Chapter 21 — The Last Picture

"Thanks for nothing Ash," I mocked him as I returned back to the bonfire.

Ashton was unconcerned and just stuck out his tongue at me. 

Did he think I didn't notice him setting me up with his brother all the time? 

He just took advantage of the fact that I never said anything to him.

"So where did you learn to climb trees?" Pelin asked me. 

I looked up from staring at my hands as Emre came and sat down next to me with a sigh.

"Oh, my dad taught me when I was little," I replied "Pity he didn't teach you how to swim too," Zerrin put in with a sneer, "Emre lost all that time teaching you when he could've enjoyed himself instead.

Oh, the knives were out…and they hurt. 

I gave a tight smile, "You're right, it is a pity. Unfortunately, my dad died before he could."

There was silence then. Zerrin's face was pale.

"I.. I'm sorry, I didn't know." She stammered. Clearly, she'd been taking her lead from Pelin and she'd just dropped her in it.

"It's okay; it was a long time ago." I shrugged; I didn't want to dwell on it and didn't want anyone else to dwell on it, so I changed the subject, "So who's next?"

Ashton jumped up next to me, "Let me do the honors, I want to go next." 

He pointed to Zerrin, "Truth or Dare?"

"Let's see if she can take the heat she likes to dish out," Ashton whispered to me.

Zerrin thought for a minute and said, "Truth, I'll tell the truth."

Ashton was ready, "What's the last picture on your phone?" 

I was surprised at his question—not only was it not a proper question, but it was also very simple. I was expecting him to ask her something harder. 

I frowned at him.

"She's not going to show it, I know her..." he whispered.

Zerrin looked down at the phone in her hand and then at Ashton with a pleading expression. She looked well and truly done in. What was in her phone? Now I was curious…

"Why?" I was shocked and whispered, "Wait, you know what her last picture is?"

He smiled and nodded. 

"That's not even a truth, it's more like a dare Ashton," Zerrin whined.

"So, does that mean you're not going to show and tell?" Ashton mocked her.

"No, ask me something else. I'm not showing you anything." Zerrin replied.

"I wonder what it is you're hiding, Zerrin—we all wonder." 

Ashton was so overdramatic, but I really was wondering what it was that she was hiding and just how Ashton knew what it was. He seemed to almost know everything about everyone here without any effort. Scary…It was good. I was always on his good side.

"Ask me something else Ashton, I'm not showing anyone anything," Zerrin's voice was close to breaking. It really must be something deeply embarrassing. Good Lord, what was it?

"Ask her something else Ashton, don't be more of a brat than you already are!" Pelin came to her friend's rescue.

"Okay, okay, calm down; let me ask you something else. Let me think…" Ashton still had that gleam in his eyes. 

"If you could date two people at once, would you do it? If so, who would they be?" Ashton asked her.

Zerrin looked pleased, "Oh, that's easy! Henry Cavill and Chris Hemsworth," she looked so pleased with her answer. I burst out laughing.

"Well, we all know they wouldn't date you. Anyway, Zerrin, I meant from all of us…" Ashton replied.

Zerrin looked shocked. She looked around at everyone and then said uncertainly, "You didn't say that"

"I meant that," Ashton qualified.

"Um… well, it wouldn't be you for sure," Zerrin said acidly.

Aston smirked, "Baby doll, I wouldn't come near you even on a dare, so the feeling's mutual. Answer the question before its morning Zerrin."

"I…um…I would date Emre and Eric." Zerrin said in a rush of words, "I mean hypothetically speaking, right?"

Ashton laughed, "Figured…"

Eric was flattered—you could see it on his face—and he was looking over at Zerrin with a weird expression. I felt like gagging at how the guy's mind worked. What a pervert.

Pelin was staring daggers at Zerrin, who just looked at her sheepishly. Well, at least Ashton had broken up the evil twins. For now.

Zerrin really didn't know what she was asking for. I was the one actually living her dream. Kind of, but not actually, with both Emre and Eric. I wished I could tell her that wishes and dreams were better left unrealized because it wasn't a walk in the park at all.

I sighed, shaking my head. Zerrin was such a child. 

 I nudged Ashton with my elbow, "So what was all that with the picture? Do you really know what her last picture is? And how?" I whispered.

"You'll get a kick out of this," he whispered back, "You know when Emre took off his clothes and did that dare?" 

I nodded. 

"Well, he got out of the water completely naked and no one really cared…except, yea, you guessed it, our one and only Zerrin. She had her phone out in seconds. She was turned away, but I caught her angle. That girl took so many pictures of my brother, and zoomed in, even I was creeped out." He made a disgusting face, "She's totally obsessed, but I think it's not just Emre, it could be Eric too, even me. I'm sure she'd have taken close-ups of any of us, maybe even Zayn and Mert. Although she's more focused on men she can't have…" he finished giving me his psychological analysis of Zerrin.

"Honestly, Ash, you make her sound like a serial killer looking for her next victim."

We both laughed at that, and Emre gave us an annoyed look.