A Twisted Past Memory

Ashley and Blossom were in high spirits as the auction was commencing. Ashley quickly searched for Jack and entered her bid for $1000. She smirked as she believed she had this in the bag.

Ashley: Well “B” (short for Blossom) I can’t wait to see the look on Jack’s face when I win him.

Blossom: Well good luck. This whole thing about bidding on guys kinda sounds wrong.

Ashley: I get ya B but its all in good fun and for a charity. They do this stuff in Hollywood all the time.

Blossom: Yeah. Its so the rich actors feel like they are giving back to the community without having to do anything. Besides it’s a big tax write off.

Blossom: Wow. I feel like an outsider here.

Ashley: True but if you want to explore the world you have to learn a lot about customs and different lifestyles.

Blossom nodded as she understood what Ashley was telling her.

Blossom: I understand. Its just happening so fast.

Ashley: Well, it can be overwhelming, but I am here if you need help and so are the others. So, take it day by day.

Blossom: Thank you Ashley.

Ashley gave Blossom a big hug, then spoke up.

Ashley: You’re welcome, B.

The girls then continued their conversation as Ashley monitored her bidding and saw someone try to outbid her, so she slowly upped her bid accordingly from $1000 to $5000. She felt better when they stopped bidding for a while then she found herself getting annoyed as she had to increase her bid up to $15,000. Sadly, this was her current limit without making a phone call home and the idea of borrowing money from Rose didn’t sit well since she planned to win Jack on her own out of pride. She didn’t want to hear it later she needed that help since her pride was on the line. After a while no one tried to bid on Jack and Ashley felt a sigh of relief. However, she was still nervous that those snobby brats wanted to get their hands on her Jack and make him wear a leash. She was not having that happen.

Then as the bidding was coming to an end Ashley dropped her guard as she believed she had won her Jack for $15,000. So, when the bidding was over, she was eager to see the message text explaining that she was the winner only to see she didn’t win. All she saw was Jack was won by a different person with a number reference instead of a name for the price of $50,000.

Ashley: No! No this can’t be happening. Who would do this? Why would they do this? Not my Jack! I can’t let this happen! Where is Jack?

Ashley got on the phone and began to call Jack in a frantic state. Ashley asked Jack a series of questions and he didn’t even realize someone else won him till he looked at his phone. He just assumed Ashley would win. Ashely of course was mad and demanded to know where he was. Jack of course was afraid to tell Ashley where he was since she was very scary right now. He quickly ran to his dorm room hoping to escape his angry “girlfriend”.

Blossom was talking to Ashley who was ever so pissed as her Jack was taken away in a last-minute bid by someone unknown. She apologized to Blossom as she went looking for Jack to find out who was brave enough to face her wrath. Then the intercom interrupted her train of thought as they called before her to meet with the Head Mistress. Blossom got nervous as she looked at her phone which said she won said she won Kyle and Conner. She bid on Conner on a whim but had no idea she would win since Courtney was supposed to win him in the auction. This was indeed puzzling for her as she sighed and made her way to the Head Mistress's office.

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Meanwhile Ashley was in a foul mood as she was calling Jack nonstop as she searched the school for him. Eventually she made her way to the window outside Jack’s room and looked up to the second floor and began texting Jack.

Text: Hey Jack I know you are in your room. If you don’t talk to me right now, I will hold it against you.

Jack was laying on his bed when he got the text from Ashley. He debated on whether he wanted to see it as he stared at the phone on his nearby dresser. He was terrified to talk to her right now and did fear that she would make him regret being alive. Part of him wanted to make her suffer like she made him suffer, but then he got the image in her head that she was crying after losing him to another woman. Granted he knew she was not really crying and was most likely fuming right now outside the boy’s dorm building. Luckily, he was on the second floor, or she would have barged in by now. Then he noticed the texting repeated over and over again till he finally broke down and picked up his phone to see a very long rant and rave demanding he speak to her right now. Jack sighed as he opened his window and saw a very angry Ashley staring at him. So he called her on the phone to avoid a shouting match. Ashley then answered the phone with a mean glare as she spoke up.

Ashely: Why did you run Jack?

Jack: You looked pissed, and I don’t like being beaten up for something I didn’t do.

Ashely looked at Jack for a bit then sighed as she realized he had a point.

Ashley: Okay I forgive you for running. Can we talk?

Jack: I thought we are talking.

Ashley: You know what I mean Jack.

Jack: Well right now you scare the hell out of me Ash. One wrong word and I am in danger again.

Ashley: Fine. So, tell me what happened.

Jack: Well as I was waiting for that nightmare to end, I got a few messages on my phone that different numbers were bidding on me instead of names. I assumed the one who was bidding a lot on me was you, but I was not sure. Then in the last minute I was won by a girl named Roxy Roker for $50,000. I think she was that famous girl who sang at the beach party. I haven’t spoken to her before and suddenly she drops fifty G's on me like its nothing. So, you can’t blame me for running after you got pissed.

Ashely let the words from Jack sink into her head for a bit as she rubbed her forehead. She was very stressed out and needed to vent her frustrations, but knew she needed to keep her cool or she would regret it.

Ashley: Do you swear you never laid a hand on her?

Jack: Yeah. The only girl I had that kind of contact is you Ash and you were the one forcing it on me. The last thing I need is more girl problems. You are more than I can handle already.

Ashley: Okay……Thank you for being honest.

Jack could see that Ashley was wiping her eyes as if she was crying. He was not sure if it was real or a trap, but he did feel bad in a twisted manner.

Jack: So what now?

Ashley: I think we need to find this Roxy and get to the bottom of this.

Jack: You know the moment you hurt her you will go to jail.

Ashley: I know. I just want to talk.

Jack: Okay let’s say we find her and talk. Are you ready for any kind of answer you might get?

Ashley: What’s your point?

Jack: I’ll play devils advocate so what will you do if she has a crush on me?

Ashley: Tell her tough luck since you are mine already.

Jack: And what if she did it just to piss you off and embarrass me?

Ashley: I would be mad but tell her she paid to much for that chance.

Jack: And suppose she is using this chance to get close to you?

Ashley: What? Are you saying she is into me?

Jack: Yeah I saw it on one of my mom’s soap operas. Keep in mind we have all kind of crazy girls in this world including yourself.

Ashley: You are enjoying this aren’t you?

Jack: I can’t deny the irony of the shoe being on the other foot this time. To be honest I thought I would never see a day like this. You say you care about me, but your actions don’t always match your words.

Ashley looked at Jack with tears in her eyes as his words hurt her and made her admit he had a point.

Ashley: I’m sorry Jack. I know I can be clingy and forceful sometimes, but I really do love you. The thought of losing you scares me………….. I’m sorry. Please come down.

Jack looked at her in a sad state and debated on what he should do. His mind was telling him to cut ties with her completely, but his poor heart ached at the thought of losing Ashley. True she was a manipulative, clingy bully, but she had her charms and managed to sink her claws into his heart through several twisted ways. He remembered her seductive charms and her smell which sadly swayed him to accept her for better and for worse. They had a very complicated relationship and in a twisted way it worked for them. So, Jack made his way outside to meet up with a sad and disturbed Ashley who was still teary eyed. They didn’t talk as Jack hugged her till she ran out of tears. In their entire history this was the first time Ashley cried in front of him and it was the first time he willingly hugged her on his own without being threatened.

A good fifteen minutes passed by till Ashley was out of tears and Jack’s shoulder was wet. The messed-up part of this situation was that this was the first time they hugged each other without coercion or being forced. Jack did feel closer to Ashley as she was being real to him for the first time. After she lifted her head and looked at him with swollen eyes, he kissed her on the nose and looked at her with kind eyes. Ashley was stunned as she looked at Jack then kissed her on the lips passionately and hugged her tightly. Ashley was quickly swept up in the moment as she hugged Jack back with a lot of want and desire. The two eventually came up for air and stared into each other’s eyes as they spoke volumes without saying a singe world. Eventually they were ready to speak again as Jack spoke up first.

Jack: I know we have had our troubles, but I think for the first time we are going to be okay.

Ashley nodded at Jack as she smiled and held his hands.

Ashley: Thank you.

Jack: Sure. So are you ready to talk to Roxy and see what her motive was?

Ashley: Not really but if you are by my side I will be able to keep my cool.

Jack: Then I’ll hold your hand the whole time.

Ashely kissed Jack on the lips gently and nodded as she whispered, “Thank you”.

Then Jack texted Roxy to meet them at the coffee bar outside the cafeteria. Jack got Ashley and himself a coffee as they waited for Roxy. After a few minutes Roxy showed up with a smile as she saw Ashley holding hands with Jack. She sat down at the chair and greeted them.

Roxy: Hey there.

Ashley: Hello Roxy.

Jack: Hey. Can we talk about the auction?

Roxy: Sure what would you like to know about it?

Ashley: Why did you bid on my Jack?

Jack: Did the snobs put you up to this? We know they wanted to embarrass the scholarship guys like myself.

Roxy looked at Ashley and Jack with confusion by their questions and put her hands up as she smiled and told them no.

Roxy: Oh no. I am not with that group. Hec I used to be poor to so I am not a snob like that.

Ashley: Then why?

Roxy: Jack do you really not remember me?

Jack: Sorry I don’t listen to a lot of music on the radio. I prefer work out songs.

Roxy: Oh……..I am sad you are not a fan, but we have met before.

Ashley looked at a very confused Jack who had no clue on his expression of what Roxy spoke of.

Jack: I think I would remember meeting you.

Roxy: Well, it was a few years ago in middle school. I was wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses and some jerks were trying to kidnap me and put me in a van.

Jack dropped his jaw as the memory was coming back to him. He did save a guy from being kidnapped and beat the crap out of two kidnappers in black. Both were crippled with broken testicles before the police took them away. The boy who was being kidnapped ran off before the police came and was never found.

Jack: Were you that boy? Wait you weren’t a boy?

Roxy: I was dressed like a boy to go shopping on my own, but I am very much a girl as you can see. I had no idea I was being targeted for kidnapping till after that happened. I am sorry I bailed on you, but my career would be gone if I was in the news for that. My agent chewed me out for that event. I never got a chance to thank you for saving me Jack.

Ashley: So why not just talk to him instead of winning him in the auction?

Roxy: Well I heard you were forcing Jack to be your boy toy through blackmail and I wanted to talk to him without you around.

Ashely: Seriously?

Jack: Is that all?

Roxy smirked as she knew Jack was sharper than he looked.

Roxy: Well to be honest I noticed you at the concert and found you very attractive.

Ashley: Sorry but Jack is mine.

Roxy giggled and spoke up.

Roxy I was talking to you Ashley.

Ashley dropped her jaw as she looked at Jack who predicted this as a possibility. As it turned out Roxy was into guys and girls and she had her eyes on Ashley, but found Jack to be cute as well. She was hoping to be closer to them and see if there was any chemistry. Ashley was shocked and speechless by this and had not rebuttal. All her fears were pointless and now she was beginning to understand how Jack felt when she forced him into the relationship. It was a true sad twist of irony. Jack on the other hand seemed to be calm and explained to Roxy they could be friends but they were not ready for that level of friendship. Roxy settled for being friends for now and was looking forward to hanging out with Jack the next day. Ashley was now torn by her situation and held onto Jack as Roxy left them alone. They drank their coffee and wondered if anyone else was having a weird day like them.

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