Chapter Two-Hundred Eleven: Dessert Ranch

Chapter 211

Dessert Ranch

Deimos was outside, sitting on his lounge chair on the backyard patio, with Jaxon seated across from him. Deimos wore a Pantera tank top, torn jeans, and black cowboy boots. Jaxon wore a red leopard print button-down shirt, tight black leather pants, and black Chelsea boots. The two were smoking. Deimos filled him in on his power loss, Ashley and Lazaros’ breakup, and their moving in with Jordi.

Jaxon: “Awfully fast, isn’t it?”

Deimos shrugged.

Deimos: “I never fucking trusted him, but when your choices are Lazaros or Blair, I guess it’s him.”

He huffed.

Jaxon: “Isn’t he like with that Madelyn girl?”

He asked.

Deimos: “For now.”

Jaxon: “How do you feel, man? Still in pain.”

Deimos winced and grunted.

Deimos: “I’m fine.”

He muttered. Jaxon put his hands out, and a red glow emitted from them as he healed Deimos. Deimos breathed a sigh of relief.

He raised his hands. A purple glow came out and then fizzled away.

Deimos: “FUCK!”

He roared. Jaxon grimaced. Deimos slammed his back into the lounge and folded his arms over, pouting.

Jaxon: “Sorry, man.”

He sighed.

The two men overheard Monica inside talking to Lazaros. Deimos knit his eyebrows.

~

Lazaros sat at the kitchen island with Monica. He wore a long purple frock coat with gold trim on the lapels and cuffs, a patterned purple vest, a white, pressed shirt, a dark purple cravat, and black loafers with a gold clasp.

Lazaros: “So, Ashley and I broke up.”

Monica knit her eyebrows and clasped his arm.

Monica: “I’m so sorry, Lazaros. This must be very hard on you both. I know how much you loved them.”

She said tenderly and pulled him into a hug.

Lazaros: “They didn’t love me. They went to live with Blair.”

Monica: “Oh, Lazaros, even if they did, it seems you were growing annoyed with them at every waking second.”

She sighed.

Lazaros: “Because I was! They didn’t tell me about Blair blackmailing them or telling Tristan! I couldn’t figure out how to help them, but he could! They never did that!”

He flailed his arms.

Monica: “Lazaros, you’re valid for feeling that way, but what about how you hurt them?”

Lazaros scoffed.

Lazaros: “I didn’t do anything of the sort. I just pointed out I couldn’t lift them from the lake because they’re fat, and Deimos could because he works out.”

He laughed. Monica gaped and heaved a deep sigh. Those two brothers are more alike than they wish to admit, she thought.

She cleared her throat.

Monica: “But I think it would do you good to meet other people, Lazaros. You and Deimos both put up walls to keep people from hurting either of you. Open your heart.”

She said gently.

The color drained from Deimos’ face.

Jaxon: “You okay?”

Deimos: “...Yeah.”

Jaxon: “She said you and Lazaros put up walls. She’s not wrong.”

Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “I don’t retreat into fucking lala land as Lazaros.”

He muttered.

Jaxon: “Yeah, Lazaros really is gone to space.”

He laughed.

~

Tristan sat at the dining room island with his brother, Bastien, and his father, and Jasper sat across from them. Tristan wore a black button-down shirt, a vest featuring his cats, Oliver, Kyle, and Francis, dark blue jeans, and black sheer socks. Bastien wore a white, pressed shirt with an olive-green sweater over it, brown pants, and brown loafers. Tristan sipped his tea while Bastien glared at his father and Jasper, making out.

Bastien: “Do you both mind?!”

He snapped as he slammed his hands down on the counter. Victor froze, and his bottom lip trembled.

Jasper: “Bastien, is something bothering you?”

Bastien: “YES! YOU ARE! FATHER IS MARRIED!”

He cried. Tristan looked away uncomfortably.

Victor: “CHARLOTTE IS DEAD! LEAVE ME ALONE!”

He bawled.

Victor: “WHY CAN’T YOU BE HAPPY FOR ME?!”

He cried on Jasper. Jasper held Victor close and rocked him back and forth.

Bastien angrily stormed outside. Tristan sighed.

Tristan: “I’ll talk to him.”

~

Tristan slipped on his black loafers and went outside to see Bastien embracing himself.

Tristan: “What’s going on, Bastien?”

Bastien sighed.

Bastien: “It’s disgusting! Even you don’t mind Deimos sniffing your worn underwear! I don’t want to hear them fornicating anymore or anything!”

He cried. Tristan knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Bastien… Look…”

He looked away.

Tristan: “That thing has been dead for years. It left Papa traumatized. Doesn’t he deserve to be happy?”

Bastien: “You should only love your first love!”

Tristan raised an eyebrow.

Tristan: “According to who? Bastien, not everyone has the luxury of meeting their soulmate on the first try. What if your ‘first love’ abuses you or cheats on you?”

He challenged him. Bastien looked away, and his bottom lip trembled.

Tristan: “You never found love to know this.”

He whispered.

Bastien: “Found love? I thought I wanted that, but after seeing all of this?”

He threw his arms up.

Bastien: “My life was Uncle Narcisse, Mother, and sometimes the odd guest he would invite, but I have never been around so many people…”

He embraced himself.

Bastien: “And as I experience the world outside Hallmark movies and what I lived…”

He hung himself.

Bastien: “It doesn’t do anything for me.”

Tristan scrutinized him.

Tristan: “So you’re not interested in finding love?”

Bastien drew a long breath and shook his head.

Bastien: “I thought I was because I adore Hallmark movies, but… I don’t know! It’s the status quo to get married and have kids, but I don’t want that, and what is wrong with me?!”

He pressed his hands against his temples and sank to the ground. Tristan knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Nothing is wrong with you, Bastien.”

Bastien’s eyes grew large.

Tristan: “There is no right or wrong way to live your life. You have to live your life and choose the path you deem is best for you.”

He said gently as he knelt down.

Tristan: “Some people are attracted to one gender, others two or more, and there are others who aren’t attracted to anyone. There is nothing wrong with any sexual orientation.”

He smiled. Bastien sighed.

Bastien: “So how do we deal with Father and Jasper?”

Tristan pursed his lips.

Tristan: “That’s the neat thing: we don’t.”

Bastien gaped owlishly at him.

Tristan: “Bastien, we’re not children anymore. Papa and Jasper are two consenting adults. I’ve known many people whose parents didn’t divorce when they should have. Not every couple remains together forever. Hallmark movies are fictional and idealistic. Couples fight; there are going to be moments when you can’t stand the sight of each other, but if you love the person, you both find a way to make it work. If not, you end the relationship.”

He explained.

Tristan: “Do I think Papa is rushing in? Yes, but he does this anyway. Jasper is a kind man. I’ve known him for a number of years. If you’re concerned he will hurt Papa, don’t be.”

He reassured him. Bastien sighed.

Bastien: “I don’t understand why he left Mother.”

Tristan: “He didn’t leave it; it left him and came back, and left again.”

He rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Sometimes things are not what they seem, Bastien.”

He said grimly.

Bastien rose to his brother’s height.

Bastien: “Tristan?”

Tristan: “Yes?”

Bastien: “I’m sorry I lashed out at you the other day.”

He bowed his head. Tristan smiled a bit.

Tristan: “I’m sorry, as well.”

He said earnestly.

Bastien: “I don’t know how to deal with Father and Jasper.”

He embraced himself.

Tristan: “Let them be, Bastien. Papa has been miserable for years, and he deserves to be happy just as much as you do.”

Bastien sighed and nodded.

~

Lazaros pulled up to his house, driving a purple glittering 1959 Cadillac with a rubber duck hood ornament. Deimos gaped at him.

Lazaros: “Check out my new wheels, Deimos! New car, new me!”

He grinned.

Deimos: “That car fucking sucks!”

He huffed. Lazaros grimaced.

Lazaros: “Well, I couldn’t be myself around Ashley! I had to be Blair! Now I will be me!”

He cried and drove away.

~

Lena was outside, roaming around her garden. She wore an off-the-shoulder, pastel blue floral dress with puffy sleeves that fell to her knees, beige wedge sandals, and a beige sunhat. Celeste landed in front of her, causing her to jolt. Celeste wore a Doro black tank top, denim shorts, thigh-high boots, a spiked collar, and a leather jacket. She had a fringe purse over her shoulder.

Lena: “Oh, it’s you again.”

She clasped her hand over her chest.

Celeste: “Yeah, it’s me again. Wanna check out the ice cream place?”

Lena: “How did you get here?”

Celeste: “I jumped.”

She drawled.

Lena: “Okay, well, let me get my purse.”

She rose and grabbed her pink butterfly purse. After she did, she yelped when Celeste grabbed her and carried her.

Celeste: “Hang on!”

Lena: “Don’t drop me!”

She screamed as Celeste leaped in the air. She clung to her and kept her hat on so it wouldn’t blow away.

She leaped in front of Dessert Ranch, a charming local creamery designed to look like a traditional red barn. Celeste put her down as Lena panted and caught her breath.

The establishment featured deep-red vertical board-and-batten siding, evoking a classic farmhouse aesthetic. It had a high-pitched roofline that created a prominent gable face.

A large, black rectangular sign with gold serif lettering hung above the entrance that said “THE DESSERT RANCH.”

There were two large display windows on either side of a central set of black double doors. A smaller, square window was positioned higher up on the gable.

Three black gooseneck lamps were mounted above the main sign, providing a vintage industrial touch.

A clean concrete walkway fronted the building. The perimeter was neatly landscaped with dark mulch, small green shrubs, and some rocks. On the left side was a statue of Mr. Nice Cream standing by a cow. On the right was a photo prop featuring Mr. Nice Cream with his arms around an ice cream cone and a cow, with holes for the cow’s and ice cream’s heads.

Celeste put her head through the cow’s head hole.

Celeste: “MOOOO!”

Lena laughed at her.

Celeste opened the door for her, and the two women entered. It was a spacious dining area with booths, tables, and chairs. There was cedar-wood flooring, walls, and a vaulted ceiling. On the left was a small gift shop with t-shirts and merchandise for the store, as well as shirts with cow puns, such as a calf saying, “I love my moomie and my moomie loves me.”

Above the counter where patrons are served, a menu listed over fifty ice cream flavors, various toppings, waffle cones, waffle bowls, sugar cones, floats, shakes, and the ultimate menu item: Mr. Nice Cream’s Freshest Ice Cream Special.

Ashley’s eyes lit up when they saw Celeste and Lena approaching.

Ashley: “MEOW! Welcome to Dessert Ranch, I am Tira-meowsu, the tiramisu cat! How may I serve you?”

They beamed at them.

Celeste: “Hey, Ash, nice threads.”

She smiled. Ashley beamed and spun in a circle. Madelyn approached from behind the counter, dressed in a green turtle costume, wearing bold eye makeup and a turtle bow in her hair.

Madelyn: “And I am turtle cheesecake! How may we serve you today?”

She announced, spreading her arms out.

Celeste: “Hey, Maddie! Nice threads, too!”

She waved.

Madelyn: “Hey, Celeste! You too!”

She beamed. She looked over to Lena beside her.

Madelyn: “Hello! I’m Madelyn or Turtle Cheesecake!”

She greeted Lena.

Lena: “Hi, Madelyn! I’m Lena! Nice to meet you!”

Celeste: “You two just met? I bet Jordi told you lots about her!”

She smiled.

Lena: “No, just Gina.”

She shifted her eyes. Ashley tilted their head. Madelyn’s eyebrows rose.

Madelyn: “Huh?”

She paused for a moment to take in what was going on. She looked more closely at Lena, getting a better look at her.

Madelyn: “Wait… are you related to Jordi?”

She asked. Lena nodded.

Lena: “Yes, I’m his sister.”

She confirmed.

Madelyn: “Oh?! I didn’t know he had a sister! He… didn’t tell me that, haha…”

She pressed her fingers together.

Madelyn: “...He never told you about me, huh?”

Her voice trailed off. Ashley knit their eyebrows. Lena put her hand up to her mouth.

Lena: “No… He told me about Gina after she did something to me.”

She embraced herself.

Celeste: “Yeah, he told his friends about Lena, and Ashley knows ‘cause they live with him! Tristan told me that, and I saw it!”

She bearmed. Madelyn paused.

Madelyn: “...So, he told you about his crazy ex, but not about me, huh?”

Her voice trailed off. Madelyn’s head spun with confusion and hurt. Lena looked around awkwardly and pleaded with Celeste to get out of there. Celeste blinked. Why wouldn’t he tell me, and why would he tell them but not me? Madelyn wondered.

Madelyn: “Oh, you’re living with Jordi now?”

She turned to Ashley. Ashley paused.

Ashley: “Yeah… me and Lazaros broke up, and Jordi took me in… I’m sorry, I thought he told you…”

They awkwardly ran their hands through their hair. Madelyn stared off into space.

Madelyn: “No, he did not.”

She said flatly and laughed.

Lena: “Celeste, can we go?”

She whispered.

Celeste: “Why?”

Suddenly, they were alerted by a loud horn and turned to see a purple glittering Cadillac pull up by the curb with a rubber duck hood ornament. Ashley tilted their head. Is that who I think it is?

Celeste and Lena looked at the car.

Celeste: “What the fuck, Lazaros?”

She huffed. Lena scrunched her nose. Oh, God, that is so tacky, she thought.

Madelyn: “Wow, that is the sweetest ride ever!”

She beamed and laughed.

A purple, glittering loafer stepped out as Lazaros emerged, dressed in a sparkling white chef’s uniform. Ashley’s heart sank when they saw him.

Lazaros: “The masterchef has arrived!”

He spread his arms out with a wide grin as he entered the shop. He turned to see Brad seated at a booth eating “Mr. Nice Cream’s Freshest Ice Cream” special, which was 12 scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, bananas, cherries, marshmallows, and peanuts. The ice cream was over his face, his shirt, and his pants. Lazaros twisted his face with disgust.

Lazaros: “This is allowed?”

He pointed to Brad, who let out a giant burp.

Lazaros: “Disgusting.”

He whispered and went up to the counter. Ashley’s heart pounded in their chest as Lazaros approached them.

Lena: “Celeste, can we go?”

She whispered.

Lazaros: “Why? Because of THAT disgusting sight?!”

He pointed at Brad.

Lena: “N-No, it’s just awkward, I’m sorry!”

She stammered. Ashley swallowed hard and nodded in agreement with her.

Celeste: “Oh, it’s because Jordi didn’t tell Madelyn about you!”

She snapped her fingers.

Madelyn: “Yes, that is very awkward!”

She laughed bitterly. Lazaros turned to Madelyn.

Lazaros: “He didn’t tell you about his sister? I always tell my brother about my partners, and I share my love of feeding with him, his boyfriend, and friends, so I don’t get that at all!”

He laughed. Ashley sighed.

Ashley: “There are some things you shouldn’t share… like fetishes.”

They muttered. Lazaros clenched his fist behind his back when he heard Ashley.

Madelyn: “Nope, he must have forgotten or something!”

She laughed bitterly with hurt in her tone.

Lazaros: “How could he forget?! I always tell my brother about my partners I get and tell my partners about my brother, Deimos, and his super genius boyfriend, Tristan!”

He laughed bitterly.

Madelyn: “I have noooo idea. Well, that’s great then, but he didn’t do that, so.”

She said.

Lazaros: “I dunno why he wouldn’t do that because you dress so cool.”

He nodded and beamed.

Madelyn: “Thank you! I’m Turtle Cheesecake!”

She smiled.

Lazaros: “I can make a BANGER turtle cheesecake!”

He grinned.

Lazaros: “I have a recipe for it in my cookbooks. I wrote 17 cookbooks.”

He laughed.

Madelyn: “Ooh, really now?! I’d be delighted to try your cheesecakes!”

She beamed. Ashley gaped at them.

Ashley: “...Are you trying to hit on my co-worker?”

They gaped at Lazaros.

Lazaros: “Sorry, Mrs. Donati, don’t talk to me.”

He hissed through a grin.

Ashley: “Whatever, Mr. Donati!”

They hissed back at him.

Ashley: “Don’t be fooled by his charm! He just wants to feed you and rub your tummy!”

They warned Madelyn.

Madelyn: “What’s so bad about that?”

She laughed.

Ashley: “What about Jordi?”

They knit their eyebrows at Madelyn.

Tristan entered the ice cream shop. He gaped at Brad and then at Lazaros. Lazaros glared at Tristan.

Lazaros: “Fancy seeing you here, Tristan. Did you know your good friend, Jordi, never told Madelyn about Lena or vice versa?”

Tristan glared at him.

Tristan: “Yes, I knew.”

He said flatly.

Madelyn: “Well, that makes me feel better.”

She joked and laughed.

Lazaros: “Why didn’t you help him?”

Tristan: “Not here, Lazaros.”

He said coldly.

Celeste: “Oh, yeah! I remember Ashley told me once that Jordi complained to them about Madelyn, and Ashley complained to Jordi about Lazaros!”

She blurted. Tristan turned to Celeste and shifted his eyes. Why did you say that aloud, Celeste? He wondered. Lena looked down at her feet. Lazaros’ jaw tightened, and Madelyn frowned. Ashley froze, and their eyes widened like a deer in headlights.

Madelyn: “Really? What did he say, Ashley?”

She laughed, resting her head on the palm of her hand. Ashley shifted their eyes.

Ashley: “Uhh, maybe we should all talk in private over some tea or something…”

They stammered.

Tristan: “This has blown way out of proportion.”

He sighed.

Madelyn: “We are in private now. It’s just that guy and us. We can talk in front of that guy.”

She pointed at Brad and laughed.

Ashley: “I think Jordi should be here for this talk. He’s not around to defend himself, and I feel like he should be the one saying this to you himself…”

They sighed.

Lazaros: “That guy is not going to digest anything we say other than all that ice cream. That is the most disgusting show I have ever seen!”

He gagged.

Tristan: “What is there to say? If Jordi never told Madelyn about his sister and he didn’t tell her, this runs much deeper than being forgetful, which Jordi is not.”

He said firmly. Madelyn bowed her head, looking hurt.

Lazaros: “Then if he vented to Ashley about it, he vented to YOU about it!”

He pointed at Tristan.

Tristan: “He did.”

He nodded.

Madelyn: “Why didn't he just tell me?”

She scratched the top of her turtle headband.

Tristan: “Tell you what, about Lena or his problems? My guess is he felt you wouldn’t listen because he feels you’re off in your own world. I apologize for being blunt, but I cannot think of a gentler way to approach this.”

He said gently but firmly. Ashley bowed their head and nodded.

Ashley: “That's how I felt with Lazaros… Jordi was right, you are alike…”

They sighed.

Madelyn: “Why are you apologizing for? I'm not offended. I love being off in my own world. It's cool and fun!”

She laughed.

Lazaros: “It really is, though!”

He laughed.

Lazaros: “I do what makes me happy! I don’t take care of some old grandpa because my dad’s dad is dead and my mom’s dad is still in Hallas! My mom died, and my dad is traveling! It’s just me in my Lazzy house!”

He spread his arms. Ashley shook their head at him.

Madelyn: “That's how it should be, though! Do what makes you happy, and your house should be your fun playhouse! That's why all my furniture has googly eyes on it!”

She laughed.

Lazaros: “I never thought about that, but I did want a room with my furniture that has faces on it, like a Belle room or something.”

He drawled.

Madelyn: “Me too!”

She gasped.

Lazaros: “Maybe I can make that old studio I used for ‘they who shall not be named’ into that!”

He chirped. Ashley rolled their eyes at Lazaros.

Madelyn: “Sure, why not?”

Tristan slowly took Celeste and Lena and backed out of the restaurant.

~

Lena: “Thank you, Tristan. I was asking Celeste to get us out of there.”

She sighed.

Tristan: “Celeste, why did you say that aloud?”

He chided her gently.

Celeste: “I don’t know? I’m sorry, Tristan.”

She hung her head.

Tristan sighed.

Tristan: “Look, if Jordi never told Madelyn about Lena and he didn’t tell her about him, this was going south anyway.”

Lena: “I can see why he didn’t.”

She muttered. Tristan raised an eyebrow.

Tristan: “Between us, I think she was just someone for him to use to get rid of Gina sooner than later.”

He cupped his chin.

Tristan: “That and he can’t be alone.”

He said under his breath.

~

Jordi pulled into his driveway after work. He heaved a deep sigh and stepped out of his car, his suit jacket in hand. He stepped into his house, unzipped his boots, and removed them, revealing his sheer black socks. He could smell sweet cinnamon in the air and saw Ashley in the kitchen, baking and looking glum. They had their cat teapot out with two cups sitting at two seats at the table. Jordi surveyed them and placed his suit jacket over the back of the kitchen seat.

Jordi: “Are you okay, Ashley?”

He asked softly. Ashley glanced up at him and shook their head.

Ashley: “...I baked us some cookies and made some tea… we need to sit down and talk…”

They sighed. Jordi pursed his lips and nodded.

Jordi: “Okay.”

He inhaled sharply and sat down, waiting for them. Ashly sat down across from him and heaved a long sigh as they stared into their tea.

Ashley: “So… Lazaros came into Dessert Ranch today.”

They began. Jordi twisted his mouth.

Jordi: “I see.”

Ashley: “He pulled up in this weird car with a duck on it, and made this big show out of…”

They stopped themself and took a bite out of their cookie, not knowing how to put it delicately for him. Jordi gazed at them.

Ashley: “Flirting with Madelyn.”

They finally said. Jordi pursed his lips and nodded.

Jordi: “I see.”

He said evenly and raked his fingers through his hair. Ashley tilted their head, surprised he wasn’t upset.

Ashley: “She… met Lena, and she was upset you didn’t tell her or tell her about me being here, and they were both upset when Celeste told them we complained about them because they never listen, so uh, I think they were both trying to hurt us or something… I don’t know…”

They sighed.

Jordi: “Okay.”

He nodded. Ashley tilted their head and gazed up at him.

He stared down into his teacup.

Jordi: “I had a lot on my mind, you know. I just met my sister, whom my grandfather lied about for years, and then Gina was being a huge bitch, so I wasn’t thinking of Madelyn. Why didn’t she come to see me then? Why is it on me to see her? We fought? I had to see her. I always do. She never comes to see me, and it goes both ways.”

He said with hurt in his tone. Ashley knit their eyebrows and handed him a cookie. Jordi put his hand up and mouthed a “no, thank you.”

Jordi: “So sorry I can’t retreat into ducky land where nothing ever bothers or upsets me, don’t you wish I could sometimes?!”

He laughed bitterly. Ashley listened and nodded.

Jordi: “To Hell with everyone, just retreat into your own world where you’re a duck or a turtle.”

He inhaled sharply and rubbed the back of his neck.

Ashley: “I like to retreat into a kitty sometimes, but I can’t always, you know…”

They sighed.

Jordi: “But how will that help my situation any?”

He cupped his mouth.

Jordi: “Sorry, I’m not perfect. I can only extend myself so much.”

Ashley leaned forward and sighed.

Ashley: “No one is perfect… well, except Lazaros. He thought he was perfect, but he was NOT!”

They pouted bitterly.

Jordi sniffed and wiped his eyes.

Jordi: “I feel people love their image of me and crash when I cannot meet their expectations of me! Gina did this bullshit to me, Madelyn is doing it, and I even have former friends doing it! Fabien thinks we can return to how it was when I worked at Danny Donger’s with him, but I can’t afford that lifestyle! It doesn’t pay me enough! He sits around in his house, smokes weed, and makes fun of Blair! He doesn’t have an ailing grandfather to care for or a sibling! It’s just himself! I risked my life for Madelyn, and she did to me WHAT GINA DID!”

He pounded the table and sobbed. Ashley knit their eyebrows and reached their hand out to him as he sobbed. Jordi wept as he held their hand.

Ashley: “...I know exactly how you feel… I feel like Lazaros, Makayla, and Blair only loved their image of me, but whenever it came to my feelings, it didn’t matter, and I became the worst person ever to them! I think what you do for your family is really noble, even though Lazaros said otherwise, but he’s wrong… I’m sorry… I sacrificed my sanity for Lazaros because I thought I was saving him from Blair, but then he stopped loving me and calls me dumb for doing that, so I don’t even know anymore! I made him that spirit water, poured from my heart and soul, but he rejected it. I did so much for him, but he couldn’t save me when I was drowning! Deimos was right, he’s just like Blair!”

They sobbed. Jordi wiped his eyes and sighed. He held them close. Ashley nestled into him and held him close.

Jordi: “I’m sorry, Ashley. It seems like we share the burden of not meeting others’ expectations of us.”

He cried. Ashley sobbed and nodded.

Ashley: “I know… I’m sorry that I can’t eat a five-course meal without throwing up, and I wanted to work at a cute ice cream store!”

They cried.

Jordi drew a long breath.

Jordi: “You know, I know Deimos better than Lazaros, but Deimos saved you from drowning.”

He laughed bitterly.

Ashley: “I know… and I’m grateful he did that, so maybe it was his destiny to take my spirit water then, as a thank you? Maybe it will help him and heal him on the inside?”

They laughed a bit.

Jordi: “Yeah, he lost his powers.”

He looked away.

Jordi: “When Blair first blackmailed you, why didn’t you go to Tristan or Deimos? Deimos is his twin brother and knows him, and Tristan reads people so well. You could have also come to me. So I’m curious why you didn’t.”

He asked earnestly. Ashley bowed their head in shame, feeling stupid.

Ashley: “Because I was afraid… I was afraid that if he knew they knew, he would hurt him… I don’t know how the laws work on Reona, but I feel so stupid, and I should have gone to Tristan.”

They sighed. Jordi noted how they mentioned this planet and nodded.

Jordi: “Do you like Tristan?”

He asked them.

Ashley: “Of course, he’s nice and smart!”

They nodded.

Jordi: “What about Deimos?”

Ashley: “Deimos… kinda scares me sometimes with how he gets his fists out, haha, but he saved my life and defended me, so I know he has a good heart!”

They replied.

Jordi: “Everything happens for a reason, and maybe this thing with Blair was shedding light on how dysfunctional you and Lazaros were. I think you were smitten with him at first, and he seemed great in comparison to Blair or even Maxx, but familiarity breeds contempt.”

He explained. Ashley paused to ponder.

Ashley: “Yeah… it was never the same after that… I kinda sorta felt like it wasn’t different from how it was with Blair…”

They admitted. Jordi nodded in agreement.

Jordi: “And I think what happened today was shedding light on Madelyn and me…”

He said slowly. Ashley bowed their head.

Ashley: “I’m sorry…”

Jordi: “I just left an abusive relationship with Gina and got with her on the dime.”

He raked his fingers through his hair.

Jordi: “I think a part of me was distancing myself from her from our last fight. She was telling me to be someone I’m not. I accepted her, but she didn’t accept me, and if she’s flirting with Deimos’ weirdo brother to get even with me, it shows she’s not much different from Gina.”

He huffed.

Jordi: “She doesn’t have a rich daddy to do her bidding, is all.”

Ashley: “Why would she tell you not to be you, though? You’re really kind and awesome! Well, she didn’t exactly tell him to go away, so yeah.”

They sighed.

Jordi: “Because I have to take care of my grandfather and work a shitty job to put food on the table. I don’t retreat into my own world as she does, living in a house that’s falling apart around her. Lazaros does what she does, but he has a rich daddy to take care of him, so he can afford it. Good for him.”

He said acidly.

Ashley: “That’s a good thing that you do that, though! Lazaros didn’t like me working either, because it took time away from eating his food or whatever, but shouldn’t my going out to work for my own living be a good thing?”

They sighed. Jordi nodded.

Jordi: “I think he did that because he was done with you without being done with you. Everything Gina did annoyed me, and that was my soul telling me it’s done before my body did, so I think the same is true for Lazaros. He was done with you. I’m sorry it had to come to that. I wish we could have all parted on good terms, but life works in mysterious ways.”

Ashley paused when it dawned on them.

Ashley: “...Maybe, it wasn’t just him… maybe I was annoyed by him, too, the constant tantrums… walking on eggshells… those coupons.”

They sighed. Jordi winced at the mention of the coupons.

Ashley: “I wish it didn’t have to be this way either. I wish we could all just make peace. I already have one Blair stirring up trouble brewing in my life… I don’t need another…”

They sighed.

Jordi heaved a deep sigh.

Jordi: “Thanks for telling me this, Ashley.”

He said sincerely. Ashley paused and tilted their head.

Ashley: “Oh? Why is that?”

They scratched their head.

Jordi: “So I know where I stand.”

He rose and took his suit jacket off the chair. Ashley glanced up at him.

Ashley: “You stand really tall!”

They smiled up at him. Jordi smiled a bit.

Jordi: “Thank you! I am six feet!”

He grinned. Ashley smiled.

Ashley: “Wow, that’s a lot of feet, haha! I’m five feet five!”

They chuckled.

Jordi: “Yes, I’m aware. In any case, I’m going to my bedroom to read a book. You know where to find me if you need me.”

He nodded. Ashley smiled and nodded.

Ashley: “Okay, sure! Have a good read! You know where to find me if you need me, too!”

They exclaimed.

Jordi smiled as he entered his bedroom. When he closed the door behind him, his smile faded, and he frowned.