Chapter 8

 

When they were heading back to the studio a few minutes later, Brian and Ashalyn fell back a few feet behind the others. 

 

“Hey, Ash, I was wondering, would you and Mike want to go out to dinner and a movie with Leigh and I tonight?” he asked.

 

“Sure, that sounds fun,” Ashalyn said, smiling sweetly up at him.  “He’s not doing anything tonight, as far as I know, and neither am I, so I’m sure we can go.”

 

“Ok,” Brian said, smiling.  “Did you drive yourself up here, or did one of the other girls bring you?”

 

“I don’t even have my own car,” Ashalyn said, chuckling.  “Jen brought me.”

 

“Ok, well, if you want, I’ll stick around for the rest of the shoot and give you a ride home,” he said.

 

“You want to stay?” she asked.  “It could be another couple of hours, you know.”

 

“I know,” he replied.  “I’d like to watch, if you don’t mind.”

 

“No, I don’t mind,” she said.  “I’d like that.”  She smiled at him.

 

He returned her smile.  “Ok, cool,” he said. 

 

When they got back to the studio, he turned to the other guys.  “Hey, guys, I’m staying here to watch, and then I’m taking Ash home, ok?”

 

They exchanged glances.  “Ok,” Howie said.  “We’ll head on back to your place then, Bri.” 

 

“Ok, see you guys later,” Brian replied. 

 

“Bye, guys!” they called.

 

“Bye!” the girls called back, waving as AJ, Howie, and Nick climbed into the car they had rented and sped away. 

 

“Well, time to get back to work,” Elyssa said, heading back into the studio.  Ashalyn, Serena, Jenna, and Brian followed her in.

 

***

 

Almost two hours later, the five of them emerged from the studio, tired from their long day at the photo shoot.  They felt accomplished though, for they had finished all the shots for their album. 

 

“Bye, guys,” Ashalyn said, as Jenna climbed into her car, and Elyssa and Serena climbed into Elyssa’s car. 

 

“Bye!” they all replied, waving, as Brian and Ashalyn climbed into his car. 

 

Brian switched on the radio as he started the car.  The sounds of “I Want It That Way” filled the car. 

 

Ashalyn smiled.  “I love this song,” she said, grinning at Brian.  He grinned back.

 

“Thanks,” he said, blushing slightly.  “Someday, you’ll be hearing one of your songs on the radio.”

 

“I hope so,” Ashalyn replied, a little tremor of excitement running through her.  She realized that soon, JADE could be famous.  It had once seemed like an impossible dream, but now, it was becoming reality.

 

***

 

“Thanks for the ride home, Brian,” Ashalyn said, as he pulled into her driveway.

 

“No problem, Ash,” he replied.   “Call Mike and make sure he wants to go tonight, and then call me, ok?”

 

“Sure thing,” Ashalyn said.  “I’ll talk to ya later.”

 

“Ok.  Bye,” Brian said. 

 

“Bye,” she said, climbing out of the car.

 

“Hey Ash!” he called through his open window as she walked up the driveway. 

 

She turned around.   “What?” she called back. 

 

“You looked good at that shoot today,” Brian said.

 

Ashalyn blushed.  “Thanks,” she said, grinning awkwardly.  “Well, bye!” she called and scurried up the driveway and into her house. 

 

Brian just grinned and headed for his own home. 

 

***

 

 

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