Always a Friend

Chapter 57

The rest of the day was filled with questions and confusion about whether to believe Claudia or not. She wasn't my biggest fan, and I wasn't hers. Why did Ashton have to hug her? The image of them together was burned into my retinas and forever imprinted in my brain. I didn't think I'd ever be able to get that picture out of my brain. Now, I just had to figure out if I'd ever be able to get past the fact and try to move forward with Ashton or cut things off before I get hurt any further. 

Ashton was leaning against the driver's side of my car, looking down at his phone, glancing up every few minutes or when someone would walk past. I had no idea what I would say to him or if I wanted to hear any more of his excuses of why he hugged the one person who had made my high school life a complete nightmare. 

I couldn't help but giggle when Ashton jumped the second I unlocked the car. He shoved his phone down in his pocket and started walking toward me as he ran a hand through his dark blonde hair. He was indeed hot, but was I prepared to worry about him talking to other girls or finding them in his arms? I knew he liked me, but was it enough to consider my feelings? I had been hurt too much in the past few months.

"Can we go somewhere and talk?" 

"I need some coffee. It's been a long day, and I've got homework I need to work on." I opened the driver's side door and put my bag in the passenger seat. 

"Uh...I thought we'd go in my car." Ashton's eyes narrowed as he glanced at my bag propped against the back of the passenger seat. Before I could say another word, he turned and headed for his car. "Follow close behind me." He glanced over his shoulder, pulling out his keys and clicking the key fob. 

I took a deep breath and slid down to the driver's seat. I hated driving to Sweet Escape. Why didn't I just let him drive us there? My eyes drifted to the rearview mirror to find panic-stricken eyes staring back at me. "It'll be okay. You've got this, Gemma." I mumbled to myself. 

Ashton pulled past me and motioned me to follow him. I mumbled again that I've got this and I needed to stop being scared of driving to Sweet Escape. I grasped the steering wheel and eased out of the parking spot. I hit media and had my songs ready to play the second our cars hit the street to help calm me down. I listened to the songs, singing along, and before I knew it, we were pulling into Sweet Escape. The corners of my mouth curled up in joy that I had overcome my fear and drove to Sweet Escape without having a panic attack. I was following Ashton, but maybe I should've been worried. 

"Did you drive yourself here?" 

I closed my car door. "Yeah, I did." I smiled at Chloe walking up. "I followed Ashton." My smile quickly faded. 

"You followed him? So does that mean..." Her eyes shifted from side to side, looking for him. "Well...That's pretty much driving the whole way on your own. I've been with Braedon while he's tried to follow Ashton. Ashton doesn't wait for anyone." She twisted her mouth. 

"Did I hear my name?" Ashton asked, walking up. "What about me?" 

"That you're a douche. Is that what  you heard?" Chloe looked up, placing her finger on her chin as if she was thinking. 

"Funny." Ashton's smile disappeared, and annoyance took its place. "You two ready to go in?" He turned, grasping the strap of his backpack on his shoulder.  

"My observation was correct," she whispered, leaning close to my ear. I nudged her with my elbow; she looked at me and shrugged. "What?" She knew exactly what and didn't need to act all innocent. Chloe was far from innocent when it came to speaking her mind. Whatever she was thinking flew out of her mouth ninety percent of the time. I raised an eyebrow, tilting my head to the side, letting her know I wasn't playing around. I had a lot to figure out, and I didn't want her to put unnecessary doubt in my already confused mind. Part of me wanted to forget everything and start again with Ashton, but his past was notorious. 

"What are you going to order today?" Ashton asked, opening the door for Chloe and me. "Your usual?" 

"I don't know. I might get something different." I walked past him, gazing around the semi-crowded shop, looking for a big enough table for us and our books. I happened to see one of the bigger booths toward the back. I hurried to the booth without saying a word before someone else could claim it. I lowered my book bag straps off my shoulder, grabbed my phone and wallet, and then set my bag in the seat next to the wall. Chloe set her stuff in the seat across from me, leaving Ashton sitting beside me. Not that I minded him sitting beside me, but I didn't need his cologne reminding me of Laguna Beach. I didn't know what kind he wore, but for some reason, it reminded me of how the ocean smelled when I closed my eyes and listened to the waves crashing to shore. It was the last time I was at Laguna Beach with my parents before Dad passed away. 

"Gemma, you ready to order?" Ashton placed his hand on the small of my back, igniting the uncontrollable desire to kiss him. 

"Uh...Yeah..." I blinked, moving closer to the counter. The barista smiled, eyeing Ashton. My eyes narrowed, flashing to Ashton, who was looking down at the menu on the counter, unaware he was being admired by the bitch at the register. Before I could stop myself, irritation took over, and the words flew out of my mouth. "Well, I'm ready to order whenever you're done trying to get his attention." I snapped, tilting my head, glaring. 

Her smile dissipated within microseconds, and her wide eyes shifted to me. "What can I get for you today?" 

"I'll have a S'mores cold brew and a croissant." I opened my wallet to get my card out when Ashton told the bitch that we were all together and he was paying. Ashton stepped to the side, letting Chloe order, and then he ordered and paid. I couldn't help but watch him with a careful eye on how he conducted himself while interacting with the she-devil behind the counter. I snatched the number from her hand, then turned and walked to the booth. Chloe slid into her seat and asked for my book bag to give me more room. 

"I can't stand that girl," Chloe mumbled, rolling her eyes as she opened her Math book. 

"She looked familiar." I opened up my English book.

"Here's your drink." Another barista smiled at Ashton while setting his drink on the table. 

Chloe and I both sighed, rolling our eyes at one another. I opened my mouth to mumble something when Ashton caught me off guard. "We had three drinks all together. Thank you for bringing my drink over, but my girlfriend and her best friend still need theirs." He tilted his head, looking up at her with such discontent. She stood there with her mouth agape, eyes shifting between us, then turned and got the other drinks. 

"My point exactly," Chloe mumbled, rolling her eyes again. 

I sat there nodding, not really listening because I was still shocked by what I heard come out of his mouth—my girlfriend. Was I his girlfriend? We never talked about us being a couple, and shouldn't I be included in this decision? I wasn't complaining about the fact; maybe I was caught off guard more than anything. This is something I've been wanting to hear for as long as I can remember, a guy stating I was his girlfriend, so I couldn't understand why I was freaking out. 

"You okay, Gemma?" Ashton asked. 

"Huh?" I grabbed my pencil. "Yeah." I smiled, hoping it was convincing enough to let him know I was okay. My eyes drifted to the table. "Those bitches were too busy flirting and forgot our croissants." I huffed, flopping back against the booth. 

Ashton leaned over, kissed the side of my head, and was out of his seat before I could tell him not to worry about them. 

"He really likes you, Gem. Try and go easy on him." Chloe leaned over the table. 

My brows furrowed as I continued staring at my S'mores cold brew, sitting alone on the table without my croissant. I was stunned into silence by Chloe's comment. Since when did she become a fan of Ashton Hughes?