Page 2 of When love and Hate Collide

“Jeyla?”

“Hm.”

“Jey? Wake up. JEYLA JENKINS!”

I groan and peel my eyes open slightly to peer up at my best friend shaking and poking me. “Whaaaat?” I whine like a petulant child yanking the covers up and over me completely.

“Come on, get your arse up. We're going to be late. We need to make a move and you take forever to get ready.” Ashlyn informs and yanks the covers back off me again.

I open one eye and glance over at the clock to look at the time, “Ugh! You’re such a cock. It’s six o' clock in the morning, Ash!” I huff, turning over to my side with a groan and pull the covers up and snuggle further into my comfortable bed.

“Yes, Jeyla, thank you very much for pointing that out to me. I am fully aware of what time it is. We need to go. Like right now if you want to beat the traffic.” Ashlyn pulls me up by the arm.

“Sleep. I need sleep!” I whimper closing my eyes again.

“You are so lazy, get the fuck up! Right now, or so help me God, I will call your mother.” She threatens pulling me out of bed by the legs. My eyes open and I smile while clinging to my bed for dear life.

“You wouldn't…”

Ashlyn glares at me, dropping my feet with a huff, “Damn straight I will. Now. Get. Up.” She yanks the pillow from under my head and hits me with it.

"Ow! Stop abusing me!"

“Shut up and get ready, you lazy tartlet.” Ashlyn throws over her shoulder, walking out of the room. “Don’t you dare fall back asleep!” She adds, poking her head back through the door when I lay back down on the bed and hug my pillow with a tired sigh.

“Five more minutes.”

The eager beaver that she is, Ashlyn is always the organised one… wellmostly. We’re driving back home for summer break. An ten-week break from university. I’m thrilled and really looking forward to not studying or cramming for essays and exams for a while and rest. I’m even more thrilled to see my family again. Neither Ashlyn nor I have seen our families properly in two years, unable to go home between work and studying for exams. We both decided to go to the University of Manchester which is about a four-hour drive from London. We’re in our third year, studying to get our degree in biochemistry and microbiology.

Since leaving secondary school, we have grown up to be somewhat mature and moderately attractive young women. I still have my long hair that ends just above the small of my back. I stand about five feet four inches. I’m slim and curvy in places I need to be and toned from exercising three times a week… not that I have a choice, I’m forced by Ashlyn.

Ash, on the other hand, has short black hair styled into a lob with slices of red lowlights in between making her jade green eyes stand out. She’s slightly smaller than I am but has a gorgeous and lean physique despite her petite frame.

An hour later, we’re on the road making out way back home to Kent, cruising down the motorway with the top down to my white Peugeot convertible and the music up. The sun burning high and bright in the clear blue sky emitting unbearable heat. There’s been an insufferable heat wave for the past three days, which makes a change from the constant rain and gloomy weather we were used to in the UK. “I’m so excited to be going home. It’s been such a stressful year. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone.” Ashlyn claims excitedly, pulling down the visor to apply her make-up.

I nod keeping my eyes on the road. “Me too,” I reply. “After the year I’ve had, I’m pleased to be away from Manchester for a bit.” I admit with a sigh and glance over at her briefly before turning my attention to the road again. “I am bummed we cancelled our plans to go to Mexico though. I was really looking forward to going away. I can’t believe you would rather go back home than to Mexico. I mean seriously, Ash, Kent over Cancun?”

Ash smiles and closes the visor, “Hey, you agreed! We can still go if you want, but we’ve both been complaining about being homesick, remember? How about this, we can go see them for a while then jet off to Mexico for a week. I just miss my family and everyone else we left behind.” Ashlyn tells me while fiddling around with a CD player.

“Everyone else? Such as?” I intone suspiciously.

Ashlyn’s lip curls but she avoids looking at me. “The usual crowd. You know, Courtney, Dax, Emily, Scott…” Ashlyn trails off.

I look at her sharply. “Uh-oh, Ash, please tell me you're not going there again?”

Ashlyn shrugs, “I can’t.”

I couldn’t help but gape at her in disbelief, “What?! Ashlyn, come on. You cannot be serious. The idiot dumped you for that whore Samantha. How could you still want to see him after what he did to you? The guy is a tool!” I exclaim looking between her and the road.

“I know, I know, he’s a class-A tosser. I just want to see the look on his face when he sees me and realises that he fucking missed out, you know now that I’ve had my glow up and all.” Ashlyn points out with a gleeful smirk.

My frown disappears, and I smirk back at her, “Oh I see.” I grin and poke her, “Ashlyn Reyes is out to get her own back. I love it. Do you think he’s still with Whore-mantha?” I questioned curiously.

Ashlyn cracks up laughing at the nickname. “Damn straight. Last I heard he was. God, I hate that girl. You know she slept with my brother?”

I raise a brow, “No way. She slept with Dean?”

Ashlyn snorts, “No Oz. Dean wouldn’t give her the time of day. Besides, she likes her men muscular, and Dean doesn't quite fit in that criterion.”

---