Coop and Ashlee Story
Okay I was going to post this over a week ago, because I wasn't happy with the way the story line on screen was being played out. That's when I write the most, when I'm not happy. Then I watched last Thursday and lo and behold Coop and Ashlee kissed. Not only did they kiss, but it was a sexy kiss. So I was happy and decided "well now I don't need to write fiction because the writers are actually being smart. And my story is going completely off course from what is happening on the show.' I almost deleted the chapter in happiness. Oh, then the dreaded spoilers for this week were released. No good news! So I have decided to say, "Flack you! GL writers." And post the chapter after all. So here it is:
Title: When You Weren’t Looking
Author: Jailynn
Couple/Show: Coop and Ashlee/Guiding Light
Rating: Um, right now most definitely PG…will most likely go up though
Disclaimer: I don’t own the show, the characters that are from the show or the songs I use in this story. It is a work of fiction. And it was not written for any other reason than I love the characters of Coop and Ashlee. No money will be sent to me…so don’t sue! The characters belong to CBS and a bunch of other people that aren’t me. LOL! The characters that aren’t from the show are mine however, so yeah.
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Chapter One: Truth and Lies
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The television blinked quietly in the corner of Ashlee Wolfe’s darkened Beacon hotel room. She was laying on her king sized bed barely watching the show. Her mind was somewhere else, with someone else. Ashlee glanced briefly at the pictures that were continuing to move across the screen. A pretty young woman with short brown hair smiled back at her holding a tube of the newest brand of toothpaste that was supposed to turn your teeth four shades whiter. Ashlee resisted the urge to throw her stuffed horse at the woman’s grinning face. She dropped her blonde head back onto her pillow and closed her eyes as tight as she could to block out the negative thoughts that were bouncing around in her head.
Her normal ‘happy-go-lucky’ attitude couldn’t be found now that she needed it the most. A couple floors away Ava was cuddling with Coop. She was running her fingers though his hair and she was listening to his heart beat. Ashlee hated her. Well maybe not hated, but there was an extreme dislike there. A tear leaked out of her closed eyes. Ava Peratla was exactly what everyone thought was beautiful. Her thin frame and big brown eyes had already ensnared Henry Cooper “Coop” Bradshaw before and, it seemed, were working their magic on him again. Ashlee pushed herself into sitting position and refused to let anymore tears fall.
The mirror behind the dresser forced her to take a good look at herself. Her normally smiling face was red and blotchy. Her shiny blonde hair was hanging unwashed around her shoulder. The shirt she was wearing was old and had a couple of wholes at the top near the collar. Ashlee was appalled by her appearance. This wasn’t her. This was someone she didn’t want to be. A floral arrangement caught her eye in the mirror. Stuart Small’s floral arrangement was sitting there taunting her.
Ashlee pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, nipping at the smooth flesh. ‘What could it hurt to just spend some time with someone that actually wanted her? Why not have a nice dinner with someone that might be boring, but at least he wouldn’t leave her for Ava?’ She shook her head. She couldn’t use him like that. Her mother’s words blared in her head. That Coop was out of her league and Stuart was much more her speed. Ashlee didn’t want to believe that. She wanted to believe that Coop could fall for her. Like she was falling for him… oh who was she trying to kid, like she had fallen for him. Of course, it doesn’t help her case when Coop was with Ava right now.
Sighing, she rubbed the heel of her hands against her eyes until white spots floated behind her eyelids. Her cell phone rang on the bed side table. It was a ring she knew well. It was one that sent a thrill through her whole body. It was Coop’s ring tone. The one she downloaded just for him. Ashlee listened to the chorus of Michael Buble’s ‘Everything’ until it finally went to voice mail. She climb off the bed and headed to the shower. Whatever he had to say probably wouldn’t be anything she’d want to hear anyway.
Adjusting the shower temperature, Ashlee stripped out her clothes. Tonight she wasn’t going to be out with Stuart Smalls and she wasn’t going to wait for Coop to realize that she was better for him than Ava. Tonight she was going to get dressed up and have fun. The heat hit her skin like the sun’s rays. For the first time tonight she had a smile on her face.
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Coop Bradshaw ran his hands through his hair as he listened to Ashlee’s voice mail greeting. Her upbeat tone made him smile and his heart lift a little. Once the message ended and the beep was heard, he began.
“Hey, Ash, it’s me. Coop, well I guess you already knew that.” He paused and fought back a mildly unpleasant image. “I guess you’re on your date. Um, I hope you’re having fun. Well I just wanted to say thank you for all the things you did for Ava…” Once again he paused before continuing. “Call me when you get a chance.” Coop thought hard for a good excuse to have her call him. One that didn’t have anything to do with that Stuart guy. Finally he came up with a passable reason. “I have a new story idea that I would love to hear your thoughts about. Um, well I guess that’s all. Have a great time, Ashlee.”
He closed his phone, frowning at the thought of her with this guy that he didn’t know. His cell rang in his hand and for a split second he thought it was Ashlee returning his call. That was until the ring tone registered. It wasn’t the one that he downloaded for her. Coop checked the display screen and immediately recognized the number glaring back at him. It was Ava. He waited a second too long and the call went to his voice mail.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to talk with his ex, but he did want a bit of a break now that he knew the mugger wasn’t coming back. He shook his head thinking about Olivia plotting against her own daughter. Some times he really didn’t understand people. Pushing open the door to Company, his family’s restaurant, Coop instantly felt at ease.
The smell of burgers, French fries, freshly made pie and good old fashion down home cooking greeted him like a familiar friend. He walked into the back, watching as his father flipped burgers. “Need help,” he asked over the sounds of the kitchen.
Buzz Cooper grinned back at him over his shoulder. “I thought you were busy with Ava tonight.”
Coop gave him a half shrug as he pulled the fries out of the grease. He set the basket on the lip of the deep fryer to let the extra oil drip back into the vat below. “I’ll go back later. She has some things that she needs to deal with right now.”
“Uh-huh,” Buzz said distractedly as he plated the food and called, “Order up for table 9.” Placing the plate on the waitress’ tray he turned to his youngest son. “And what would those things have to do with?”
Coop winced internally before responding, “Olivia.”
Buzz’s eyes flashed with hurt for a second then he looked away. “What has she done now?” His voice grew a little rougher at the mention of his ex.
Coop debated telling his father the story. One look at his dad let him know that there was still a lot of pain attached to Olivia Spencer for Buzz. Finally he decided that the town was too small for Buzz not to find out what Olivia had done. “She hired someone to mug Ava.”
His dad’s shoulders hunched a little before he straightened back up; he turned back to the grill and continued cooking. “She did.”
Coop nodded even though Buzz couldn’t see him. “Well we don’t really know why she did it but the result was her daughter in the hospital. Ava wanted to speak to her mother alone and so I came here.” He dropped a new bag of fries into the hot oil when a new order was placed on the counter. They worked silently for a moment before; Coop broke the quiet to ask the question he really wanted to know the answer to for some reason. He didn’t really want to examine the reason he desired the answer so much. “Did Ashlee leave for her date?”
Buzz turned to him with a very dangerous twinkle in his eye. “Didn’t you see her earlier?”
Coop half shrugged again, “Yeah, but I was kind of busy with Ava at the time. I guess was wondering if you saw her leave with whatever his name was.”
“Huh,” was all Buzz would say.
Coop felt frustration boil in his veins. His father was having fun with this question and again Coop didn’t want to examine the reason. “Is that all you’re going to say?”
“Nope,” Buzz replied grinning. “I’m also going to say…ORDER UP table 12.”
Coop left the kitchen with his father’s laughter chasing him.
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Ashlee applied a light layer of lip gloss to her full lips and rubbed them together. The music of the funky little Blues joint she decided to go to was pulsing into car. She grinned at her reflection. Coop might not appreciate her but she thought she look rather nice tonight. Taking a deep breath, she exited the car and hurried over to the door. Ashlee pulled at the sleeve of her navy knee-length dress. She always liked blue in any shade. She thought it made her blue eyes pop just a little more than usual. Her black heels clicked a rhythm as she walked across the parking lot. The big bouncer with arms the size of her head glanced briefly at her identification, before letting her into the club. The band on the stage was playing an old blues standard and the place was packed with people of all ages. There were tables all around a square dance floor in the middle of the bar. The band’s platform was a little higher than the rest of the place. Couple and singles talked, drank and danced in all corners. The bar was long and the top was a mosaic of broken tiles. There were three people behind the bar. Two guys and one petite female were filling drinks as quick as the orders come in. Each was dressed exactly the same way in tight black t-shirts.
Ashlee walked over to the bar and grinned at the nearest bartender. The guy behind the bar was six feet tall with classic features. He had a pointed chin with a small cleft in it and a long nose. His eyes were a deep moss green and sparkled as they smiled back at her. His nice lips split into a giant smile and she felt her cheeks blush. Ashlee was grateful for the darkness of the club so that her obvious response to him wasn’t as noticeable.
“What can I get you, darlin’?” His voice had a smooth southern twang to it that wasn’t overpowering, but like a sweet caress to the words. She decided she liked the effect it had on her as well as the simple sentence.
Ashlee’s grin widened. She knew he was just being nice like she was sure he was to all the female customers but it was still flattering to have someone this handsome call her darling. Once again she was thankful for the darkness around them. “I’ll have a Coke with a cherry please.”
He winked at her. “I’ll get it right away.” He turned around, glancing over his shoulder once to send her another smile.
She bit her lip and glanced down at the bar. The song changed and she started swaying in time with the music. She looked up to find the bartender grinning at her again. The blush that had just left her cheeks infused them with warmth once more. Ashlee took her drink with a slightly shaky hand. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure,” His voice sent a bolt of something down her spine. His fingers lingered next to her own before he took the money she was handing him with a tip of his head.
Ashlee quickly found a table on the other side of the club as she sat down she felt the eyes of the bartender on her the whole time. It took all she had not to return the look. Her insides fluttered at the attention of the man behind the bar. She wasn’t used to the feel of a man’s look her. She was much more comfortable being invisible or being the friend. Once Ashlee was sure he wasn’t looking she turn back to the bar. Their eyes locked. Blue on green and they stayed locked until another customer walked up to the bar. He turned to the customer after he sent her one more of those beautiful smiles.
Ashlee grinned to herself and sipped her coke, which she had just realized had more than one cherry bouncing along the ice. She pulled a cherry out by the stem and closed her lips around the red fruit. She closed her eyes and enjoyed sweet taste on her tongue. The music bled into her again and she started swaying. She was very happy that she decided to come out tonight. Ashlee didn’t even realize her phone was ringing in her purse.
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Coop groaned to himself at the cheerful voice mail greeting. He didn’t really want to leave another rambling message. She was obviously having a nice time on the date and he was happy for her. Or he should be happy for her. It didn’t feel like happiness though, if anything it felt vaguely like jealousy. He scoffed, rolling his eyes and even laughed a little half-heartedly to himself. He couldn’t be jealous. Ashlee was his best friend, nothing more and nothing less.
Coop had almost convinced himself completely of that when her greeting ended and the beep sounded once again. He fumbled around trying to think of a good reason to call her again, finally settling with a half truth.
“Ash, it’s Coop again. I just wanted to talk to you.” He grimaced at how pathetic that sounded. “Um, just call me back when you have the time. Talk to you later.”
Closing the phone, Coop looked around his apartment at the boarding house. Well ‘apartment’ was a bit of a stretch. It was really just a room with a bathroom attached to it. There was nothing fancy about the space. All it contained was a couch, a coffee table and a television on a medium size dresser. Coop liked the smallness of the place he called home. Mostly because the boarding was right above Company. He placed the phone within easy reach on the table before him. He leaned back against the arm of his sofa, picking up his lesson plan notebook; he started writing down ideas for the next week’s classes. The silence of the room started making him uneasy. Coop felt empty not knowing what was happening with Ashlee. She was always talking to him about her life, her fears, and her dreams. The thought of someone else knowing that part of her was sending him into a weird place.
He threw the notebook on the table next to his cell phone and closed his eyes. Coop should be with Ava. He should be making sure she was alright after finding out how twisted her mother truly is. But he just didn’t have the energy for that right now. All he wanted was to sink into oblivion. Knowing that there was no danger for his ex, but that of her insane mother put him at ease. Or at least he didn’t feel an intense worry for her anymore.
Ava could handle Olivia of that he was sure. Breathing deeply, Coop placed a hand behind his head and let his mind wonder to another female in his life. Ashlee was becoming so important to him. Her brilliant smile and fantastic sense of humor constantly brightened his world up. He often wondered what this year would have been like without her in his life.
Coop smiled. ‘Probably a lot less interesting,’ he thought with a chuckle. A knock sounded on his wood door, he cracked an eye open thinking briefly of not opening the door. ‘It could be Ashlee. Maybe she came over instead of calling. She was spontaneous like that.’
He hopped off the couch and reached the door just as a voice called out.
“Coop, are you in there?”
‘Ava. It was Ava.’ His momentary happiness deflated a little before concern replaced it. He pulled open the door and saw his beautiful ex standing there in hip-hugging jeans and a tight fitting gray t-shirt. Her lips were curled in a small smile and her brown eyes were a little uncertain.
“Can I stay here tonight? I don’t want to be around Olivia.” Ava’s voice quavered a bit with her words. Coop’s concern for her grew and he took a step back to let her in. Her smile grew more confident. She glided into his room, placing her purse next to his cell phone.
Coop shut the door and leaned against the cool wood. “Did she do something else?”
Ava shrugged. “No,” she replied. “I just don’t feel safe there. Who knows what else she has planned for me?”
Coop nodded, pushing away from the door. “Well you can take the bed and I’ll sleep on the couch.” He went to get some blankets from the closet when she stepped in front of his path.
“I’d feel safer with you next to me.” Her words were whispered. She placed her hands on his chest sliding them slowly up to rest them on his shoulders. “Can’t you sleep with me?” She leaned a little closer to him. “Just sleep.”
He was surprised not to feel the intense attraction to her that he used to. It wasn’t that he wasn’t attracted to her. Ava was a beautiful, desirable woman, but he didn’t feel light headed with lust. In fact he felt almost nothing compared to what he used to feel around her. “I’ll be right here. Not more than three feet away. I just…” his voice lowered than trailed of at her wounded expression. “I guess sleep next to you couldn’t hurt. If it would make you feel better.”
He was blinded by her grin at him. She grabbed her purse and walked into the bathroom without another word. Once the door was closed behind her, Coop ran his fingers through his hair and frowned. Something felt wrong having her here with him. He pushed that feeling away and pulled back the comforter.
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Ashlee dropped her head against the steering wheel and let out a loud groan. Her car wouldn’t start. Hell it wouldn’t even start to turn over. It was completely DEAD! Lifting her head from the circular plastic, she turned the key one more time. Once again nothing happened. Her perfect night was quickly turning crappy. Ashlee pulled the lever under the steering column and popped the hood. She smiled ruefully at the car before climbing out. She didn’t know anything about cars.
Reaching under the hood, she found the release button and lifted the hood completely, securing it with the rod that held up the flat metal. She grimaced at the unfamiliar parts. The only thing she really understood about cars was how to pump gas into the tank. Oh, she could also fill up the washer fluid, but that was about it. Ashlee sighed and looked around the abandoned parking lot suddenly cursing her decision to stay until closing. There were only a hand full of cars left and none were by her. She walked back to the open down to pull out her cell phone when she heard someone step up behind her.
Her whole body tensed and she grabbed her bottle of mace from the bottom of her purse.
“Need help?” The southern male voice asked her and she breathed a sigh of relief. It was the bartender that had served her. Ashlee turned around to face him.
She licked her lips and smiled a bit shyly. “Yeah, my car’s completely dead.”
He nodded. “My SUV is parked right over there…” He pointed to the car across the lot. “If you can wait a minute I’ll drive it over and try and jump your engine.”
She was already nodding before he finished his sentence. “That would be great! Thank you!”
He grinned at her. “I’ll be right back.”
He jogged over to his vehicle and she smoothed down her hair. Her heart was pounding like she was the one running across the parking lot. Ashlee threw her mace back in her purse and threw the purse onto her back seat. She tried to appear cool as the black SUV pulled up in her front her 2000 silver VW bug. He opened the hood then exited his car. He attached the wires to the correct parts of both engines then got back into his vehicle to rev it up.
Ashlee slid behind her own wheel and cranked her car when he gave the signal to. She laughed with delight as her car roared to life. She jumped out of her car and ran over to her hero as he exited his and gave him a big hug. “Thank you!”
He hugged her back a little awkwardly and chuckled. “It was no problem really.” They released each other and she stepped back embarrassed by her excited and by the hug. “My name’s Kane, by the way.”
She took his extended hand, shaking it firmly. “Ashlee.” She chuckled. “I mean, my name is Ashlee.”
Kane chuckled, “It’s nice to meet you Ashlee.” He let go of her hand and detached the cables running between their vehicles. “Was this the first time you came to ‘The Bayou’?”
Ashlee shook her hand slightly to stop it from tingling. “Yeah, I just needed to get out of the house and since I knew this place was 18 and up, I came here…” She trailed off and laughed nervously as he turned to smile at her. “I’m sorry I ramble when I’m nervous.”
Kane raised one eyebrow in a questioning way. “Why would you be nervous?” He rolled up the cables and walked around to the open driver’s door, placing them on the front seat.
“I guess because it’s nearly one in the morning and I’m talking to a stranger.” She told him as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. Ashlee prayed he didn’t realize it was only a half truth. The real reason was something entirely different and had everything to do with the way he was looking at her at that very moment.
Kane’s moss green eyes were looking at her as if she was beautiful. The look was something Ashlee had never felt before. Her cheeks redden darker and darker with each passing moment. She broke eye contact with him and looked up at the sky. The stars were bright and the moon was at half full. She closed her eyes and recited the poem she learned as a child silently to herself.
‘Starlight, star bright, brightest star I see tonight. I wish I may. I wish I might. Have this wish I wish tonight.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I wish Coop was here with me.’ She opened her eyes and catch Kane still watching her.
“What’d you wish for?” He tilted his head, smiling slightly.
Ashlee ducked her head. “I was wishing for something I can’t have.”
“Why can’t you have it?”
She shrugged. “I just know I can’t.” She forced a bright smile onto her lips. Her defense mechanism was in full effect. “Thanks again for your help Kane.” Ashlee moved to climb back into her car when his voice made her look up again.
“Listen I’m pretty new to the area and I’d love to have someone show me around. Can I call you sometime?”
Ashlee’s heart fell. “I don’t think so.”
Kane started frowning. “I’m sorry I thought it would be nice to get together with you some time, but I understand if you don’t want to…”
“It’s not that, it’s just…where are they?”
“Huh?” he asked completely confused.
“Where are the hidden cameras or Ashton Kutcher?”
“Okay, Ashlee you have completely confused me.”
“No one that looks like you would ever ask someone that looks like me for my phone number.” She shook her head. “It just doesn’t happen.”
“Someone that looks like you? I think you look beautiful. I noticed you the minute you walked in the door.” His voice was so sincere that Ashlee felt her heart lift a little. Her mother’s voice hounded her in the back of her mind. She was good enough for someone like Coop, someone like Kane.
“I’m kind of hard to miss.” She mumbled to herself.
Kane leaned closer. “Sorry I didn’t catch that.”
Ashlee rubbed her nose and took a deep breath. “I said I’m kind of hard to miss.”
He grinned at her. “You’re right. You are hard to miss.” Her stomach dropped before he continued. “It was nothing to do with your weight, however. I noticed you because your eyes seemed to brighten the whole room. I can’t explain it. I’m not good with words, but you are just beautiful.”
“I think your words are perfect.” Ashlee whispered. Reaching into her purse on the back seat of her car, she pulled out a small notebook and a pen. She wrote her number quickly before she lost her nerve and ripped the sheet from the book. She handed him the paper with a small grin. “Call me sometime.”
“I will.” Kane folded the sheet up and placed it in the front pocket of his jeans. He climbed into his truck and pulled out of the parking lot. Ashlee watched his tail lights disappear before she climbed into her own vehicle.
Whatever happened tomorrow…or rather today…she felt attractive. Kane might end up not calling her, but he made her feel amazing because he asked for her number. Her number! Ashlee pulled out onto the street humming softly to herself.
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End Chapter 1 (and maybe the story LOL, we'll have to see how tomorrow's spoilers play out)