"She is smiling, she is laughing, she is finally happy—but it is not because of me." -Ryder Benson

2 Weeks Later...

Thunder could be heard from the distance as I woke up from my slumber. My eyes wanted to shut again but if I let get away then I would be late to class. With a groan I get up from the comforts of my bed and walk towards the bathroom. I let the warm water fill my palm as I tested the water, once I had it to my liking I turn the tab so the shower head could turn on. I stripped out of my pajamas before entering the steamy water which cascading over my body, relaxing my every muscle in the process.

Waiting for the time to pass you by
Hope the winds of change will change your mind
I could give a thousand reasons why
And I know you, and you've got to
Make it on your own, but we don't have to grow up
We can stay forever young
Living on my sofa, drinking rum and cola
Underneath the rising sun
I could give a thousand reasons why
But you're going, and you know that
All you have to do is stay a minute
Just take your time
The clock is ticking, so stay
All you have to do is wait a second
Your hands on mine
The clock is ticking, so stay
All you have to do is
All you have to do is stay

I rinse of the soap from my body and hair before standing under the warm water for a couple of minutes. Once I finally decide to get out I turn off the tab. I throw my PINK towel over me and dry myself before wrapping another one around my hair. There's a ding and I reach out to unlock my phone.

Andrew: I'll be at your house in twenty minutes.

I pick up the phone and type away.

Me: Alrighty, thx for picking me up :)

In a matter of seconds Andrew replies;

Andrew: No problemo bestie 😊

I smile down at the text before turning of my phone and start getting ready. I put on a pair of black jeans, grey short sleeve shirt, red plaid shirt, and my black Nike sneakers. I put my brown locks into a side braid with a few strands sticking out. I apply some light make up before heading out the door.

"Good morning kiddo." My dad greets before sipping from his World's #1 Dad mug.

"Morning dad, where's mom?" I ask as I grab some fried eggs and bacon.

"She took Harper to the doctors, she was throwing up yesterday night and today she has a fever." Dad answered as he set down his newspaper.

I give him a concerned look and respond, "I hope she's alright."

"Ash, I won't be able to give you a ride to school today I (cough) don't feel so (cough) good (cough)." Blake informs as he walks into the room with a tissue in hand.

"Is everyone waking up sick today?" Chris questions.

"It's alright, Andrew texted me and told me he would pick me up." I reply with a smile. "But what happened to you?"

"I think I have a cold." Blake answered before breaking into endless coughs.

Andrew: I'm outside

Me: Okay coming

"Well I'll leave before I get infected." I state as I take my last piece of bacon with me and walk out the door.

Andrews car was parked in front of my house as he waited patiently for me.

"Where's Hannah?" I question as I hop into the empty passenger seat.

"Home sick." Andrew answered as he set down his phone in the cup holder compartment.

"Is everyone waking up sick today?" I repeat Chris's earlier words.

"It's is allergy season." Andrew points out as he turns on the car and drives away from my three story house. "So, is Ryder still a touchy subject?"

"A bit." I sigh as a tiny sting presents itself in my heart.

"It'll get better soon." Andrew assures with a smile which I return.

"But enough about me and Ryder," I reply. "How are you and Hannah doing?"

"Great, actually!" Andrew replies with a huge grin which causes me to smile. I am happy that my best friend is happy.

* * *

"Please, pwetty pwease?" Amelia begged as we made our way to the lunchroom.

"Amelia, you remember what happened  the last times we went to a party." I reply. Everyone greets us with a smile as we take a seat at the table.

And like always my wonderful friends are so amazingly mean, like they always are, and reserve the last seat for me next to Ryder's. Dandy just dandy.

"Please, I promise I'll stick with you the whole night." She adds.

"I'm pretty sure Brian will help you break that promise." Amelia's cheeks turn a light shade of red as she playfully slaps my arm.

"Come on, please?" She asks once more not giving up and I sigh in defeat, "Fine."

A huge grin spreads on her face which causes me to smile. Ryder stands up to through his trash and his arm brushes against mine in the process only causing a spark of electricity to surfer through my arm all the way to my heart. I internally take in a deep breathe and remind myself that it's for the best. Because it is isn't it?

"Sorry." He states but there was double meaning to his apology. I give him a small smile which he returns before he walks towards the trash can. The awkward tension was thickening and if I am being honest to myself I just wanted to slice it. I missed him, a lot, but my heart, I don't think it's ready yet.

Alexia sneezes and Daniel scrunches his nose before whining, "Not you, too."

We all burst into laughters at his comment. He earned a whack in the head from Alexia and that only caused our laughter to grow louder.

*        *        *

Amelia, Brian, and I stepped out of the grey car and walked into the brick house. The music was blasting loudly, we were just on the porch and you could already hear what song was playing. We stepped into the crowded room were drunken teenagers filled the house.

"May I have a dance?" Brian asked and Amelia nodded before they headed towards the dance floor.

"So much for not leaving me alone." I mumble to myself before I head to the fruit punch. I serve myself a cup and am about to drink when a voice interrupts me.

"I wouldn't drink that if I were you." His familiar voice caused me to turn around instantly.

"Hey," I state with a small smile.

"Hey," He answered with his signature smile which caused my knees to turn to jelly.

"Why shouldn't I drink it?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"It's spiked." He answers. "You do know what spiked means right?"

"I am not a little girl, I know what spiked is." I reply.

"Not saying you were." He defends as he puts his hands up in surrender. I can't help but laugh at his gesture and his laugh is like music to my ears, I missed his laugh, his smile, I missed him.

I stared up at his dark chocolate brown eyes and for a second, just a tiny second everything seemed like it used to be. But a voice brought us back to reality.

"Ashley, hey fancy seeing you here." Xavier stated as he flashed me a white toothy smile.

"Hey, Xavier." I greet. "Amelia dragged me here."

"Parker did the same." He replied which caused me to laugh. "Want to dance?"

"Uh, sure." I reply as I bit my bottom lip. I turn to look at Ryder and he just smiles. "I'll see you later."

He nods before I am dragged to the dance floor by Xavier. We both bounce around to the music as Raise Your Glass by Pink stars playing. We both laugh as the other bumps into someone.

Ryder's POV:

I stare at the pair and pain fills my insides as well as jealousy. "You can't be jealous, this is after all your fault. Just be happy for her." My mind states and I roll my eyes at it. I watch as Xavier excuses himself and walks away.

"You should go dance with her." This time it isn't my mind advising me but rather...Andrew?

I scrunch my eyebrows as I stare at the guy who two weeks ago wanted to kill me.

"You know that when it comes to Ash, I'll always want what's best for her. She's hurting, and not because you hurt her but because she misses you. I know my best friend and she loves you so how about you sweep her off her feet, I mean you've already done it once." Andrew states and I stare at him in surprise. "Go dance with her and I'll distract mister British pants over there."

"You would do that?" I ask.

He nods and answers, "I prevented Mathew from asking her to the Valentine's dance."

I smile at Andrew and shake my head. Once again my point is proven, Ashley does have the best best friends ever. 

"Thank you," I reply with a grateful smile.

"Go get her tiger." He responds abusing me to laugh but surprisingly boosting my confidence.

As I approach the beautiful brunette my heart starts to accelerate. You can do this I tell myself before spinning her around which catches her by surprise.

"May I have this dance?" I ask and with a smile (which causes my heart to do a billion flips) she nods in response.

Suddenly the tempo in rhythm starts slowing down and Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran starts playing. I look up and find Daniel at the DJ booth throwing me a thumbs up which causes me to smile. I look to the corner of the room and find Alexia distracting the DJ, while Jakob and Parker guarded the DJ booth. I shake my head and smile before turning to face the girl in front of me. She smiles back and lays her head on my shoulder causing goosebumps to run down my back. I hold her close to me and a wide smile spreads on my face. Sadly the song came to an end and we were pull back to reality.

"Ashley, here's your drink." The British bastard states causing us to slowly break apart.

"Thank you." She answers as she takes the drink from him. "Thank you for the dance."

"You are welcome." I answer with a smile which she returns. The simple gesture ignites a bundle of emotions inside of me. 

I walk away with a smile but it soon fades away when I find her laughing at something he said. That should be me, spending the night with her, making her laugh, making her smile but I hurt her.

*        *         *

I take a sip of the water inside my cup as I stare at my beautiful angel. She was swaying around as she walked only proving the fact that she was drunk, and so was that British bastard that was supposed to be taking care of her.

"Woo! Let's get this party started!" She exclaimed as she started took her pink leather jacket off.

I immediately rushed towards her and prevented her from taking off the white blouse she had on and displaying the parts of her that only I had explored.

"Okay, you've had enough to drink for tonight." I state as I pick her jacket up.

"Stop ruining the show!" Some bastard yelled causing my anger to rise.

"Who said that!" Blake yelled and everyone went quiet.

"That's what we thought! You're all fucking perverts." Andrew added.

The two along with the gang made their way towards us.

"I'll take her home, you guys stay here and enjoy the rest of your night." I state and they all agree.

"I don't want to go." Ashley protests as she tries kicking me but I just pick her up bridal style and carry her out of the house.

I place Ashley into the passenger seat of my car and strap her seatbelt on.

"Are you kidnapping me?" She asks which causes me to chuckle.

"Darn, you're so cute even when you're drunk." I mumble. "No, I am not kidnapping you, I'm just taking you home so you can rest."

"You're a meany." She replies with a frown.

"Didn't know caring for your safety was known as mean." I answer.

"You're a meany because you won't let me enjoy the rest of the party." She states. "You are a big meany party pooper."

I smile at her cuteness and reply, "Just sit back."

I pull away from the house and drive to her house which was only a couple blocks away. Once I am outside her house I step out before helping Ashley out although she claimed she could do it herself. I ring the doorbell and a few minutes later her mom appears on the other side of the door.

"Ryder what are you doing here?" She asks.

"I brought Ashley home, she's a bit tipsy." I reply as I gesture to the drunken girl in my arms.

"Oh come in, come in." She replies as she opens the door wide for me to enter. I slowly walk upstairs and take Ashley to her room. "I'll go get her some pain killers."

I lay the beautiful brunette in my arms on the bed gently and she snuggled into the sheets which causes me to smile. I lean down and kiss her forehead before pushing a few strands of her hair back. 

"I love you Ashley, never forget that."

•~•~•
DOUBLE UPDATE TWO DAYS IN A ROW!!! Hola my lovelies!!! I just did another update, and it's two days in a row because this is how much you guys mean to me. What do you guys think of this chapter? A little sad in the beginning, I know but the ending was so cute wasn't it? There's only seven chapters left and I said I would have this book done by July 23, so this book is almost over 😭😭. I did promise to edit this book so I'll do that and after words I am thinking of doing a sequel, how does that sound?

QOD: What should the sequel to this book be about? (Leave a comment with your suggestion if you have any 😊)

Thank you so much for reading my lovelies. Don't forget to vote, comment, and share. I'll see you tomorrow guys, adios xoxo 💋

(Ashley's Outfit for School)

(Ashley's Outfit for Party)

(Ashley's Hairstyle)