Zack And Ashley

Zack lightly jogged down the stairs to the lower floor of the cabin, a cool air instantly overcame him which was a bit of a welcome relief from the warm air above. The teen immediately stopped walking, however, as he came around the corner into the main room. The rec-room in front of him was nothing like would have imagined, a giant seventy-inch television hung on the wall, a set of couches, and comfortable armchairs circled it, and even more intriguing was the open bar with barstools and a counter was tucked just in the far corner.

Zack nearly sputtered out words of disbelief but stopped as he noticed the set of large double doors Heather spoke off. The teen grinned and nearly ran over, pushing the doors open and stopping inside marveling as the large impressive room. The bed wasn't a king, instead only a queen, but Zack couldn't care less. Three large well made oak dressers dotted the walls along with a computer and desk set up in the corner. A small thirty-inch tv as mounted on the wall across from the bed and Zack noted the door leading to the attached bathroom as well. "Jesus...and this isn't even the best room?" Zack said under his breath while moving inside, dropping his bag on the edge of the bed.

As Zack unzipped his bag he heard the sound of thumping coming from behind him. He turned back and after a moment saw Ashley carrying four large bags with a small one being held by her teeth, "Oh shit, Ash, you need some help?"

"If you're offering," Ashley meekly replied, muffled from the bag being held by her teeth,

Zack let out a soft chuckle and headed over, taking the bag from Ashley's mouth along with two others from her hands, "Don't, uh, really travel light, huh?" The teen lightly joked though Ashley didn't reply, only silently following him with her head hanging down. Zack cleared his throat and put down Ashley's bags, "Well, I figured I could take that small dresser over there and you could take the two larger ones, I don't have nearly as much, so no worries there,"

"Thanks, Zack," Ashley mumbled as she plopped herself down on the bed,

Zack awkwardly nodded back, unsure of what he should be doing in this scenario. He and Ashley were friends sure, but of the two, he was far closer to Brandon. Not to mention he and the slim blonde had rarely spent any time together on their own as she always had Brandon glued to her side. Without any other ideas, Zack merely began to unpack, quickly filling up his dresser with his clothes and small personal effects while Ashley continued to sulk on the bed behind him.

As Zack finished and was shutting the top drawer, he let out a small sigh and turned back to Ashley, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, "Uh, Ash...I know you and I aren't exactly close but if you and Brandon are...well if you two...uh, if you need to talk about anything, I'm here, you know?" Zack offered through long unsure pauses,

Ashley looked up at Zack with a furrowed brow, "Who said anything happened?"

Zack gulped, "Well you're sharing a room with me instead of him, obviously somethings not right," He quickly replied without thinking,

Ashley continued to glare back at Zack and the teen was nearly about to back away from the girl when he suddenly noticed her lower lip tremble. Ashley's eyes grew wet and she quickly looked away from Zack and sniffled, "He...he cheated on me, Zack,"

"What?" Zack asked back in disbelief while quickly moving to Ashley's side,

"O-On the ride over, I was talking with Sharon, you know from the cheerleading team?" Ashley explained while Zack nodded back, "We've been becoming pretty good friends recently, and she said she needed to get something off her chest." Ashley nearly looked sick as she opened her phone and handed it to Zack showing him a picture of Sharon and Brandon together in bed, the latter passed out on her bare chest, "They hooked up on winter break at Sharon's party."

"Oh my god," Zack softly said as he turned off the phone and set it on the end table. He sat down next to Ashley and easily placed a hand on the girl's upper back, "Ash, I'm so, so, sorry. That's awful,"

"I thought he loved me," Ashley whimpered back, "Sharon said they were both drunk and it was only one time but I...I can't just...oh god, Zack!" Ashley suddenly cried out, leaping forward and burying her crying eyes into his shoulder.

Zack recoiled slightly as he didn't expect Ashley to suddenly embrace him but he wasn't about to deny the poor girl either. He halfheartedly put his arms around her, gently patting her back, "I'm so sorry, Ashley, I'm so sorry," Zack quietly repeated as he let Ashley cry everything out.