"I heard what happened to Nicole, and I wanted to make sure that everything was alright," Shelli lied.
"Bull shit you wanted to make sure everything was alright. You've done nothing but make my life a living nightmare for the last two months. You hate Nicole and I as well as everyone else here know it. You don't have to put on a phony act and pretend that you really care. My sister could have been killed and now I'm going to have to bury one of my best friends and you stand here, my supposed girlfriend, and lie through your teeth about worrying over my sister. I really don't understand why your my girlfriend to begin with. We're two totally different people Shelli and I don't know that we're going to be able to work any of this out," Ashley continued to yell as Mark tried to intervene and get them to take it to Rachel's office. "Mark, this won't take long, just leave us alone, please. Infact, I think its over right now."
"Ashley, they always say that opposites attract. Maybe thats why we're so in love. Just give me a second chance. I can learn to like Nicole and we can learn to get along."
"Shell, I don't want you to learn to like Nicole and I don't want you to learn to get along with my sister. I want you to really like her for the person that she is, and you can't do that. You two never have gotten along and as far as I'm concerned you never will. Please just get on the next plane back to Redding and leave me alone for a little while. I need some time to think about our relationship. Maybe we need to take a break away from each other."
"Are you breaking up with me Ash?"
"Don't think of it as a break up, think of it as a temporary separation."
"Ash," Jacob said softly upon orders from Mark. "You need to come in and practice with the rest of us now. Shelli, Mark has offered to take you back to your motel."
"I don't need him to take me back. I'll take a taxi and I'll bill it to you, Ashley," Shelli yelled as she barrelled out the door.
"Thanks Jake," Ashley smiled at his best friend. "I really needed to get away from her and she wasn't taking the hint to leave."
"No problem, man. Mark said he thought that you needed some help. We're going back to the house now to get ready for dinner tonight. Do you want to go to Rach's so you can be with your sister and your mom, or do you want to come with everyone else?"
"I think I'll go with the rest of ya. Nicole, Rachel, and my mom can have their girl talk that way. I think maybe Rach and my mother can get Nicole to talk more if we're not there."
"Thats what I was thinking, but Mark told me to give you the option."
"She'll come around Jacob. Don't worry. I know that deep down inside she really loves you, its just that right now shes afraid to let it out."
"Ashely, don't worry about me. I know how your sister feels about me. We had a discussion earlier and I'm happy just being her friend until shes ready to take it a step further."
"You'd prefer to be her best friend rather then just her friend though, right?" Erik said turning the corner and revealing that he had been eavesdropping.
"I'd like to be her best friend too," Trevor laughed following Erik. "But, Underwood here is preventing me from doing so."
"I'm content with Rach," Erik smiled.
"Yeah, whats going on with that anyhow?" Ashely inquired as he climbed into the van.
"We're kind of a couple, but we are taking it slow, so that neither of us jump into something that we aren't prepared for too fast. Rach is putting her carreer on the line to be with me, so I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
"Is she gonna be your New Years date?" Mike shut the door.
"I haven't asked her yet, but I sure hope so, who you taken?"
"Nicole," Mike said calmly.
"Like hell you are," Jacob shot back. "She's my date for New Years whether she knows it or not," everyone laughed as the van pulled into the O-Town driveway where everyone piled out and headed inside.