Sweeney & Bowen

Chapter Six: Blocking

On Ashlyn's bed: I rise on my elbows while she is folding laundry at the other end of it. We both laugh as we discuss the information she just gave me.

"Wait, wait, wait! EJ wrote a song?!" I repeat in utter disbelief.

Ashlyn's eyes widen in horror, nodding, "Imagine an early 2000s boyband without auto-tune."

I gasp, "Even the freakish dance moves?"

"Especially the freakish dance moves!" She confirms and we burst out laughing.

Sadness immediately overtakes me as I sigh, "I deserved that song, Ash. I deserve the effort that he's putting into Nini."

She nods along, offering a small smile, "I know, B."

"Like," I rant, repositioning to sit cross-legged with my legs folded beneath me, "Nina Salazar-Roberts of all people?! She stole my childhood friend and now my boyfriend? I feel like my insecurities pulled me away from the world and she took my place."

Ashlyn dislikes conflict and doesn't engage in trash talking. Crystals and kindness are the answers to all of her problems. She only nodded as I continued, allowing me to vent.

Although, she is in an awkward position because we are talking about her cousin and his new girlfriend.

"Whatever," I stopped talking about Nini, "You know, mine and EJ's conversation should have been closure...but I just still feel like there's something unsaid between us." I sigh and then shrug, "I don't know, maybe it's just me clinging onto hope."

"It's okay to be sad and scared during the process." She reminds me, smiling.

"I'm not even sad anymore." I confess, "He had the audacity to believe I would tell my mom that he said hey. I feel like today just made any sadness disappear and now I'm just angry."

"That's also normal to feel." She assures me, nodding.

"But I miss him." I blurt out, sighing, "And I'm angry."

"Let yourself feel. Cry." She softly encourages me.

I playfully roll my eyes, "I don't feel, Ash!"

"Sure you don't." She teases.

"I don't!" My voice goes high at the lie.

She laughs and settles at the foot of her bed, making me smile.

"B, you're a single lady now. Has anyone new caught your eye?" She grins.

I shake my head, "Nope."

"Not even Ricky?" She inquires, with a teasing smile.

"Ew," I blurt out as my face falls.

She throws her hands up in surrender, "I'm just saying!"

I scoff in disgust, "I could never."

"Never say never." She winks.

I roll my eyes, "Ash, gross."

She chuckles, "Okay! I'm just saying, you seem happier lately- more out of your shell."

"Honestly, I owe that to Carlos, the choreographer." There was a tilt in my voice that was once never sincere, of amazement at how much he has changed me.

Meanwhile, Ashlyn's smile had faded as she appeared horrified, "Oh, B.. as much as you'd kill a Bust Your Windows moment, he-"

"Ash," I nearly burst out laughing, "Not like that."