Page 5 of When love and Hate Collide

I set her down and nod, “Aviator training; I was, but it wrapped up earlier than expected. Also, my leave days were just racking up and they kept hounding me to take them, so I thought I’d come back and surprise you all.” I explain with a shrug. “Wow, Ash, look at you. You look amazing.” I tell her.

I cannot believe how much she’s changed. What happened to my goofy twin sister?

“Ah, thanks bro, but look at you! My God! Some beefy hunk has replaced my chub chub brother.” She gushes clearly astonished by my change in appearance. I roll my eyes. I was indeed chubby for most of my childhood, nicknamed 'chub-chub' by my family wasn't exactly the greatest confidence booster. Once I got signed up for the R.A.F I had to go through intense combat and weapons training. Thank fuck for puberty, because long gone is the chubby kid, here I am now standing tall at six foot one, muscular build, my hair shaved on the sides and the top longer in length and styled messily.

“Well, getting your arse kicked for three years straight tends to have that effect on you,” I inform her, taking a seat on her bed.

“No kidding.” Ash utters picking up a top and folding it before she places it neatly in her cupboard. “I bet you have girls fawning all over you now. And if I know my brother, I can bet my life you’ve been making up for lost time,” she teases while folding and packing her clothes away.

I grin, leaning back against the headboard, “Can’t complain. So, how long are you home for this time? You’ve not been home in two years; Mum’s been chewing my ear off over it on the phone every time I called.” I point out to her with a smirk, and she smiles back at me sheepishly.

“I know, I know, I got it from her too, believe me. I planned to visit, obviously, but things got hectic with school—”

“In other words, you were avoiding coming home.” I clarify and she throws an unamused glare in my direction. “The question is why?”

“It’s a long story, one I’m too tired to share right now. Besides, we will have plenty of time to catch up over the eight or so weeks we have together.”

I don’t like the look on her face and despite the curiosity to know the reasoning of her reluctance to visit home, I know pushing for an answer will get me nowhere with her. I’ll get it out of her one way or the other, so I nod and yawn rubbing my hand over my face. “Where the fuck is Oz?”

Ash’s brows fuse briefly while she takes a long sip of the fresh lemonade sitting on her dresser. “Work, I think.” She answers after swallowing the mouthful of lemonade. “Last day before summer holiday. Hey, don’t fall asleep on my bed, shithead.” Ash complains when I hug her pillow, my eyes growing heavy.

I groan when she hurls a stuffed animal at me. “Too tired to move.” I mumble into the pillow.

“Fine, but you should know that Jeyla will be over soon.”

My eyes snap open and I scowl, my blood immediately runs ice cold in my veins at the mere mention ofhername. “Oh fuck, don’t tell me she’s back too?” I question distastefully and Ash laughs.

“She sure is, and I would really appreciate it if the two of you could bury the hatchet already. Don’t you think your animosity for one another has gone on long enough?” She sighs, sitting at the end of her bed by my feet. “We’re not kids anymore Dean, you’re both grown arse adults now.”

I just scoff and roll my eyes, “Nope, no can-do sis, sorry. There are a handful of things I can’t tolerate and she’s at the top of that list. I can’t stand the sight of her.” I admit sourly and sit up. Jeyla Jenkins—the bane of my existence. I have never detested another human being so much in my life as I do her.

“Dean, you haven’t seen the girl since you took off for the air force three years ago,” Ashlyn expresses with a huff, and I shrug. “Can you please just try to be civil when you see her?”

I sigh. “I do try, but that shrew brings out the worst in me, Ash. I can’t just flick a switch and suddenly be all chummy with her. It just doesn’t work that way. If it hasn’t changed in the last seventeen years, it’s not going to change now. I can’t see the two of us being ‘besties’ anytime soon.” I explain scowling.

Ashlyn glares at me. “You do realize that in all the years you’ve known her, you have never, not once said her actual name?”

I shrug apathetically. “Your point?”

A saddened look falls upon my sister’s face. I know she loves Jeyla like a sister, and it kills her the two most important people in her life can't tolerate each other for longer than five minutes, but I just can’t bear to be around her. Jeyla just rubs me the wrong way. “I wish you could both find a way to get along already. I’m honestly tired of constantly being stuck in the middle and having to pick sides.” Ashlyn vents somewhat woefully. I don't know why, but I suddenly feel a pang spread across my chest. I’m not exactly thrilled putting her in a position where she has to choose or mediate between me and her best friend, but I also can’t force myself to be friendly with her either.

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, I clear my throat, racking my brain for something to change the subject. “Why are you all dressed up?” Ashlyn asks, thankfully ending the awkward moment. I glance down at my outfit. I’m wearing a black tight fitted Moschino t-shirt with light blue denim jeans and a pair of black Timberland boots on my feet.

“I'm going out with a couple of the boys. They’re welcoming me back with a night of drinking until we're shit-faced.” I express grinning toothily and dig into the front pocket of my jeans when my phone starts ringing. I flip it open and answer it. “Yo!”

“Yo!” Comes Kaleb’s voice from the other end of the line. “You ready?”

“Yeah, I’m ready, bro. Are you on your way?” I ask, sitting up.

“We’re about five out.”

“All right, I’ll be out in a few.” I say and flip the phone shut again before turning my attention back to my sister. “Are you going out?”

Ashlyn nods. “Sure am, I’m going out with Jeyla and the girls.” She answers while rifling through her cupboard looking for an outfit to wear. She pulls out a skirt and holds it against her hips, humming.

“Okay, I’m off. Have fun, be safe and I’ll see you in the morning.” I say walking over to brush a kiss on her temple before walking out of her bedroom.

“It’s going to be a hell of a summer.” I hear her mutter as I’m closing the door.

---