| “You are so drunk right now, it’s no longer entertaining to watch you hit on my iguana.” Ashley cocked his head to the side in thought. “I’m not drunk.” He looked to Christine through hazy eyes. “I’m not drunk,” he repeated, not knowing for sure if he had said it out loud the first time. Christine sat on the bar stool next to Ashley’s, keeping a hand on his shoulder, hoping he wouldn’t fall. “Yes you are,” she said, standing up. “I think we need to get you upstairs.” Ashley frowned. “No,” he began, “I don’t wanna go upstairs. I wanna stay down here, in the basement. The basement’s fun.” Christine rolled her eyes. “That’s only because there’s booze down here.” She tried to help him stand. “You have got to get some coffee in your system before you pass out. Maybe a few aspirin.” Ashley began to pout and not make it easy for Christine’s small frame to pick him up by squirming. “No, I don’t wanna,” he said, reaching for the half-empty bottle in front of him. “No Ash,” Christine said firmly, giving his hand a smack before he reached the bottle. “It is not Miller Time.” “But I thought that it was Miller Time anytime,” Ashley muttered as Christine got him to his feet. “No it’s not,” she sad as she placed her arm securely around his back. She began to walk toward the steps leading to the kitchen of her house, leaving the other forty-some people in her basement to fend for themselves, leaving her own Halloween party. “Right now, it’s Coffee Time.” Ashley began to laugh as they ascended the steps. “Coffee Time… I like that one. You’re gonna have to remind me of that one, Chris.” Christine rolled her eyes. If he was anyone else, she would have a fit when he called her that; she absolutely hated it when people called her Chris. In her mind, it make her sound like a guy. “Yeah, I’ll do that,” she grunted as Ashley leaned against her. “You know you weigh a lot?” “I do not, you do!” he exclaimed with a wide grin. Again, if he had been anyone else… She shrugged off his drunken behavior, knowing that he didn’t realize what he was saying. “Sure Ash,” she said as she reached around him to grab the doorknob. “Whatever you say.” She slammed open the door with her foot, and nudged Ashley up the last stair. “Ash, come on, the couch is gonna be your best friend tonight.” She paused while Ashley collapsed on it. “And I even got that spring fixed.” He moved around in his spot. “So you did.” She nodded and walked back to the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine. “Yep I did. Lord-knows how long you’ve been complaining about it.” “A while,” he replied, suddenly sticking his head into the kitchen. “Ash, get back on the couch, you’re gonna fall over,” she said, walking over to him, having all intentions of leading him back to the couch. Ashley let her take his arm and lead him to the couch. When he sat down on it, he pulled her down with him, making her land on his lap. He put his hand on her back before she could get a word out. “Ash, what are you doing?” she asked in a low voice. He began to rub her back lightly. “Something I should have done when I first met you in June.” She shivered as his fingers brushed her neck. “Ashley, you know about Jacob…” “That you like him. Yeah, I know that. And I don’t know why I’m doing this, all I know is that I’m doing it because I have to, otherwise I’m going to burst.” He paused while she gave him a confused look. “I know you like him. But I can’t deny that I’ve felt something when we talk anymore – when we flirt anymore. Things have changed between us and before tonight, I had no idea why I was getting pissed off whenever you were around Jacob.” “Ash, I can’t-“ He silenced her with a kiss. She pulled back a few moments later, completely breathless. “This can’t happen,” she whimpered, resting her forehead on his, her eyes closed, not wanting to give in to his charms. “Yes it can,” he replied. “It can. Open up to me, please. Jacob has no idea what he’s missing.” She pulled back and looked into his eyes. In the light of the lamp, they looked more clear than they had in the smoky and dark atmosphere of the basement. “Why are you doing this?” she asked, confused. “I thought that you only considered me a friend.” “I did, for a while,” he said, giving a small shrug. “But all of a sudden… You changed. After you turned eighteen, I just… I opened my eyes when Jake should have opened his. You’re amazing… You’re adorable, you’re sweet…” He leaned in closer to her. “You completely captivated me.” Her heart was pounding as he spoke. “Ash… You’re drunk…” “No, I’m not,” he said, not moving his face from the quarter-inch distance it was from hers. “I only had a few Zimas to drink, and one shot of tequila. I’m not drunk.” She couldn’t say a word; he had already pressed his lips to hers and was drawing invisible circles on her shoulder blades with his thumbs. When he pulled away, she was breathless once again. “I love you,” were the only words that came out of her mouth; she couldn’t deny her feelings toward her friend anymore. He smiled as the basement door opened. They both looked toward it, to see Jacob looking into the living room with a confused expression on his face. “What’s up with you two?” he asked. Ashley sighed and looked at Christine. “I’m in love.” |
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