�Constant Change� Chapter 12: Not The One For Me

Valerie and Ashley were lounging on the couch in the family room of Valerie�s house. They were watching some daytime movie on television and eating microwave popcorn. Their conversation was laid back and casual.

Valerie turned to Ashley suddenly and eagerly. �Hey, you know what sounds good right now?�

�What?� Ashley asked with a touch of laughter in his voice.

�Root beer floats!� Valerie smiled.

�Yeah,� Ashley agreed.

�I�ll be right back,� Valerie jumped up and ran to the kitchen.

�Do you need any help?� Ashley called to her from the couch.

�Nope, I got it,� Valerie called back.

Ashley sprawled out on the couch on his back. He put his hands behind his head and sighed. Why had he been such a jerk to this sweet girl? He felt ashamed for his behavior but was happy that all was forgiven. He was still perplexed by Lisa�s emotional outburst at lunch. He also didn�t know what to make of Valerie�s obsession with Dan. He closed his eyes to clear his head.

Valerie came back from the kitchen holding two root beer floats. She saw Ashley lying on the couch with his eyes closed. She thought he was sleeping so she decided to wake him up. She set down the drinks and climbed carefully on top of him. She adjusted herself so she was lying on him inches from his face. She put each hand on either side of him to hold herself up.

Ashley�s eyes popped open. �Valerie!� he said startled.

�Thought you could take a nap, huh?� she asked him.

�No, I�� his heart took over his head. He kissed her lips tenderly.

She immediately pulled back and got off the couch. �Ashley,� she said pacing the floor.

�Oh� I�m sorry,� Ashley said hesitantly. He didn�t know what he did wrong. He thought Valerie was asking him to kiss her. Her body language was so bewildering.

�No, don�t be,� Valerie said flustered. �I just� still have a thing for Dan and��

�I wish you didn�t,� Ashley interrupted her.

�Didn�t what?� Valerie asked taken aback.

�Didn�t have that thing for Dan,� Ashley told her taking her hand and pulling her into a sitting position on the couch.

�Ash, you�ve been such a sweetheart to me all day and you�re a great guy without all that ego,� Valerie said squeezing his hand. �But I�ve liked Dan since I moved here and you don�t just get over something like that.�

�But what about when he graduates this year? I�ll still be there but he won�t,� Ashley told her.

�That�s just something that I�ll have to figure out,� Valerie looked away; she could feel the tears form. �I really, really want to be with Dan and I thought that I would finally get what I wanted.�

�Why can�t I be what you want?� Ashley asked still confused.

�Because Ashley� you just can�t,� Valerie looked into his eyes with her tears falling. �I really wanted to be with Dan. I�m just so confused. I thought you could be that for me. I tried to make you that for me, but it�s just not going to happen.�

Ashley hugged her. He finally understood that he could never play that role in Valerie�s life. Her tears spoke volumes to him.

�Okay, Valerie. I can accept that. That�s why I�m going to get Dan back for you,� Ashley said comforting her.

�You�re what?� Valerie asked shocked.

�I�m going to make Dan realize what a fool he was to let you get away,� Ashley told her.

�Oh Ashley, thank you,� Valerie�s tears fell harder.

�It�s the least I can do,� Ashley said in return.

~*~

Ashley sat on his bed with the phone in his hand. He had meant what he had said to Valerie. He would get Dan�s heart back in the right place. Before he could do any of that though, he would need to apologize to Lisa first. He dialed her number and took a deep breath.

Lisa answered her phone on the third ring. �Hello?�

�Hey Lisa,� Ashley said shakily.

�Goodbye Ashley,� Lisa hung up the phone.

Ashley cringed. She was still angry from their little display at lunch. He knew this wouldn�t be easy. He hit redial and tried again.

�Ashley, I don�t want to talk to you,� Lisa said angrily.

�Please, Lisa. Just let me explain and apologize,� Ashley begged.

Lisa groaned. �No,� she hung up again.

Ashley rubbed his eyes. This would be harder than he thought. He wasn�t about to give up though. He dialed again, only this time her answering machine picked up.

�Lisa, I�m sorry about today. Valerie and I are just friends. She wants Dan Miller and I want you. Please Lisa, I am so sorry. Please, just pick up the ph�� Lisa answered him.

�Ashley,� she said shyly.

�Lisa, I am so sorry that I hurt you and put you through all this. Please forgive me,� Ashley said relieved she had answered his plea.

�I forgive you,� Lisa replied.

Ashley smiled. �Lisa, I love you.�

�I love you too, Ash,� Lisa said also smiling.

�Lisa, I have to go right now. I�ll see you tomorrow though,� Ashley said.

�Okay. Thanks for calling Ashley,� Lisa said.

�No prob,� Ashley hung up the phone.

Now that he and Lisa had made up he could worry about Dan. If he could make this work, everyone would have a happy ending. That�s what he wanted for Valerie. If he couldn�t give it to her then he wanted someone else to be able to.

~*~

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