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𝗙𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀
:: xxv. | the rebound

Once everyone returned back to Tree Hill, Ashely finally talked to Rachel about everything. No, she didn't avoid her for the rest of the trip. They talked, but she waited to talk about the real issue. Therefore, Rachel went back to Arizona alone and Ashely ended up staying with her brother and Peyton for the time being.

The first thing first was to get a job, but she couldn't think about that until she was able to take off her ring. You'd think that be easy but it turns out, it isn't. She stared at her ring with a cup of coffee in hand, sitting on the couch. It was currently seven in the morning. She sighed, her eyes still glued to that diamond on her ring finger. She was lost in her thoughts when Chad, her brother, sat next to her with a coffee in his hand also.

"Still haven't done it I see. Having regrets?" He questioned her, his eyes wandering towards the ring then back to his sister.

"No. We both wanted different things. I don't why this is so difficult." Ashely didn't want to admit it but she knew why it was difficult. She just was trying to make herself believe that it was the right thing even though, she yearns for Rachel every second of every day.

"Because you love her. That's never gonna go away." His tone was a little sterner.

Ashely stood up, "You're right." She turned to Chad, "I'm always going to love her but I need to move on with my life. I want a family, someone who will give me that." And with that, she finally pulled off the ring and set it on the coffee table. She picked up her coffee cup and walked into the bathroom to get her day started.

Chad shook his head standing up from the couch, "I wasn't trying to convince her."

Peyton had just made her way out of the room. "You think she made the wrong decision?"

He walked up to his girlfriend and wrapped his arms around her, "I think she made the right decision for herself."

Ashely walked out of the bathroom, the door closing behind her as she saw the two lovebirds in the kitchen. She and her brother shared a head nod before she left out the door to go job hunting.

"Hey, I'm glad we figured this out." Peyton spoke with a smile, "I think I wanna have kids. Like now."

Chad's eyes widened. He was speechless. "Really?"

Peyton just had a smug look on her face as she guided chad by his hand back to the bedroom.

• • •

Ashley was now on her way job hunting. In Arizona, she briefly had a job. She never stuck with just one because she was always going out of town in such but now since she isn't going anywhere for awhile, she thought it was time to get a more permanent job. She hoped to work in a diner so that's what she went looking for.

She walked around the town of Tree Hill for a about an hour before spotting a small diner, that oddly enough looked cute from the outside. She walked into the small diner and head straight towards the desk.

"Are guys hiring by any chance?" Ashely ask the man behind the stand.

"Yeah we are, let me get my manager." He said before walking off.

Ashely waited for a minute or so until the guy came back out with his so called manager. Not gonna lie, Ashely's a beautiful woman so when he saw her— she already had the job in his eyes. Of course he had to act professional so like any other boss, he talked to her in a professional manner.

"Hear you're looking for a job?" The tall man asked.

Ashely quickly nodded, "Yes. I can work anytime. Late even."

"When are you free to start?" He slid her a paper towards her that required a signature.

She signed the paper with a pen she picked up, "Now is fine. I'm not doing anything."

"Great. Why don't you show her in the back?" He ask one of his employees. That employee guided her to the back to help and prepare her for the day.

• • •

It's been hours since she arrived. She thought since she had the time, she would do a full shift. Waitressing came natural to her since she already had experience back in Arizona. She glanced at the clock and it read 7:20pm. Only about two hours left until closing.

She had picked up a rag behind her and started to wipe down the counter. Just as she's wiping, a new customer comes in. He just walked to a table, then picked up a menu that rested on that table. Ashely looked up for a second to get a peek at him, only to quickly look back down once he made eye contact with her.

She hurried and finished wiping the counter so she didn't let this customer keep waiting. Once she was done, she tossed the rag over her shoulder then headed towards the guy that so happened to catch her eye.

"What can I get for you, sir?" She approached him.

"Sir?" He placed the menu down in front of him, "Am i that old?"

"Just being polite." She told him.

"What's a pretty girl like you working in a diner?" He changed the subject.

She was a little taken back by the compliment, "Need the money."

He started folding the napkin, "For?"

"I don't think that's any of your business." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Just making conversation." He quickly said.

She gazed at him for a moment before responding but before she could get a word out, he beat her to the punch.

"What time do you get off?" He slowly stood up from his side of the booth.

"Why?" She ask. Ashely was getting defensive, protective of herself. She didn't know this guy.

"To hang out." He said so casually, like it didn't matter that he was inviting a stranger to hang out with him . . . at night. Anything could happen at night.

"I don't know you though." She told him, pushing a way for him not to continue whatever he was doing but for some reason he seemed like a guy who wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Isn't that the point?" He glanced at the clock above then back at her, "I'll pick you up in an hour." With that, he walked out the diner.

Ashely did not know what the hell just happened. At first she went over to take his order which they never got around too. Now, she's hanging out with this stranger? Honestly, who is this guy?

a/n:
ik this book is about
cheyton (Chad & Peyton)
but i just rlly needed this
in the book. this whole
thing w Rachel has
significants, trust me.