Chapter Text
Ashlyn isn't a nosy person. What happens in other people's lives is nothing but their own, personal business.
However, that being said, when she just happens to be walking past her cousin's bedroom at the exact same time said cousin lets out an obnoxiously joyfilled shriek of laughter, she's basically obligated to stand outside and snoop.
Not that it is snooping, because Ashlyn doesn't snoop. In fact, her standing outside EJ's door cannot be classified as snooping. No, because for a person to snoop on someone else, they have to be actively listening. Therefore, Ashlyn standing in the hall, a communal area, absolutely is not snooping, because she's not listening. She's....observing.
It's just fate that EJ's voice flows perfectly through his cracked open door and right into the hallway.
"No, no! I never said that," he giggles. There's a brief pause before he says, "Okay, that's not even close to what happens in the movie."
A conversation, Ashlyn concludes. Who's he talking to?
She leans in close to the door and squints her eyes. Through the slim crack, Ashlyn can make out the shape of EJ's body laying on his bed, a phone pressed to his ear, and she can see the grin plastered to his face.
It's funny, Ashlyn hasn't seen EJ smile that big since-
"Babe!" EJ exclaims through breathy giggles. "Did you - is this one of your fever dreams? You are literally so far from the plot, it's not even funny."
There it is, Ashlyn twirles a curl around her finger. Can't believe he didn't tell me Nini and him are talking again. Unbelievable.
While she's not necessarily shocked, Ashlyn is somewhat surprised that Nini was able to forgive EJ. For a while, Nini was pretty pissed, and rightfully so, but Ashlyn didn't think they'd ever come back from the whole thing. That isn't to say she isn't happy for them, it's actually...nice to hear EJ laugh again.
She starts forming a plan of attack. As soon as EJ hangs up the phone, she'll march right in there and demand to know all the details. Even if she has to force it out of him.
EJ sighs softly. "No, it's okay."
Ashlyn hears shuffling in the room, and she subtly watches him sit up and fold his legs.
"No, babe. I'll see you tomorrow anyway."
She positions her hand against the middle of the door, preparing to slam it open the moment he disconnects the call.
One last smile graces EJ's face. "Good night, Ry. Sweet dreams."
Ashlyn freezes.
Who the hell is Ry?
Ashlyn ditches her plan, opting to slowly back away from her cousin's room and into the guest one she's taken over. She can't confront him without facts, so once she's in the security of the guest room, she immediately racks her brain for a 'Ry'.
As far as she remembers, EJ has never mention a 'Ry' before, but Ashlyn considers the probability of it being a nickname.
Rylee? Rianna? Rylyn? Rae? Ryeanne?
Ashlyn mentally goes through every possible name combination that could have "Ry" for a nickname. In a stroke of genius, she pulls up EJ's Instagram and clicks on his "Following" button.
She spends the next five minutes typing in every possible girl name that begins with the letter R. Frustratingly, EJ doesn't seem to be following any girl with a name that could be shortened to Ry.
Maybe this girl doesn't have Instagram? No, it's 2020. If she can talk with her cousin on the phone, Ashlyn is certain that this girl has social media.
But why wouldn't EJ be following her?
Ashlyn flashes back to the overheard conversation and filters through it for any hidden information.
Another dead end. They were talking about an unspecified movie, and EJ only addressed her as babe and Ry.
Sighing, she pockets her phone and sits on the plush bed. While EJ is her cousin, he doesn't have to tell her everything that happens in his life. It's just, she thought they were close enough to be open with these types of things.
Ashlyn flops her body onto the bed dramatically, the ancient frame squealing in protest.
She doesn't want to force EJ to tell her anything. As an afterthought, she feels slightly guilty for stepping into his personal business. Ashlyn knows EJ trusts her, and when he's ready to tell her about his new girlfriend, that's when she'll know.
She's just going to have to hold on until then.
•••
To her credit, Ashlyn really does try to stay out of EJ's love life. And she's successful, even if only making it a few days before snooping again.
Yes, she's not proud of it, but Ashlyn has come to terms with what it is: snooping, spying, eavesdropping, being nosy, etc. Whatever, call her crazy for caring about her cousin.
EJ's been noticeably more upbeat and less irritable. Even if Ashlyn didn't know about his relationship, she still would've picked up on how much more cheerful EJ seems. The rest of their friend group has picked up on it too, resulting in EJ having to endure a round of extreme interrogation at the lunch table. Sadly, they didn't squeeze any information out of him, but Carlos hasn't let EJ off the hook yet.
EJ's newfound happiness almost makes up for that fact that Ashlyn is dying to know his mystery girl's identity.
For last few days, Ashlyn has sat back and took note (carefully and sneakily) on everyone EJ seems to talk to frequently.
EJ and Ricky are basically newfound best friends, meaning they're irreversibly joined at the hip. In Ashlyn's opinion, their friendship is more suprising than EJ having a new girlfriend. She doesn't know exactly how it all happened, but from what they all understand, sometime near the end of the fall musical Ricky and EJ had somehow made amends.
It's actually kind of insane that they've become so close so quickly, but she'd take friendship over bickering anyday.
Aside from Ricky, EJ mainly hangs around Gina, Seb, Carlos, herself, and Big Red, which is their whole friend group, minus Nini. The way Nini and EJ left things off, it's not unexpected for them to have a lack of relationship.
Other than that, EJ occasionally exchanges words with a few water polo buddies, but that's it. No new girls, no secret meet ups, no suspicious activity.
To say Ashlyn is stumped would be an understatement.
It just doesn't make any sense. Everyone Ashlyn has seen EJ associate with is just his usual company. And, Ashlyn hasn't been stalking him 24/7, so while it's possible she missed something, it's pretty doubtful.
The only logical explanation Ashlyn can come up with is that EJ was on the phone with a friend, and the whole 'babe' thing was just a joke.
But that doesn't add up with EJ's sudden joy. As depressing as it sounds, Ashlyn knows there's no way he randomly has a surplus of serotonin. Something is causing it, and she's determined to figure out the culprit.