Hellbent
Chapter 22
Seven of Cups
Ashley, Blake, and Andreas ate breakfast together at the table. After last night's events, the room was quiet and awkward. Ashley was dressed in jean shorts and a purple button-up shirt. Blake wore a black sleeveless T-shirt with grey jeans, and Andreas wore a black button-up shirt with black jeans.
Ashley prepared Bacon and fried eggs cooked in garlic, paprika, and rosemary; Smoked salmon, avocado slices, and sourdough toast; sauteed mushrooms cooked in butter and sage, coffee, and black rose tea.
Ashley sipped his tea, deep in thought. "I still can’t believe it. I thought Makayla was better than this… I guess I got the full moon clarity I was looking for," he thought, munching on his bacon.
Andreas locked his gaze on Ashley, observing his expression and body language. He took a sip of his coffee. This is my fault for being too cryptic. I should have been more direct. I told him to step back and think, not confront her. But maybe that’s what he needed, he thought.
Ashley looked away from them and down at his plate of mushrooms. Oh god! If Blake knew I was at the party, he’d never trust me again! He thought, munching on his mushrooms.
Andreas looked over at Blake with pleading eyes. Please don’t bring up the party, he thought.
Blake felt their eyes on him and bit into his bacon. If Ashley knew we were there, he’d never trust us again… he might resent me and rebel like he does with that clown, he thought, sipping on his coffee.
Maxx: “OWWWW! Ladies ‘n gentlemen! Maxxy Malone is in da room!”
He announced as he barged into the room, breaking up the tension.
Ashley: “I know. I could smell you coming.”
He said dryly. Andreas stumbled over a laugh.
Maxx: “Yo, where’s my breakfast at, A-Rad?”
He pouted.
Ashley: “There’s some bacon left on the bench.”
He shrugged. Maxx gaped at him.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! I want chickie nugz!”
He stamped his feet. Ashley sighed.
Ashley: “Ok, throw them in the microwave and eat them.”
He said flatly. Maxx gaped at him.
Maxx: “Ohh, come on, A-Rad be a good buddy and make them for me!”
He pleaded to him. Ashley turned to him.
Ashley: “Ok, if you be a good buddy and take a shower.”
He replied.
Maxx: “I don’t wanna!”
He whined like a child.
Ashley: “Then I don’t wanna either!”
He mimicked his whiny tone. Maxx gaped at him and flared thinking of Andreas’s card reading.
Maxx: “Oh yeah? Maybe I should tell them how you betrayed me with Mckayla!”
He threatened. Ashley drew back.
Blake: “Oh, when he brought her here after the market, you ditched while I was with Andreas?”
He interjected, eating his bacon. Ashley and Maxx both gaped at him. Ashley slunk in his seat.
Maxx: “WHAT?! You already knew?!”
He pouted.
Blake: “Two plates of mushroom pasta were on the table, and you don’t eat real food. Oh, and Ashley doesn’t drink lime vodka or wear purple lipstick. Neither do you.”
He stated, sipping his coffee. Ashley slunk down in his seat. His head swarmed with thoughts, wondering why Blake didn’t confront him and scold him for that or for taking the car last night.
Blake: “So, go take a shower, jester fuck.”
He concluded. Maxx pouted and huffed, marching to the bathroom.
~
Craig snapped his eyes awake to the loud pounding on the door. He sat up from the floor, covered in beer cans, still dressed in his ‘Sexy Lion’ costume.
Craig: “Yeah, yeah, comin’!”
He staggered to his feet and headed over to the door. His jaw dropped, and his heart sank when he saw a tall, bulking, middle-aged obese man filling his doorway. He had his dark hair slicked back in a receding hairline.
Craig: “Oh shit.”
He swallowed hard. The man rolled his eyes at Craig’s lion costume and shook his head.
Craig: “Hey, Calvin.”
He forced a smile, waving at him.
Calvin: “Oh shit is right!”
He huffed in a deep, booming voice as he marched into the house. Makayla and Kurt came into the room, alerted to the commotion. Kurt was in his boxer shorts and Makayla threw a bathrobe over herself.
Makayla: “What’s going on?!”
Calvin: “This is the last straw! You won’t be harassing the pretty lady next door no more!”
He warned him, waving his finger at him.
Makayla: “What pretty lady?”
She scoffed.
Jaclyn slipped out from behind Calvin and entered, smirking at them all.
Jaclyn: “Good morning, dear neighbours.”
She chirped, flipping her hair. They all glared at her.
Jaclyn: “Your landlord gave me the best birthday gift of all. Your eviction notice!”
She taunted and cackled, presenting them with their eviction notice.
Craig: “WHAT?!”
He rasped and glared at Jaclyn with sheer hatred.
Makayla: “YOU STINKY-FOOT BITCH!”
She snapped at her, shoving her down. Jaclyn gasped and shrieked as she fell to the ground, her stilettos falling off.
Jaclyn: “Y-you horrible bogans are so cruel!”
She pulled out a handkerchief and cried into it. Calvin’s face flared red.
Calvin: “HEY! This is what I’m talking about! I want you thugs off of my property!”
He demanded. Suddenly, his nose twitched as a foul odor permeated the room.
Calvin: “UGH! Did somebody die in here?!”
He groused and recoiled.
Makayla: “Is that your feet, Craig?”
Makayla coughed and gagged.
Craig: “WHAT?! NO! It wasn’t me!”
He covered his nose with his lion hat. Kurt pointed at Jaclyn on the floor.
Jaclyn: “HOW DARE YOU! MY FEET DON’T STINK!”
Calvin clapped his large hands together, alerting the attention of the hungover party.
Calvin: “ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY OUT! EVACUATE NOW! IT’S NOT SAFE!”
His loud voice boomed, ushering everyone out of the house. Jaclyn gaped at them.
Jaclyn: “HOW DARE YOU! HOW RUDE!”
She shrieked as people ran for their lives out of the house.
~
Ashley went into his bedroom, tearing the Metallogazmfest poster off the wall.
Ashley: “I hope I never see Nuklear Intoxikation ever again!”
He huffed bitterly. Maxx poked his head into his bedroom.
Maxx: “I TOLD you they were bad news, A-Rad! Glad you’re finally doing da right thing for me! You’re a good friend!”
He grinned.
Ashley: “Yeah… sure.”
He said flatly, not wanting to tell him the real reason. Let him think that. Something on the poster caught Ashley’s eye.
Ashley: “Huh… Axe Beest?”
He quirked an eyebrow. Maxx paused and laughed like a hyena.
Maxx: “Must be another copycat band!”
Ashley gave him a dubious look. That’s strange, Ashley thought to himself.
Maxx: “Let’s go out ‘n do something FUN, A-Rad!”
He exclaimed, ushering him out of his room.
Ashley: “The strippers aren’t open yet.”
He deadpanned.
Maxx: “No, no! A-Rad! YOU pick something!”
He grinned. Ashley gaped at him.
Ashley: “Really? You want to do something I want to do?”
He gave him a dubious look.
Maxx: “Dats right, best bud!”
He grinned.
Ashley: “Alright…”
He smirked.
~
Ashley and Maxx arrived at Voyage Burger. Maxx pouted. Ashley ignored his pouting and went over to Yvette.
Ashley: “Hey, Yvette! How are you doing?”
He beamed.
Yvette: “Hello Ashley! Nice to see you again!”
She beamed, leading them over to an empty booth.
Maxx: “I’m standin’ right here!”
Yvette turned to Maxx.
Yvette: “Oh, I didn’t see you there!”
She taunted him and laughed.
Maxx: “WHAT?! How could you not see me, baby?! I’m Maxxy Malone!”
He pouted, stamping his feet.
Ashley: “Dude… sit down.”
He sighed. Maxx turned to Ashley.
Maxx: “OH! Sorry, buddy! Let’s get you something to eat!”
He grinned, sitting across from him in the booth. Ashley gaped at him owlishly.
Ashley: “Uhh, are you feeling ok?”
He tilted his head.
Maxx: “Better than ever to be around my best buddy!”
He grinned at Ashley. Ashley flashed him a quick smile and looked out the window. All this time, I just wanted him to be nice to me, and now that he is, why does it feel… weird? Why now, all of a sudden? He thought.
Yvette skipped over to them with her menu book.
Yvette: “What can I get you?”
Maxx interjected.
Maxx: “Gimmie your nuggiez and for my best bud, anything he wants! It’s on me!”
He grinned, gesturing to Ashley, pulling out his neon pink credit card with his face printed on it. Ashley’s eyes widened.
Ashley: “Really? Anything I want, huh?!”
He gaped at him dubiously. Ashley looked down at the menu and shifted his eyes.
Ashley: “Ok, I want a Ragnarok burger, a Chockorok shake, Odin rings, a Little Berserker Meal, and a Valhalnilla Voyage ice cream. Oh, and the Battered and bruised pancakes and the Tyr’s Day special! Oh, and some Freyja fries!”
He read off the menu items, swinging his gaze over to Maxx, anticipating the fat jokes, but to his surprise, Maxx just kept his big stupid grin intact.
Maxx: “S- Sure, A-Rad! Comin’ right up!”
He exclaimed. Yvette’s eyebrows rose surprisingly.
Yvette: “No tomatoes?”
Ashley smiled at her, surprised she remembered that about him.
Ashley: “Oh, yes, no tomatoes, please! Thanks, Yvette!”
He smiled at her. Yvette nodded and skipped away.
Maxx and Ashley sat in awkward silence as they waited for their food.
Maxx: “So where’d you run off to last night?”
He pressed him.
Ashley: “I had to sort out some stuff.”
He said vaguely, not wanting to tell him what happened with Makayla..
Maxx: “Why didn’t you bring Maxxy with you?!”
He asked.
Ashley: “I needed to do it alone.”
He said vaguely, and another awkward silence followed.
Yvette skipped back to the table with trays of their food. Ashley brightened when she returned, feeling lighter. Ashley’s eyes widened at all the food taking up the entire table. Did I go too far? He wondered.
Ashley: “Hey, Yvette, wanna join us?”
He smiled at her. Yvette brightened.
Yvette: “YES!”
She exclaimed, sitting down next to Ashley in the booth. Ashley blushed and smiled. Maxx pouted.
Ashley: “So, uh, when does your shift end?”
He asked her, digging into his long boat of ice cream, sucking it off the spoon.
Yvette: “Very soon, why?!”
She chirped, munching on Odin rings.
Ashley: “Do you want to come over?”
He asked her, taking a long sip of his Valhalnilla shake and locking his gaze on her. Yvette fixed her gaze on him and blushed.
Yvette: “R-Really?!”
She beamed. Ashley nodded and smiled.
Ashley: “I wanna make it up to you and hang out with you… without interruptions.”
He said, thinking of Craig and Makayla. Yvette reddened.
Yvette: “Oooh, I’d like that!”
She giggled and fanned her face. Maxx gaped at him, stunned beyond belief.
Maxx: “Oww! Good goin’ A-Rad! Maxxy taught you well!”
He grinned smugly. Ashley tilted his head. He didn’t know what to say to that. He turned back to Yvette.
Ashley: “We can do real Edgy Veggie in my garden! We can have tea and pat cats, and you can do your drawings!”
He exclaimed with excitement.
Yvette: “YES! Let’s DO IT!”
She beamed. Maxx pouted.
~
Craig, Makayla, and Kurt arrived at the Wood’s mansion with their belongings and instruments shoved into Kurt’s van. Craig was still dressed in his lion costume.
Craig: “Thanks for havin’ us, V!”
He grinned at her.
Veronika: “Not at all! I can’t believe the stink queen did that to you guys!”
She gasped and shook her head.
Makayla: “She ruins everything.”
She said defeatedly.
Veronika: “It probably worked out for the best, though…”
Her voice trailed off. Makayla quirked an eyebrow at her.
Veronika: “Now we’re all here together as a band!”
She grinned, stretching her arms out and welcoming them inside.
Craig: “Yeah, and I can be the king of the jungle in a royal palace!”
He laughed, swinging his tail around.
They were alerted to a hissing noise and turned to see Lord Kradula glaring at them from the top of the marble staircase.
Lord Kradula: “HISS! Be gone, bogans! Splash!”
He hissed, swishing his cape. Craig burst out laughing.
Craig: “WAHAHAHAH! Oh fuck yeah, we got entertainment!”
He laughed at him.
Lord Kradula: “Yeah, you, the cowardly lion!”
He rolled his eyes.
Craig: “Oi, don’t talk shit about my sexy lion costume!”
He pouted, stretching his arms out. Veronika rolled her eyes.
Veronika: “Craig. Go shower and change out of that stupid thing, please!”
She commanded sharply. Craig pouted and grabbed his tail.
Craig: “Fine!”
He huffed and stomped up the stairs, shoving past ‘Lord Kradula’ as he went to the bathroom.
Veronika shook her head and turned to Makayla and Kurt.
Veronika: “You two will be staying in the guest wing! Craig will be staying with me!”
She grinned, leading them up the stairs. Makayla sighed, thinking back to when Andreas had read her tarot spread. This must be that tower period he warned me about, she thought. Everything feels like it's crashing and falling apart, and I don’t know what’s happening. Ashley… and now my home. It’s like I’m cursed or something, she thought.
Veronika snapped her out of her daze, leading her to a small bedroom with a view of the backyard.
Veronika: “This is your room, Makayla. You will be just across from me and Craig!”
She grinned, pointing to the large bedroom at the end of the hall.
Makayla: “Oh, thank you, Veronika.”
She flashed her a smile and put her guitar and suitcase down. She sat on the foot of the bed and observed the room. It had the bare essentials with a wardrobe, a nightstand, and a queen-sized bed with black linen. It looked like a palace to her, but it didn’t feel like home.
The first thing she did was take out her guitar. She placed it against the wall to display it. Next, she emptied her suitcase onto the bed with her belongings: T-shirts, jean shorts, bras, lipstick, and photos of her and her favourite people that made her feel at home. She pursed her lips at the tiny glass vial Ashley had given her with the lavender oil he had made. She took a waft of it and sighed.
~
Yvette and Ashley sat together in his garden bed in the backyard, imitating the ‘Edgy Veggie’ experience. They harvested vegetables from his garden and put them onto their plates. Yvette petted Signora Pollo on her lap.
Yvette: “That will be two thousand dollars, dude!”
She put on a terrible hippie accent. Ashley chuckled.
Ashley: “Ohh, can’t I pay in peace and love?!”
He joked. Yvette giggled.
Yvette: “Ok! But they better be good peas and love!”
She joked. Ashley chuckled.
Ashley: “Deal!”
Yvette stroked her chin.
Yvette: “Actually, I changed my mind! You can pay in laughter!”
She cackled evilly, tickling his tummy. Ashley gasped and flopped to the ground.
Ashley: “Heheheheheheh HAHAHAHAHA AHAH HEHEHEHEEHEH!”
He wailed with laughter. Signora Pollo waddled over to him, pecking his feet.
Ashley: “AAAAHAHHAHAHHA No, Signoaraaaahahaha Pollhohohohohohooo!”
He squealed.
Maxx: “Pfft, what are you guys doing?”
Maxx pouted, standing over them.
Yvette: “No frowning!”
She pointed at Maxx. Ashley chuckled, and she laughed along with him.
Maxx: “What’s so funny about dat?”
He huffed.
Ashley: “Oh, I guess it's one of those inside jokes?”
He smiled at Yvette, scratching his head.
Maxx: “Oh, A-Rad and I have our inside jokes, too!”
He grinned at him. Ashley tilted his head.
Ashley: “Oh, like calling me fat and calling you a clown?”
He laughed.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! I’m NOT a clown!”
Yvette giggled with amusement at his reaction. Ashley turned to her and smiled.
Ashley: “Let’s go cook these in a KITCHEN!”
He nodded, picking up their plates and carrying them back into the house. Maxx followed them.
~
Ashley and Yvette cooked their fresh vegetables on the stove, and Ashley brewed fresh tea. Maxx came into the room with his box of merchandise.
Maxx: “Oww! I’m givin’ away FREE Maxxy merch on da house!”
He offered, presenting them with his glamour shot photos, posters, and T-shirts. Ashley swung his gaze to that box, thinking back to the day at the market stall, and everything Makayla had told him came flooding back again… and then he thought of her again. He shook his head and turned to Yvette.
Ashley noticed Yvette staring intensely at Maxx’s “Missing bandmates” poster with the photo of him with his bandmates.
Ashley: “Uhh, Yvette? Is everything alright?”
He gently tapped her shoulder, startling her out of her daze.
Yvette: “Yep! Can I keep this?!”
She asked, clutching the poster in her hands. Ashley and Maxx both gaped at her.
Maxx: “What?! Out of all my merch, you want THAT one?!”
He pouted.
Ashley: “Dude. It’s your missing bandmates.”
He sighed.
Yvette: “Yes! Maybe I can help you find them!”
She nodded her head vigorously.
Ashley: “Really?!”
He gasped and beamed.
Maxx: “Oh, dats great!”
He grinned. Yvette flicked her gaze up to the clock on the wall.
Yvette: “AHH! It’s five o'clock!”
She gasped, running into the lounge room. Ashley and Maxx both gave her a quizzical look and followed her into the room.
Blake and Andreas were cuddled on the couch, watching a nature show together. Yvette swooped in and changed the channel.
Blake: “Hey!”
He gaped at her.
Yvette: “My fave show is on now!”
She beamed.
On the TV was a cartoon Viking man with large feet sailing on a Viking ship. The theme song played with heavy pounding drums and a chorus of throat singers chanting. “Varg the Viking!” It then cut to the title card of the episode: “Varg the Viking Goes to the Grocery Store.” It then showed Varg waddling in his Viking hut with his enormous feet. He then jumped onto his cow and rode to the grocery store. Varg stomped down the aisles to buy his favourite candies and rode back home on his cow. The end.
Maxx: “Pfft, that was lame.”
He scoffed.
Blake: “I hate it when we’re on the same page.”
He huffed at Maxx.
Ashley: “Why are his feet SO BIG?!”
He laughed, stretching his arms out to emphasize the size..
Yvette: “Because he’s Varg the Viking!”
Andreas: “Why make his feet so big if it has no bearing on the plot?”
He stroked his chin. Yvette turned to him.
Yvette: “Huh?”
Andreas: “Well, he’s an outcast but faces no backlash? Really? What is the point of this story?”
He explained.
Blake: “I think you’re looking too deeply at something that isn’t deep.”
He put his arm around Andreas. Ashley pursed his lips and glanced down at his feet.
Ashley: “You’re so right, Andreas! I only have little feet, and people have been mean to me for other stuff, but no one is mean to Varg…”
Yvette gasped at him.
Yvette: “ME TOO!”
Ashley gave her an empathetic look.
Andreas: “I think everyone in this room has been bullied for being an outcast before.”
He stated. They all nodded in agreement, except for Maxx.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! Not me! I was popular at school!”
He countered. They all gaped at him.
Blake: “Yeah, as the laughingstock.”
He snorted.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! I had lots of friends!”
He gloated. Ashley looked at him pensively.
Andreas: “You don’t know how to be a friend, so how can you have friends?”
He countered, looking over at Ashley.
Blake: “You’re either lying or too stupid to realise they were laughing AT you, not with you.”
He shook his head.
Ashley: “Or your parents forced them to be your friend.”
He added bitterly. They all turned to Ashley. Maxx gaped at him and froze.
Maxx: “Pfft, what?! Nah-ah! Don’t be silly, A-Rad! Everyone loved me!”
He waved his hand.
Ashley: “Well… they did it to me. So, they must have done it to everyone else!”
He huffed, folding his arms across his chest. Maxx froze. Blake gaped at Ashley. Huh, I never even thought of that.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! THAT’S NOT TRUE! EVERYONE LOVES ME! THEY TOLD ME SO!”
He cried and ran off to his bedroom.
Yvette: “Wow, you broke his brain!”
Ashley sighed and embraced himself.
~
Krystal burst into the Woods mansion.
Krystal: “OH EM GEE EX DEE, MAKAYLA!”
She squealed, glomping onto Makayla as she entered.
Krystal: “You're a literal QUEEN in a castle, babe!”
She kissed her cheeks. Makayla smiled a bit and led her inside.
Bobby was lounging around on the sofa, watching TV with a beer.
Bobby: “Heyyy, Makayla, wanna come watch Hellband with me?”
He drooled. Makayla frowned.
Makayla: “No, Bobby.”
She sighed. Krystal tugged her into the room.
Krystal: “Oh, hell yeah, dude! I LOVE that movie!”
She squealed. Bobby grinned widely.
Bobby: “Ohhh, that's hot!”
He belched. Makayla huffed when Krystal sat down with him.
Makayla: “Actually, I was hoping we could talk.”
She said to Krystal.
Krystal: “Sure, babe. We can talk!”
She smiled at her.
Makayla: “I meant just you and me… in my room.”
Bobby: “Ohoho, frisky ladies!”
He hollered.
Krystal: “Sure, babe, after Hellband, Ok?”
She chirped, looking over at the TV. Makayla huffed and went off to the kitchen.
On the TV, Two slackers in their 20s were playing in a terrible garage band called ‘Big Sexy Cock’. Suddenly, there was a loud crash, followed by an earthquake shaking the foundation of the earth, destroying the trailer park. Then a ravine opened up, and demons started pouring out. Winged ones, horned ones, all sorts of hellspawn. The sky turned blood red, and flames shot out of cracks in the ground. The two slackers were overjoyed and high-fived each other with air guitars. "Hell yeah! This is so metal!" They wailed with excitement.
Makayla came back into the room, drinking a bottle of vodka. Bobby was headbanging, drunk out of his mind.
Bobby: “Wheeeeew!”
Krystal: “Ha, so RAWRK!”
The two slackers devise a plan with the demons to a “ROCK OFF!” The demons formed a band called ‘Hellspawn’ against ‘Big Sexy Cock’. If the demons win, they get to ravage the earth for eternity. If the humans win, the demons have to "piss off". A busty brunette named Judith fumed with the boys about this because their band SUCKS and they’ve doomed humanity with their stupidity. The slackers retort, "Whatever Judith… more like JUDAS PRIEST! METAAAAAAHL!"
At first, it seemed the demons were winning with their “tasty licks and shreds,” and it looked like hope for humanity was lost… until they had an ace up his sleeve with… the grim reaper. Death himself played in ‘Big Sexy Cock’ with them. They lose until the reaper reveals the demons cheated because they were lip-syncing over Van Halen the entire time. One of the demons goes, “Hey, we’re demons, what did ya expect?!” The movie then ended with Judith kissing the slacker with dark hair, thanking him for saving humanity as “Running with the Devil” by Van Halen played.
Bobby: “DUNN DUNN DUNN DUNN! RUNNIN’ WITH THE DEVIL!”
He stomped around the living room with an air guitar, tripping over the lamp and crashing onto the coffee table. His hefty weight cracked the glass until it broke, causing it to smash all over the room.
Bobby: “OWWWH!”
Krystal burst out laughing.
Krystal: “OHOHO! Holy shit, dude! Bail! Bahahahaahahaha!”
She cackled, grabbing Makayla’s hand and running out of the room with her.
Makayla: “KRYSTAL!”
She gasped and laughed.
~
Makayla and Krystal panted in her room. They heard Veronika screaming at Bobby downstairs.
Veronika: “BOBBY! YOU BIG FAT BUFFOON!”
She screamed. Makayla and Krystal turned to each other, laughing.
Krystal: “Oh, babe, I missed you so much!”
She cooed and kissed Makayla. Makayla kissed her back.
Krystal: “Isn’t Veronika amazing? Look at this throne, girl, yaasss! She’s so great!”
She flopped down onto her bed. Makayla shifted her eyes.
Makayla: “She’s… something.”
She pondered. Krystal looked up at her.
Krystal: “Oh, come on, girl, don’t tell me you still hold a grudge against her!”
She huffed and shook her head.
Makayla: “I don’t know how to feel. Since she came into our lives, everything kept going wrong. Like a curse or something. Now she’s suddenly nice to me?”
She pursed her lips. Krystal gaped at her.
Krystal: “Are you shitting me?! Everything is finally going RIGHT! You’re living the dream and have got everything you always wanted! You’re in a female-fronted band! You’re on the line-up for Metallogazmfest! You’re living in a freaking MANSION, girl! And it’s all thanks to V!”
She spread her arms out with enthusiasm.
Krystal: “She’s your friend, not your foe! She showed you Trashley’s true colours and reunited our fiery love again! Come on, babe!”
She purred, sitting behind her and massaging her shoulders. Makayla pursed her lips.
Krystal: “If I ever see Trashley again, I’ll kick her ass, heh!”
She cackled. Makayla held her hand up.
Makayla: “Ashley is a he. Please don’t… ”
She countered.
Krystal: “HE?! Seriously? Wait, I thought you were done with men after that douchebag in Swanton?!”
She gaped at her. Makayla sighed and tensed up.
Makayla: “I thought so too, until I met Ashley…”
She murmured.
Krystal: “What, you think I can’t take on a man?”
She teased and laughed. Makayla shook her head.
Makayla: “NO! You went too far, Krystal! I don’t want you hurting Ashley! Don’t make this worse than it already is! Leave him alone!”
She cried. Krystal furrowed her eyebrows.
Krystal: “But he called me lady MAXX! And he hurt YOU!”
She countered. Makayla bowed her head with a look of uncertainty. She didn’t know what to believe anymore.
Makayla: “Why did he go through all that trouble to plead his innocence to me if he was guilty?”
She pursed her lips and embraced herself. Krystal scoffed.
Krystal: “Babe, he was manipulating you! He wanted to save face!”
She assured her, massaging her shoulders.
Makayla: “I never knew Ash to be manipulative… he was always kind to me… and looked so… heartbroken…”
She sighed, bowing her head. Krystal huffed and rolled her eyes.
Krystal: “That’s because he’s good at it! I mean, he fooled me into thinking he was a girl. Kind?! Babe, he insulted me!”
She scoffed. Makayla frowned and shook her head.
Makayla: “I think Ashley wants to be a girl… or something in between.”
Her voice trailed off.
Krystal: “Hellooooo! He compared me to MAXX!”
She seethed, snapping her fingers.
Makayla: “Sorry, babe… I don’t know why he said that.”
She sighed, pondering on that. Why would Ashley say that?
~
Ashley lay asleep in his bed. He dreamed he was surrounded by clouds with seven cups hovering around him, resembling ‘The Seven of Cups’ tarot card. The first cup showed him as the Empress surrounded by cats. The second cup had a moon with a veiled person in white resembling the High priestess. The third cup had the mercury symbol marked on it, containing Maxx as a pink snake. The fourth cup had a tower with Mars hovering over it. The fifth cup had a collection of his favourite homemade baked goods, teas, essential oils, and his mother’s homemade jewellery. The sixth cup had one of his homemade wreaths with a shiny orb resembling earth at the centre of it. The seventh cup had a dragon blowing fire into a sun resembling the Sunshire symbol.
He fixed his gaze onto the fire as it shifted into their family home in Koala State, burning down. He saw Blake lighting a cigarette and rushing over to him, shaking his shoulders awake.
Suddenly, Ashley was jolted awake by someone shaking his shoulders.
Ashley: “ARGH! NO! Not again, Blake!”
He gasped and recoiled in a panic, sitting up and looking around for the fire. He caught his breath when he realised he was in their home in Selene Valley, and Maxx was standing over him, grinning.
Maxx: “SURPRISE!”
He grinned. Ashley gaped at him.
Ashley: “M-Maxx?! What are you doing?! What’s going on?!”
He gasped, shifting his eyes.
Maxx: “WE'RE GOING ON A BUDDY TRIP!”
He grinned, holding up plane tickets. Ashley’s jaw dropped.
Ashley: “What?! Am I still dreaming?!”
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! You’re LIVIN' da dream! We’re goin’ to DA BIG CITY! SWANTON!”
He exclaimed, putting his arm around him. Ashley gaped at him.
Ashley: “Swanton?!”
His eyes widened. Maxx nodded eagerly.
Maxx: “Yah-ha! Swanton is da BEST place to be for Christmas ‘n New Year's! All expenses paid by MAXXY! Let me treat ya!”
He exclaimed. Ashley’s eyes widened.
Ashley: “R-Really?! Why are you doing this, dude?”
He wiped a tear from his eye. Maxx put his arm around Ashley.
Maxx: “Look, A-Rad! Your brother’s weird goth boyfriend gave me da wake up call I needed! I need to be a better friend to you, n I wanna make it up to you ‘n be a good friend!”
He exclaimed. Ashley was taken by surprise. He wondered how Andreas had gotten through to him, and he felt foolish for losing his faith in people changing.
Ashley: “T-thank you, dude. That means a lot to me...”
He smiled and shed a tear.
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