Ashlyn walked to the door and opened it, hiding the piece of paper she had been writing on. She smiles at him teasing her slightly curled hair with a finger. “Do I look the part?” She cooed at him as she twirled a bit as she had on heeled boots. “You’ll do for today I suppose.” She teased him.

Kane

Wow. Ashlyn looked gorgeous. Kane raised his eyebrows in surprise while giving her outfit the once-over.
"You don't look too bad either", he replied, still taking in her sudden transformation. Girls really did look another person with a bit of makeup and a beautiful dress. Not that he would mention that to Ashlyn, who was beaming with happiness.
Instead, he gently took her hand and led her outside the apartment, excited to see how people were going to react to them.

Ashlyn poked his cheek a grin on her lips. “Come on now, don’t look too surprised. I always look good don’t I?” She teases as she took his hand quite easily, entwining their fingers together almost without much thought. This is just a game. Don’t you dare get invested. You will wind up crying when the inevitable happens. This. Is. Pretend. Don’t you dare believe otherwise. She chastised herself internally. But if it was one thing she knew how to do, it was keeping a pleasant smile on her lips and in her eyes even if everything inside was chaos. Much like every time he brought a girl to their home. It won’t be home for much longer though.

Kane

He joined in her cheerful laughing and gently squeezed her hand. "I've always admired your stress-free American ways, you know? All you seem to do is laugh and be happy", he said as they strode along the street, following another group of pub goers, who unsuccessfully tried to hide their wine bottles underneath their clothes while singing "Stayin alive" by Bee Gees. Two of the girls caught sight of them, but didn't seem concerned with what they saw and continued their conversation straight away. We might not actually feel it, but we do look like a normal couple after all.

“Oh come now. You haven’t made fun of my Americanism in what seems like forever.” Ashlyn mockingly pouts at him exaggerating Her American accent again just to irk him some. It always came back after talking with her parents though. “Sides I can get angry. Remember the fourth girl you brought home? I almost broke her nose with that punch.” The girl had REALLY been asking for it though. And usually Ashlyn was a pacifist, but she did have a temper.

Kane

"Almost? I think you actually DID break her nose", Kane replied without batting an eye. Yes, she could over-exaggerate sometimes, but more often than not she expressed her opinion without breaking somebody else's bones. Thinking back, he had to admit that she must've genuinely disliked Cara, who had treated Ashlyn like a piece of shit. And as Ashlyn wouldn't just swallow her pride, she acted on her feelings.
"At least she has never reported you to the police. Sometimes I wonder if she was fully aware of her manipulative character." Kane knew that he hadn't realized it until later.

“I would have loved to see her try.” If there was something else Ashlyn was good at, it was avoiding getting into serious trouble. Besides Cara was in the past where she belonged and was no where near Kane any more. But now she had to deal with Joleen. “I still feel good about punching her to this day.” She coos exceedingly proud of herself. She offered to punch anyone else he wanted her to at one time and hadn’t been kidding either. Not that he deserves our protective nature the cad. Her rather brat like self retorted. She shoved the brat back where she came from and got closer to Kane. “For the act.” She smiles up at him not having to hide her adoring stare this time at any rate.

Kane

"Don't feel too proud, my dear. Who knows, maybe there'll be a police officer at the party whilst you brag about your achievement." Even though Kane was clearly joking, his eyes told the bitter truth: He did feel worried about her - feisty tendencies. Not because of someone like Clara, who he hadn't even been thinking about for ages, but for Ashlyn's own sake. He simply didn't want to see her getting into trouble.
As she lay around her arm around him and came closer, he smiled down at her petite figure. "I could almost get used to this."

“I’ll only deny you the pleasure.” Ashlyn sniffed sharply tilting her head in a pompous manner, but she couldn’t keep the teasing grin off of her lips. Yet she would be taking this from him once he got together with Joleen again. “Don’t you worry about me. I’m hardly ever going to get into another round of fisticuffs with someone.” Especially not for you any more. She silently added to her promise. Once they arrived to the pub she opened the door herself sending him another teasing smile. “You may like to act the gentleman, but I’m sure I have been opening my own doors this entire time.” She told him with a tiny giggle.

Kane

He followed her inside the pub, shaking his head in amusement. "You're cheecky today, but I like it." As they entered the building, loud music was blasting out his attempts to continue their conversations, which made him choose a quieter table on the other side of the room. "So, what kind of drink can I get you?" Even though Kane asked Ashlyn the question, his eyes were wandering around the room, looking for Joanna. What if she had chosen to go to a different pub today? She might even be out of town and he'd lay himself open to ridicule for no reason.
She'll be here sooner or later, don't worry. Everybody's seen our facebook update.

“I’m always cheeky, especially when you deserve it.” Ashlyn retorted as she sat down at a chair in the pub. “I could use a mudslide actually.” It was her only favorite alcoholic drink, but she figured she’d need one today. She hid her hands under the table to clench them even as she kept her easy smile on her lips. Always looking for someone else. Why am I Last in your thoughts?

Kane

"A mudslide and a Carlsberg, please", Kane placed his order, whereupon the barrister seemingly conjured up two glasses behind the counter and filled them with, as Kane referred to it, the good stuff.
"Have you found who you're looking for?" The barrister didn't lift his head as he posed the question. His focus was still on Ashlyn's drink, but he didn't need to look Kane in the eyes. The latter was caught off guard nevertheless.
"What do you mean?" Kane uncomfortably shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He hadn't expected the goddamn barrister to inquire about his private life and he certainly hadn't asked for it.
"Ah, doesn't matter. Just wanted to make sure you're okay. Haven't seen you for a long time." Saying this, the barrister placed the two drinks in front of Kane and flashed him an amused smile. "Enjoy your time."
Still taken aback by his curiosity, Kane rummaged around in his pockets to find the proper coins for the drink, but the barrister interrupted his efforts - again.
"Don't worry mate. This one's on me. Just enjoy your time."
Before Kane could even reply or mutter a simple thank you, the barrister went on to serve another customer.

Still baffled, he returned to the table and handed the drink to Ashlyn.

“Is it just me or are you attracting your own team now?” Ashlyn teases her friend with a cheeky grin as she took a sip of her alcoholic drink with relief. Chocolate always seemed to soothe her raffled feathers no matter how foul her mood was. “Just relax for now. If you are constantly watching for her, she might not show.” She told him reaching out and giving his hand a squeeze.

Kane

"It's crazy. The whole situation is a bit mad." Kane sat down on the chair opposite her and wondered whether the evening would continue with people staring at him, the desire to give him either helpful advice or slap him for being a womanizer written on every single one of their faces. His looks had always made him enduringly popular with the girls, yet it seemed that said girls had now assembled here in the pub to see him suffer through the evening, as if they were fully aware of his heartbreak - which they probably were.
"Jesus Christ, my exes are here to haunt me, - I mean us." Kane motioned to a small group of girls in front of the bar, who were barely able to contain their laughter.

“Want me to kick their ass for you?” Ashlyn purred giving the girls a warning stare that read: ‘yes you did just hear that and no, most of you won’t win against me.’ She caresses the back of his hand still holding it in hers. He needed her support and she has always given it to him in every form. These few days would be the last time she did so.

Kane

"Haha, you'd love to do that, wouldn't you?" He jokingly raised his glass, as if he intended to clink it with hers, but then decided to take a big sip out of it. A few minutes had passed, yet there was no trace of Joanna's friends, let alone his ex herself. He was beginning to lose hope, when he discerned a familiar voice in the moving crowd. He swiveled round, the glass still clenched in his hands, its liquor dripping on his hand. She met his gaze with a smile and tossed back her hair. Her pitch-black hair, that he used to love, still loved, she had now dyed blonde and straightened. Wispy strands framed her high cheekbones and accentuated her long lashes. He didn't have a chance to take in her shiny blue dress, as she stuck out her tongue and then disappeared into the crowd.

Ashlyn’s eye twitched as he paid attention to the bimbo Jolene, and not his ‘supposed’ date. Her devious nature came out to play; as she took the alcohol out of his hand before he spilled more, brought the hand covered in the liquid and licked some of it off, before wiping the rest with a napkin. She grins mischievously knowing that would catch his attention if nothing else would. “You are supposed to pay attention to your date. Otherwise I will cause a scene that will diminish your masculinity. And as you remember I do have many embarrassing moments in your childhood I hold over you.” She told him in a soft voice meant only for his ears.

Kane

"I can't believe she just did that", he whispered back and gently put his hand on hers, his eyes still fixed on Ashlyn's face. "After all this is what we've been waiting for. For her to walk into the two of us and be deeply shocked. But she didn't even seem bothered about it." He scanned the room for his ex-girlfriend's familiar figure or at least one of her friends, yet he could barely distinguish one dancer from the other in the rowdy party-crowd. He vaguely remembered Ashlyn's words to him as if he had dreamt about them last night and she hadn't voiced her opinion a few minutes ago. And as far as he knew her, and he knew her fairly well, she was a woman of her word.
"You know what, I think you're right. Let's get out of here, I could use a cigarette." He offered her his hand and motioned to the backdoor.

Ashlyn made a small face but took his hand anyway. “Don’t expect a kiss after your cigarette.” She teases him as she made her way with him out the back door and away from the smell of smoke. She didn’t like the smell of the smoke and had told him in no uncertain terms it wasn’t allowed in their house. She looks at his face. “Maybe she suspects this might be a farce. I would in her shoes. It’s the most common thought anyway. Besides me being your best friend since beginner school, you haven’t once made a romantic move on me.” And that had hurt the worse during these years.

Kane

"Isn't everybody's life a farce?", he replied as soon as they had reached the alleyway in front of the building. He rummaged around for the pack of cigarettes and then offered one of the last two pieces to her. "Fancy one?", he asked, even though he was completely aware of her aversion to tobacco. He didn't plan on changing her mind but loved to tease her.
"Well, I for sure didn't expect her to be blonde. Why do women change their hair colour again?"