The Story of Us

Chapter Four: Ashley

 Chapter Four: Ashley

The air was frigid as Cassie, Naomi and I walked to Pepe's. We were meeting the boys and Beth at the restaurant. As much as I was dreading being around Adam, I had been craving Pepe's all winter break. It was the best pizza place near campus and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a slice of delicious pepperoni.

“How about the booth in the back?” Naomi asked as she opened the front door.

“Yea, that's fine.” I took off my coat and scarf. It was freezing outside, but inside it was sweltering. The last thing I needed was to look sweaty in front of Adam.

No, I thought to myself, you're not supposed to care what he thinks about you. Who cares if you're a little sweaty? He's a stuck-up jerk.

We had just sat down when Liam and Beth arrived.

“Hey guys! Cassie, Ashley, what's up? I haven't seen you in forever!” Liam exclaimed as he pulled us both into a bear hug.

“It's been two weeks, Liam. I would hardly call that forever.” I replied, hugging back so he would know I was joking. Unlike his brother, Liam was funny, sweet, and super nice. He always knew how to make you feel better.

“So, what were you two up to?” Naomi asked, trying to appear innocent. However, as her best friend, I could see right through it. Whether she would admit to it or not, she was experiencing some jealousy.

“We were at the park. Liam took his guitar and was playing Usher and Justin Bieber songs. You should have seen the crowds. They all loved him!” Beth answered, grinning in Liam's direction. Beth was one of those girls that all the guys wanted. I don't if it was the blonde hair, the heart-shaped smile or the tight clothes (I think we know the answer), but every boy that laid eyes on her fell madly in love. As a result, Beth was one of ‘those girls’. Meaning, other girls didn't really like her.

“Aw, well of course they loved him. You're such a cutie pie.” I said in a baby voice while pinching his cheek.

Swatting my hand away, he replied, “Cutie pie? I prefer sexy stud.”

“What's that about a sexy stud?”A voice questioned? from around the corner.

Adam. I had almost forgotten that he was coming. Just as I was starting to relax....

“I was just saying that us Moore men like to be thought of us sexy studs.” Liam said, while giving his brother a high-five.

“Well I, for one, don't want to be thought of as a sexy stud. So leave me out of this.”

“Oh, don't worry, you'll definitely be left out of that category.” I muttered just loud enough for Cassie to hear. She jabbed me in the side and whispered, “Shut up. Now.”

“Tell us about France! Was it everything you'd hoped?” Cassie asked.

“Oh yes. My professors were brilliant. The food was delicious. The people were so put together and had incredible style. What Americans consider formal wear is what the French consider pajamas.” He said while wiping his silverware with a napkin. Such a germaphobe.

“Well,” I said glancing down at the Super Mario t-shirt that he had also worn this morning, “I see that this style didn't rub off on you.”

“Oh, but it did. I just didn't want to appear better than the rest of you all. I wouldn't want to be mistaken as stuck-up.” He turned and motioned for the waiter to come over and began ordering.

Rolling my eyes, I replied. “You? Stuck-up? No one would EVER mistake you for that.”

Did he really just say that? Was he really that self-absorbed and shallow? Of course he was. I knew that. I'd always known that. If I knew that, then why couldn't I stop staring at his mouth? Why couldn't get the idea of kissing him out of my head?

The next thing I knew, there were three pizzas crammed on the table ready to be eaten—one with sausage, one with bacon and one with pepperoni. This will help me, I thought. A nice, greasy slice of Pepe's pizza always did the trick. I looked up and realized that both Beth and Liam were not at the table.

“Where are Beth and Liam?” I whispered to Naomi.

“They both had to go to the bathroom. At the same time. Yea. Pretty convenient, right?” She said as she picked off her pepperoni and put them on my plate.

“Naomi. Don't assume anything. You don't know anything is going on. Maybe they drank a lot of lemonade.” I said, hoping this would set her mind at ease but knowing it wouldn't.

She looked over and gave me a classic ‘Naomi Hamilton look.’

“Yea. I'm sure they did. I did too actually. I'll be right back.”

Oh no. That wasn't good. Not wanting to get involved, I stayed at the booth and took a giant bite of pizza. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Adam dabbing off his pizza with a napkin.

“Seriously, Adam? Getting bikini ready for spring break with a new diet?”

He feigned a laugh and replied, “Very funny. No, I am not on a new diet. I just don't wish to clog my arteries with all of this disgusting grease.”

“I don't know about in France but in America ‘clogging your arteries’ is kind of the whole point.” I said, referencing the rude comment he made earlier today. If he could be rude, so could I.

He looked up at me and I could tell he knew what I was doing. He stopped dabbing his pizza with the napkin and began eating.

“That's why the Americans will see hell before the French will.” He said haughtily

“'The Americans'? You do realize that you are an American, right? Just because you studied abroad in France does not mean that you are now French. If we're going to hell first, then so are you.”

Before Adam could respond, Naomi came storming out of the bathroom with Liam close behind. Her face was beat red and she looked absolutely furious. They both headed for the door, not even bothering to grab their jackets. Beth slowly slid into the booth and looked down at her hands.

“I think I'm just going to stay here.” She said.

I looked at Cassie and saw that her face replicated exactly what I was thinking: This can't be good.