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She pulled into a parking lot, then looked around. She sighed, putting her car in park and shutting it off. Taking her bag and keys, she got out, and started climbing the stairs to her apartment. Halfway up, she looked over, noticing Teresa standing outside her door, smoking. She turned around, and headed over.
--
After Ash left, Katie just sat in the same spot, staring at where Ash had been sitting.
I can't believe it. She's gone. How did this happen? Why did I open my stupid mouth? She's the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I screwed up.
Katie rolled over and grabbed her cell phone. She put it up to her ear, but could tell by the length of rings that Ash was not going to answer. Katie dropped her phone off the bed, and threw herself onto her pillows, feeling useless and stupid.
--
Ash woke up the next morning to birds chirping on the tree branch right outside the window. She opened her eyes to harsh sunlight, grunting. She heard Teresa laugh.
"How fast can you get ready?" Teresa asked, not looking up from her book.
Ash shrugged. "Ten minutes?"
Teresa nodded. "Good."
--
Once in the car, Ash opened up her phone. One missed call, it said. She frowned and closed it up. If it was important, she'll call again.
She smiled at Teresa, who had been looking at her with a worried look on her face.
--
Katie woke up, feeling more tired than she had when she fell asleep. Crying does that to you, she thought. She got up to look in the mirror. Her eyes were a tiny bit red, but it wasn't that noticeable.
She looked over at the clock; 12:15, it said. She sighed and pulled a robe around her night-clothes, making her way out into the dining room.
Her step mom had laid out every cereal box they owned for the teenagers to choose from. Daniel had burrowed into the corn flakes; Aaron was devouring Fruit Loops by the mouthful.
Katie plopped down across from them, grabbing the Cheerio box and putting about a cup's worth into the bowl.
As she poured some skim milk in, she looked up at Daniel.
Her best friend was staring at her, focused on her. "What's wrong?" He mouthed, a cornflake falling from the corner of his lips.
She shook her head and mouthed back: "I'll tell you later." She saw the realization in his eyes as he noticed that Ash was not with her. She nodded as he gaped at her, mouthing unintelligible words.
Finally, Aaron looked up, mumbling." Good morning. Where's Ash?" He asked, looking around.
Katie stared down at the table, urging herself not to cry. "... She, uh... Left, last night."
"Why?" He asked, obviously not grasping the seriousness of the situation.
She sighed, standing up, and headed over to the trash can to dump the rest of her cereal that was pretty much.. all of it. Daniel followed her to her room, where she closed the door behind him and leaned against it, crying.
He came behind her, wrapping his fingers around her shoulders, turning around and pulling her into a hug.
"Sweetie, tell me what's wrong." He laid her down on her bed and wrapped his arms around her small, girlish figure.
"I said something stupid," she sobbed, "and she was right to get angry." She grabbed a tissue from her bedside table, and wadded it up, wiping at her eyes and nose. After a few minutes, she could breathe well enough again, and spoke.
"Daniel, I was so dumb, to try and bring up her past so soon."
He shushed her and kissed her cheek. "Of course you weren't. Obviously she's still a little caught up in things. That's not your fault." He sighed. "Just give it a little time. Both of you can think it over, and then talk about it."
--
Ash groaned over the thunder. She could hardly see through the windshield, it was raining so hard. She and Teresa were getting restless; they'd been through three apartments and all of them were disgusting and far too expensive.
They were on their way to the last one, which was right in the downtown area. They hoped for the best.
Teresa laughed. "Calm down. If this apartment sucks, we'll look at more tomorrow."
Ash sighed. "It's not really that, though it doesn't help."
Teresa nodded, taking Ash's hand and squeezing it. "It'll be fine, Ash, just wait and see."
Ash smiled, but inside thought: "I just wish I didn't feel like my heart had been ripped out."
--
Meanwhile, Aaron and Daniel had decided to take it upon themselves to take Katie out and have fun. They drug her, reluctantly, to the local bowling alley.
She was amused, however, soon enough. It turned out that Daniel was a terrible bowler; he despised his boyfriend for playing so well.
Wonderfully enough, the two boys negated to being all over each other, for their friend's sake. They knew better than that, self-obsessed gay boys or not.
--
So the apartment wasn't so bad. In fact, it was absolutely perfect. Pretty decently cheap and with a gorgeous view. Tons of space, with one story but with raised bedrooms; a large kitchen, living room and two bathrooms? How could it get better? Well, maybe if Katie... Ash couldn't help but think.
--
A week later, Ash and Teresa were entirely moved in. Ash felt completely at home, except that there was one thing missing. She knew that (who...)
It was, but knew that she'd feel that way until they got back together or broke up for good.
That night, which was a Friday, Ash tossed and turned in the bed she had bought, tossing huge covers off her again and again, unable to sleep. She stared at her alarm clock, and her cell phone, beside it. As if on cue, it lit up, and let out a soft beep. Ash gasped, jumping. She stared at it in wonder. Slowly, she picked it up, sighing. Will it be Katie?
Closing her eyes, she pressed the "read" button. There were few words, but they were obviously enough. Ash leapt out of bed, and grabbed her jacket and keys. She threw her phone on her bed, which still held the message.
"I love you. I'm sorry."
--
It had started to rain earlier that night. A steady but not hard pour came down over the city, as Katie stared out her window at the lit-up buildings in the distance.
With the lights out, she could easily see the figure that transferred the little light from the window into shadow. She saw the fist before it knocked, but in fright, fell backwards, off her bed, letting out a small cry. Sitting up, she looked at the face, recognizing it as Ash's. She sighed, putting her hand on her chest as if to slow her heart. She tugged upward on the window, and felt the cool chill of the rain. She pulled Ash in, soaking wet, onto her bed. She laughed, noting the smudged eye makeup, the soaking wet, already dark hair that had her dripping everywhere.
"Are you wanting to get sick? What the hell were you thinking?"
Ash smiled. "Only that I had to get back to you." She said, and kissed her.
--
The two girls spent the rest of the night lying in each other's arms, not saying a word.
In the morning, they woke up staring at each other. They laughed, and got up, putting their robes on. When Ash tried to open the door, Katie shut it. She turned her girlfriend around, wrapping her arms around her. She kissed her on the cheek, then the neck.
She whispered: "I missed you so much..."
Ash blushed, kissing Katie. "Are you ready for me to make my grand re-entrance?" She asked, smiling.
Katie nodded, and pulled her closer. "But not yet," she whispered. They kissed again, leaning up against the door, unable to stay away from each other.
Finally, they broke apart and went out into the living room, where Daniel and Katie's step mom were lounging around, watching "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". Ryan Stiles was spanking Wayne Brady for some reason. Katie decided not to ask. They sat down holding hands, and were finally noticed.
Katie's step mom looked up, smiling. "Welcome back, Ash."
At the mention of Ash's name, Daniel looked up. "Hey." He said, smiling. "Glad you're back."
Ash blushed, smiling. She squeezed Katie's fingers, and both girls felt their hearts swell.
--
Later, while Katie was in the shower and her step mom was out shopping, Daniel and Ash lounged around, watching VH1. He turned to her, sighing.
"It really is a good thing that you're back. She was such a mess, Ash."
Ash nodded, not knowing what to say.
He looked at her, feeling out of line. "She really likes you, you know."
Ash nodded a second time. "I know. I was doubting it for a while, but now I know. Or at least I hope. I've never fallen so heard for a girl in my life."
--
Before they knew it, school was only a week away.
The girls were laying on the couch in Ash's apartment, drinking Pepsis while watching The O.C. They couldn't help but grin when the two girls kissed onscreen. Anytime the girls kissed, they kissed. When the show was over, they stayed in the same spot, holding each other.
Katie took a drink. "Ash, I'm nervous."
Ash smiled, and kissed her on the forehead.
"Aww, sweetie, don't worry. School here's not so bad. And besides, it's senior year!"
Katie nodded. "But what about the people? I mean, will they accept us?"
Ash sighed, leaning back. "I honestly don't know... But... Who cares. We don't need to care about what other people think."
Katie grinned, standing up, and pulling Ash with her. She kissed her, wrapping her arms around her neck, smiling. "Exactly!" She kissed her again, then pulled back, their faces mere millimeters apart. "Hmm... so where's the bedroom in this place?"
This was the first time she'd actually been in the apartment; Ash and Teresa had just finished decorating the week before, and Ash didn't want Katie to see the place until it was absolutely perfect.
Ash grinned. "I'll show you, but not yet." She pulled a thick handkerchief from her pocket, and turned Katie around, tying it so that it covered her eyes.
"Kinky." Katie giggled as Ash led her up the stairs. She felt ahead of her, and in a minute, her hands felt the wood of a door. She heard the click of the latch as Ash opened it. She ran her fingers along the wall that must be a short hallway before you enter the room. Ash stopped her, and laid her down on the bed. Katie felt Ash climb on top of her, could feel Ash's midsection against her own. She gasped for breath, feeling hands roaming her body. Katie smiled, searching with her fingers to find Ash's face. She found it, and pulled Ash's lips down to her own, kissing her fiercely. The passion was strong in the air as Katie felt Ash ran her thumbs along her pelvic bones. She moaned and bit Ash's lip, causing a nail to scrape along the bone, which only intensified things. Ash ran her fingers along the top of Katie's extra-low jeans, and moved her mouth from Katie's lips to her neck, kissbiting softly. Katie was smiled, eyes closed as her hands roamed through Ash's hair.
--
Half an hour later, they were lying cuddled together at the head of the bed, Tool playing softly in the background.
Katie cleared her throat, and said: "So am I ever going to get this blindfold taken off?"
Ash gasped: "Oh, yeah! I'm sorry, Katie. I forgot all about it!" She reached over and untied it, pulling it off. Katie looked around.
"Just seems like an ordinary room to me." She said, and grinned.
Ash laughed and hit her on the arm.
--
It was a week after school had started. Katie was sitting in her desk in history class, elbow propping her head upon the table. All she could think about was Ash.
There was a window built into the door frame, and she could see Ash through it, smiling at her. This was Ash's free period, so, she, of course, was roaming the halls. Katie rolled her eyes at her girlfriend, who was holding up a paper to the window that said: "Meet me in the bathroom."
Oddly enough, none of the other people in the class noticed. The teacher was at his desk, snoring loudly, as were most of the students. Katie grabbed the hall pass, and left a note on the teacher's desk, in case he woke up. She quietly slipped out of the room, and made her way to the bathroom closest to where she was.
Upon opening the door, she was pulled in quickly, and forced against the wall. She heard the door slam shut behind her as Ash's lips forced themselves against her own.
The two girls kissed for a few minutes, then broke apart. They couldn't help but laugh.
Katie pulled Ash up against her, and played with her hair.
"It's going to be really funny when you pull in a teacher like that instead." She laughed.
Ash grinned. "Who's to say I haven't?"
Katie smacked her on the arm. "You'd better not. Or you won't be getting anymore ass from me."
Ash fake gasped. "Oh no!" She laughed.
Katie frowned, sighing. "I need to get back to class. Mr. Pond's probably woken up by now."
A groan from Ash. "I don't want you to go. I have to work today, and I won't see you after school." Katie rolled her eyes.
"Ash, I'll see you at lunch and in Topics In History, last period. You act like we'll never see each other again.
Ash smiled. "I just don't like being without you, that's all."
Katie laughed and kissed her before she left the bathroom.
--
At lunch, Katie was absent. Ash nervously wrung her hands and stared across the cafeteria, anxiously wondering where her girlfriend could be. Did she have to stay in a class? Is she sick? What the hell?
Ash pushed her tray away, unable to eat the pizza. It looks disgusting, she told herself, but knew that she was too worried to eat.
--
Katie was in the bathroom. She wanted to be with Ash right now, but didn't want to leave. She couldn't. Ash would see.
She turned the faucet in the sink on, running the cold water along her arm that was bleeding in two places. Katie was alone in the bathroom, and grabbed some paper towels, holding them to her wrist.
She had been at her locker on the way to lunch, in quite a hurry. When she leaned her arm in to grab a book, the latch for the door caught on an old cut, tearing the skin open again. It didn't start bleeding immediately, but fast enough to get Katie running into the bathroom across from her locker.
She sighed, now, and took the towel away from her arm to examine it. Unfortunately, right at that moment, in walked Ash. The worried look on her face instantly turned to fear as she rushed forward, taking Katie's arm in her hand. Katie pulled away, her arm instinctively moving to her chest.
Ash walked forward and gently held Katie against the wall as she took her hand again. She looked at Katie. "What is this? How did you do this?" She asked, eyes searching Katie's face.
Katie smiled, sighing. "Injury from unpacking last week, reopened by my locker. Damn thing." She laughed.
Ash looked at her closely. "Katie, a box cutter can't even do this by accident." She sighed. "Why didn't you tell me you cut?"
Katie shrugged and moved around Ash, pulling her sleeve down. "I don't know. I'm ashamed of it, it's weak and stupid. And... and I haven't done it since we got back together, so I didn't see the big deal."
"Katie it's a big deal because you could hurt yourself really badly!" Ash pulled her closer. "Please don't say you cut the night I left."
Katie laughed, crying as she sniffed. "Okay, I won't."
Ash closed her eyes and backed up into the wall, a tear escaping from an eye, rolling down her cheek. Katie moved forward, pulling Ash closer to her. She felt the tear fall onto her shoulder and soak through her shirt.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
Ash sighed and held her close. "I can't ask you to stop, I can't tell you... But can I ask you to try? Or at least not as bad or as often?"
Katie nodded furiously. "Yes! I swear, Ash--"
Ash moved her hand over Katie's mouth. "You can't just swear to something like that. It's like an addiction, it's hard to quit. Just wait, and we'll see how this goes."
Her girlfriend nodded and smiled through her tears. "This doesn't mean I want you to quit your bad habit, though. At least not yet. It's so damn hot." Katie laughed and kissed Ash.
Ash smiled. "If you say so."
--
Ash smiled, taking a huge drag on her cigarette. She'd just gotten off work and was going for a drive. It was Friday night, and she wanted to go see Katie, but something was bugging her.
How hadn't I noticed before? I mean. I know she wore those damn long-sleeved shirts all the time, but what about.. that night? Fuck, she thought, rolling her eyes. The lights had been out, damn it! Katie had insisted upon it, claming she was very self-conscious. And Ash had bought it.
She took another drag and then threw the remainder out the window. Well, obviously it had been true, she argued with herself. So stop worrying about it. She was going to tell you when she was ready. That's a hard thing to admit.
--
Ten minutes later, Ash pulled into Katie's driveway. She turned off the headlights and opened her door. Upon stepping out, she was shoved forcefully back against the door, and heard giggling.
"What the fuck?" She asked, then the garage's motion sensor light came on, illuminating Katie's face. Ash laughed, and saw Katie leaning against the garage wall beside the open door. She had a cigarette in her hand, and was smoking it slowly, head down as she looked up at Ash with only her eyes. She had put dark eyeliner on, as well as eye shadow, but not nearly as heavy as Ash did. She had on a tight black T-shirt that had the CBGB logo on it, as well as some jeans that were loose but tight in all the right places, and topped off the look with a two-rowed studded belt. Ash couldn't help but take a long, deep breath as she admired the beautiful reddish-brown hair that was back in a ponytail, the impossible thin-ness of Katie's body that had first attracted her. She made her way over slowly, barely able to take her eyes off the recognizable pelvic bones that stuck out at the top of her girlfriend's super low-rise jeans.
She pressed up against her on the wall, thumbs on her pelvic bones, as Katie blew smoke on her lips. Ash closed her eyes and parted her lips, savoring. She moved her mouth close to Katie's ear and whispered: "It's moments like this that always take my breath away." She smiled, and whispered again, hot breath on her girlfriend's ear. "Thank you."
Katie put the cigarette out and moved Ash's face up to her own again, and kissed her.
------------
FIN. The end. Done. I really hope you all liked it. It's definitely not my best story, but I can't help but say I enjoyed writing it, especially this last chapter.
Made me realize how much kissing they actually did. Hmm. Odd.
Yeah, not so great, really. But please review and tell me what you think?
