Chapter Fifteen

After a long pause, Ashton asked, ?What do you want, Stephanie??

Something about his tone and the way he used her full name which he rarely ever did in the past ? now hurt her feelings. She tried to shake if off and then it hit her that that is why he had looked so skeptical earlier, he really thought she wanted something from him.

Her jaw set, and she said clearly, ?The last thing in the world I want is anything from you.? She almost cringed at the how venomous sounding she had been.

He looked a little shocked but then smiled, ?Now we get right down to it, huh?? he asked sarcastically.

Before she could respond again, a plate was sat down in front of her. Her eyes shot daggers at Ashton and she thought, saved by the waiter.

The waiter departed again and Stephanie glared at Ashton as he slowly cut into his ravioli and took a bite. When he looked at her again, she quickly looked down at her food and took a bite as well.

Several minutes passed and they didn?t say anything, just ate.

Stephanie didn?t even have an appetite at this point but kept picking at it. It was easier than talking to him.

?You suck.? She finally said in between bites.

Ashton nearly choked, not expecting those words from her. ?What did you say??

?I said?? she repeated very slowly for him, ?You suck.?

With that he began to laugh, and finally sat his fork down, and rubbed his head. ?You know, this is the most miserable meals I think I?ve ever had.?

Her mouth parted at the sting of his words and she slowly set her utensils down and pushed her chair back. ?You are such a dickhead. I wish that I?d never met you.? She said reaching under to grab her bag, then quickly standing straightening her clothes again. When she looked at him again, she raised her chin defiantly, a look he so recognized.

Ashton frowned and sat his napkin down. ?I just don?t know what you expected to be the outcome of seeing each other again after all this time and after everything that happened. Did you think I?d have forgotten by now??

Stephanie stared at him, puzzled, her mind spinning his words for some meaning. ?I don?t understand.? She said pushing her hair back over her shoulder. ?You forget?! You forget?! No, let me assure you I had no worries about you remembering anything because you forget so easily.?

Ashton?s mouth flew open and he shook his head. ?I wish I had forgotten.?

?You did.? She said bluntly.

?I didn?t and I haven?t! Obviously!? he exclaimed.

?What the fuck are you talking about? Don?t take this high and mighty approach with me, Chris. You are the one who left. You are the one who said it would all be okay! You are the one that promised and made me agree! You are the one who said you?d come back to see me! Why!? I just want to know why?? she said as quietly as possible not wanting anyone else to hear.

?Do you think this wounded ? poor me ? approach is going to work really? Come on. Be honest.? Ashton said then took a drink.

?About what?? she asked and started digging in her bag. ?Here how is this for honesty?? She laid the box on the table and he stared at it. ?This is why I?m here. It?s?? she had to pause because she was on the verge of tears and she had promised herself it wouldn?t come to this. Calming herself she said, ?It is some stuff of yours that I just couldn?t bring myself to throw away. Although I must admit that quite a few times I considered burning it, it somehow has made it through the last several years and back to you.?

He rolled his eyes and pushed it away. ?I don?t want it.?

?Neither do I.? she said.

?You?re telling me you came out here to give me this box of stuff?? he slightly flipped the lid up which fell quickly back down into place.

?Yeah, and I guess really to tell you that even though it might seem like quote ?another life time ago? end quote that its not water under the bridge. There is at least one girl in this world who sees through all of your charm and your bullshit.? She said tearing up again.

With that his jaw clenched and he stood up to face her. ?You have a lot of nerve coming here acting like Miss Goodie two shoes who can do no wrong. How?s Brad, huh, Sam? You guys still ?talk??? he asked hatefully.

She gave him another puzzled look then said weakly, ?He?s fine, and of course we still talk. He?s married to Paige.? Wondering where he was going with this. What did he think she?d done?

He stared coldly at her, ?Oh that must have been awkward for you??

?What?? she asked still confused by his nonsense.

Ashton laughed again, ?Please, PLEASE, stop playing little miss innocent. I know, Sam, I know!? He took a step closer and grabbed her arm roughly saying through clenched teeth, ?I did come back, damn you.? Then let go of her stepping back and reaching for his water, trying to get a grip on his temper. He looked away.

Stephanie shook her head and tears started flowing. ?No, you didn?t, and if you did, you didn?t come see me like you said you would.?

?Oh, man, I need a cigarette.? He mumbled then slowly turned to her again. ?I came back on a Tuesday. Got in late that afternoon. Mike picked me up at the airport and drove me straight to the school. I called your room, you weren?t there so I went over to the frat house hoping to see Brad.? He stopped and looked at her thinking at any moment she would break down and admit it all to him.

?And you didn?t leave me a note or anything?? she asked.

He shook his head again and took a deep breath. ?Brad wasn?t there. He was with you.?

?With me?? she asked confused again. ?You don?t think? oh my gosh, no.? Stephanie smiled sarcastically. ?How is it you came to this bit of information that Brad was with me? I mean, you didn?t see us together did you? Of course, you didn?t.?

Ashton?s eyes narrowed again. ?Jack.?

?Jack, what?? she asked remembering the rollie pollie looking guy that lived with Brad at the frat house.

?Jack said he was with you, and furthermore that you guys had been practically inseperable for months.? He finished.

Stephanie shook her head and wiped away the tears then chuckled. ?Then what?? she asked. ?You just took his word for it and went on with your new life and leaving everyone from the old one behind? Chris, what did he say exactly? Did he call me by name? or my nickname??

Ashton shook his head again and stared out past her for a moment, ?He said Brad and Miller and no, I didn?t just take his word for it. I went and camped out at your dorm. I had to see it with my own eyes. You guys were obviously not answering the phone, but were DEFINITELY in the room. I heard his voice?? his voice faded out.

Stephanie was still shaking her head, ?Are you sure he said Miller or could he have said Miller 2? And you heard his voice but did you hear mine??

Ashton stared at her for a long moment and she finally saw some doubt finally enter his eyes. He looked down at his feet and said, ?He may have said Miller2, but I thought I misheard him or something because Miller too didn?t make sense to me. No, I heard Brad and what I thought was you laughing.?

Stephanie took a deep breath and turned her back to him. It was all to overwhelming. Could all of this be the result of some wicked misunderstanding? What a cruel turn fate had played them. She buried her face in her hands but not to weep to try to wipe away the clutter from her brain.

When she spoke again, she was nearly whispering. ?When Paige started to school she moved into my dorm room with me. I?m the one who introduced her to Brad. They immediately became a hot item. Nearly drove me crazy. I was with them a lot at first and some of Brad's friends.. and yours... who always called me Miller quickly dubbed Paige as Miller2.? She paused and turned to look at him again. ?I cannot even begin to tell you how abandoned and rejected by you I felt, and how..? she paused again, ?I searched for some reason .. some something I could have done wrong .. or just not been good enough for you.?

Ashton looked up at her again, his troubled eyes pleading with her. He reached out and touched her arm, ?Sam, I am??

She shook her head, and stepped backwards??Right.? Then turned and made a quick path for the double doors.

More to come...