Escaping Grace

I sat in the apartment by myself. Vale and Clarke were officially on a plane down to Georgia with their parents, and Christmas was in a week. I still had no idea what to get Andy.
Or even if we were doing Christmas.
I really should have brought this up earlier.
I chewed my lip anxiously.
And what if he wanted to spend it with the guys, or his parents?
Eh.
The apartment was so quiet without Vale. What was I going to do with myself? She would be gone until after New Years.
Maybe I should take up crocheting?
No. That was a stupid idea.
Hmm.
I glanced down at my chipped nailpolish.
I hated being alone.
I called Andy.
I hadn't told him that it had been Nate, and I doubt I ever would. Despite he was a little weasel, I didn't want Andy to, well, beat him up or anything. Which obviously he wasn't past doing.
"Hey, babe," he answered after a few rings, and I could hear loud guy voices in the background.
"Hey... what just broke?"
"Oh. Jinxx fell and knocked over the lamp." he said it matter-of-factly, as if it was something Jinxx did a lot.
"Aww. The pretty purple shaded one?"
"Yeah. You owe me fifty bucks!" I heard him call, and I smiled. "Hey, I didn't know you had the guys over, so I'll let you go."
"Alright. Hey, what are you gonna do since Vales gone?"
"Oh, I dunno. Paint my nails and binge on Xbox and TV shows probably. Survive off take out as usual."
"Or --- you could come over and hang tonight. Fair warning, Ashleys staying over cuz he did something to his apartment."
"It was the girl, I swear!" I heard Ashley protest in the background. "I don't know how she did it. Hey, ask Leah if she wants pizza for dinner."
"I've never heard her say no," Andy told him. "Make sure it has extra cheese." He knew me so well.
"Not to invite myself over prematurely, but I'll even be nice and pick it up," I offered.
"Sounds like a plan. Jake, don't drink all the scotch --- babe? I gotta go. What time you coming over?"
"Ah, just tell me when you order pizza and I'll head over then."
"Cool, see ya." I sighed, hanging up and tossing my phone to the side. Despite the fact my apartment was completely empty and we could have been all alone in it, I guess we would rain check.
A few hours later, I stood at Andys door with four large pizzas and a bunch of two liters hanging heavily on my arm. No one had told me this would cost over fifty bucks.
And I couldn't get the door open. I sighed, and gave it a swift kick, hoping someone would answer.
"Just a second!" Ashley to the rescue, I thought with a roll of my eyes as he finally opened the damned door.
"What took you so long? These are heavy!" I complained as I shouldered past him and set everything on the counter. I turned to look at him, and blanched.
"Why the fuck are you naked?" I demanded, covering my eyes.
"I was in the shower! I figured you would take longer to get here then that," was his defense.
"WHY ARE YOU ANSWERING DOORS NAKED?"
"Hey, why not?" I heard a rustling that I could only assume was a towel being wrapped on. "At least now you know what you're missing."
I think I was going to die on the spot.
"Please don't be naked in front of me anymore, Ashley. I think you're going to give me a premature heart attack."
"Fine. Your loss. You can look now."
"Can I? You're not trolling me are you?"
"No, I'm not." He was having way too much fun with this.
I peeked between my fingers, then let them drop in relief.
First CC, now Ashley. Give me a few more months and I'd probably see the rest of the band naked too.
Eww.
I shook the image out of my mind, and grabbed the drinks off the counter to stash in the fridge.
"Where's Andy?" I asked, wrestling a takeout container out of my way.
"He had to run to the store for something about parmesan?"
Oh. He must be out then. He was way better of a boyfriend then I deserved.
"So are you guys intending to feed an army?" I asked of the pizzas as I closed the fridge.
"Hey, pizza and me are old buddies," Ashley flicked his wet hair out of his face as he leaned against the counter, inhaling the scent of hot pizza. "I can eat a whole one by myself."
"Im sure. Are you not going to put some clothes on?"
"Am I making you nervous? " he gave me a grin.
"No. But you're making me feel awkward."
Ashley shook his head, and pushed away from the counter. "Hey, this yours?" I glanced over to see hin picking up a dark red polish off the coffee table.
"I was wondering where I'd left that," I didn't remember leaving it here. "I was needing to touch up my nails."
"Lucky for you, I volunteer my services."
"For what?" I asked warily; he was still in a towel after all.
"No, I'm not offering to sleep with you, Leah, you're not that lucky," he tugged on my arm and dragged me over to the couch. "Sit," he ordered, and I slowly did.
He sat down on the coffee table, and took my hand.
"Let me show you how the master paints."
"Okay, Da Vinci, calm down."
And that's where we were when Andy came home. Ashley had my feet in his lap as he painted, luckily clothed this time, and I was flipping through one of the music magazines.
We both glanced over as Andy walked inside, a bag dangling from his fingers. He stopped abruptly, staring at us. "What are you doing?"
"What's it look like? I'm painting."
Andy looked confused for a moment, then shook his head. "Okay. What ever. This is why I don't normally leave you guys alone. Something weird always happens."
Ashley and I grinned at each other.
"When did you get here anyway?" Andy asked, setting his bag on the counter.
"About twenty minutes ago. Did you get the parmesan?"
"Yep."
"Lucky for you my nails are dry," I said as he brought the pizzas over to the coffee table.
"Or what? You think I would wait?" he nudged me as he sat down.
"Yes. Ashley would wait, wouldn't you?"
"Don't involve me," Ashley said hastily, tightening the lid on the nailpolish. "I'm just a poor, unfortunate wing man."
I nudged him with my foot.
"Okay, yes, I would have waited out of respect for her highness."
"Oh, so you're stealing my band mates now are you?" Andy grinned. "Fine. I'll take Clarke."
"As long as you don't take Vale," Ashley rolled his eyes. "That piranha would probably sell our souls on the black market."
I kicked him off the coffee table.
"You guys realize she's my best friend, right?"
"That's not our fault," Ashley said from the floor as he sat up. "We don't make choices for you."
"Vale isn't that bad!"
"You say that because you're immune to her now. She told me once that I should try a different shampoo because she didn't like the smell. Now who does that?" Ashley asked, shaking his head. "So I bought the conditioner with the same scent."
I grinned. "Okay, Vale can be harsh sometimes, but she's not evil. She just doesn't care. Her and CC seem to get along."
"He's a gentle soul." Ashley sniffed, taking four pieces of pizza onto his plate. "He's just under her spell right now, like sleeping beauty but awake."
I couldn't help but laugh. "So Vale is Maleficient?"
"Yeah! And the rest of us are the fairies."
Andy and I looked at each other. "So who's CCs prince then?" "He hasn't appeared yet."
Right. I chuckled, shaking my head.
"So what's up for Christmas this year?" Ashley then asked. "Are you guys doing anything?"
I shifted uncomfortably.
"Nah, we haven't planned anything," Andy shook his head.
"Good! Because I'm gonna throw a Christmas party," Ashley said brightly. "And everyone is coming. There'll be booze, food, and party favors. Maybe. Okay probably just booze."
"The last time you did that the Christmas tree caught on fire." "I'll plan better this time. And YOU'RE the one who set it on fire."
"Should I be worried?" I asked. "How did you set the tree on fire?"
"He decided to smoke and not put it out," Ashley announced. "And smoke a cigar celebrating someone having a baby."
"That's what HE says happened, but I don't remember that," Andy shrugged, a solo cup of Mtn. Dew hiding his expression.
"I have pictures of Andy running around in Christmas boxers with an elf hat on." Ashley told me. "And CC passed out over the couch with nothing but a fake beard around his waist. Jake and Jinxx only made it out because of their women last year."
"And probably this year too." Andy added. "Which is lame. Why do you all have women?"
"Why do you not?" I handed him the Dr. Pepper. "I'm sure we could set you up with someone."
"What about the secretary at your studio? She was hot."
"Morgan? She's too nice for you. She's a sweetheart. No way. Besides, I think she has a boyfriend."
"That's never stopped me before."
"Leave Morgan alone," I ordered, sending him a look. "Off limits."
"Fine," Ashley rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Notes

What? Two updates in one day?? Haha, so would you guys like an Ashley fanfic some time? It would obviously be after this one is finished as I cant multi-task xD Let me know!