Chapter 6:
|
"Um..." Josh had just called. He said Ashley was acting strange and he wanted to know if anything had happened to her while he was 'gone'. What HADN'T happened while he was 'gone'? "Josh... she thought you were.. dead"
"I know" He said simply "But why is she acting like this?"
"Acting like what? You should have seen how she acted when she thought you were gone! This is nothing in comparison!"
There was silence on the other end of the line, and then... "What do you mean?" He whispered.
"She wouldn't eat. She wouldn't sleep. She wouldn't even talk, and we are talking about Ashley here. She wouldn't even move" I paused, there was nothing but silence on the other end of the line "Josh... she was broken hearted. I'd never NEVER seen her like that! And no ones known her longer then me. And no one knows her better. Well other then you" Still silence "Josh?"
"I had no idea" He whispered.
"It kinda surprised us all Josh, I know you two care about each other, no matter how much you try to hide it. Please don't let this continue"
I nodded though she couldn't see me. Said good-bye and hung up. I stood there my eyes fixed on nothing and slowly breathed out. Wow. I leaned against the wall and just thought about what I'd learnt.
---Ashley---
Josh walked back into the room, looking a little... a lot.... strange. Kinda dazed. I couldn't decide if it was a good dazed, or a bad dazed. his expression was mixed. Kinda like he'd swallowed a sock and kinda like he'd just won the lottery. Maybe it is a good dazed..
"Good news?" I asked in a monotone.
He suddenly snapt back to reality and glanced at me, then looked away "Huh? Oh yeah. I guess... it depends"
"On what?"
"I'm not sure"
I nodded and hummed along with the 'Gilmore Girls' credits music. He walked over and flopped down on the couch next to me. Suddenly remembering it was there, (Or should I say 'had been there') he reached for his cup of coffee. Staring dreamily into space as he took a sip.
As a perplexed expression came over his face I quickly got up and started for the door.
"Milk?!" he sputtered. Staring into the cup in complete and utter astonishment "Ashley! Hold it!"
I froze on the spot. The doors welcoming escape mere meters away seemed to laugh at me.
So close Ashley. Yet so far away.
Darn.
---Mary-Kate---
I sighed in frustration and clicked the channel up button on my remote. I didn't even want to think about how much time I've wasted surfing! And I still haven't found a thing worth watching!
'The giant turtle' A documentary voice droned in a monotone as a giant turtle trudged down a beach "makes it's way to" CLICK, I changed channel "..Party Island! Come visit today -" CLICK "...Is the first day of your-" CLICK "...Funeral will be a-" CLICK "...Non stop party of-" CLICK "...Romance and action in the movie-" CLICK "...Rugrats on-" CLICK "....AAAAAAAUGH!-" CLICK "...Where would be without?-" CLICK "...Athletes foot cream!-" CLICK "...You are one crazy-" CLICK "...Porcupine-" CLICK "...Thank-you and good night!"
Zac strode into the room and I stopped listening to the crazed sentence the various shows combined to make. He took the remote from my hand, flicked the tv off, and leaned down to kiss me.
"What was that for?" I asked with a smile, when the long kiss sadly ended and he sat down next to me.
"Because you're wonderful" He kissed me again. "And beautiful" and again "And understanding" He leaned forward to kiss me yet again but I leaned back, eyeing him warily.
"Why do I feel worried?" I asked slowly.
He sighed and drummed his fingers on the couch armrest.
"Zaaac?" I urged.
"We need to resume the tour" He said all in a rush.
I sat back "Oh" I said. I glared at a spot on the wallpapers as if it were responsible for this.
"Mary-Kate?" He asked me. A worried frown creeping onto his face.
I glanced at him, then reached forward to run a hand through his hair "I'm coming with you this time" I said before kissing him "But that means I have to get to the studio early and finish all those scenes today" I said suddenly as I lept to my feet.
"Wait!" Zac called and I did. He pulled me into a hug "I love you" He whispered into my ear.
"I love you too" I said with a smile as I returned the hug.
---Josh---
How did I get here? One minute I was lecturing Ashley about thievery and coffee, the next minute shes taken me by the hand and dragged me on some shopping trip! Now usually I'd just outright refuse but she thought I was dead and maybe a shopping trip will turn of her defense mechanism that won't accept the fact that I'm alive and here, not leaving again. Besides,.. it's for our baby.
Our baby. That sounds so weird. Me? A father? As Ashley so likes to point out when we fight, I'm still growing up myself. Well, actually it's more like, and I quote, "Would you just GROW UP JOSH!" Then she slams the door. And... yeah..
But no. Now is not the time for me to dread how terrible I'm going to be at being a father. Right now I have to survive shopping!
---Ashley---
Hello? Let me know if you hear me?
Hello? If you want to be near, let me know
And I'll never let you go
So I'm looking over this baby cot when a Westlife song comes on. And Josh actually seems to be listening. He always avoids boybands like the plague. After all, they're 'uncool' for guys. But he listened to the lyrics then looked at me really funny. When our eyes met he looked away quickly.
Hey love.
When you ask what I feel. I say love.
When you ask how I know. I say trust.
And if that's not enough.
It's every little thing you do. Makes me fall in love with you
He did it again and now he's pretending to be all interested in this mobile of the Rugrats characters. Too strange!!!
Chapter 7:
|
"And that's a wrap!" The Director called and I grinned happily. Filming was finally over. There were rounds of congratulations from various people and it was quite a while till I could finally escape the studio and start home.
Editing was started months ago. And it would be a short while till it was all finished. The Director was talking of releasing the film in a month!
Which would mean a few difficulties. Publicity should start pretty much now. Talk shows and magazine articles and all that. But how am I supposed to do that when I'm on tour with Zac? Hmmm, maybe Ashley could fly in to various locations and we could do interviews and stuff then...
Hopefully we can fit one in before I leave.
---Ashley---
"Oh, please say you're kidding" I said slowly. I turned to face away from the lounge in order to hear better. Josh was watching some war movie and the sound was deafening.
"I booked us an interview on 'Hello New York' tomorrow. We need to do it! The movies out in a month and I'm leaving day after tomorrow!" She insisted.
"Exactly. You should be spending the time packing!" I said, using my big sister voice.
"Ashley!" She said firmly "We're doing the interview tomorrow and that's all there is to it!"
"But I don't want to!" I whined.
Josh ran into the hallway and over to me "Oh man! You gotta come see this! They like, got this huge bomb and bomed the enemy and it's like blood and guts everywhere!"
I just looked at him.
"Um.. yeah" He turned and walked away.
"You there?" Mary-Kate asked.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm worried about my baby.. it's fathers crazy" I said with a laugh.
---Melanie---
Ok! I found an apartment! Well... maybe. I'm going to have a room mate. And of course I want to meet them before I decide if I'm going to rent the place. I talked to the owner of the building and we arranged for me to go over there in an hour so I can meet the other person.
I'm excited! The apartments in a great location!
---Michael---
Right! I found an apartment! I moved in yesterday and my stuff arrives today. As does my potential future roomate. Now, considering past experiences with room mates (excepting Josh who was the only good one) I don't really want one, but this place is huge and I need to split the expences..
K, theres the door bell. Wish me luck.
I walked over to the door opened it. Remained speechless for about 5 minutes then kinda squeaked to myself "Woah" Now, if I were a girl.. and the fainting type I probably would have fainted...
Sge was rifling around in her purse for something and hadn't actually seen me yet.
"A-Amanda Bynes?" I asked. Ok yeah, I had the worlds biggest crush on her when I was younger..
She looked up "Oh! Hey! Um, theres no number" she pointed at the door "on the door! Is this number 9?"
I shook my head. Unable to formulate speech.
She looked at me, kinda tipping her head to the side and smiling to herself "Ok. Well.. guess I better go find number 9 then!" She waved then started down the hall.
I nodded, though she was facing away from me, then turned and went back into my apartment.
---Josh---
"So why am I here again?" I asked as Ashley pulled me into the 'Hello New York's' studio.
"Moral support" She mumbledwhile trying to work out where she was supposed to go.
"Well if we're talking morals, you should know, this goes against all of mine!" I muttered "I hate talk shows!" I said with a shudder.
"Yeah! so do! And I'M the one who has to go on it! So a little support please? Ah! Here it is!" She pushed open the door and there we were, standing amongst all the cameras and stuff, facing the set with that hideous fake backdrop of NYC!
"Ashley! You're here!" A woman said, walking over to us. She hugged Ashley with one of those fake celebrity hugs. The kind where they don't really touch each other. Maybe she's worried about smudging off her profuse amounts of make-up?
"Yes!" Ashley said with that expression only I know as I am of course the one who helped her invent it. It's kinda a look like she smelt dog puke but had to smile for all the cameras. She invented it back during one of our first arguments back in College. There was a person she thought may have been a reporter but wasn't sure. So she was yelling at me and trying to smile. I haven't seen her use it on anyone but me, until now! "..Here I am. Is Mary-Kate here yet?"
"I'm here! I'm here!" Well... we could heard her, but not see her. Scratch that! The door we'd just entered through flew open and Mary-Kate ran in "Am I late?"
"Right on time!" The lady said with a fake smile "Lets get started!" She led the twins over to the stage and I stood there feeling very uncomfortable.
"Hey man, think you could move? You're blocking the camera?" the camera guy asked.
"Oh. Sorry.
Ashley looked over at me as the Director counted down. I did a thumbs up motion and she tried to smile, though it simply came out as a grimace.
---Ashley---
"So whats this rumor I hear about you being married?" Rose, the talkshow host, asked.
"Well.. I was married. But we got divorced a few weeks ago" I said. Please change the subject! Please change the subject!
She nodded and I noticed something in her eyes that made me feel suddenly nervous, and very uncomfortable. "And would this ex, by any chance happen to be the cute guy standing by my camera guy?"
My eyes widened but I didn't have to worry about the camera catching my expression. Nope, far worse, the camera man swiveled away from me and focused straight on the unsuspecting Josh behind him. Live! To national tv!
"Why don't you come join us?" Rose asked, she now had a genuine grin. But of course, interviewing my ex. What could make a better episode?
I fixed her with a cold glare and Josh gulped, turned, and ran from the studio.
"A little camera shy maybe" Rose said with a fake laugh. She finally turned back to Mary-Kate and I and I just wished I could reach out and pull that wig straight off her head.
The rest of the interview seemed to lag, during which I said as little as possible. I think Rose finally got the point that I was anything but happy. The moment the show was over, I left.
I got outside and to my surprise almost tripped over Josh "You're still here?" I asked in surprise. He nodded. Not really looking at me. "That didn't really go too well huh?" I asked. He nodded again.
"There she is!" A voice called from across the street. I glanced up in time to see a reporter with a camera running toward me. "Ashley! Is this guy really your ex?"
"Quick!" I grabbed Josh's arm "Lets get out of here! Taxi!"
Chapter 8:
|
*Knock Knock* And the incessant knocking grew louder and more insistent.
"I'm coming. I'm coming!" I mumbled so quietly onlly I could hear as I buried my head in the pillow. I forced myself to roll closer to the edge ofhte bed. But after that all progress toward answering the door.. stopped.
My bedroom door opened and Josh stuck his head in. "YOUR friend is here" He grumbled sleepily.
"Aww Joshy! I love you too!" Melanies bubbly voice chirped. Honestly, one day I'm going to kill all the morning birds in the world!
"Hello!" I mumbled "Knock before entering rules!" I sat up and opened my eyes just long enough to glare at Josh before flopping back down on the bed and pulling the blanket up over my head.
"Whatever!" he muttered and I'm certain he was rolling his eyes. I heard him turn to leave and peeked out from under the blanket. In order for Melanie to gain entrance she had to get past Josh, and rather then wait for him to exit she preferred to push him back into the room and enter herself.
"Have you seen this yet?"She ran over and launched herself onto my bed, resembling a little kid on Christmas morning.
I opened my eyes enough to see a newspaper of some sort "So far I haven't seen much of anything today. And I would like to KEEP it that way!" I grumbled "I need sleep!"
Josh walked over and sat on my bed "Let me see that" He said, taking the paper.
"Oh sure! Use Ashleys bed as a sofa! Nice!" I jammed the pillow over my head in an attempt to ignore the cruel people who had invaded my room.
"Ashley" Josh said seriously "I think you should see this" I didn't move a muscle "Ashley!" He said in a 'no nonsense' tone.
"Fine! Fine! I'll just forget about sleep. I'll just be cranky ALL day and it'll beyour fault!" I said poking him in the chest before taking the paper, which turned out to be a tabloid "You actually read these things?" I asked Mel.
She shrugged "They're funny sometimes" She pointed to the picture on the front page, which up until then I hadn't noticed it "Look"
"Oh no" I breathed.
On the cover, large as life and in color print was a picture of Josh and I outside the 'Hello New York' studio. I was pulling him toward a taxi, with cameras flashing all around us. Underneath it were some smaller pictures of us inside the taxi as it drove past the photographer.
ASHLEY OLSEN AND EX HUSBAND MAKE A QUICK ESCAPE
The headlines read. There was a huge article about our marriage, pregnancy, and various potential scandals that could have broken us up. One of which was a rumor about me and one of the costars in my new film.
Great. Just Great. Now Josh is in the public eye too!
---Michael---
There was a knock on my door early the next morning. Figuring it was maybe my potential room mate who failed to show the morning before, I hurried to open it.
"Hello again!" Amanda said with a smile "Still tongue tied are we?"
"Um.. no" was all I could manage.
"Great! Well it turns out I had my numbers wrong yesterday and THIS is the apartment I was looking for. Hi! I'm Amanda. Your new room mate!"
Ok. Rewind. Amanda Bynes?!?!
---Melanie---
"Oh shoot! I gotta get to the airport!" Ashley said as she lept from her bed. She ran over to her closet and rifled around in it "Josh! Out!" she said pointing at the door without turning from the closet.
He muttered something then left, closing the door firmly behind him.
"Mel help!" Ashley whimpered.
I walked over and quickly chose a warm blue sweater and some jeans "So where are you going?"
"Airport. To see Mary-Kate off" She said as she hopped around the room trying to pull on the jeans.
"Thats today?!" I asked feeling a little panicked.
She nodded as she pulled the sweater over her head.
"Oops! I thought it was tomorrow! Wait! I'm coming!"
"Great. Lets go. The plane leaves in half an hour and you know what New York traffic is like!"
---Zac---
"I forgot something. I KNOW I forgot something!" Mary-Kate mumbled as I locked the front door and we walked out to the car.
"Turned off the oven?" I asked as we climbed into the car. She nodded "Now faucets left running?" She shook her head "Windows closed?" A nod "Got Anna?" An emphatic nod. "And when we're on the plane you won't suddenly scream 'KEVIN!'?"
"Huh?" She asked, looking at me questioningly.
"Home alone.. the movie... honey"
"Oh" she said as she plugged her seatbelt in. Too preoccupied to even catch my joke. *sigh*
---Ashley---
"So how have you been Mel?" I asked. We were on the subway traveling at extreme speeds, underground. Ugh! These things make me so nervous!
"I got an apartment!" She said cheerfully "It's so pretty! Close to the aiport and everything!" She smiled to herself.
No fair! Why is she so cheerful and me feeling so miserable?
The subway started to slow and I felt the familiar panic that comes whenever the train speed changes. Is there something on the track? Are we crashing? We're all gonna die!... Or... stop.. and get off... since we're at our destination..
Oops
---Mary-Kate---
"Yoo hoo! Ashley! Over here!" I called waving my arm above my head trying to catch Ashley's attention. Passing people looked at me funny, but typically my sister would be the only person in the building not to notice me. Thank God for Melanie! She pulled Ashley over to us, while Ashley continued to scan the airport for me.
"Yoo hoo!" I said waving my hands in front of her face.
"Mary-Kate!" She screeched gleefully as she threw her arms around me "I don't want you to go!" She sighed. And the mood changes... "You won't be here when the babys born! I'll be all alone! In LABOR without my twin!"
"First off. You won't be alone. You'll have Josh" I started
"But he's a boy!" Ok.. she's in weird mode.
"You'll have me!" Mel said hugging Ashley from behind. Now why is she so happy?
"That's true!" Ashley said as she turned to hug Mel.
"So hows the apartment?" I asked Melanie.
"Great! It's so great! It's just aweso-"
"Sorry to interrupt" Zac said "But they're announcing our flight" He said as he pointed up into the air where the speakers were.
"I'll e-mail you" Mel said as I hugged her good-bye.
I went over to Ashley "If I can I'll try to be home by the time the babys born" She sniffled and hugged me good-bye. Then Zac put an arm around me and we walked over to the ticket counter.
He kissed me on the forehead "Thanks for coming with me"
I smiled "We're in this together" I turned and waved at Ashley and Melanie one last time. Then boarded the plane.
Chapter 9:
|
"Careful!" Amanda screeched "Thats highly breakable!"
The moving guy carrying the heavy um.... lamp? glared at Amanda. "Thats what you said about every item I've moved!"
"Well you weren't being careful enough!" She responded, hand on hips.
"Has anything been broken yet?" He retorted.
"Thanks to my reminders, No"
"Why I oughta!" He dropped the lamp to the ground, but since it was only a few centimetres away to begin with, it wasn't damaged.
"HEY!" Amanda screamed lunging at the guy who moved toward her angrily.
"Woah! Woah!" I said stepping between them, I held Amanda back with one arm and turned to the mover guy "I'm sorry about this, but I'm sure she's going to give you a good tip"
He cast another glare at Amanda then muttering something picked up the lamp and disappeared down the hall.
I turned to Amanda who was standing behind me glaring at the doorway the man had just left through "Incompetent fool" She muttered.
I raised an eyebrow "I thought he was doing a pretty good job actually"
Amanda sighed and flopped down on the sofa, another item that had to be moved 'careful' cause it was 'highly breakable' "I guess. I'm kinda protective of my things."
"Really?" I asked in mock surprise.
"That lamp is an antique worth nearly a thousand dollars!" She responded.
"Really?" Only this time it was with genuine surprise.
There was a loud crashing sound from the other room and Amandas eyes widened as she lept to her feet "That better not be what I thought it was!" She yelled as she ran into the other room.
"Uh-oh" I muttered as I ran after her. Being a peacekeeper is really hard!
---Melanie---
Ashley sighed sadly as we walked out of the airport. "I miss her already" She said sadly.
I patted her on the shoulder and shilelded my eyes as they adjusted to the natural light outside "Lets take your mind of it. How about you come see my new apartment?"
She sighed and shrugged half hearted consent.
"K! Lets go!" I said pulling her out into the street.
---Ashley---
"Lizzie!" Melanie called as we walked into her new apartment.
I immediately felt a pang of sadness as I realized how much I missed both of my sisters.
"Coming!" A voice called.
K, I must be going crazy. That sounds SO much like her! I must be imaginging things!
"You'll really like her!" Mel said with a smile "She's from California too"
It can't be? Can it?
Footsteps sounded in the hallway and I turned to face it just as Mels room mate entered.
"Lizzie!?" I gasped.
"Ashley!" She said, going pale.
"Wait! Wait! You two know each other?" Mel asked.
"She's.. she's my sister" I stuttered.
---Zac---
"Ladies and Gentlemem, we are about to land in Tulsa Oklahoma. Please return to your seats-"
I tuned out. With the amount of flying I've done, I knew that message from heart.
"Honey" I whispered "M-Kay. Wake up hon, We're here"
"Hmmm?" Mary-Kate asked with a small yawn. "We're here already?"
I nodded and pointed out the window "Welcome, once again, to Tulsa Oklahoma!"
The plan is of course to meet up with my brothers here, then fly up to our next concert location 'Kansas City'
---Lizzie---
"Lizzie? What.. what.. you... what are you doing here?" Ashley was stumbling over her words, a sure sign she's flustered.
"Um, talking to you?" I asked contritely.
"Don't get smart with me young lady!" She was going into big sister mode. BOSSY big sister mode! "You are supposed to be at UCLA! Classes are starting THIS week! It's your second year! It's so important. You... I.. it.." She ran out of steam and collapsed on the sofa.
I slowly sat down in a lazy chair across from her "I've left UCLA. I.. I got a scholership AT NYU" I looked down at the ground while I waited for her response.
"I.. don't believe this!" She yelled. Aaaaaaaaaand she has a new run of steam! "Lizzie....Ugh! ... What were you thinking?????"
"I was thinking" I started calmly but tensely "I was thinking" I repeated and felt myself losing it "THAT I AM SICK OF CALIFORNIA! I'M SICK OF UCLA! AND I'M SICK OF PEOPLE TRYING TO RULE MY LIFE! IT'S MY LIFE!!!" My voice broke and I started to cry as I ran from the room.
---Josh---
"So, have I ever told you about my job? Well lets see...
It s*cks. The pay is miserable. And it's really boring! REALLY boring. What is it?
Um... Well... it's kinda embarassing...
I'm a janitor at a local newspaper.... Ok, ok! Stop laughing now!
But I have a goal. I studied writing a bit in college. And my goal is to have something published in this paper. I'm not sure what. But something..
*sigh*
---Melanie---
"Wow!" I squeaked "Being an only child I never realized how much 'fun' it was to have a sister!"
Ashley sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "I don't believe this" she whispered "I feel like I'm back home. Listening to Lizzie and Mum argue over something and her running off and slamming the door"
I nodded "The rooms still shaking. She slammed it pretty hard"
"She's a top door slammer" Ashley said with a small laugh "I'd just never had the door slamming directed at me before" She almost looked like she was shaking. Guess the whole experience unnerved her a little. "Maybe I should go talk to her"
She started to stand but I put up a hand to stop her. "I'm no professional on sister, but I think it might pay to wait a while" I said.
Ashley looked like she wanted to anything but go talk to her "Ok" she said, sitting back down. There was silence for a few minutes then... "Oh! I like the apartment"
I just laughed.
Chapter 10:
|
"Hey Hon" I said in sarcasm "How was your day?"
Ashley didn't even look up as she walked in the door. She placed her coat on the hanger and walked past me to the kitchen.
"Ashley?" I followed her, feeling a strong feeling of concern.
"Oh sorry. Did you say something?" She asked, only just noticing me.
"Everything ok?" I asked. I guided her to a chair and prepared her a cup of.. tea (of course).
She sighed "Little sisters" Was all she said.
"Is Mary-Kate ok?" I asked.
"She's fine. Its my other little sister" She explained quickly as I handed her the cup of tea.
"Yikes" I said as I sat down in the chair across from her. Guess now isn't the time for us to have that *gulp* talk.
---Zac---
Isaac had been leaning over his seat in front of me, and the two of us had been discussing a bridge we were unhappy with in one of our songs. Taylor, of course, would add the occasional interjection.
Mary-Kate was drifting between sleep and reading her magazine, and Kirsten had been half watching the movie that was playing and half listening to our conversation.
Somewhere in the middle of the conversation she turned to Ike and tugged on his sleeve. He leaned over and she said something softly. He said something back, looked like a question. She nodded and smiled. He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning over to kiss her "Zac, Tay, Mary-Kate" He said when he pulled away "Kirsten and I have some news"
I nudged Mary-Kate, expecting something big. She snapped to attention.
Isaac let Kirsten finish and her face glowed with happiness as she said "Ike and I are expecting our first child"
There were rounds of congratulations and complicated hugs over seats as everyone recieved the worderful news. But through it all I noticed the sad expression on Taylors face.
His last relationship had ended unhappily. Once Tay, Ike, Zac and I were each single. Now he's the only one left.. And I can tell he's harshly reminded of that every single day.
---Lizzie---
"Where are you going?" Mel asked me as I grabbed my coat from by the door.
I turned and eyed her warily "Please don't turn into my big sister" Could it be worse? I came here for freedom to live my own life. And irony of irony, I move in with one of my sisters best friends!
"I'm not" Melanie said innocently "I'm just trying to be your friend"
I softened a little "I just need some books and stuff for school tomorrow"
She nodded "Have fun" I nodded and left.
---Michael---
"What would you like for dinner?" Amanda asked me.
I'd been engrossed in a baseball game on tv and wasn't sure I'd heard correctly "Huh?" I asked in SUPER intelligence.
She raised an eyebrow questioningly "Dinner? What do you want?"
"Oh.. um.. I usually order in"
"Not anymore! I love to cook. How does Lesagna sound?"
"Um.. good"
"Great!" She literally bounced back into the kitchen.
I shook my head and went back to my game.
---Mary-Kate---
"Hey Taylor! How ya doing?" I asked as I walked over to Taylor.
We were at the airport at Kansas City. Ike and Zac were doing the negotiations on getting our luggage. Kirsten had gone to get a snack. Taylor was standing at the viewing platform watching the coming and going planes. I bounced Anna on my hip as I walked over to him.
"Ok" He answered, not turning away from the window.
I didn't say anything as I watched a 747 take off down the runway and lift up into the air. Planes are amazing..
Taylor sighed quietly and I snuck a glance at him. He was looking out the window but by the looks of things he wasn't exactly seeing anything. Hmmm..
"Hey Taylor?" I asked softly.
"Hmmm?" He answered.
"If you ever wanna talk to somebody. I'm here"
He nodded "Thanks M-Kay"
---Melanie---
I was sitting at the table going over my finances, and deciding how long till I needed to get a job. When Lizzie walked in the door. She'd been in her room... I thought.
"Hey" She said.
"Hey" I said glancing up, then returning to my calculator.
She sat down across from me. And pushed a photo across the table to me "Who's this?" She asked.
I glanced at the picture then looked away quickly when I recognized it. Funny, Heather had taken that picture. It was just after the dinner where Michael proposed to me. We were hugging in the foyer of the house. The ring on my finger evident. Typically, considering who took it, I was mostly cut out of the picture. But it was a great shot of Michael.
"Nobody" I said, I picked it up and tore it up into a few pieces, then tossed it into the trash, feeling such a pang of sadness as I did so. It was more then sadness actually. It was like a sharp stab in my chest, the kind you get when you really miss someone and don't know if you'll ever see them again, the type where you feel like you can't breath and almost feel panicky..
Lizzie raised an eyebrow as she glanced from the trash can to me "One of those huh?" She nodded then frowned "I have one of them too" She stood up and went into her room, then returned with a picture which she pushed across the table to me "His names Nick" She smiled sadly as she looked at the picture.
I glanced at the guy. He was tall with dirty blond hair. (Aussies and Kiwis: Think Chris Egan ;)) Very Californian. "What happened?" I asked curiously, as I pushed away my calculator.
Her face clouded a little as she tucked the picture into her pocket "Promise it's between you and me? Not you, me and my sister?"
I nodded "I promise"
She pulled a necklace out from under her shirt. A necklace with a ring on it. She took the necklace off and undid the clasp, then put the ring on her ring finger. "He proposed" She said sadly as she held her hand up in front of her and gazed at the ring. "I loved him. I really did. It's just... I'm not sure I'm ready to get married. To share my life with someone else. I'm Only 19 you know?" she sighed.
"Anyway.. he was kind of upset when I refused. Didn't really give me time to explain. We had a fight. He apologized later. But.. I guess I saw in that time, how posessive he was. I kinda freaked out.. And I ran away... to New York" She finished, then glanced down at her hands "Well.. thats the whole sad story." She stood up "Maybe you'll feel like telling me yours sometime"
I nodded as she walked away into her room. Everybody has a story that could break your heart, huh?
---Ashley---
"I'll get it!" I called as I walked over to the door to answer the insistent knocking. I swung it open "Of course" I chuckled to myself when I came face to face with Vic. Who else would be that insistent?
"Hey Ash" she muttered as she pushed past me and into the apartment.
I watched her go then turned to close the door, only then did I notice Mark who'd been standing behind her.
"Mark!" I said happily as I reached over to hug him "I haven't seen you in ages!"
"Hey" He didn't really hug me back, and pulled away quickly "I need to talk to you if thats ok"
I nodded, suddenly feeling nervous "Um. Sure. Come in" I motioned for him to walk inside.
He shook his head "He here?"
"Who? You mean Josh? Yeah.."
He nodded his head down the hall "Out here"
"Ok" I walked outside and softly closed the door behind me. Why do I feel this conversation isn't going to go too well?