Her eyes moved up the long, strong trunk to the naked branches at the top. How easy it’d be to end everything right then and there. Make her Mother happy for once and just…end it. The car did 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds, without a seatbelt, she’d most likely be dead on impact. “So I’m gonna leave you, and I’d like you to leave me to leave you But lover believe me, it isn’t because I don’t need you (you know I don’t need you) All I wanted was to be wanted But you’re drowning me deep in your need to be needed La la la La la la la la la la la la.”

The perfect ending. Life felt amazing at the moment, but it wasn’t going to last forever. Every drug had a come down and every come down left her wanting more. Always wanting more…the feeling made her miserable and desperate. Fucking men in bathrooms…w-when she had a girlfriend? Spencer…Closing her eyes, her foot hovering on the gas, murmuring ‘I’m sorry’ she pushed hard on the pedal.

Out of nowhere, seconds away from the tree, she braked, hard. Her head hit the roof of the car as it jerked harshly from stopping at a fast speed. Heart racing in her chest, hands trembling, she looked at the passenger seat and stared at the reason she stopped. The phone rang loudly beside her. Reaching out, she brought it to her ear and with a shaky voice answered. “H-Hello?”

“Thank god you answered.” The voice on the other end sounded relieved. “I’ve been worried sick about you.”

Ashley blinked sitting in the awkwardly parked car. “You have?” She quietly questioned. “Why?”

“I heard you checked out and I’ve been calling all day but you never picked up-”

“What did you think happened to me?” Curiosity took over for a moment and she couldn’t help but wonder why the blonde was so worried. Looking up at the tree she had come close to hitting, seconds away from death, she frowned in the darkness of the car. There was so much that could happen to her. “Drug overdose, car accident, Christine-” She stopped talking realizing she named them all out loud. “None of that happened and I’m okay. My phone’s been in my car all day a-and the house phone is lost, dead somewhere.” With a silent sigh, she added, “I’m sorry I made you worry.”

“I’m just glad you’re okay. I was going to ask if you wanted to come over for dinner but I guess it’s too late, you’re probably tired-”

“I can be there in under 10 minutes.” In a more hesitant voice she added, “if you still want me too.”

“I always want you over.”