Shattering the illusion

Hand in hand, Ashley and Zack walked the streets. All around cafes and shops were closing as orange street lights twinkled against a dimmening sky. Evening loomed, and the town was in that in-between of busyness, straddling the daytime rush and nightlife excitement.

For now, there was enough excitement for Ashley and Zack in just being together. Neither spoke, unsure how to approach each other. Conversation normally flowed but now it felt as though every word was important. Every sentence was make or break.

"I..." Zack said suddenly, shocking himself as the sound came out, and finding that he felt foolish, immediately shut up again.

Ashley giggled lightly.

"This seems silly, doesn't it?" She said, looking down at their hands, at how their fingers intertwined.

"No, not at all. I'm glad you suggested this," Zack protested, shaking his head. "It's just that...I never really expected this. It feels surreal. Like a nice dream."

Ashley smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder. "And you don't want to break that illusion, right? I know what you mean. Just walking with you, even in the quiet, it feels...good. Like, my whole body is on edge, and it's kind of scary...but it feels good."

"What makes it scary?" Zack asked. "Not that I don't sense that too, but for me I'm tense because I feel like I have a lot to live up to. I'm not trying to compete with anyone, it's just there's this ideal in my head that I feel like I have to live up to, or else we've wasted a lot of time and relationships."

"I've had a boyfriend for a long time. Or maybe two years isn't that long but it feels long," Ashley replied, lifting her head as she thought hard. "And I like Brandon. He's a good guy. One of the best, really. And he always felt like the guy I was meant to be with. I was a cheerleader and he was one of the popular football players. That just fits, you know."

"Yeah, when I think about it that seems right," Zack admitted. "And you and Brandon always seemed so happy together."

"And we are, or were, sort of," Ashley frowned. "But I'm beginning to wonder if it was happiness or just complacency. Like Brandon and I never fight, and I use to think it was because we were so in tune with each other but now, I think maybe we're just so willing to keep what we have going that neither of us bother to challenge the other. Does that make sense?"

"I think so," Zack said. "And that's what tonight is all about? Seeing if you're happy with me or just content? Should I start an argument just to show you I care?"

Ashley smiled, aware that Zack was making light.

"I don't really expect us to figure out happiness in one night," she said. "I don't even really know what I expect. I just wanted to talk to you alone and not have to rush everything, like it is back at the cabin. Always looking over our shoulder, or having to deal with Chloe messing with us."

"I did hurt her badly when I choose you," he said. "Chloe has always been insecure and I didn't exactly do her confidence any favours when I broke her trust. I mean, how do you think Brandon's going to take it when you break up with him?"

"I'll try to let him down gently, but..." Ashley sighed. "You're right. He'll be livid. You probably shouldn't be anywhere nearby when I do tell him."

Back at the cabin, Brandon punched his pillow, imagining it to be Zack's face. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His best friend was messing around with his girlfriend. It seemed like it had been going on for some time and that Chloe knew. How far it had went though, he wasn't sure, but he planned to keep listening, mentally filing everything they said as evidence of their betrayal.

Though he had to admit that some of Ashley's words hurt. He really had thought that they were happy. How could she spin not arguing as a bad thing? They just got on well together. That's how couples were supposed to be. Did she want to bicker about petty things? That just sounded like a stupid excuse so she could fool around and justify it to herself.

When he thought about what drew him to Ashley, he thought about how funny and witty she was, how confident and bold she could be. But he had come to appreciate those things later. At the start...it had been because she was a cheerleader and one of the hottest girls in school. It felt right, as one of the most popular guys in school, to go after the most popular girl in school. He simply thought he'd hit the jackpot when that same popular girl turned out to be a great match for him...but apparently he had been the only one who'd thought that.

Ashley's words pulled him out of the past and back to spying on his girlfriend on her date with his best friend.

"Ugh, I don't want to talk about all that crap we have to deal with later. I just want to enjoy this for now." Her stomach grumbled, loud enough for Brandon to hear it over the mic. "And I'm hungry."