Ashley Haner stood outside of Kelly's apartment furiously ringing the doorbell. It felt like thirty below zero and Kelly hadn't even made a sudden movement from inside. She didn't want to be rude, but Ashley was getting tired of standing out in the cold. She reached up and started feeling on the door frame until a hard object was secure between her fingertips. She inserted the key into the door lock and turned it, opening the door and placing the spare key back in its rightful spot. She closed the door and took off her coat and gloves before walking into the kitchen to help herself. She stopped midway though to look down the hall to where Kelly's bedroom door was wide open.

Ashley crept into the room quietly, not wanting to wake Kelly at a bad moment. She walked to the other side of the bed and stood against the wall, pacing herself. On three... she told herself.

One...

Two...

Three!

Ashley jumped onto the bed, singing the words to Kelly's favorite song.

"I'm in trouble
I'm an addict
I'm addicted to this girl
She's got my heart tied in a knot
And my stomach in a whirl

But even worse
I can't stop calling her
She's all I want and more
I mean damn
What's not to adore?

I've been playing too much guitar
I've been listening to jazz
I've called so many times
I swear she's going mad
And that cellular will be the death of us
I swear, I swear!"

Kelly's body bounced as Ashley jumped up and down on the mattress. Kelly's eyes opened and she looked to her singing and jumping best friend and groaned, pulling the covers over her face and rolling over. Kelly didn't want to get up, especially since last night.

"I know you're awake, Kelly Elizabeth Baker! And you will wake up by the tickling of your toes."

Kelly shot up at that, glaring at the girl standing next to her. Ashley giggled and hopped off the bed, making a "thud" sound when her boots hit the carpeted floor. Kelly groaned again.

"Please tell me you didn't jump on my bed with your shoes still on?"

Ashley looked down at the black boots on her small feet. She whistled guiltily and trotted out of the room, taking her shoes off and throwing them at the front door. Each shoe hit a different spot, making Ashley wince, but she ran back into Kelly's room, breathing heavy.

"'course not. What kind of friend would I be?"

Kelly lifted up the sheet that was caked in mud spots. "The lying kind," Kelly said as she grabbed her cell phone off of the night stand. She unlocked the screen to see seven missed calls and voice mails along with three text messages. All of the notifications were from the one person Kelly had been so upset about the night before: Brian.
Kelly decided to read the messages first.

From Brian: Kells, please call me. I have to talk to you.

From Brian: Kelly Baker. You will answer me this instant!

From Brian: Okay, I'll go. Bye.
Kelly sighed, and looked at the phone in her hands. Did she dare call him back?

She didn't know, but Ashley caught a glimpse of the saddened look on Kelly's face. Ashley knew it had to do with her brother.

"Call him, hear him out, and smile on." Ashley said before leaving the room. Kelly sighed and nodded. Ashley was right. Kelly needed to get what was on her mind and chest off and out. She hit the phone button and tapped on Brian's number, bringing the phone to her ear.

"Kelly?" Brian said after three rings. "I've been trying to call you all morning! What's going on?"

That infuriated Kelly. "What's going on? Why don't you tell me what's going on yourself. You're the one who was sucking face with that girl at Matt's party! And I bet you took her home and fucked her brains out all night. And she gave you her number, but you won't call her because you feel fucking guilty about what you did to me."

"What I did to you? Kelly, we're not even together! You won't let me!"

Kelly was silent for a while, but she knew she had to do it. "I was considering it, and I was going to say it last night. But you made the choice for me, Brian. We can't be together. Ever." And with that, Kelly ended the call and turned her phone off. She got herself out of bed and walked into the living room, slumping into the cushions on her sofa. She hoped she made the right decision, because it was hurting her like hell.