Unlikely Connections: the Story of Strange Friends
The way Ashley met Ricky was odd, to say the least. He approached her at a store and said, “Hey! My name’s Ricky. We should start a relationship.” Of course, at the moment, he had meant a friendship, but anyone in that situation would have misunderstood. Naturally, she responded with utter confusion, “First of all, I have a boyfriend. Second of all, that’s not the best sentence starter.”
After she had said that, Ricky, of course, stumbled over his words to get out the fact that he meant a friendship. Ashley was hesitant at first, often rubbing her hand on the back of her neck, but eventually she agreed. He seemed harmless. The two of them started a friendship; a great one at that. They hung out together and constantly talked to one another. Ricky, however, couldn’t help the sinking feeling of how much he wished they were more than friends. Sure he had wanted to just be friends at first, but Ashley was such an enticing and wonderful person. Not to mention she was pretty, like picture perfect pretty.
Ricky felt guilty when Ashley had called him crying telling him that she and her boyfriend had broken up. Ricky was well aware that this was not the moment to be selfish and take his chance so instead, he bought movies over to her house for them to watch to take her mind off the selfish boy who had broken her heart.
Ricky had made sure the next day to chew him out. To make things worse, this dude actually had no clue what he had done wrong. Ricky had left the conversation beyond mad. He then sought out Ashley later that day to check up on her. She had agreed to meet up for dinner at the commons café then they hung out the rest of the day at his house.
He drove Ashley home in his car dropping her off at the front of her barn. He remembered when she had first told him she was buying a farm. He had, of course, teased her about her green thumb but supported her and helped her reach her dreams of buying that car. Before he left she randomly stood on her tiptoes connecting their lips. She clearly realized what she had done after she had done it because her eyes widened and she slammed the door.
That’s how they ended up avoiding each other for almost three weeks. It was almost physically painful when every time he tried to approach her she’d turn on her heel and walk the other way. He wasn’t sure why she had kissed him but he could tell loud and clear that she regretted it. He had tried nearly every form of contacting her. He had even tired to drive to her house but she would lock the doors and ignore him inside. Ricky hated to admit it but he had cried. Relationships aside he had a wonderful friendship with Ashley one that he had with no one else not even his friends at work.
Finally, after she ignored him for five weeks, he had enough. He was going to find some way to talk to her. He had one of their mutual friends, Isabella, help him by tricking her into meeting him at Isabella’s house. He knew it was wrong to lie to her but he was desperate – desperate to know why she was ignoring him. He was nervously waiting for Ashley and Isabella’s arrival rocking back and forth on his feet. Finally, he heard their voices echoing through the kitchen as they made their way to the living room. Once Ashley had come into the living room and saw him she tried to turn around and flee but before she could Ricky spoke up. “Please don’t leave we need to talk. I need to know why you’re ignoring me. It’s not fair for you to just ignore me and give me no explanation why.”
Ashley’s eyes were glued to the floor “I’m sorry.” She finally blurted. “I don’t know what I was thinking I was just sad that Damian had dumped me and was lonely and desperately trying to fill that hole. Myself and Damian had been together for 5 years and one day he just decides he doesn’t feel anything anymore? I guess I was just desperate for someone to love me the way he used to.”
Ricky looked at her for a moment before the pieces began to form in his head. The way she never wanted Damian and Cody in the same room. Why she never wanted him over because Damian never wanted him over. Ricky looked her dead in the eyes and asked as calmly as he possibly could “Ashley did Damian hurt you? Please don’t lie to me.”
Ashley looked down towards the floor in shame. A few tears fell down her cheeks and she quickly swept them away. “I just wasn’t the girlfriend he really needed. I should’ve acted better. If I would have been a better girlfriend he wouldn’t have needed to hit me. He did it so that I would be better.” She choked out.
Ricky’s head was burning. Burning with rage. This dude had Ashley terrified. His best friend Ashley. The girl that he had lowkey been in love with when they met 3 years ago was hurting her all this time. “Ashley, listen to me you’re not gonna talk to him again. I and our friends will not let him hurt you again.” Ricky said as calmly as he could. “You don’t understand.” She choked out “I can’t just leave him altogether he’ll take everything from me. My pets my house and my plants.” “Ashley! You have to listen to me. You need to keep yourself safe then we’ll get your plants and pets. He can’t keep what’s rightfully yours from you.” “Yes he can my house is in his name. He convinced me to have him sign on the loan and somehow it ended up in his name.” Ricky felt his blood boil at that statement. That manipulative swine. Ashley put everything into her farm and this guy just stole it all from her. “Ashley! Listen don’t worry about the house we’ll get all your pets and plants and find somewhere to store them we just need to get you and your pets away from him,” Ricky said. “You’re right Ricky. Can I just stay at your place till I’m able to get it all figured out?” Ashley asked. “Yeah of course,” Ricky said. Ricky pulled her close against his chest in a hug. They’d figure this out and she’d be okay.
