Ash exchanged glances with Samuel and Joshua, but both smiled equally awkwardly. Her attention shifted to Bianca, who was happily enjoying her chicken salad, while Flo, sitting across from her, stared sharply. Seeing this, Ash sighed softly. She already knew this wasn't a good idea. She had followed Bianca's suggestion to invite Flo to hang out with them. Ash had even invited Sam and Josh along, but it seemed the plan had failed miserably, judging by Florence's obvious displeasure with Bianca's presence.
"Hey, is the food good?" Ash tried to break the tension between them. The black-haired girl and Bianca had purposely chosen a restaurant with high ratings for this lunch. Indeed, good food could lighten the mood.
"The food's great!" Sam exclaimed enthusiastically. The blond guy was busy devouring his steak, while Flo next to him looked uninterested in her meal.
"Flo, is the food not good? Should I order you something else?" Ash noticed that Flo hadn't touched her food.
The brown-haired girl shook her head slightly and forced a smile. "The food looks good, but I'm just not in the mood to eat."
Hearing this, Bianca glanced at Florence with concern. "Would you like me to order some dessert instead? The desserts here are famous. Ashley told me you love cheesecake."
Florence's eyes sparkled at the mention of her favorite dessert, but her face soured again as she realized it was Bianca Geraldine offering it.
"Flo..." Ash looked at her pleadingly. For a moment, Flo exchanged glances with Ash, and with a deep sigh, she understood. It wasn't unusual for them to communicate without words. The brown-haired girl knew her best friend was begging her to be kind to Bianca. Reluctantly, Flo swallowed her pride and responded to Geraldine's offer.
"Yeah, I do like cheesecake. In that case, I'd like to try the cheesecake here," Flo replied.
Bianca smiled when she heard this. She then called the waiter to order cheesecake for Flo and other desserts. "Don't worry; I'm covering the entire bill today."
Ash, Sam, and Josh widened their eyes in surprise. "Oh, no need. We can split the bill," Samuel quickly said.
"Yeah, you don't have to treat us, Bianca," Josh said.
Geraldine chuckled softly. "It's fine. You're Ashley's friends, so let me treat you all today, okay?"
"Bianca, are you sure it's alright?" Ash looked at her, feeling uneasy. They had ordered quite a lot, and the restaurant wasn't cheap.
Bianca grinned mischievously. "Of course, Ashy. I'm not going to go broke paying for this."
Ash's cheeks flushed red when Bianca called him "Ashy." She remembered how Bianca had said it was easier to call her "Ashy" rather than "Ashley" or "Ash." Since then, "Ashy" has become Bianca's special nickname for her.
After their meal, the group decided to walk around the nearby park to enjoy the afternoon. The air was fresh, and the atmosphere was relaxing, but Florence still felt a knot in her chest as she walked slightly behind the others. Bianca and Ash walked together up ahead, laughing softly at some inside joke, while Sam and Josh were wasting time like usual.
Florence's eyes lingered on Ash and Bianca. She couldn't deny that they looked good together—Bianca was kind and attentive to Ash, and Ash seemed comfortable around her. But that only made the uneasy feeling growing inside her harder to shake.
As the group reached a clearing, Ash glanced back, noticing Florence walking alone. With a small smile, she dropped back and stepped beside her. "Hey, Flo. You doing okay?"
Florence forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."
Ash could sense that something was off. She had known Flo long enough to recognize when she was holding something back. She glanced ahead to ensure Bianca was still occupied with Sam and Josh, then turned to Flo. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Florence hesitated, then sighed softly. "It's nothing serious, Ash. You don't have to worry about me."
Ash furrowed her brow, knowing there was more to it. She gently touched her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "Flo, come on. I know you. If something's bothering you, you can tell me. I want to understand."
Florence bit her lip, eyes darting away momentarily before meeting Ash's again. She could feel the weight of her jealousy creeping up, but how could she explain it? How could she tell her best friend that watching her grow closer to Bianca made her feel like she was losing her?
"I just..." Flo began, her voice quieter than usual. "I guess I've been feeling... left out. You and Bianca, you've been spending a lot of time together. And I know she's nice and everything, but I... I can't help but feel like I'm being pushed aside."
Ash's expression softened. She hadn't realized how deeply Florence had been affected by her growing closeness with Bianca. "Flo, I had no idea you felt that way. I'm really sorry if I made you feel left out. That was never my intention."
Florence gave a slight shrug, but there was vulnerability in her eyes. "I know it's silly. You deserve to hang out with whoever makes you happy, Ash. And Bianca's... great. It's just hard for me sometimes. We've been best friends for so long, and now it feels like things are changing, and I don't know how to deal with that."
Ash stepped closer, her voice gentle. "Flo, nothing is going to change between us. You're my best friend, and you always will be. Bianca's important to me, but that doesn't mean I'm leaving you behind." She hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. "I care about Bianca, but I care about you too. You don't have to compete for my attention. There's room in my life for both of you."
Flo looked down at the ground, feeling the familiar warmth of Ash's reassurance. Her words helped ease the knot in her chest, but the jealousy didn't completely disappear. "I know, Ash... I guess I just need time to adjust."
Ash smiled and gave her a quick, friendly nudge. "Take all the time you need. Just know that I'm always here, okay?"
Florence nodded, her heart feeling a little lighter. "Thanks, Ash."
Before Ash could respond, Bianca's voice called out from ahead. "Hey, Ashy! You coming? We're heading to the ice cream stand!"
Ash turned and gave a thumbs-up, then looked back at Florence with a teasing grin. "Come on, Flo. Ice cream's on me this time."
Florence chuckled softly, the heaviness in her chest beginning to lift. Maybe things were changing, but Ash's reassurance made her feel she wouldn't lose her. She followed Ash, her steps a little lighter now, and as they rejoined the group, she caught Bianca's eye. Bianca gave her a small, kind smile that no longer felt threatening.
Florence thought things could work out between them, even if it took time. However, she felt something was wrong. The nudging feeling inside her heart told her to be wary of Bianca Geraldine.
***
Later that evening, Ash stood beside Joshua while the others bought snacks from the nearest stall. They had never been particularly close; their interactions were friendly, but they never ventured into deeper conversations. However, something about Joshua's watching her and Florence during lunch made her wonder if he had noticed more than she realized.
As time passed by, Joshua cleared his throat and broke the silence. "Ashley, can I ask you something?"
Ash turned to look at him, slightly curious but also cautious. "Sure, what's up?"
Josh hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I couldn't help but notice that things seemed a little... tense with you and Flo earlier. Is everything okay between you two?"
Ash's first instinct was to brush it off, but something in Josh's tone made her pause. He wasn't prying; he genuinely seemed concerned. Still, she wasn't ready to open up fully to him. "It's nothing major," she began carefully. "Flo's just been feeling a bit left out lately. I guess with me spending more time with Bianca, she's... well, it's been hard for her."
Joshua nodded thoughtfully, his hands tucked into his pockets. "That makes sense. You and Florence have always been really close. I get why she'd feel that way."
Ash glanced at him, surprised by his understanding tone. "You've noticed?"
He smiled a little. "Yeah, it's hard not to. You and Flo have this... I don't know how to describe it—this bond. It's kind of beautiful, honestly."
Ash blinked, taken aback. "Beautiful?"
Josh chuckled softly. "Yeah. I mean, you two have been through a lot together, right? It's not just about being friends. There's this depth to your relationship that's special. You understand each other in ways that most people don't."
Ash didn't expect to hear something so thoughtful from Josh. "Huh... I guess I never really thought about it that way." Then, after a beat, she added with a slight grin, "But you and Sam have a pretty cool friendship, too. It's not like you guys aren't close."
Josh laughed, shaking his head. "Sam and I are close, yeah, but it's different. We're more like brothers who mess around and have each other's backs. But you and Flo? That's on another level. She really gets you, Ash. I can see it in how she looks at you, like she understands what you're feeling even when you don't say a word."
Ash was quiet for a moment, letting his words sink in. She had always known that her friendship with Florence was special, but hearing it from someone else, especially from Josh, made her see it in a new light. "I didn't think you'd notice stuff like that," she admitted, glancing at him.
Josh shrugged casually. "I pay attention. Besides, it's hard to miss when something's that obvious. You two are lucky to have each other."
Ash smiled, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest. "Thanks, Josh. I guess I never really thought of it that way. And... you're not as bad as I thought you were."
Josh raised an eyebrow, mock-offended. "Not as bad? Gee, thanks, Ash."
She laughed, a genuine laugh that eased some of the tension she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "You know what I mean. You're... easier to talk to than I expected."
"I'm glad to hear it," he said with a grin. Maybe we'll even be something more someday." Josh smiled softly.
Ash replied with a chuckle. "Just don't get your hopes up too high."
As they continued to stand beside each other, Ash felt more relaxed around Josh than ever. Maybe he wasn't just another perfect guy she saw him as. Maybe there was more to him, and she was starting to warm up to getting to know him better.
Bianca offered to drop Ash off at her apartment as the day ended, much to Florence's annoyance, but Ash couldn't reject the blonde-haired girl. Ultimately, they headed to Ashley's apartment in Bianca's black Toyota Camry. The car ride was quiet but comfortable, with the city lights twinkling outside the windows. Ash sat in the passenger seat, glancing over at Bianca now and then, feeling a growing sense of ease between them.
When they finally pulled up in front of Ash's apartment, Bianca turned off the engine, leaned back in her seat, and turned to face her. "Thanks for today, Ashley. I had a great time."
Ash smiled, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Yeah, me too. It was fun."
Bianca hesitated before Ash could reach for the door handle, her voice softening. "Hey, I also wanted to say... thanks for accepting me into your group of friends. I know it hasn't been easy, especially with Florence." She looked down momentarily, her fingers fidgeting with the steering wheel. "I didn't mean to make things awkward between you two."
Ash shook her head and waved her hand dismissively. "You don't have to apologize, Bianca. It's not your fault. Flo's just... adjusting, that's all. She'll come around. And honestly, I'm happy I've been able to spend more time with you and get to know you better. You're great to be around."
Bianca's face softened, her usual confident expression giving way to something more vulnerable. Her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink as she smiled. "You don't know how much that means to me, Ashley. You've made me the happiest woman today. I can't wait to spend more time together in the future."
Ash's eyes widened at the comment, and her cheeks heated up. She wasn't used to receiving such bold compliments, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. "Uh... I—" she stammered, her voice awkward and unsure. I'm glad... I mean, I'm happy too."
The awkwardness made Ash blush even more, but her words were sincere. Bianca's smile grew at Ash's flustered response, and she laughed lightly, clearly amused by how easily she could make Ash blush.
Seeing Bianca's reaction, Ash felt a strange mix of embarrassment and warmth. Despite her awkwardness, she was genuinely thankful for Bianca's kindness. "Thanks, Bianca. It is nice today," she added quietly, hoping to convey what she couldn't quite put into words.
Bianca's eyes sparkled with warmth. "You don't have to thank me, Ashy," she said softly, using the nickname she had given her. "I'm just really glad we're friends."
Ash smiled, still feeling the lingering heat on her cheeks. "Yeah. Me too."
With that, Ash opened the car door and stepped out. As Ash was about to close the car door, Bianca said softly, "Hey, Ashy?"
Ash paused, leaning against the doorframe as she looked back at Bianca, curious. "Yeah?"
The blonde-haired girl hesitated momentarily before her smile returned, her voice gentle but deliberate. "Maybe next time, we could hang out again like today, but—just the two of us?"
The black-haired girl felt her heart skip a beat, a wave of heat rising to her cheeks again. She blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. Why was she suddenly feeling so nervous? It's just a hangout, right? Friends hang out all the time. There's nothing unusual about it. But for some reason, spending time alone with Bianca outside the university made her stomach flutter in a way she couldn't quite explain.
"Uh... y-yeah, sure," Ash answered timidly, her voice barely above a whisper. She could feel her face growing even warmer, and she quickly looked away, embarrassed by how shy she suddenly felt.
Bianca's smile widened at Ash's response, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement and warmth. "Great," she said softly, her tone filled with excitement. "I can't wait for our next hangout."
Ash could only nod, still feeling flustered by the whole exchange. She managed a small smile in return before finally stepping out of the car, her heart racing a little faster than usual. She couldn't help but replay the conversation as she walked toward her apartment building.
What is wrong with me? she thought to herself. It's just a friendly hangout, right? Nothing to be shy about...
But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, Ash couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between her and Bianca. It was different from what she felt with Florence. The prospect of spending time with her alone felt... different, exciting even. She wasn't sure what it all meant, but for now, she couldn't deny that hanging out with Bianca again made her both nervous and, oddly enough, eager.
As she reached her apartment door, Ash smiled to herself. Whatever it was, she was looking forward to seeing where this newfound connection with Bianca might lead. Hopefully, no other mysterious letter shit or unknown attacker would haunt her in the future; Ash silently prayed.
***