Chapter 21:
"Morning everyone" I said as I pulled up a chair and sat down at the table for breakfast. "What's on the agenda for today?"
"Well, actually... I hate to do it, on your first day here. But Melanie and I have this meeting, it just suddenly came up" Michael explained.
"That's ok. I feel like hanging round the house today" I said.
"Mary-Kate and I might go for a walk around the city" Zac said looking at Mary-Kate. She nodded in approval.
"What do you want to do Ashley?" I asked as she walked into the room. We avoided really looking at each other.
"I think I'll just stay home" She said with a shrug "I'm still recovering from jet lag" She collapsed into a chair.
"Great! Then it's decided" Only problem was Ashley and I were gonna be stuck in the same house together. So how am I supposed to stall on talking to her about annoucing our divorce?
---Mary-Kate---
"Quick!" We're gonna miss it!" Zac pointed to the Cable car which was just passing us by as we walked down the street.
"We're catching it?" I asked. The first I'd heard of that.
"Yup! Come on!" He grabbed my hand and dragged me down the street.
I gripped Anna a little tighter so as not to drop her, and followed "Whatever you say"
We managed to climb about the car just seconds before it pulled away from the... cable stop?
"Now isn't this fun?" Zac asked as he looked out the window then smiled at me.
"Sure!" I said with a smile and a nod.
--Josh---
"Hey Ashley!" I called through the house. I'd been reading in our room and hadn't seen her since breakfast. Now I wasn't quite sure where she was "Ashley!" I called again.
"Watching tv!" Her voice called from downstairs.
I took a deep breath and started down the stairs. The moment of truth has arrived. I'm going to walk straight down those stairs and immediately say we have to talk!
I walked down the stairs and into the room. I opened my mouth "So what are you wathching?" Yeah, you can call me a wimp.
"Dawsons creek" She patted a spot next to her on the sofa "Come watch"
"Dawsons Creek? You need therapy" Regardless I went and sat next to her.
"Whatever"
We sat and watched for while. Some blond girl was talking to The main blond guy about something. Shows how much I know about this series. But hey, it's a girl thing. I glanced sideways at Ashley, she was totally engrossed. Yup, definitely a girl thing.
"Ashley" I said a moment later when the clip changed to that girl from the make-up ad. Least I think it was make-up....
"Yup?" She asked glancing at me for a split second before turning back to the tv, engrossed.
The scene finished and the show went to a commercial break. I grabbed the remote from the armrest and muted the tv.
"Um... well.."
She turned to me and smiled "Yeah?"
Oh help she's gorgeous!!!
I gulped and glanced away "Um...well I was thinking..." I said looking away from her towards the door.
"Josh. Are you talking to me or the door?"
"You" I said not turning around.
"Then turn around!"
I did and felt this STRONG, STRONG urge to...
I leaned over and kissed her.
Chapter 22:
|
"Josh!" I scolded pulling back slightly.
"I'm sorry" He whispered. Our faces were still really close together and almost touching, his breath tickled my face.
"It's ok.." I trailed off and continued to stare at him. "Oh what the heck" I closed the small space between our faces and kissed him.
He put his hand at the back of my neck and pulled me even closer.
Ok, so this is... unexpected.
---Zac---
"What about this one?" Mary-Kate held up a baby bonnet, which in my eyes was absolutely identical to the last 20 she'd shown me.
"Good" I said stifling a yawn.
"Good?!" She asked with a glare.
"It's great! It's amazing! It's stunning! Lets buy it!" I took it from her and started for the counter.
"No wait!" She called. "I think I like the yellow one more"
"There was a yellow one?"
"Zac!" She scolded smacking me.
"Ow. I'm sorry but pastels look the same to me"
She picked up a white looking, though on closer examination slightly yellow, baby bonnet. "We'll get this" She said decisively.
I glanced at my watch. "half an hour! I'm impressed! Your new record for speed. I'm so proud of you!" I bounced Anna who was in a baby carried on my back "Aren't you proud of Mommy Anna?"
Mary-Kate just rolled her eyes at us and smiled a little, then walked over to the counter.
---Ashley---
"Woah!" I pulled away from Josh, but this time I stood up so as to remove the temptation of kissing him again. We'd been kissing for the last 10 minutes or so. And though I didn't hate it, why were we doing it? "Josh! We're getting a divorce"
"I know" He said quietly. He buried his head in his hands.
"So why are we doing this?" I whispered. A tear formed in my eye and I quickly brushed it away before it could spill over.
"I don't know" He mumbled.
I knew I was going to cry. I couldn't hold it back. But I didn't want him to see me cry. I turned and ran from the room.
---Mary-Kate---
"Lets go in here for lunch" Zac motioned to a cute looking cafe.
I nodded and followed him in.
"What can I get you?" The waitress asked after we'd all sat down.
"Chicken burger please" I said after reading over the menu.
"I'll have the same" Zac decided.
"And what for the little lady?" The nice waitress made faces at Anna which made her laugh.
"I don't suppose you could heat this up slightly" I said getting her bottle out of my bag.
"No problem. I have two of my own, you could call it a talent" She said as she walked away.
I smiled.
"So" Zac turned to me "Having fun?"
I nodded absentmindedly "Yeah, but I'm a little worried about Josh and Ashley"
"Worried. How?"
"I don't know. Something about their relationship doesn't seem... I dunno, normal"
---Josh---
I just sat there for a few minutes after Ashley ran from the room. I needed to work out my thoughts, try to work out what had happened and why.
I sighed as I raked a hand through my hair. I'm such a jerk, I don't know why I kissed her. I shouldn't have. But the thing I'm most surprised about is the fact that she kissed me back. Oh man I wish I could work this all out.
I could faintly hear sounds from upstairs. Though she tried to hide it, I knew she was crying. I know her better then she thinks, when she's upset, when she's happy.
She hasn't been happy in awhile.
I got up and walked up to our room. "Ashley" I whispered as I tapped on the door.
"Go away" Came the muffled response.
Being the obediant person I am, I of course opened the door and walked in.
Ashley was curled up on the bed her hair covering her face, her body shaking with sobs.
"Ash" I said gently. I walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed. "Ash?" I whispered again.
She sniffled a little and I could tell she was trying to stop crying.
I reached out and brushed her hair away from her face, she jerked back from my touch.
"Sorry" I said quickly.
She scooted back to the other side of the bed and sat up, quickly brushing her hair away from her face and drying her eyes. "I said to go away" She said in a low voice, not looking at me.
"I didn't want" I answered simply.
She looked into my eyes long enough to glare then looked away.
"Look Ashley. I'm sorry I kissed you"
"Why'd you do it?" She whispered.
"I don't know" I shrugged "Why did you kiss me?" I countered.
She glanced up for a split second and I thought I saw her blush. She shrugged.
I sighed and lay back on the bed "We're one confusing couple aren't we?" I said.
She nodded "Not really a couple though" She said seriously, and she almost sounded sad.
"Yeah. Not really a couple" I repeated quietly.
Chapter 23:
|
"We're back!" I called as Zac and I walked into the house "Where are you guys?"
"In the kitchen" Ashleys voice answered.
Zac and I filed into the room to find the two working on dinner.
"Aww, isn't this cute? They're making dinner together" Zac said with a smile.
"Careful Zac" Ashley turned to face us, a large knife she'd been using to cut up carrots, in hand "I have sharp objects"
Zac faked a freaked out expression, backed up, then ran from the room.
I laughed.
---Josh---
The evening passed uneventfully. Since I didn't have the heart to talk to Ashley about announcing our divorce, we kept up the act. No one even suspected.
It was now late at night and for some reason I couldn't sleep.
Maybe it's the fact that Ashley's crying. She's doing so silently, but I can tell she is.
I moved over till I was on her half of the bed, I reached out and put a hand on her shoulder to see if she'd move away or not. She didn't.
"It's ok" I whispered. I reached out and pulled her into my arms. A simple comforting embrace, I think it's what she needed.
I held her like that as she cried herself to sleep.
---The next day passed without much happening. Michael and Melanie showed Zac, Mk, Ash, and Josh around San Fransisco. And they spent a lot of time catching up. There was one day of the trip to go, then they left the following afternoon---
---Mary-Kate---
"Wake up!" I was awoken by those beautiful words early Thursday morning. "Wake up!" Melanie repeated pounding on the door "Girls day!" She called happily, before moving on to Josh and Ashley's door.
I moaned quietly as I pulled myself out of bed.
"What's she going on about?" Zac asked rubbing his eyes.
"I have no clue" I pulled on my dressing gown and walked out into the hall.
"What's going on?" I asked Mel who was still in the middle of waking up poor Josh and Ashley.
"We're having a girls day!" She skipped over to me "Shopping. Pigging out. The guys can stay home or whatever. It'll be just us three!"
"Sounds good!" I said with a smile.
---Zac---
"So what are we supposed to do?" I called after the girls as they walked out to the car.
"You're big boys, you work it out" Melanie responded.
"But-" The sound of the car starting and driving away was my answer.
I sighed and walked back into the house "Well, it's just us I guess. A guys day.. well expect for Anna" I glanced over at Josh who was holding Anna. Mary-Kate has been set on 'training' him this week. So of course she'd handed him Anna and a bottle as she ran out the door.
"Can you take her?" He asked looking totally freaked out.
"Josh she's just a baby" I said taking her from him.
"Exactly!"
---Ashley---
"What do you think of this one?" I asked holding a blue dress up in front of me.
"Beautiful!" Mary-Kate breathed. She turned me and pushed me towards the dressing room "Go try it on"
I sighed and obeyed.
"You have to buy that!" Melanie announced when I came out of the dressing room."
"I dunno"
"Josh'll love it"
I blushed a little "So?"
"Ashley. Get it!" Mary-Kate used her bossy little sister tone.
"Fine." I said "But only if you get those shoes you were trying on before.
"Deal" She said holding out her hand to shake.
Ah, I love shopping!
---Josh---
So the girls had abandoned us for the days. Guess thats permission to be total slobs. So we ordered a ton of take out junkfood, and watched the entire Die Hard series.
Great!
Though I'm starting to feel a little sick from all this pizza.
---Mary-Kate---
We were walking through the mall when Ashley suddenly looked a little pale.
"You ok?" I asked her.
"Fine" She said unconvincingly. She glanced over at a pharmacy store we were passing, "I was just.. thinking about something"
I glanced at her trying to read her face. But she looked away.
There's something she's not telling me.
Chapter 24:
"Um guys?" Michael asked.
"Yeah?" I asked with a yawn.
"We kind of made a mess. And I get the feeling the girls will be expecting us to have made dinner"
"Oooh! Don't mention food!" Josh groaned.
"Well we could order take-out again" I said with a grin.
Michael considered "Ok. But lets get something we can pretend we made"
We eventually decided on a take out store that sold ready made meals. Chickem, vegetables, and such.
They delivered then we hurried into the kitchen, put the food on plates and put them in the over to keep them warm. We then dumped the packaging in the rubbish.
"Somebody set the table and we're set!" I said happily.
---Mary-Kate---
“Wow!” Ashley, Melanie and I said in unison as the guys led us table.
“Impressive” I said as Zac pulled out a seat for me to sit down. The other girls nodded in agreement.
The first bite, however, revealed what I’d expected. No way could they have made this.
“Excuse me a second” I got up and walked over to the rubbish bin.
“Um, Mary-Kate would you like a glass of water” Zac rushed in front of me, blocking off my path.
“No thank-you” I said pushing him out of the way.
He sighed.
“Uh-huh!” I said pulling out a take-away carton. “Faker” I said rolling my eyes at him.
He looked sheepish.
“Well, home made or not it was delicious” Ashley got up from her table. She hadn’t finished her meal, only eaten a couple of mouthfulls. “Mel could I borrow your car? I need to get something”
“Why didn’t you get it today?” I asked her.
“I, uh, forgot” She said taking the keys from Melanie then almost running out the door.
I turned to Josh “Do you know what’s going on?”
He just shrugged and shook his head.
I glanced at the door Ashley had just exited through then back at him.
---Josh---
“Ash are you in there?” I knocked on the door of the bathroom. Ashley had got home about half an hour ago. She’d immediately disappeared upstairs, and I’d eventually come to check on her.
“Yes” Came the slightly muffled response.
"What are you doing in there?"
"It's the only room in this house with a lock!"
"Oh...Everything ok?”
“Fine”
“You gonna come out?”
“Not just yet” It came out almost sounding like a sob
“Ashley are you crying?”
“No”
“Ashley?” I was starting to feel concerned.
“Josh I’m fine, I just need to be alone right now”
I sighed “...Ok. If you’re sure. But you know where I am if you need to talk”
“Thanks” I waited another moment then started down the stairs.
---Ashley---
It was early morning on our last day in San Fransisco. I’m afraid I’ve kind of been in a bad mood today. Everyones avoiding me. But I have a lot on my mind..
“Did you use my toothbrush?” I stormed out of the bathroom and over to Josh who was packing his suitcase.
“No” He looked a little confused “I used the blue one, that’s mine. Yours is the yellow”
“Oh... yeah. Guess I forgot” I turned and walked back towards the bathroom.
“Hey Ashley” He called after her me and I heard his suitcase click as he closed.
“Yeah?”
“I was uh... thinking of leaving now”
I spun around to face him “What?”
“Well, we’re leaving this afternoon anyway, and if I go now I could get the rest of my stuff packed up this afternoon and head to Chicago early”
I just stared at him in shock.
Chapter 25:
|
Ashley gulped “Um... ok” She said looking extremely pale.
“I’ve got a bit more stuff to get then we can tell the others.”
“Um about that... do you think you could? I don’t really feel up to it”
I nodded “Ok” I said with what I hoped was an encouraging smile.
She disappeared down the stairs and I grabbed the last of my stuff and took a deep breath. The moment of truth.
“Josh? What’s with the bags?” Zac asked when I walked into the lounge. He and Mary-Kate where sitting on the sofa looking all the happy couple. Anna playing with some blocks at their feet.
I glanced around and spotted Ashley standing by the front door, leaning against the wall, wathcing me.
“Um... well...” I decided to just spit it out “Ashley and I are getting a divorce”
The room was silent as everyone just stared at me in shock.
I saw Mary-Kate glance over at Ashley who was looking at her feet.
“I’m moving to Chicago this weekend” I said. They were speechless as is, might as well spit it all out.
“Woah” Zac whispered “I’m sorry”
“Yeah.” A car horn sounded outside “That’s my ride” I said quietly.
Mary-Kate came over and gave me a big hug. I could tell she wanted to say a lot of stuff but couldn’t get it out “Stay in touch” was all she managed before moving to Zac’s side, he put his arm around her and shook hands with me.
“Good luck” He said.
I said good-bye to Melanie and Michael and glanced over to where Ashley had been, she’d disappeared.
Well this is it.
I picked up my bags and walked out the door.
Ashley was sitting on the steps outside, her head in her hands.
I walked over to her and set my bags down. “I’m sorry Ashley. That it didn’t work out”
She nodded, still not looking in me.
I sighed “I’ll arrange and send the divorce papers”
She nodded again.
I leaned over and gently lifted her chin “I hope we can stay friends” Cliche as it was.
She nodded and looked away from my eyes.
“Good-bye” I kissed her forehead then walked out to the taxi.
As it drove away I glanced back towards the house. Ashley was now standing there, her arms hugging herself against the cold wind. She watched the car drive away as tears streamed down her face.
---Ashley---
The car disappeared out of sight and I started walking in the opposite direction. I couldn’t go inside cause everyone would want to talk to me. And if I stayed there they’d come look for me. And I really needed some time to think.
As I did so a question resounded in my mind.
'What do you do when the only person who can make you stop crying is the one who made you cry?'
---Mary-Kate---
“I knew something was wrong” I whispered to Zac after Josh left.
He nodded and wrapped his arms around me, pressing his lips to my forehead “They’ll be ok” He whispered “Don’t worry”
I tried to believe him. Really I did.
---Ashley---
The flight home seemed to last an eternity. Mary-Kate kept hugging me and telling me everything would be ok. I was starting to get tired of it.
I finally got home to my apartment, and sure enough everything was gone.
There was a small note from Josh about some of the wedding presents we’d recieved after announcing our marriage. He’d basically left them all for me.
I walked around the apartment, amazed at how empty and sad it looked.
I went into my room and closed the door behind me, I leaned on it for a moment then it all got to me and I sunk to the floor crying.
I’m so scared. What do I do now?
It’s not just that Josh’s left that’s got me so scared.
I’d done a little math last week, then gone to the Pharmacy for a pregnancy test.
It came up positive.
I’m a month pregnant.
~And like a ship in the ocean
Without your light watching over me
I'm lost at sea
If I needed you
Would you rescue me~
Read the Sequel: The First Autumn