close enough to start a war,

[JARED EUGENE BENTLEY]

Jared watched as Ashleigh called over her little sister, Cassidy. Did she even remember who he was? Cassidy had been young when everything had happened, though she was still young now. With a pang, he realized that if she did remember him, it was faded memories at best. His two younger siblings, Rose and Evan, were five and four, respectively. He hadn't spent much time with them before he had gone to Spain, as Jared had preferred to spend as much time as possible away from his house because his "father" had always been criticizing and critiquing Jared. Did they remember him?

He fingered the small bulge in his zipped jacket pocket. It contained a blue necklace made up of gleaming shells. Jared had spotted it in a small seaside town in southern Spain and had been immediately bought it, as it had reminded him of Ashleigh's blue eyes. It was a thing of comfort to him while he had been abroad. Now that he was back, he had planned on giving it to her. In another pocket was a small, old book full of Spanish poetry. Jared had no idea what the words inside said, but it smelled of the ocean.

When she gestured towards her apartment, he nodded. So she had moved. He quickly caught up to her and shoved his hands in his pockets, watching his feet as they walked along the sidewalk for several minutes in awkward silence. Finally, he broke it, "I got this for you when I was away," he said, hesitating for a moment before pulling out the old book and holding it out to her. The necklace was left safely hidden in his jacket. He was suddenly unsure whether he should give it to her at all.

[ASHLEIGH JASE SALVADORI]

Ashleigh held tightly to her little sisters hand, keeping her on the opposite side of the side walk, away from the street. She chewed on her cheek, debating on saying something. She felt Cassidy tug on her hand, glancing down she watched as she pointed to Jared, smiling small and letting go of Ashleigh's hand. Cassidy walked to Jared's side and tugged on his jacket sleeve before looping her arm on his the best she could because of how tall he was. When Cassidy was younger she had seen Jared probably as much as Ashleigh had. She wouldn't be surprised if she remembered him, and the times he'd come over, mess up her blonde hair and pinch her nose gently before asking her where Ashleigh was.

Ashleigh smiled small, watching Cassidy before glancing up, going back to the awkward feeling. I got this for you when I was away. Looking over to his extended hand she stared for a quick second at the necklace before grabbing it gently from his hand, she cleared her throat. "For me?.." She used her free hand to tuck some hair behind her ear, still studying thy the necklace while she walked. It was beautiful, she couldn't deny that. Debating on whether to put it on now or even at all, she glanced up at Jared, smiling small. "Thank you.."

Turning the corner, she held the necklace tightly in her left hand and walked towards to stairs of her apartments. It wasn't the greatest place, but it was home for them now. Cassidy smiled and tugged on Jared's arm some more, walking with him up the stairs.

[JARED EUGENE BENTLEY]

Jared was startled slightly when Cassidy slipped her arm happily through his, but he quickly recovered his composure and smiled at the little girl, adjusting himself so that she could easily hold onto him. Cassidy didn't think badly of him for not being there when her mother had died, but she was younger. She didn't really understand. He looked at the bright, innocent look of youth upon her face. Ashleigh used to have that look. He hadn't seen it in a long time.

"You're welcome," he replied quietly, watching as the sun began its descent behind the mountains. It cast a few rays over the land, readying it for bedtime. Jared couldn't help but notice that the light brought out the gold and red in Ashleigh's hair. It almost looked like it was on fire. He suddenly turned away from her and looked straight ahead. Despite not being the happiest on the inside, he smiled again at Cassidy as she enthusiastically led him up the stairs to the apartment. Once they reached the door, he stopped, waiting for Ashleigh.

[ASHLEIGH JASE SALVADORI]

Ashleigh followed after the two as they went up the stairs, pulling her key from her pocket. When reaching to the door she unlocked it and let Cassidy and Jared in first. She closed the door behind her and glanced down at Cassidy. "It's bed time young lady." Ashleigh nodded here head when Cassidy shook her head no, she ran behind Jared and smiled, shaking her head. Letting out a laugh Ashleigh grabbed her gently and tossed her over her shoulder, bouncing gently as she walked towards the room. "Be right back." She called out to Jared before slipping into the bed room. She helped Cassidy change quickly and laid her on the bed that they shared, pulling the covers up and over her. Ashleigh gave Cassidy a small and gentle kiss on her forehead and turned on the TV for her to watch until she fell asleep. She stood and walked towards the door, stopping to glance back at Cassidy and smile. "I love you." Cassidy smiled widely and placed her hand on her chest, patting it. Her own way of saying she loved her.

Closing the door halfway, Ashleigh came back to the living room which was combined with the kitchen, she rested against the counter and looked down at her hands. She wasn't sure where to start, she wasn't sure what would help the situation but she did want him to talk to her, to explain and trust her. She ran her fingers on the necklace, she had forgotten it was in her other hand and she sat it down on the counter. "Why did you leave." She finally blurted out.

[JARED EUGENE BENTLEY]

Jared followed Ashleigh into the apartment and let out a chuckle as Ashleigh chased Cassidy around the room, finally tossing her over her shoulders and carrying down the hallway to what Jared presumed was Cassidy's bedroom. He stood awkwardly in the middle of the living room and spent the time looking around a bit. If he suspended his belief for a moment, he could pretend that nothing had changed. He pulled back the hood from his jacket, which he hadn't realized he must have pulled up when outside and waited for Ashleigh to return.

When she did, he looked up at her and watched her run her fingers through the blue shell necklace. It seemed to glow in the dim light. At her words, he looked away from her and frowned slightly, licking his lip before pursing them tightly. "Well, I wanted to enrich my culture experience by traveling to other countries, and Spain seemed just a good of place to start as any, since I was born there," he explained at last, smiling half-heartedly as he attempted to convince her.

[ASHLEIGH JASE SALVADORI]

Ashleigh let out a laugh as he spoke, she turned her head so she could look up at him. "You never were the best bullshitter." A small smile played on her lips as she thought back to their childhood, which wasn't that long ago but felt like ages ago to her. She did the lying, whenever they had gotten themselves into trouble she would lie their way out of it, never leaving it to Jared because he was horrible at it. She glanced down at her hands and bit down on her bottom lip. "Want to tell me the real reason now?" She was beginimg to grow frustrated, though she didn't dare show it.

Growing up Ashleigh and Jared told each other everything, even the most secretive things. He never lied to her, she didn't understand why he started now. Had that time really do this much damage? Or did he change? Or was it her. She couldn't decide it, nor did she really want to. Glancing back up at Jared she studied his face and glanced back down, running her finger tips through her blondish brown hair.

[JARED EUGENE BENTLEY]

The smile disappeared off his face as Ashleigh spoke, and he away from her and down at his shoes, which he suddenly seemed very interested in. They were just black sneakers, but he took a moment to study them. Jared couldn't hear any anger in her voice, but then again, Ashleigh had always been the better one at lying and keeping her cool. He had never really cared to lie; what did he care what others thought about him, about what he said, about what he did? But this was different. It was something that Jared himself hadn't come to terms with yet himself. He looked back at Ashleigh, but this time, he was slightly angry.

"What does it matter, Ash?" he said, his eyes narrowing in frustration. Jared took his hands out of his pocket and made an irritated shrugging motion in the air, "I left, and I was wrong. I said I was sorry. What does the 'why' matter? There's nothing I could say that would make what I did okay!"

[ASHLEIGH JASE SALVADORI]

Ashleigh couldn't help but feel a little shocked by his response. Her tone changed almost immediately. "Why does it matter?" She laughed sarcastically and pushed herself up and off the counter. "Hm, let me think for a moment." She placed a finger on her lips and tapped them, growing angry pretty rapidly. "oh I know, maybe cause I'm your friend. Or so I thought I was" She shook her head moving her shaking hands to grab her hair and pull it into a bun. Ashleigh always knew he had a temper when it came to certain things, and she did as well, but she honestly didn't think their conversation would steer towards an argument.

She looked down at the floor trying to decide the best way to express what she was thinking at the very moment. "You left, came back and figured I wouldn't want to know why? Does that even make sense to you? Cause it sure as he'll doesn't make sense to me." She threw her hands in the air, knowing she didn't go in the right direction, once she was started it wasn't something that could be stopped. "I want to be here for you, like it was. But how can I do that if you don't even trust me anymore?" Her voice was somewhat softer but she was still frustrated. She glanced up at him and awaited a response.

[JARED EUGENE BENTLEY]

Jared rolled his eyes as she pulled her loose hair up into a bun, probably to rid herself of angry energy. Something about how quickly she turned to anger made him even more irritated than before. He was fairly certain that they would have eventually come to this--an argument about everything, that is. But he didn't think it would be so soon. Only this morning, he was wishing he could see her, and now, he was thinking it was all just a bad idea. Had it not been enough time, or had it been too much time?

"You know, it was a two way street, Ashleigh!" he exclaimed, "No, I didn't call you, but you didn't call me either. You could have found out where I was easily! You've known where I've lived for years!" Jared shook his head, remembering when he had come home from Spain and asking if his mother had seen Ashleigh at all. Isabella had shaken her head and said that the only times she had seen her was occasionally in town but hadn't spoken to her since her mother's funeral. "You didn't want to know why I left when I left, so why the hell would you care to know why I left when I finally came back?"

[ASHLEIGH JASE SALVADORI]

Feeling the anger rise, Ashleigh pressed her lips together tightly, turning her head. When Jared left she had called him, only to get no answer, so as she heard him go off about how she never called him she felt herself boil with frustration. She cleared her throat and shook her head, glancing back to him. "You know how I am Jared! If someone snaps at me or acts like they want nothing to do with me I leave them alone! Because I'm afraid of fucking up anything else. You know that!" She had always struggled with that, only thanks to her father, it was something she always did. No matter who it was with, if she honestly cared and loved that person and they had gotten into an argument she would just not talk to them, in fear that if she said something it'd just push them away more.

"You didn't want to know why I left when I left, so why the hell would you care to know why I left when I finally came back?"

Ashleigh's throat tighten as she grew more frustrated, she ran a shaky hand through her hair and glanced down. "I...I can't believe whats being said right now. You don't think that I went on living with confusion? Not only did my mother leave me but so did you! I questioned myself everyday as to why you left!" She let out a sarcastic laugh, all she wanted to do was hit something. Anything. She never could handle her anger correctly or control it at that. She knew at any moment she'd snap, letting the tears fall like rivers. "Just get out. Get out!" She pushed him back. "This was a mistake, you were right for ignoring me, just leave!" Ashleigh gave in to her own thoughts, pushing him harder towards the door.

[JARED EUGENE BENTLEY]

"Yea, I know how you are with most people. But it was always different between us! It always has been," said Jared, still angry, but with a softer voice. It had been true that Ashleigh tended to think it was her fault in many situations and so she pushed people away, but Jared had believed he was different from everyone else. It was for this reason that those particular words stung him the most out of everything she had said. He shook his head in frustration.

When she started to shove him and yelling at him to get out, he pushed her away, "You don't have to scream at me to leave! I will, gladly," Jared replied bitterly, giving in to the fact that he wasn't any different from anyone else in Ashleigh's life. He remembered all the times they had comforted each other when they were upset with other people; he wondered who she would turn to now that it was him that she was upset with. They had fought before, but this felt distinctly different. In the past, Jared had known exactly what to say and do to gain Ashleigh's forgiveness. Normally, the only thing required was him saying something--something innately difficult for Jared to do in the first place. He had tried it with this multiple times, and it only seemed to make things worse.

The only thing she did ask for--the reason he had been upset all those months and why he left to Spain in the first place--was something he couldn't give her. Yes, he could have simply said that he didn't know who his father was, but that was only the start of it. How could he explain that his "parents" had been lying to him since he was old enough to listen to them, that all the times he had felt horrible and useless when his "father" had called him worthless, all that was for nothing? How could he explain that his father, for whatever reasons, had left him before he was born? How could he explain that, admit that, to anyone, let alone Ashleigh, who was dealing with her own problems?

He spun on his heel and headed to the door, opening it, then turned around to look at Ashleigh. There was anger in his eyes, yes, but there was also pain and bitterness, "I never ignored you, Ashleigh. And I didn't leave you like your mother did. I'm still here." And on that note, he stepped outside and slammed the door behind him, not wanting or perhaps unwilling to hear her response.

[ASHLEIGH JASE SALVADORI]

"Yea, I know how you are with most people. But it was always different between us! It always has been,"

Jared was completely right, she had always been comfortable enough around him that she would never push him away when anything bad happened between them. They always got over it. This time though, it was different. She was confused about her feelings for him. They had been so close for so long she wasn't sure how to take or handle the feelings she had for him. It all felt so weird for her.

"You don't have to scream at me to leave! I will, gladly,"

Stumbling backwards, Ashleigh stared at him, not too sure what to say. She choked on her words. "Then leave already." She knew what she had done, pushed away the only person who had honestly ever cared for her. Her vision blurred as the tears began to rise, letting it sink it. She tried her hardest to keep them in until after he left. She had messed everything up, there was no way of fixing this. That she knew of at least. She watched as he headed towards the door, she stayed locked in her spot, unable to move.

"I never ignored you, Ashleigh. And I didn't leave you like your mother did. I'm still here."

Ashleigh gulped, feeling her throat tighten almost as much as it did when she got the call about her mother. She flinched when she heard the door slam and she stumbled against the wall, sliding down to the floor. She wrapped her arms around her knees, hiding her face into her arms as she finally let it all out. All the tears she held in to hide from her sister, from everyone. She couldn't control her sobs and everything began to sink in. All of it. It wasn't long before Cassidy had her tiny arms wrapped around as much of Ashleigh as she could. She kept quiet, like she always had, but her presence gave off a comforting touch, she hadn't felt in so long.