Before The Angels Fell

Rileys POV

I could not believe what just happened. I was completely mortified.
I sat at the Cincinnati airport waiting for a flight back out to LA, but it was Christmas eve. There was no way I was going home tonight.
I rested back on the chair and tried to wipe my smudged make up. It had seriously been the most horrible trip. I didn't want to come in the first place and now, I didn't even know I still wanted to be with Andy after this.
Out of the silence of the airport, my phone blared Rebel Love Song. I looked at the caller ID and surprise, surprise, it was Andy.
"What? Haven't you done enough damage?" I said answering the phone.
"Riley, I didn't do anything! I promise you, I didn't invite her! Scout and I are history! I haven't seen her in nearly two years. You are the only person I want."
"You don't understand. Her showing up means that there is still something there! Look, I'm gonna go home and give your family some space. I just need to be on my own for a bit."
"Don't be stupid. There is no way planes are going to fly out to LA anytime soon."
"Well I guess I'll standby. I'll see you when you get home" I said then hung up.
"Arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!" I groaned out loud.
I just wanted to disappear.

By Christmas evening I was the loneliest person. I refused to continue to stay in Ohio. Home seemed like the better option. My apartment seemed so empty. In my entire life I had never felt more hurt than this. Andy was my everything and now... Now, my everything was falling apart.
I sighed and threw myself onto my bed. I would give anything to be able to forget everything that happened, but that was the last thing I could do.
But someone could help me take my mind off it. I pulled my phone out, turning it on and finding the number of the one person I knew, would be as lonely as me.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Ash. Merry Christmas" I said tiredly.
"Hey Riles. I was expecting to hear from you."
"You were?" I asked confused.
"Yeah, Andy called me after you left yesterday. I can't believe what happened, but what I don't get is why you walked away?" Ashley asked.
"Because that's what I do. If someone doesn't want me in their life, I'll leave."
"But Andy wants you!"
"I'm sure he does, but his parents don't. They want Scout back in his life. They look at me with judging eyes like they know my past. I had to lie about my family, about everything... Even to Andy..." I said as my eyes became hot with tears.
"Well, you don't have to lie to me. I'm on my way over anyways."
"What?! Why? You don't need to Ash" I said almost falling off my bed.
"It's okay, I wasn't doing anything anyways."
"You had no plans for Christmas?" I asked surprised.
"Well I was doing someone, but I'm done now" I could almost hear the smirk.
"You're disgusting" I said sarcastically.
"I know. I'll see you in a bit."
"Okay..." I said, then the line went dead.
I sighed and got off the bed to turn some lights on.
I looked around at Kimber's mess and tried to clean it before Ashley came up. I caught a glimpse of myself in in the mirror and I looked like shit. My green eyes were all red and puffy, my skin was blotchy and my clothes were crinkled.
I glanced at the clock on the oven and thought I had enough time to have a shower. I grabbed some clean clothes and quickly showered to get the airplane smell off me.
As I got out of the shower I started to towel off my body and hair, Ashley knocked on the door. I wrapped the towel around my body to let him in.
"Hey Ash" I said when he came in.
He took one look at me and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh shut up. I've been hanging out at an airport and on a plane, I needed to shower."
"And it's so hard to throw on jeans and a sweater. Why must you tempt me Riles?" he said sarcastically.
"Oh you're hilarious. Get over it, you're never going to fuck me."
"I am over it. I can fuck whoever I like" he shrugged as he walked in.
I cracked a smile and laughed. "But not me."
"Let me put it this way. You're a former stripper, with the body and the moves. That would keep your boyfriend around" he said sitting on my bed.
I rolled my eyes. "I don't want Andy to stay around for that reason. I don't want him to stay around at all if he is going to treat me the way he is" I said getting clothes out for myself and going into the bathroom to change.
"You know that it wasn't Andy's plan. He seriously hasn't talked to Scout in two years. And it wasn't his mom's either. It was all Scout" Ashley said through the door.
I stayed silent as I pulled on my jeans and my jumper. I went back out to Ashley, but he was standing in front of the door.
"Do you think I overreacted?" I asked.
"Yes."
"I just didn't know what to do... I really wanted his family to like me, but it wasn't happening. Then Scout showed up so I guessed they wanted to show me what a real 'Andy' girlfriend looked like. It just made it that much easier for me to leave" I said going back to my bed.
"Look, I get you have trust issues, but Andy loves you. Now quit all your bullshit and love him back."
Ashley took me aback for a second. I never thought he felt so strongly about Andy's relationships.
"Hey" I said placing a hand on his arm. "I do love him. I've never loved anyone like I do him. He is my world..."
Ashley's face softened and he got this lingering look in his eyes. He placed one of his hands on the top of my arm. I thought he was going to lean and hug me, but he was leaning the wrong way for that.
"What are you doing?" I said pushing him away gently.
Ashley's eyes were glazed over, but then he shook his head and he was back to normal.
"Nothing... Ahh..."
"Ashley... Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. That's a stupid question. Well umm, I've done my job, you're gonna sort things out with Andy and strengthen your relationship and I'm..."
"Ashley, why don't you admit that you are lonely?"
"Cause I'm not. I have you" He said looking down at his hands.
"We're friends Ash, it can't be more than that..."
"Talk to Andy when he gets back. He'll be happy if you say what you said to me. Minus the lying stuff. I'm gonna go" he said getting off my bed.
I jumped off my bed also so I could follow him out.
"Wait, Ash, seriously, what's up?" I asked again.
"Nothing... I have a date" he said kissing my cheek and leaving my apartment.
That was weird...

Notes

Ashley's little crush is getting bigger...
Comments!
-Tina xx