embarrassment and sheer anger. She was itching to yell at him, to really let him have it. The little voice in her head was getting quieter and quieter, while Ashton's was getting louder and louder.
Ashton nearly jumped for joy to see his plan working. He found Noah in the group of people and pulled him aside. "Hey, I'm about to do something to complete my plan, and Kaylee's really going to need you. Just a heads up."
Noah was confused, but trusted Ashton and whatever he was going to do. He nodded his head and clapped Ashton on the back. He stood pretty close to Kaylee, in a place where he could easily be found when needed.
Ashton knew that Kaylee needed to get her spark back, and the only way he could think for that to happen was to get her really pissed at him so that she went off on him. She needed the fire back in her life, she needed the passion. She needed the explosive anger to blast through the wall she had built around herself.
He searched the room for his pawn, and found her wearing a tight pink spandex dress. Her curly blonde hair was teased, and she looked like someone who was chewed up and spit out of the '80s. He puffed up his spiky hair, zoning in on his game. He chatted the blonde up for a few minutes, feeling like he was talking to a wall. He knew she'd work just fine; she was willing to do anything to be with him.
Ashton led the woman over to where Kaylee was sitting in the corner. He took a deep breath and did the only thing he could think of to help. "Hey Kaylee, this is..." He looked at the woman with him, realizing that he didn't know her name.
"I'm Prissy," she said excitedly, popping her gum.
"Prissy, right." Kaylee nodded her head slowly. She could totally see that being the woman's name.
"Anyway, Prissy is going to be in my bed with me tonight, so if you get the urge to crawl into my bed in the middle of the night, think twice." His voice had a harsh edge to it. "I know you like sleeping with me though. All the women do."
The look on Kaylee's face nearly killed him. He saw all the anger, and all the hurt. She was finally starting to show some emotions. He could see her hands shaking as she sat there looking at them. "What? What's wrong Kaylee? Got something to say?" he asked innocently.
"You ass," Kaylee whispered.
"What was that? I don't think I heard you."
"I said you're an ass! There, hear me that time? You are so full of yourself and that makes me sick!" she yelled. "And here I thought you were actually becoming a real human being. You are nothing but a sorry excuse for a man." Kaylee got off the stool she was sitting on. She hoped that her legs were strong enough to carry her away.
"I despise you." Her tone bit at him.
He watched as Kaylee ran into the arms of her brother. He hated that he had to hurt Kaylee, but it was the only way to get her to let her emotions out. They had been getting along so well, which was nice for a change, but he'd rather see Kaylee living her life again, even if it meant that she went back to hating him. He knew it was all for the best.
Noah met Ashton's eyes, giving him a silent thank you. His sister was no longer in her zombie-like state, and he knew she'd be back to herself in no time. "Come on, let's get out of here." Noah told his sister and led her back to the bus.
"I don't think I'll ever understand how you can be friends with that ass," she told him then, just as she had told him time and time again.
Noah looked over at his sister and gave her a look, the one he had given her so many times when they were growing up whenever she was upset. It was the look that said she was being silly, the look that said she had gone overboard...again.
And then it happened. She laughed. For the first time since the attack, she really laughed.
Ashton watched out the window from the appearance party, and suddenly the world was right again. He never thought it would feel so good to have Kaylee angry with him. It was worth it to see