ASHLEY

"Ashley?" called my boss, Derek.

"Yeah?" I answered back.

"Your phone is ringing."

"Huh?"

"Ashley?" called my boss, again.

"Whattt?" I answered back more rudely, unaware of my current, unnecessarily dramatic, demeanor against my boss.

"Do you want me to pick up the call for you?" he asked, rolling his eyes. Thank God we were friends or else I'd be fired by now.

"Oh.. I'm sorry. I got caught up in work. Um. No need. I'll answer it." I babbled, trying to get out of the situation, giving him a half-smile. 

He chuckled and muttered "idiot." This time I rolled my eyes and picked up the phone.

"Hey, mom. What's up?" I greeted her.

"Hi yourself, kid. We're going over to Sarah's today and your coming as well." my mom literally ordered me.

"Um.. Okay..? Sure, I guess." I chuckled at my mom's efforts to force me into coming. I would have come anyway, I liked Sarah.

"Great! See you there then, love. Bye!" she hung up.

I let Derek know about the call and he allowed me to leave earlier. I drove to the nearest gas station. While waiting for my car, I decided to grab coffee. I walked inside Starbucks and waited in line. Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Turning around, I couldn't believe my eyes. Facing in front of me was Jose Sanchez, my best friend who had also tutored me in high school. I hadn't seen his face in years. The world is such a small place. 

"I knew it was you!" he exclaimed, pulling me in for a hug.

"Oh my gosh! Jose!? I haven't seen you in like... 7 years! Wow, how have you been doing?" I asked.

"I'm doing okay. Let's get our orders and sit down for a bit, yeah?" he asked. I agreed but went to park my car first.

"So, what are you doing around here? I thought you moved to Colorado." I asked, excited to talk with him after years.

"I did. But my brother opened another business chain here and I just tagged along with him." he replied.

"Wow, I'm sorry. I'm still kind of shocked seeing you here in front of me. It's just so unexpected, you know? It feels weird to see you, again. You've changed so much. Like seriously, a lot."

"Everything in life is unexpected, Ash. Get you used to it. You changed a lot, too. So, what about you? What have you been doing?" he asked me.

"Just the usual. I feel like nothing has changed in my life, really." 

"Are you still waiting for the one? Or have you found him, yet?"

"Nope. And, what about you Mr. Handsome? You've gotten very appealing to the eye." I teased him, earning a light, heartfelt chuckled from him.

"Oh yeah, it's actually another reason I came out here with my brother. Back to you... Why do you keep rejecting everyone? I know damn well there are hundreds of guys sliding in your DMs, waiting for a simple response from you." He teased me back.

"Wow... Who's the lucky girl?! Is it me?" 

We both laughed, "You wish, Sanchez. You'll meet her as soon as I grow the balls to ask her out."

"You lucky boy! I literally don't have time for romance these days. I barely have time for myself. Besides, I've done one mistake in the past to learn the consequences of love the hard way. I don't know... as stupid as it sounds, I just feel like I'll know when I've met him, you know? 

"So you're waiting for Prince Charming to pursue you?" he made fun of me.

I rolled my eyes, "I'll go with my explanation. It doesn't sound as childish as you make it to be." 

"Alright, Dr. Love Expert, how about now? How are you going to find this true love?" he asked, his tone became more serious.

"I don't know..?" I shrugged, smiling at him because I knew advice would be coming my way in a few minutes.

"You know, love doesn't just come your way. I mean it could, but if you don't seek it, it'll walk right past you. You can't just not do anything and find the right guy. For all you know, Prince Charming could be your childhood best friend or your neighbor next door." He advised me, just as I had predicted it.

"Nah, I want someone that barely knows me. It's just more exciting that way. Someone that knows everything I've done since I was a little kid is just... embarrassing. It's cute, you know, finding things about each other you didn't know  before along the way." I explained.

"Why didn't you just become a philosopher? I swear, you are so complex." he teased me, again.

I laughed along and looked at my watch just to keep track of time.

"What time is it?" Jose asked me.

"3:22." 

"Oh, shoot, I'm late! Sorry, I got to go. Here's my number, call me. Hope Prince Charming can come through all that complexity of yours. Bye, love you! Say hi to your family for me!" Jose gave me a quick hug as he ran out the door.

I grinned, shaking my head. You'd think 7 years would change a person. Walking to my car, I decided to go to Sarah's house a little earlier and help her out.

Sarah was my mom's friend. We've known her and her family as long as I've known myself. She is hilarious and I love her like she's a second mom.

"Hey, Sarah, I'm here!" I entered the familiar house, making my presence known.

"Ashley, come on in! Oh, this is great. Just in time. I'm desperate for some help." Sarah kissed my cheeks and handed me an apron as I walked into the kitchen. 

"How's it going?" asked Sarah.

"Pretty good. How about you?" I answered.

"The usual. Trying to get Isaac in the business. I've been kind of wanting to go on a vacation. And that's pretty much it."

"Oh my God, you should! A vacation sounds so good. I'd even crash it but work has been so rough these days. And you are literally an inspiration. I'd have given up on Isaac by now." I rolled my eyes. He was so stubborn that it annoyed me. He is almost 26 and unemployed by choice.

"Would you?" asked a voice behind me.

I turned around facing him. 

Isaac.

Isaac Kingston.

To the media, he was a complete flirt. A charmer. A pleasure to the eye. Everybody's dream come true.

To me,

he was my best friend. There's no one that knows him better than I do... I think.

Well, it's been a while, to say the least.