You Make The Pain Fade Away

Chapter Twenty-Three

I felt a pillow crash onto my face. My eyes flickered open, just as I saw another flying pillow about to collide on my face again.

"Wake up, wake up!" Madison hopped on one feet then the other. I grabbed the nearest pillow and I flung it right at her. Her reflexes weren't hasty enough and it landed on her chest. I giggled, bolting off my bed when she tossed me the pillow again.

I tried tackling her, right before she was going to throw me another pillow. We both end up crashing with the floor and we erupted into hysterical giggles.

"That was a fail," she alleged, pushing herself up on her feet. She unlocked the suitcase that was for me and heaved out an outfit and threw it at me. "Get changed. I want to do your hair."

I groaned, yanking the pillow that was next to me, and pressed it against my face.

I feel like being in bed all day. I don't want to go anywhere. Last night had been a disappointment for me. I cried in front of John.

No, in his arms once again.

I'm weak. Why did I let that happen?

It's like having a wide open door for him to intrude. The things that really terrified me though, was the tingles, the peaceful feeling he gave me when I was in his arms, that weird thought when his hand was on mine, and it all just frightens me like crazy.

I never felt that before.

"Earth on Ashley for Christ sake!" Madison kicked the pillow off my face. "I'm speaking to you."

"And I've heard you."

"Really, what was I telling you?"

My mind blanked. Was she really talking to me all this time? "I don't know."

"Exactly, get up and change up, please," she said. I noticed she was already dressed. I forced myself on my feet and changed into those ripped skinny jeans with the see-through floral shirt over a black camisole.

Madison made me sit on my desk chair. She brush and straightened my hair. She even applied a little make-up, because she insisted.

Once I saw my reflection I was amazed for some abnormal reason. My hair was let loose and it was long. I hadn't realized how long it's become. The girl in the mirror resembled to the girl from New York.

Madison smiled, joining me next to the mirror.

"You see the difference? That is the girl I know from back in New York," she said brightly. Jeez... I really had been hard on my appearance.

"Can I put my hair up, though? The humidity is going to ruin my hair," I said.

Madison stared at me. "You're right."

I drew it up in my usual bun.

"Where exactly are we going?" I asked, slithering my feet into my black chucks.

"I want to get to know the town a little better."

I nodded as we both declined the stairs. Grandma was relaxing on the front porch, talking on the phone with one of her fellow friends.

"Bye grandma," I mouthed when we past her. She waved, acknowledging us. We got on Madison's car and she drove towards town. She had Rihanna on and we both sang to "You the one".

She parked in the Grill's parking lot. We trod out of the car and treaded towards the entrance. We selected a booth at the far end, next to the windows.

I gazed around for Red and saw her approaching us with a broad smile.

"Hello ladies," she said, taking out her pad. "What would ya like to drink?"