Two days later they were on the road again. This time they were on their way from Georgia to Ohio. Because it was a longer drive they had a day off in between shows to travel. Ashley sat in the back room of the bus bored as she flipped through the small array of cable stations. She looked over at her computer screen and groaned, frustrated that they still had no Internet connection. They had lost signal over an hour ago when they hit a very rural stretch of road. She looked out the window as she felt the bus come to a stop.
“Thank god, it’s lunch time.” She said getting up and making her way to the front where AJ had been napping. “Get up, were stopping for food.” She said shaking him a little.
“Where we at?” He asked as he sat up and looked out the window to answer the question himself.
“Where else, McDonalds.” She replied not so enthusiastically. Out of all places to eat this was her least favorite. The only time she didn’t mind it was during the breakfast hours and those had ended a while ago.
“Yes.” He said with a grin as he headed for the door.
She sighed deeply and followed him off the bus. The sun was shining brightly and she shielded her eyes from the glare reflecting off of her glasses. She followed AJ through the front doors and stopped by the line where everyone else was waiting to order.
“Hey you.” She smiled at Nick who was standing at the back of the line with a sleepy expression across his face.
“Hey.” He smiled warmly.
“Did you just wake up from a nap too?” she laughed at his messy hair.
“Guilty.” He replied with a crooked smile and a laugh. “This bus ride is just too damn boring.”
“Tell me about it. I have no cell reception or Internet and there’s nothing on TV.” She sighed.
“And we still have like four or five hours left.” He said with fake enthusiasm.
“Oh joy.” She sighed as she moved up in line with AJ to order their lunch.
They got their food and were headed back to the bus when Nick caught up to them.
“Can I steal you away for lunch? We haven’t got to hang much in the past few days.” He smiled.
“I kinda promised Alex I’d try and spend more time with him.” She smiled apologetically with a shrug.
“It’s all good.” AJ said from the entrance to the bus. “I have some calls and shit to make after I eat so I won’t be much company anyway. Go have fun.” He smiled at her.
“You sure?” she studied his face, but his nod and smile were sincere. “Thanks.” She smiled at him before following Nick back towards his bus.
They sat at the front of the bus as it started its way down the highway again. Ashley took a quick sip of her drink before pulling her food from the bag.
“Who goes to McDonalds and orders a salad?” Nick teased.
“I hate McDonalds, it’s the only thing I’ll eat from there.” She laughed. “Besides with the amount of crap we have to eat on the road its good to be somewhat healthy sometimes.
“Better get used to it.” He laughed taking a bite of his Big Mac. “McDonalds is at the top of our list.”
“I know.” She made a face. “Guess I’ll be eating a lot of salad then.”
Nick laughed and studied her face for a moment. “So you wear glasses?”
“Ha, I forgot I had them on. My contacts were bothering me on the bus earlier so I figured I’d give my eyes a little rest.” She laughed slightly. “Go ahead, make your jokes.”
“No jokes. I like them. Glasses are hot. They kind of remind me of a naughty librarian.” He smirked.
“Thanks, I think.” She smiled slightly as he cheeks flushed.
“Did I embarrass you?” he smirked.
“Shut up.” She said taking another bite of food and turning her gaze away from him. Nick just laughed to himself as he continued to eat his food.
They finished eating and were sitting around talking about how the show had been going so far when Ashley’s phone began to ring.
“Hold on.” She said glancing at her phone. She felt her heart sink as she saw the name across the caller ID. She immediately hit the reject button.
Nick could see the expression change on her face. “Who was it?” he said uneasily.
“No one important.” She sighed as her phone began to ring again. She quickly rejected the call again but they were persistent and called back once more. Finally she was fed up and picked up the phone. “What do you want?”
“Wow what a nice greeting. I can feel the love.” Ryan said on the other end.
“What would you prefer? Asshole? Douche bag? Jerk off? …Take your pick.” She said dryly.
Nick looked at her with a raised brow, wondering who she could be talking to. He tried to listen and could hear a male voice speaking loudly. After a moment he realized it was her ex.
“I would prefer if you would stop ignoring my calls all the time and let me talk to you.” Ryan said angrily.
“Why? So you can fill my head with more bullshit about how sorry you are and then walk all over me again? I don’t think so.”
“You and I both know we need to talk.” He replied assertively.
“There’s nothing to talk about, you’ve already said everything that you needed to say.” She rolled her eyes as he began to speak again. Nick could tell she was getting really upset, but he didn’t want to interfere. After a moment she got up from her seat and motioned to Nick that she would be right back. He knew he shouldn’t be eavesdropping but he couldn’t help but get closer to the closed door to try and hear what was going on.
“I messed up.” He said apologetically.
“No shit you messed up, but you realizing that doesn’t mean I’ll forgive you.” She said aggravated that he thought it would be that easy to win her back.
“But I love you, there has to be a way that we can work things out.” He said.
“First off, if you really loved me like you say you do you would have never done anything to hurt me. The only way things would ever work out between us is if you found a way to invent a time machine and go back to change everything that you’ve done to hurt me.” She scoffed. “I deserve way better then all the hell that you put me through. I told you, I’m done.”
“You can’t tell me that you haven’t missed me. You know you still love me. Why can’t you just give us one more chance? I know I messed up and I’m apologizing. Isn’t that enough? I want you back and you know that you’re not the same without me.” He said trying to break her down.
“You know what I can’t do this. Yes, I miss the way that we were, but we can never get back to that and you have no one but yourself to blame. I don’t care how much it hurts, but I just can’t have anything to do with you. Lose my number, do whatever the hell you have to do to forget I ever existed but don’t call me, don’t text me, email, anything. I want nothing to do with you.” She said angrily as she hung up the phone throwing it down on the couch. She watched it bounce to the floor and fought the urge to kick it across the room as she groaned, aggravated that he had once again crawled his way back into her brain. She was doing fine without him, but now after listening to him she couldn’t help but think he was right. Maybe she did need him. The fact that she was even considering that frustrated her more. He had hurt her so badly and yet she was thinking about his feelings and what he had said. She knew she was stupid for even imagining the possibility of them ever being together again, but there was nothing to distract her from her thoughts. She figured getting out of California would be an escape from him and any and all thoughts of him, but in reality the escape she needed was from her self. She needed to find someone or something to take her mind far away from Ryan.
“Are you ok?” Nick asked concerned as he peeked his head through the door.
“I’m fine.” She said quietly from the couch. “I just need to be alone right now. Sorry.”
“Of course.” He sighed. “I’ll be up here if you need anything.” He said before sliding the door closed again.
He could tell she was upset and he wished he could make the pain go away, but he didn’t want to intrude. If she wanted to talk she would come to him, or at least he hoped she would. He hated seeing her so upset and he wished he could punch that guy in the face for being such an ass. He couldn’t hear everything he was saying, but it was more the circumstances that were angering him. Anyone who would treat a girl they clamed to love that way and then expect them to come crawling back when they snapped their fingers was a real piece of work. He wished he could have taken the phone from her and given him a piece of his mind.
After some time had passed he knew he should go check on her. He figured she wasn’t going to be ready to talk, and he understood that, but he wanted to take her mind off of that asshole and make her smile again. He slid open the door and found her sitting on the couch nearest the window staring out with her knees pulled to her chest. He could see from the light reflecting off her face that she had been crying. He wanted so badly to just pull her into his arms and make it all go away. He cleared his throat to let his presence be known and she turned her face to him giving a weak smile.
“Guess I’m not being much company, huh?”
“Understandable.” He shrugged. “Want some company now?”
“Yea. That would be nice.” She said and patted the spot next to her on the couch. He smiled a little and walked over taking a seat next to her. She stretched out her legs so they were across his lap and leaned back on the arm of the couch sighing loudly.
“Comfy?” he laughed resting his hand on her knee.
“Why are guys such ass holes?” she said ignoring his question.
“Were not all ass holes.” He laughed. “Some guys just don’t know a good thing until it’s gone.”
“Do I have a sign that says walk all over me or something? I can never catch a break.” She said frustrated. “Every time I think things are going good he finds a way to creep back into my life.”
“You just need to learn that nobody is ever worth your tears. It sucks to find out someone doesn’t really care about you the way you do for them, believe me I know. But eventually you’ll get over it and move on to someone better who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”
“What are you fricken Dr. Phil?” she laughed.
“At least I got you to smile.” He smirked at her and pushed some hair from out of her eyes.
“Thanks.” She blushed slightly as his hand brushed against her cheek. She caught a glimpse of his eyes and she could feel the butterflies rise up in her stomach. She wished she could tell him how she felt but she just didn’t know how he would react. She was afraid she would scare him away. Yeah he said all these nice things about her, but he was just trying to make her feel better, it didn’t mean anything. “So was that Mario Kart I saw over there?” she said trying to tear her mind away from her thoughts.
“You play Mario Kart?” he raised a brow with a smirk.
“Correction. I kick ass at Mario Kart.” She laughed. “When we were younger me and Angel used to sneak in your room when you were away and play.”
“Aha so it was you…and you guys always let Aaron get all the blame.” He laughed as he turned on the console.
“That was the best part.” She laughed taking a control from him and tossing a pillow on the floor to sit on.
“Well you know I’ve logged plenty of hours on this baby, I don’t think you’re ready to compete with the big boys.” He teased taking a seat next to her.
“Bring it on bitch.” She smirked giving him a playful shove.
“Just pick your driver and we’ll see who’s left crying in the dust.” He laughed.
“Princess Peach is bringing you down. Be prepared to lose.”
“Yoshi is so much better.” He said as the countdown began and the race started.
By the end of the final lap Ashley was in the lead. She quickly glanced over a Nick with a smirk and she could tell he was in deep concentration as she pulled through the finish like just a few seconds before him.
“Booyah!” She said dropping the control and throwing her hands in the air. “Eat my dust Carter!” She said getting up and dancing around. “Oh yea, oh yea! I won!”
“You so cheated!” he said with a pout.
“Oh grow up you big baby! I kicked your butt take it like a man.” She said sticking her tongue out at him.
“Rematch!” he said going to reset the game.
“Why so I can make you eat my dust again?” she smirked. “Just face it the video game master got beat by a girl.”
“You’re gonna get it.” He said reaching out for her. She jumped away from his grasp and took off towards the front of the bus. “I’m gonna get you!” he said chasing after her. “You have no where to run.”
“Just try and catch me…. loser!” she said ducking under his arms and running back towards the back of the bus. She tried to shut the door but he got there too quickly.
“No where to run, no where to hide.” He sang as he shut the door. “You’re all mine.”
She tried to duck out of the way again but he grabbed her by the waist and began tickling her.
“Nick stop!” she yelled through her laughter.
“Now who’s the loser?” he smirked pinning her to the couch as he continued tickling her.
“Please! I surrender!” she said trying to squirm away from his grasp.
“Is that you begging for mercy?” he smirked.
“Yes, please. Stop.” She could barely laugh anymore.
He stopped tickling her and smirked not moving from his place on top of her.
“I can’t breath now.” She said playfully smacking him trying to regain her breathing.
“Need mouth to mouth?” he smirked.
“You wish.” She said trying to push him off of her. “You’re squishing me.”
“Don’t act like you don’t like it.” He smirked putting all his weight on her.
“Nick…can’t…breathe…” she said pushing him off with all her strength. He fell to the floor but pulled her down on top of him.
“Oh so this is how you like it?” he teased with a smirk.
“You’re such a perve.” She smacked his chest.
“And rough too?” he laughed.
“Shut up.”
“I demand a rematch.” He turned and pushed her down so he was on top of her again.
“Why put yourself through all that torture again?” she smirked.
“Cause this time I’m gonna whip your butt and wipe that smile right off your face.” He stuck his tongue out at her.
“Bring it on.” She said pushing him off her and taking back her control.
They started playing again and Nick was becoming frustrated as he was loosing once more. Ashley couldn’t help but laugh at the look of concentration on his face. She reached over and covered his eyes breaking his concentration.
“What are you doing you cheater!” He said grabbing her arms so she couldn’t control the game. “Haha, try and play now.”
“I’m still winning!” she stuck her tongue out at him grabbing her control to finish the game.
“No way, you’re such a cheater!” he laughed poking her side.
She squirmed away from him but he pulled her back, grabbing a pillow and hitting her with it.
“Hey!” she said reaching for another pillow but not being able to get it.
“That’s what cheaters get.” he laughed hitting her with it again.
He was about to his her with the pillow again but the bus hit a bump in the road and Nick’s hand slid out from under him. He looked up to find his face just inches away from Ashley’s. Their eyes locked for a moment and again Ashley felt the butterflies rise again. There was something about the way he looked at her that made her weak. He tilted his head and leaned his face closer but just as their lips were about to meet a phone went off. Ashley closed her eyes and sighed deeply as she looked over and saw her phone ringing from the couch.
“That better not be that ass hole again. Or I’ll give him a piece of my mind.” He said moving away from his spot on top of her.
“No, it’s your sister.” She sighed frustrated that the call had just interrupted the moment they were about to have. She sat up and reached for her phone. Nick got up from the floor with a frustrated sigh wishing Angel didn’t have such bad timing. He wasn’t sure what he was about to do, but knew the moment had come and gone. He ran a hand through his hair as he took one more look at her before walking towards the front of the bus.
“You better have a damn good reason for calling me.” She said with a hint of frustration.
“Umm…bad time?” Angel said concerned.
“Ha that’s an understatement. Never mind that, what’s up?” she said trying to shake it off, knowing it was probably for the best that they were interrupted.
“Well I was hoping you’d be excited to hear from me considering me and Scott just booked our tickets to come see you!” she said.
“Awesome, when?” she said trying to sound as excited as possible.
“Don’t know the exact date but we’re flying into Saratoga New York, so whenever you’re there. I think were staying like a week or something.” Angel informed.
“Awesome. Can’t wait.” She said with real excitement. She was missing her friend and knew Angel could help her read all these mixed signals she was getting from Nick. “It can’t come soon enough!”
“I know!” Angel said excitedly. “I can’t wait. Well we’re on our way to lunch. I’ll talk to you later and see you soon!”
“Bye.” Ashley said as she placed the phone down next to her. She could see Nick from her place on the couch, but she was afraid to say something to him. She wasn’t sure what to say and wasn’t sure what was going through his head. For right now it was better to just act as if nothing had happened.
Author's Chapter Notes:
sorry it took so long, its been a really hectic time with the holidays and work. Promise not to make you wait so long ever again :) hope you enjoy!
