When You Least Expect It

20

Christmas morning passes smoothly. Ash and Corey are curled up on the couch simply enjoying one another's company while we watch a marathon of Christmas movies. Taylor slept through breakfast and into the afternoon, but when he finally comes down he looks so much better. Smiling and making jokes, giving Ashley a hard time. It's nice to see him back to normal.

I run to the kitchen to check on our ham one more time trying to decide if I should turn the heat down or go ahead and let it finish cooking now. After arguing with myself I decide to cover it, turn the heat down so that it can cook slowly. It's still kind of early, this way it will give everyone a little more time before dinner. I head back to the front room to find Ashley wrapped in Corey's arms, both of them asleep. I smile snapping a picture of them with my phone, she is one lucky girl. I can't help but wonder if I will ever have a love like that.

Switching off the light I go up the stairs in search of Taylor. I'm just about to knock on his door when my phone rings. "Hey, Jason what's up?"

"Derek. You've got to get me out of here. They're driving me insane. My parents don't want me to leave on the 30th, they want me to stay until break is over. I can't stay here another ten days."

I laugh and shake my head, "Jason it's Christmas! They're your family. I'm sure they're all just excited you're home."

"I know but I can't even talk to my girl man! They're always there. If my mom finds out I'm talking to a girl she'll never shut up. It would be her dream come true if I'd just get married and start a family. I'm too young D! Help me!"

"You're being crazy dude. Just tell them that you have to come back early to get your books before classes start. That you underestimated how much time you needed, I'm sure they'll understand."

He groans into the phone, "Man I sure hope so. I'm freezing my nuts off out here. But if I go back in the house while I'm on the phone they'll harass me and you both! I've only talked to Riley for like twenty minutes since I got here. Her family is huge and loud, mine is just nosey! I get no privacy here."

"Just hang out today and talk to them tomorrow about coming back early. Ashley Grace has been texting Riley and she said she is still going to try to come back for New Year's Eve."

"Fuck! I've got to make it back. Wait. Ashley's already back? I thought she wasn't coming back for another couple of days."

I hesitate, "Well, she showed up at the door last night in pretty rough shape. Somebody beat the hell out of her."

He takes a sharp breath before he responds. "Holy shit. Does Corey know? Do you know who it was?"

"Yeah, he was passed out here when she got back. She hasn't said yet. At least not to me, I've tried to make myself scarce today. He has been so gentle with her though. He held it together really well."

"Wow." He pauses, "Man, I hope she's ok. She's such a sweetheart, whoever did that to her is a real piece of shit."

I knew Jason had a soft side. He's right though, Ashley is such a good person. I kind of wish Corey could've just flipped out and beat the hell out of whoever did it, but I know he's doing what Ashley needs him to do. "Yeah, I know."

"Aw hell. Here comes the busy bodies I guess I gotta go." There's muffled shuffling as he hollers out to someone before he continues. "I'm going to try to get out of here tomorrow night. I'll call you when I get a chance."

"Alright man. Tell the family I said 'hey'." I laugh and he cusses me before he hangs up.

Shaking my head I knock on Taylor's door. "Hey, why you hanging out up here?"