Ashley sighed as she approached the condo late one Friday afternoon. Her practice had ended a little early and she was glad to come home and relax. Her mood changed as she walked up the driveway, smiling as she noticed a familiar car.
She walked through the front door and heard voices coming from the living room. She quickly made her way in and jumped on the love seat.
“Alex!” she smiled wrapping her arms around his neck from her position on his lap. “What are you doing here?” It had been almost two months since she had last seen him and she was beginning to miss him.
“I came to have lunch with mom and I was waiting for you to get done, we were going to come pick you up so you didn’t have to walk.” He hugged her as she moved to sit next to him.
“We got done early today, thank god. I am so beat from all these rehearsals.” She said as she yawned.
“Do you have the weekend off at least?” Denise asked from her spot on the couch.
“Yea. I actually don’t have rehearsal until Tuesday so I have a nice long weekend.”
“Good, that’s even more time for us to spend together.” AJ grinned.
“Huh?” she raised an eyebrow looking at him.
“I have to go to New York for a few days to meet with some publishers interested in my book. I’ll be gone for about five days and I don’t want to leave you alone that long. I figured since Alex has some time off he could spend some time with you.”
“I don’t need a babysitter mom. Nothing happened last time.” She sighed knowing AJ probably had something to do with her not being left alone.
“That was just for two days, I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone for so long, especially when you have to go back and forth to rehearsals on your own. I would feel much more comfortable knowing Alex was here with you.”
“I still don’t need a babysitter.” She sighed.
“Don’t think of me as a babysitter, think of me as the provider of fun and non stop entertainment.” AJ teased.
“Right.” Ashley looked at him questionably. “You’re gonna trust leaving me with this?” she laughed pointing at AJ.
“You’ll survive, now I have to get ready, the car is coming to pick me up at 7.” Denise said as she stood and made her way to her room. When she was out of earshot Ashley turned to look at AJ.
“I’m guessing this was all your idea cuz’ you don’t trust me from last time right?” she crossed her arms.
“Two minutes ago you were ecstatic to see me, why the change of heart?”
“Because I’m sick of being treated like I’m 5, I can take care of myself.”
“Look Ashley, mom does trusts you, but she doesn’t know everything that goes on with you. Yes, I offered to stay here with you to keep an eye on you while she was gone, but can you blame me? You haven’t really shown me that you can be responsible. Prove it to me in these next few days and I’ll get off your back.”
Ashley just sighed and leaned back against the couch, arms crossed.
“Come on, I’m not just here to keep an eye on you, I wanted to see you and spend some time together. I’ve missed you, and I know you missed me too, admit it.” He smirked poking her side, trying to get a smile, but she wouldn’t budge.
“You know you missed me, just say it and get it over with.” He smirked as his persistent poking turned into tickling. Ashley squirmed trying to keep a straight face, but couldn’t help but laugh breathlessly as she tried to free herself from his grasp.
“Ok! Ok! I missed you!” she yelled in surrender prompting him to stop. He grinned at her as she stuck her tongue out at him smacking him with the nearest pillow.
“Oh it’s on now!” he grinned grabbing a big pillow off the couch and whacking her with it.
She smacked him with her pillow one more time before tossing it at him and running off laughing.
“Just remember, I know where you sleep!” he threatened with a laugh as he heard her bedroom door shut. He sighed and fixed the pillows on the couch leaning back and closing his eyes, hoping that the few days together would go smoothly.
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“So it’s just you and me now kiddo.” AJ smiled as Ashley walked into the kitchen late the next morning.
“Food.” She grumbled sleepily plopping down in a chair.
“I didn’t make anything for you.” He said sitting down with a plate of food. “You said you didn’t want a babysitter, if I wasn’t here you would have to make your own breakfast.”
Ashley just stared at him with an evil look as he shoved a big bite of eggs into his mouth, grinning at her. She rolled her eyes huffing in frustration as she got a box of cereal out of the cabinet and the milk from the fridge, she knew he was testing her patience and she wouldn’t let him get the best of her.
“So what do you want to do today?” he asked as he finished his breakfast.
“I’m going shopping with Tina and then I have a party tonight.” She said as she ate her cereal.
“What happened to us spending time together?”
“The weekend is the only time I get to hangout with my friends, and I promised Tina I’d go shopping with her before I knew you’d be here. I can’t just blow her off, and mom already said I could go to this party.” She placed her bowl in the sink, rinsing it before turning back towards him. “We have all next week to hangout after rehearsals.”
“When are you leaving?” he asked clearing his plate.
“In like an hour, but I won’t be back until after the party.”
“And what time do you think you’ll be coming home?” he raised an eyebrow.
“My curfew is midnight.”
“I don’t know if I feel comfortable with you being out so late.” He crossed his arms.
Ashley couldn’t help but laugh a little. “You don’t make the rules, mom does. If you have a problem with my curfew talk to her, but it’s not changing just cuz’ you say so.”
“I want you home by eleven.” He said firmly, causing Ashley to laugh again.
“Uh huh, sure.” She rolled her eyes and made her way to her room to get ready.
“I’m serious.” He called after her.
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“It’s like he’s trying to run my whole life.” Ashley complained as she searched through the racks for a cute outfit to wear to that night’s party.
“So are you really gonna be home for eleven?” Tina asked.
“Hell no. He doesn’t make the rules and unless my mom calls me and tells me otherwise my curfew is still midnight.”
“He won’t freak out?”
“I honestly don’t care.” She shrugged pulling out a dress to try on. “I told him if he had a problem with it to call my mom, if he wants to freak out let him. What do you think of this?” she held up the dress against her, showing Tina.
“It’s really cute, is there anywhere cheaper we can look? I can’t really afford anything in here.” She said a little embarrassed.
“Is there anything you like?” she said as Tina flipped threw the racks a little. “Try this. It would look really cute with those gray jeans you have.” She handed her a top.
“$105! For a shirt?” Tina said “Who in their right mind would pay that?”
“Me, if you like it.” Ashley smiled at her.
“You can’t buy me this shirt Ash, it’s too expensive.” Tina shook her head putting it back.
“I can and I will because you’re a really good friend and you deserve it, now go try it on while I try on this dress.” She handed it back to her and pushed her towards the dressing room.
As she was changing her phone began to ring. Glancing at the caller ID she saw it was Denise.
“Hey mom.” She said in a cheery tone, hoping AJ hadn’t tried to weasel her into changing her curfew. “How are things going in New York?”
“Very good, how are things going with you and Alex?” she asked.
“Fine I guess. I’m out shopping with Tina. Can you talk to him mom, he’s being ridiculous and trying to change my curfew.” She complained.
“I already spoke to him. What if just this once we change it to 11:30, it’s not that much time cut off.” Denise tried to deal with her.
“Mom that’s not fair! My curfew is always midnight why does it have to change just because he says so?”
“I know sweetie but it’s more of an ego thing, he wants to know that he has some sort of say as to what goes on in your life.” She sighed. “It’s not too much to ask to appease him just this once, for me?”
“Fine, but this is the only time. He’s not going all power trippy on me.” Ashley stated.
“Just this once honey, I promise.” Denise said apologetically.
“Whatever.” Ashley sighed. “I’ll talk to you later mom.” She said and hung up. “Uhh I hate this.” She groaned stepping out of the changing room.
“What happened?” Tina asked looking at her distressed face.
“Curfew now cut to fricken 11:30 thanks to asshole. Seriously I don’t know what’s up with this power trip of his.” She sighed. “That top is really cute, you’re getting it.”
“I swear you have ADD when it comes to shopping.” Tina laughed shaking her head. “And 11:30 isn’t that bad. You can deal this once.”
“Oh I can deal all right.” She said grabbing 3 more pieces off the rack. “And so can he when my credit card bill comes…anything else you want?”
Author's Chapter Notes:
more tomorrow promise! sorry I've been a little slow with the updates lately, I've been feeling kind of blah but I promise I'm trying to get back to my usual self who updates all the time
