"By the way, you look absolutely dashing! Are you going to a party or something?" Edward seemed to blush at my compliment as his cheeks turned pink.

"Blushing, are you?" I teased.

"Shut up." he said, laughing. "I'm going to meet som—... Um... A friend of mine. See you later, tonight. And oh, don't forget we have to go out together. You and me. You promised!"

"Oh, yeah! Cool." I said sheepishly because honestly, I had forgotten all about it.

"You didn't remember, right? You're such a dumbass, sista!" he laughed again.

"Ok, bye-bye, brotha!" I mocked and ran up the stairs, the voice of Edward laughing still coming from downstairs and ringing in my ears. Edward can be so irritatingly sweet sometimes. But I'm worried about where he is going. I hope it's not related to alcohol or drugs, but he kind of blushed when I asked him. He's hiding something. I'm sure. But why won't he tell me? Maybe when the time's right!

I'd been in the shower for almost half-an-hour now and I didn't want to come out. The warm water sizzled down my back and calmed my mind. Reluctantly, I closed the shower and came out of the cubicle to find my phone ringing, again. Inside the bathroom, I was counting the number of times Bryan would call me before finally understanding that I didn't want to talk to him. One... Two... Three... Four... And now Five. I let my phone go to voicemail because I wasn't really in the mood to pick up and be showered with apologies. At least not right now.