Want You Back

Chapter 6

Zoe opened her eyes. It was light outside again. The music was no longer playing and all the people had left. She groaned. Next to her lay Ashton, asleep. He was snoring like a bear. Very slowly, Zoe got up and tried to leave the room as quietly as possible. "Hey, where are you going?" asked Ashton in his attractive raspy morning voice. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm going home." replied Zoe quietly. "Without a car? You want to take the bus?" replied Ashton. Ashton still had his eyes closed. But he had a good point. "Breakfast at my place?" asked Zoe with a laugh. Ashton nodded.

Zoe put her clothes from the evening back on. She remembered the night. The night with Ashton. A small smile formed on her face. "What are you excited about?" asked Ashton, as he zipped up his pants. "Nothing." replied Zoe, still smiling. "Hey." said Ashton, trying to sound angry. Zoe put her arms around his neck and looked into his green eyes. "Can we go?" "You're teasing me." replied Ashton.

It was a glorious day. Zoe couldn't stop grinning. She never thought she would see Ashton again and now he is next to her.

Zoe opened the door and exhaled. "The shoes are killing me. You can go ahead and make some coffee." said Zoe and headed toward the shower. Her dress felt like a second skin. Totally sweaty. She looked in the mirror. All her makeup was all over her face. Apparently the lipstick wasn't kiss-proof. The hair was knotted. What a nice view in the mirror.

Just as Zoe was about to get into the shower, as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." Ashton said and went to the door. "Who's that?" Zoe strode out of the bathroom. There was no answer. Zoe sighed in annoyance and put on her bathrobe. "Ashton, who is that?" she asked again. Still no answer. Finally she walked out of the bathroom towards the front door.

Zoe saw Ashton holding his nose. Standing at the door was her brother. "James. What the fuck?" she looked back and forth between them. James had punched Ashton in the face. Again. "Ashton, come with me." She pulled him behind her, toward the refrigerator. His nose was bleeding and starting to swell. "I'm sorry." whispered Zoe. Zoe handed Ashton an ice pack. She was pissed.

James came into the kitchen. His fists clenched. "James. What is this and what are you doing here?" asked Zoe angrily. "What's this asshole doing here?" replied James condescendingly. "We made up, now answer my questions." James sighed. He was still angry, but his fists were loosening. "I was going to come surprise you. I miss you, sis." Zoe shook her head. She still did not understand what happened. "Don't you remember what he did to you?" asked James. He was getting louder again. Before Zoe could answer, Ashton stood up and walked towards James and looked at him, from the top to bottom. He looked disgusted. "I'll see you around." said Ashton and pressed a kiss on Zoe's lips. James' jaw dropped. Zoe raised her hand to stop James from speaking. The front door slammed shut.

"I'm going to take a shower. Then we'll talk. Zoe said. She needed the shower badly now. What had just happened?

Many thoughts went through Zoe's head. So many that she no longer had a clear view.

James was standing in the living room. He calmed down from the adrenaline rush.

"So. Sit down." ordered Zoe fresh out of the shower. "I don't want you to waste your time with him." James started the conversation. Truth be told, Zoe didn't feel like having the conversation. What if now her relationship with Ashton changed, because of her twin brother? "James. It's my decision. All mine. Just because you're my brother you can't tell me what I can do. I'm fucking 23 years old." replied Zoe. She tried to stay calm, but the emotions were building up. "I understand you. But I'm worried. You have to understand that too." sighed James. "Yes, you are worried. I get that. But you didn't even apologize." replied Zoe. James scratched his head. Actually, he's not like that. James is polite and always friendly. But Ashton brings out the worst in him.

It was an uncomfortable atmosphere between the two. Of course, Zoe was very happy that her brother came to visit her. Because James is really busy with his job. On the other hand Zoe is quite disappointed by him.

Zoe took her phone in her hand and texted Ashton. Zoe hoped that he would not be angry with her and she had to make sure that Ashton was okay.

James made himself comfortable on the sofa and Zoe ran around the apartment like a crazy person. Zoe started cleaning up, although there was nothing to clean up. She desperately needed to get her mind off things. She would like to call Grace, but Zoe is a person who prefers to keep her problems to herself.

At that moment her phone rang. Unfortunately, it wasn't Ashton, as Zoe had hoped. It was an unknown number. "Hi. Is this Zoe Carter?" "Yes. That's me." "This is Steve Barnett. I'm calling about your song. Our plan so far is, that you record a song and I wanted to clear a few things up."

Zoe forgot her problem for a moment and was on cloud nine. Steve and Zoe worked out the last few things before recording. Zoe really wanted to write her own song. Put her own feelings into the song. Her heart was racing. Her dream would come true. Zoe couldn't have been happier. But what was the song going to be about? Now all that was missing was the inspiration.