The last time Ashley was so confused and had to make so many decisions was when she was trying to find her Hogwarts house on Pottermore.

This right now was 1000 times more difficult than that. How can you choose between the best friend who is set to annoy you and the man who is making your ovaries melt?

Tough decision.

She picked up the phone and called Dimitri, waiting for him to pick up her heart was racing each second. The call went to voicemail. She decided that it was best to leave him a message as she was too chicken to do it when he was on the phone.

'Hey, hi! Dimitri, Damon, Kostas... uuhh.. whatever you are and remember we need to talk about that as well. I thought about what you said and I have decided to give you a chance. But you have to promise me, no more lies. Can we meet tonight somewhere to talk about this? We need to clear some things out and I think its best that we don't Deb about. Uhhh.. well.. call me!'

She sends the message and waits for him to call back. She regrets her decision to lie to Deb but she owes it to Kostas to hear his side of things. Was she so oblivious in high school that she doesn't remember all the stuff about Norah? Was it true? Was Damon in some kind of incestuous relationship with his cousin? She knew Deb was a tad bit manipulative but to lie about something like this? Ashley thought that she seriously needed to clear her mind. 

 She starts preparing her lunch when her phone rang. Expecting it to be Kostas she picked it up and realised it was Deb.

"Hey what are you up to today? Let's go somewhere" She asked and Ashley bit her cheek from groaning.

"Actually, I am not well today. I will be sleeping the whole day?" She wanted to clear things out with Dimitri and going out with Deb was not going to help with that. 

"What happened?"

"Tummy ache" This was literally the only thing Ashley could think of.

"How? You can't be having your periods. You had them last week!"

"How do you about it?" How did she? I never told her about this stuff. Creepy.

"I just know! Ok you take care, we can meet tomorrow after work"

"Okay, bye!"

And Deb cut the call without returning the greeting. There was something really off with Deb. Was it like this always or she was realising this just now?

*********************

Ashley woke up from her afternoon siesta. She was a girl who couldn't stay awake to save her life. The cheesy pasta that she had for lunch made sure that she would have a drool-worthy nap. She checked her phone to find a message from Kostas.

Hi beautiful. I am happy that you decided to give us a chance. Yes, we should talk and I promise no more lies. Can we meet tomorrow after work? I have a family thing today that I cannot get out of. - K

Her heart dropped a bit. She won't be seeing him today. She thought about the last time she felt like this for someone, it seemed like it was ages ago. It was the first time in many years that she felt a hope. Hope to be loved. 

Calm down! Don't get your hopes up. He might hurt you and don't forget about the curse, so shut up your trap about this thing whatever it is with Kostas. 

She kept on battling internally with herself and thought that the best course was to wait till tomorrow and talk to him after work.

If she is meeting Kostas tomorrow night then..

"Hi, Deb. I just called to tell you that I am feeling better now. Are we still on for tonight? I have to work overtime tomorrow..."

********************

"You look so hot" Those were the first words which came out of Deb's mouth the moment she saw Ashley that night. They met near Deb's apartment and Ashley beamed at finally getting her approval for something in her life right now. She grimaced as soon as she thought about it. She was so desperate for Deb's approval?

"Thanks, love, you look absolutely smashing," Ashley complimented with all sincerity. Deb was rocking her blue glittery short dress with matching heels. Ashley felt glad that she opted for a silver crop top, her black jacket and pair of tight black jeans for the night instead of her usual 'I am in my 20s but I like to wear like a 60-year-old' clothes. 

She knew she was going rogue and breaking the girl code of dating the best friends ex and lying to her about it, Ashley thought at least she could do it in style. 

"I know," Deb said twirling around her dress.

"Where are we going today by the way?" Ashley asked as they started walking towards the road attempting to find the cab. 

"Joel's house, apparently he got some money from his uncle who died!" She said as a matter of fact.

"And we are going to a wake wearing this?" Ashley said gesturing her hands and emphasizing on their outfits.

"Of course it is not a wake. It is a party and a great one at that with unlimited booze. I wished some of my uncles died to leave me all their money. All the oldies in my family never croak," She said sliding into the cab they just hailed. 

"That's cruel Deb," Ashley said disgustedly.

"Well, its the truth Ash and don't act so high and mighty, if you didn't have daddy pay all your bills you would be talking just like this. It's a shame that your dad likes your sister more or you wouldn't have to do that menial job of yours"

"That was one time five years ago that I asked my father to pay my bills as I was in a tight spot because I lend you the money which by the way you haven't return" Ashley felt her temper rising. Why was it always like this? She never asked a single penny from her father and comparing her with Pearl was just another nail in the coffin.

"So you are so desperate that you will ask me for the money," Deb huffed. "I knew that Richard's wasn't paying you well. Why should he, you go there looking like an old maid so he pays you like one."

"First off all its Mr Richards, he is kind-hearted and pays me really well to do my job and secondly at least I don't have to suck my boss's dick everytime he finds me not doing my job which is for you every single day." Ashley retorted back calmly but every cell in her body was screaming 'You slayed the bitch, girl'.

Deb looked shocked at Ashley contemplating the slap back that the normally shy and quiet girl gave her. She was not liking it even a little bit but decided to keep quiet.

Both girls didn't exchange another word the entire cab ride. For the first time Ashley felt liberated, she didn't have to stay back and agree with everything Deb said. For the second time that day she thought about to what degree was Deb a manipulative bitch.

She reached their destination and Deb waited for Ashley for paying the cabbie. Seeing that Ash was not making a single attempt to get to her wallet, Deb pulled out her own and paid the cabbie. They got down the sidewalk and silently made their way to Joel's home. They could hear the music on their way up the stairs and none of them made an attempt to talk to each other. 

They entered Joel's home and made their way in opposite directions. 

Ashley quickly spotted few of her friends and made her way towards them. 

"OMG... Ash... you look so sexy" Esteban shouted through the crowd and many people looked at her making her feel conscious. He quickly enveloped her into a bear hug and she couldn't help but smile. 

"Thanks Este but you didn't have to shout about it" She said punching his arm.

"Obviously I had to shout. The world needs to see that Ashley has got some curves. Honey, if I was into girls, I would be into you so deep...."

"Are you trying to straighten my boyfriend Ashley," A voice comes from behind her and she turned to find Pankaj grinning at her.

"No baby no one can straighten me," Esteban walked towards Pankaj and kissed him.

"Oh my God, they are so cute that I wanted to vomit on my mojito" Lateifa came giving a disgusted look towards the happy couple and hugged Ashley.

"It has been so good to see you Ash, it been a long time since I saw you a party," Lateifa said.

"I feel good to be back. I missed all you so bad," Ashley said sincerely. She also felt guilty of not being in contact with all her other friends.

"Ok this is getting too sappy for me, lets go get a drink" Esteban groaned and started walking towards the bar. The rest of the group followed him. 

"Ok, let's start the night with tequila"

They all took the glasses and raised them.

"To Joel's uncle Billy. May he rest in peace forever," Pankaj said.

"To Billy," They all said and downed their drink.

"I can't believe we partying to celebrate someone's death," Ashley said throatily as the tequila fired up her system.

"I can't believe it either," said the unmistakable voice of Joel Summers,"But it was all in the old man's will" 

He said by further imitating what seemed like his Uncle Billy," Don't let any old toads cry over me like they cared about me Joe, instead throw a party and live for me"

"That's true," Lateifa nodded signalling towards the bartender to give us another round of tequila, "You certainly threw a party to make the old man happy in his grave."

"Well, thank you for the compliment," He fake bowed and winked at Ashley. 

They had another shot of tequila and started conversing with each other.

"It is good to see you Ash, you look great," Joel said looking at her intently.

"It is good to see you too," Ash replied monotonously. Obviously, she didn't mean it. Not after what he did to her. In college, she had a major crush on this guy and it seemed like he was into her too. They went on a couple of dates and then he never called her back after promising her that he will. He didn't even explain why he stopped calling her. 

What a jerk!

"It's been a long time since I saw you at a party," He said.

"That's what I said," Lateifa piped in.

"Well, her watchdog wouldn't have let her go anywhere," Esteban said as a matter of fact.

"Este..." Pankaj said shushing him while Lateifa just laughed.

"What are you talking about?" Ashley asked confused, "And when was the last party that someone from the college threw!" She said folding her hand.

"Nothing," Pankaj piped in.

"Well last month, Paul's housewarming party" Esteban answered.

"And the one before that, Rachel's engagement party," Lateifa answered.

"You guys are lying, Rachel got engaged?"

"Don't believe us? Wait!" Esteban walked towards the red-headed girl across the room and pulled her towards the small group. He held up her hand in front of Ashley's ring. 

"Look at this rock and tell me it is not an engagement ring," Esteban said.

"Oh my Ashley, it is so good to see you! We missed you at the engagement party. I hope your leg healed properly,"

"Congratulation Rach, I am so happy for... Wait, what? My leg?" Ashley asked. She was utterly confused with the happenings in her life.

"Your leg Ash," Joel said concerned about the confusion on her face,"you broke your leg, that is why you couldn't come to the Rachel's party"

"I never broke my leg. What are you talking about?" She started feeling dizzy and it was not because of tequila. 

"But Deb said at the party that you did," Rachel stated. Everyone standing over there looked confused. 

"Deb was at the party? She never told me about it and we talk every day. My leg was never broken, guys. I never knew about any of these parties"

"We always get an e-invite to all the events. You are in the group, you should be getting them,"

"I need to check them tomorrow I guess. But Deb never told me about these either," Ashley muttered in a low voice.

"Guess the watchdog is now a lying bitch and guess what she just bolted out of the door," Esteban said and everybody turned to the door to see a sparkly blue dress leave the room. 

***************

Hi all. Please don't complain about how little Ashley and Dimitri moments were. This chapter was one of the cruicial part of the story.

Please comment to point out the mistakes I must have made.