“There’s one integral part that you’re leaving out.” She looked at me seriously. “That friend is your ex. And not just any ex, she’s the ex.” Avery said, her eyes unfaltering from the side of my head. Why didn’t she trust me? Ashley was just my friend now, despite feelings I might have had for her - or we had for each other - it didn’t matter. I was determined to maintain a platonic relationship.

            “You got one thing right, Avery, she is my ex. And that’s all she is – you’re my girlfriend, remember? If I recall, it was you who told me I should make things right with her. The thing I need you to understand is, Ashley is really important to me, and I… won’t walk away from her” I almost said ‘can’t’, but I decided won’t was probably the better option. “If she walks out of my life, that’s one thing, but she means too much to me as a friend to deliberately choose to cut her off. You need to realize that as long as it’s my call, she’s not going anywhere. You also need to trust me that nothing will happen. It’s been a long time. Things have changed… we have changed.” I was obviously going to withhold the fact that my feelings for her were the same at this very moment as they were before she left. “I’ve never given you any reason not to trust me. So just trust me.” I said finally, taking a breath. I hadn’t made eye contact with her for the entirety of that little speech, but I could feel her eyes on me the entire time. I couldn’t decide whether she was giving me a look of attentiveness, anger, or pain, but whatever it was, she was focused intensely.  Another silence hung around us, but it wasn’t as desperate as before. The only sound was that of my jagged breath, flowing into and out of my lungs. I wanted to look at her, to see what she was feeling, but I was almost afraid to.

            “I know. I do trust you, Spencer. I’m sorry if it doesn’t seem like I do. I’m just a little intimidated by Ashley is all” She said honestly, her voice barely audible over the sound of my breath.

            “Why?” I asked, feeling my own eyebrows furrow. Ashley wasn’t all that intimidating… was she?

            “I don’t know, you’ve got this history, and I guess I just know how much she means to you. I have to work extra hard not to resent even just the thought of her after what she did to you. You have no idea, when I met her I kind of just wanted to slap her across the face. Being as it is, though, I guess I’m going to have to try and get along with her.”

            “You have no reason to be intimidated. And besides, I can take care of myself.” I replied. “Please just try for me.”

            “I will.” She said, and for the first time all night I saw her crack a slight smile. It filled me with warmth to finally see her mood turn up a little. Her posture relaxed and her shoulders fell gently.