Tandy & Ashley

chapter five: I've had worse

"Tandy!" Rob exclaimed calling Tandy's name for the 5th time, making her snap out of her thoughts. "Oh sorry, you were saying?"

They were only 10 minutes away from Mr and Mrs Archer's house now. " You zoned out there. What's on your mind?" "Why are we going to meet your parents?" "Well, why not? I want you to meet them." "But why though?" Tandy asked getting Anxious. Rob sighed, "Listen, I really love you, Babe. And I want to take things to the next level. And it all starts with meeting my parents. Besides, I've met your dad, right?it's only reasonable." He said taking in between glances from the road to Tandy. Tandy  rolled her eyes. What does he mean 'to the next level'? Not long after that they arrived.

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"So Tandy, how long have you known Rob?" Mrs  Sarah Archer asked, putting another fork of food in her mouth. "3 years." Tandy answerd playing with her fork on her plate. She was too nervy to eat. But she still did. "Wow you must really love each other," Mr. Archer added, "Rob has never brought any of his other girls over." "Dad!!" Rob exclaimed, stopping his dad from continuing to talk about his past.

"Sorry son, but it is true." "It's alright, Rob" Tandy said, putting her hand on his shoulder then shortly  afterwards removing it. An awkward silence suddenly came into the room, accompanied by the sound of clashing cutlery against ceramic plates.

"So Tandy, tell us about your family." Sarah  broke the silence. Rob gave his mum a look that read, you shouldn't have gone there, "Mum!" "Rob, it's fine. Really." Tandy assured him, "Uhm. My Dad lives in Boston. He used to work as a mechanic here downtown. He retired last year." She put  fork of food in her mouth. "And  what about your mum?" Tandy sighed, "My Mum. She died when I was 13. She. She was murdered. In the middle of a Robbery at our home."

Tandy's voice sounding so small everyone almost didn't hear her. The pain she thought disappeared began to rise once again. This is always a sensitive topic for her cause every  time she talked about it, it always hurt. But in the end she had to stay strong and be fine, even though everything else wasn't.

"After the incident, my dad went into a coma for 5 years. During that time I lived with my Grandmother who died last year.It was quite a rough time for all of us. It's just me and my dad now."

"I'm so sorry, dear, I didn't know." "Ofcourse you didn't mum. You're clueless about everything!!" Rob exclaimed, storming out of the room. Tandy followed after him. "Rob." "Tandy, I'm so sorry about my parents. They-" No Rob. It's fine. I'm fine. They were gonna ask eventually, I mean, it is a general question that was gonna pop up." "I'm so sorry, Babe. I've ruined this dinner for you. I was just worried. Nervous." "But why?" "I don't know! I wanted you to be comfortable. I want my parents to like you. But now I've made things harder."

"So what if they don't like me. Why wouldn't they. Listen Rob. Let's just fo finish dinner then you can take me home. Okay?" Rob sighed, "ok." Tandy and Rob went back to the table and continued to have dinner. Not long afterwards, they were done.

"Thank you for dinner Mr and Mrs Archer. I had a great time." Tandy said as she stood. "Anytime dear." Tandy helped clear the table then Rob took her home.

***

After a long day, Tandy took a shower and got into sweats an a loose T-shirt and played in bed. "Well, I've had worse dinners." She said to herself and chuckled. She stared at the ceiling thinking of a reason why she's still with Rob. But that's the thing, she couldn't find one.

She loves him, yes, but she's not sure anymore. What am I doing? Her smile faded. She looked to her left, noticing the card she put on her nightstand yesterday. She picked it up then sat up and stared at it for a while. Then she decided to give him a call.

Ashley was staring out  at the horizon from his balcony. He looked at the city lights from the 8th floor where his penthouse was. He was thinking about Tandy. Oh how much he wanted to know her.
For some reasons, she intrigued him. But he had to stop himself. He just couldn't fall for her. He doesn't even know her. He doesn't know her intentions. He was completely in the blind when it came to Tandy. He  was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a familiar tune. It was his ringtone.

"Hello, Ashley karter speaking." The line was quiet for a while. Tandy failed to speak. She tried to but she couldn't. And she didn't know why. "Hello?" Ashley said again, silence still. He was about to cut the call when he heard a voice, "Wait! Don't hang up. It's Tandy. Tandy Phillips." A smile was now plastered on his face, " Tandy. So glad to hear from you. Are you done with the article?" Ashley asked, playing it cool. "Yes. Do you want to  read it?" "Yes. I do." "So, should I send it?" "No. You'll read it to me."

Tandy was now confused, "Read it to you? Over the phone??" Ashley laughed at Tandy's question, "No. Over dinner. The issue is being published tomorrow, right? So being this weeks  issue and you'll read it. I'll pick you up ar 8pm. So be ready by then. Goodbye Tandy Phillips." He said hanging up with a huge grin now on his face.

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I don't know why but for me I wasn't too proud of this chapter. One, Rob over reacted but hey the things you do for love am I right?
But Ashley made me feel nice.
6 more days till school opens!! I'm so freaking out!!

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