My mom and I finished talking and walked back into the living room. Ash had the biggest smile plastered across her face which made me give her a confused face. Her smile only grew and I was sure that she was going to spontaneously combust. Her happiness made me smile just as bright when I sat down next to her. My mom gave me a knowing look and I rolled my eyes.
"I think I'm gonna get going," my mom said getting up.
"Mommmm you just got here," I argued.
"Why don't you all come by for diner later," she asked.
"Sounds great," Bradley said.
"B," Ash said smacking him.
"What? A mans gotta eat," he said making my mom chuckle.
"Well you're all invited. Be there at 7,yeah?," she asked.
"Okay love you mom," I said giving her a hug.
"Don't be scared okay? Take the risk it'll be worth it,"she whispered in my ear.
I pulled back and gave her a nod. She smiled at me and rubbed my shoulders up and down. She then turned and gave Brad and Ash a hug. She must've whispered something in Ash's ear because she started blushing profusely. It made me snicker a bit to see her so flustered.
"I actually have to go too so I'll walk you out Mrs Heart," Brad said.
"Brad you know it's Melody," she said walking out the door with him waving bye to everyone.
"What do you wanna do now? I'm kinda over T.V," I said.
"Can I see your room," she said with a mischievous grin.
"Yeah sure," I said leading her down the hallway.
I opened the door so she could observe it. I had a small bed pushed up by the wall with a white comforter. There were some band posters plastered on the walls but I still had a blank wall that I hadn't put anything on. My guitar was leaning against the wall along with my bass.
"Athena," Ash said looking me in the eyes. Those brown orbs almost swallowed me whole.
"Ashley," I said mocking her tone.
"Look at this wall! We should paint it," she said referring to the blank one.
"How should we paint it," I asked.
"What's your favorite thing to do," she said her eyes wide.
"Play music," I said after a bit of thought.
"Let's do it! We'll paint a bunch of different music things all over the wall," she said spreading her hands out.
"Okay let's do it," I said.
"Do you have paint or do we need to get some," she asked.
"We gotta get some," I answered.
"Okay let's go. We'll take my car," she said grabbing her keys and slipping her shoes on. She went to go outside but then shivered and came back in immediately.
"It's been raining and it's a little cold. Can I borrow a jacket," she asked.
I nodded before going back to my room to find the perfect hoodie. I decided on my black champion hoodie and went back to the doorway to give it to her. She slipped it on in one swift motion and my heart starting beating a little faster than normal. Ash in my clothes did nothing but confirm the fact that I found her extremely attractive.
"You look adorable," I said without thinking. I gave myself a mental slap in the face as my cheeks started to heat up.
"Thanks you do too," she said with her infamous, heart skipping wink.
I almost fainted right then and there. Before I could say anything else Ash grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door to her car.
We got back to my apartment about an hour later. There were almost three full bags of paint supplies that Ash had picked out since I knew nothing about it. Ash dumped all the paintbrushes and bottles of paint onto the floor and began to sort them out.
"You ready," she said with a smile.
"Ash, I don't know how to paint," I giggled.
"It's okay I'll show you," she said.
She picked up a brush and a bottle of black paint. She squirted a little bit onto the paint plate and dipped the brush in carefully. She then pulled me up off the floor and handed the brush to me. We walked over to my blank wall and Ash wrapped her hand around mine. I prayed and hoped she couldn't hear my heart beating out of my chest.
"Why is your heart beating so fast," Ash asked in a hushed tone.
"I have to tell you something," I said finally building up enough courage.
"Go ahead. You can tell me anything," she said.
"I think I might, maybe have feelings for you," I said in a whisper.
"You think you might, maybe have feelings for me?,"she teased.
My breath was caught in my chest making it almost impossible to talk. I looked up at her and nodded.
"Well I know that I definitely have feelings for you," she said.
My whole world stopped for a second. Ash and I just stared at each other. I looked across her face and took in all the small details that I had memorized. Her brown eyes, her light freckles, and her pink lips.
"What now," I whispered.
"Can I kiss you?," she whispered back.
"God yes," I breathed against her lips.
She leaned in painfully slow until I could feel her warm breath against my lips. She cupped my cheeks with both of her hands and rubbed one of her thumbs in circles. She finally closed the gap and pressed her lips to mine. I almost moaned at the feeling of our lips pressed together at last. My arm snaked around her waist and I pulled her in even closer not able to get enough of the feeling. Her tongue swiped across my bottom lip asking for entrance which I granted deepening the kiss.
We both pulled apart to try and catch our breath. I couldn't help but smile as I thought about what just happened. She slid one of her hands through my hair and pecked my lips again.
"So, you wanna finish painting," she asked.
"Yeah," I coughed.
We spent the rest of the day in my room with Ash guiding my hand to paint. She occasionally kissed my temple or cheek claiming that "it looked like it needed her lips". I wasn't complaining though they did miss her kiss. The only time I began to complain was when Ash told me it was time to go get Brad and head to my moms house.
"I don't wanna," I protested.
"Come on you haven't seen her in forever," she said.
"But we haven't finished the mural," I said trying to find an excuse.
"We can finish it later," she promised.
"Okay fine," I said.
"Come on I'll drive so you can relax," she said.
After a few minutes of being in the car Ash rested her hand on my thigh and rubbed her finger in mindless patterns. It was so relaxing that I fell asleep.
We must've picked up Brad after I fell asleep because he was the one who woke me up. I slowly opened my eyes to him poking my face. I swayed his hands away and stretched out.
I got out of the car and dragged myself up to my moms door and walked in. I took a second to wander around since I hadn't been there in a while. After looking around for a bit I found my way to the kitchen to find my mom with a random man and a girl who looked about my age.
"Hey mom," I said slowly.
"Hey sweetie," she said giving me a tight hug.
"Who's this," I said faking a smile.
"I'm Conor and this is my daughter Kaylee," the mysterious man that I now know as Conor said.
"Nice to meet you," I said politely.
"You too your mom has told me a lot about you," Conor said.
"Yeah well these are my friends Ash and Brad," I said introducing the two.
"Nice to meet you two," Conor said.
Ash and Brad both nodded politely and I excused us for I go set the table for my mom. Brad and Ash didn't bother to say anything as we silently set the table together.
After we were done Bradley went off to the bathroom and I asked if Ash wanted to see my room. We went up the old wooden stairs of my childhood house before we reached the door with my name on it.
"Are you ready for the coolest childhood room ever," I asked jokingly.
"I don't know it might be too cool," she said getting in on the joke.
I laughed a bit at her willingness to joke with me and I opened the door. It was exactly how I left it. Absolutely nothing had been moved or touched. All my posters were left on the walls and my bed was made like my mom had cleaned my room.
"One Direction," Ash questioned pointing at one of my posters of Harry and Niall.
"Yeah I used to love them," I said with a shy smile.
"Me too," she said. "Guess it's just another thing we have in common."
"I guess so," I said.
She leaned in close to me making the butterflies come alive again. Ash pressed her lips to mine, soft and sweet. This kiss was tender and careful.
"Thena can you come down here please," my mom yelled.
I groaned and pulled away from Ash tilting my head back dramatically. She giggled a bit and it sounded like music to my ears. I smiled a bit and pecked her cheek. She was just too cute to resist.
"Coming," I yelled back.
I gave her another quick kiss before running off downstairs. When I got in the kitchen my mom was cooking whatever we were having for diner. She turned around and gave me a look of disappointment,
"What," I asked.
"I want you to hang out with Kaylee. I want you to be nice to her," my mom said.
"Why cause you're fucking her dad," I said.
A shocked and hurt expression crossed my moms face but she quickly composed herself. I felt guilt and regret flood through me.
"I'm sorry. God I didn't mean that," I told her.
"I am in a relationship with her dad and I just want you two to get along. I need you to be happy for me," she said.
"I am mom, really I am. It's just still a little hard seeing you with someone other than dad," I explained.
"I know but he left and I'm here. It's not my fault and I think it's time to move on," she said.
"I'm sorry mom you're right," I said.
"It's okay I understand," she said pulling me in for a hug.
A few years ago my dad left us. He had an affair with his boss and chose her over us. Ever since then I've been holding on to the fact that he was a good person but he wasn't. He wasn't a good dad or a good husband. I think it's time to let him go and let the good image that I have of him die.
When I pulled back from my mom fresh hot tears were running down my cheeks. My mom wiped them away and gave me a sympathetic smile. I tried to calm myself down but the tears kept falling.
"I'll go hang out with Kaylee," I said.
"Thank you honey it really means a lot," she said.
I nodded before going to the living room to find Kaylee. She wasn't in there so I continued to search the house. I could feel my heartbeat pounding and anxiety rushed through my body. I was nervous that she wouldn't like me and I would let my mom down. It seemed like I had already let her down enough and I needed to get along with Kaylee.
I finally found her sitting outside with Brad and Ash. They were all talking when I walked out and sat on the wooden swing near them.
"Hey," I said once I got seated.
"Hi," Kaylee said.
Hey everyone hope you're liking the story! If you are...don't be a ghost reader hit the star please x
