Life After That (16 page)

Kirstin took Ashley's hand gently in hers and stated:

"Ashley, I know we're gonna be seeing too little of each other. I really don't care that much about it 'cause we've been apart for 2 years and managed to get back now. The "always away" part is not really a problem to me. But I do have a problem. And I want to ask you for just one favor, before going in too deep in this relationship."

"Yes… anything you want."

"If you ever stop liking me or if you find someone else, please, please, PLEASE, talk to me first before you do anything. It will hurt me to know you have found someone that is better for you than me, but it will hurt me much more to see that you were not completely truthful to me. That's the only thing I ask. I know we are not boyfriend and girlfriend, and that this may be too much to ask, but can you promise me that you'll talk to me first before letting anything happen?"

Ashley looked deeply into Kirstin's big brown eyes. He could see she was sad for some reason. He didn't like that. He leaned forward, gently kissed her. Then backed away and answered:

"Yes Kirstin, I do promise you that. But you don't have to worry 'cause that will never happen."

"Oh, trust me, you can never be sure of that." she was serious, but she thought of something to say that swept that serious look away from her face giving away to a smile "And don't forget, I'll be watching you! And not the edited version, I'll see the real deal. I'll have all the tapes in my possession. I won't be there in person, but the cameras will be my eyes. Don't forge that Mr.!"

"Oh, that's so not fair, you'll be seeing me and I won't be seeing you! I want a job where I can see you all day too!"

"Oh, it's not my fault you chose to be this big pop star." She said noticing the clock on the car "Oh my God! Is that clock right?" Ashley nodded "It's 1:30 am! I have to go!" she was opening her door when Ashley stopped her:

"Don't! Please, allow me."

"Oh, what a gentleman."

Ashley got out of the car, opened Kirstin's door for her, and offered his hand to help her out:

"Ashley, I'm gonna get used to this. And it's not good 'cause I won't have someone to do that for me in NY."

"Don't worry, whenever I'm there I'll make it up to you and do that." Ashley's blue eyes totally hypnotized Kirstin. They started at each other's eyes for a brief moment and then Kirstin informed:

"Well, now I really have to go."

"Ok. But K, call me when you get in NY, alright?"

"Alright."

"The goodbye."

"Goodbye." – Ashley held her in his arms and kissed her passionately. Kirstin deepen the kiss this time. She was actually sad to be leaving. First she didn't want to go to Florida, now she didn't want to leave.

When they broke apart, they just glanced at each other once more and without saying a word, Kirstin smiled, turned and headed into the hotel.

Hyatt Hotel – THURSDAY – 8 am

Kirstin woke up to the sound of the phone ringing. Without even opening her eyes, she unhooked the phone and in a sleepy voice, answered it.

"Hello?"

"Good morning Sleeping Beauty!"

"Who is this?" she asked angrily. She was usually grumpy when she was woken up.

"Wow, chill out! It's Andy. Listen. Our flight leaves at 11:30! It's 8 o'clock now. Get dressed and we'll meet at the restaurant, ok?"

"Yes, ok" she said more calmly. She couldn't yell at her boss. If it was Grace, she would have hung up by now.

"Good, then see you soon."

Kirstin still had her eyes closed when she sat up. She had got to her room last night at 1:40 am, went straight to bed but couldn't sleep. Her mind was full of concerns. She didn't know if she could believe Ashley when he promised her what he did. But she was so tired she eventually fell asleep.

Now she had a tank top on, blue jeans and sunglasses. It was a sunny day, not too hot though. When she got to the restaurant, she scanned the place 'til she located this guy, sitting at a table by the window, waving at her.

"Hey Andy." she greeted in a terrible mood, sitting on the chair in front of her boss.

"Someone's grumpy early in the morning. What's up with you?"

"Nothing. Just tired."

"What time did you get here?"

'Should I tell him the truth?' She figured she shouldn't. "Hm, I think it was about 11, 11:30. You left what? Around 10?"

"Yeah, around that. So it didn't take too long. Why are you so tired then?"

"Oh, the flight and everything."

"I see. And how did it go yesterday with that O-Town guy?"

"Good, I guess." she answered taking a sip out of her orange juice.

"What did he want? Was it something about the show?"

"He, hm, he actually wanted to know how things were with me, my family, what I was doing with my life. Things like that."

"So, nothing about the show?" Andrew was kind of disappointed taking a bite from his bagel. He thought that with Kirstin, the guys would cut them some slack with the editing part.

"Hm, just that it was such a coincidence me working on the show. "

"Was he happy about it?"

"Oh, he seemed pretty happy about it, yes." she smiled slightly.

"Good, that's good."

They finished their breakfast, went to their rooms to finish packing, met at the lobby to check out and made their way to the airport, Andrew informed:

"Oh, Kirstin. I forgot to tell you. In the room I got a call from one of the show's producer and he said we'll be getting the first tapes tomorrow."

"Oh, good!" Kirstin couldn't wait to start working. "So, what time do you need me there tomorrow?"

"I don't know about your school agenda, but do you think you can start working everyday at 2 pm?"

"'Til what time?"

"Well, there isn't really a time to leave. It depends on how much we get done that day."

"Oh, ok. Well, at Tuesdays and Wednesday I have classes at 7 pm. Do you think that's a problem?"

"Oh, not at all. So 2 pm tomorrow, ok?"

"Yes, sure. Great."

Before she knew it they were at the airport. The flight was relatively boring but was filled with chitchat.

ORLANDO, FL – O-Town House

"Good morning sunshine!" Trevor greeted Ashley that was getting into the kitchen that moment. He was rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning." Ashley answered half asleep.

All the O-Town member, minus Erik were up and having their breakfast at that moment.

"So…?" – Dan was egger to know how things were the night before.

"So… what?" Ashley asked taking his cereal out of the kitchen closet.

"So, did you brush your teeth?" Trevor joked "What do think you so what Ashley? How were things with Kirstin last nigh?"

"Fine…" Ashley teased his friends.

"I'd say it was more than fine." Jacob added to the conversation "I saw you guys last night laying by the pool."

"Oh my God Jake, were you spying on us?"

"Yes Ashley, I was spying on you 'cause I have no life! Of course not! I was up to go to the bathroom and I saw you two through the window. Things seemed pretty steamy."

"Really? How was that?" Trevor was interested.

"Well, she was laying on the floor, Ashley was on top of her…"

"Shut up! You don't know how things happened. I'll tell the story."

"Please, do. I don't wanna hear Jacob's twisted story." Dan said.

"So, when you guys left, I took her outside so we could talk and she didn't even let me start the conversation, she was kissing me already."

"Oh, Ashley Angel, so irresistible!" Trevor joked again.

"Shut up!" Ashley hit him and continued "So after the kiss we talked and got things right and well, when you saw us there on the floor we didn't do anything. She didn't want to. So I showed her my room…"

"UUUuuUuUuU." Trevor joked once more.

"Man. I'm gonna stop telling the story! Shut up! Anyway, I showed her my room and we talked a little more, she lead me to the bed, things heated up again, but she stopped me once again. Then I took her to her hotel and she's probably on her plane right now. She said she would be leaving in the morning."

"Sorry to hear she pushed you away."

"It was not like that Trevor. I don't know. Maybe this is too soon to her. I don't know. What do you think Dan?"

"I don't know. I think you should give her some time, some space. You just got back yesterday. You worked things out and I think you should wait. She obviously likes you. It's not like she doesn't want to if she was leading you to bed, maybe she's just confused right now. Everything happened kinda fast. So just wait."

"Yes, that's what I thought."

"But is everything ok? Are you two together now?" Jacob asked getting up and putting his bowl in the sink.

"We are together. But she said she doesn't wanna be my girlfriend."

"She doesn't wanna be your girlfriend? What is that?" Jacob was now standing next to the table where all the 3 guys were sitting.

"Yeah. I thought that was strange. She said she wanted to be together but she didn't wanna be labeled as my girlfriend. She said she was never happy being someone else's girlfriend."

"Wow… this girl is kinda messed up don't you think Ashley? She runs away, she then kisses you, lead you to bed and then stops it and then she doesn't wanna be your girlfriend?"

"Yeah, Dan, I don't know. Something happened before we met and she doesn't wanna talk about it. I think that when she does talk about it, things won't be as confusing as they are now."

They were all silent for a second when the phone rang.