Ashley noticed the slight shift in the mood as she let that little confession slip out. Well, to her it was normal; she'd always liked girls more then guys. It just wasn't brought out in others as strongly as as did with Isabel. Maybe it wasn't something she should just go be advertising, but she didn't want anyone to think she was ashamed. Liking woman was as natural to Ashley as breathing.

>>“Maybe one day you could bring her to visit?”

The only answer Bentley got for this question was a scoff followed by a dubious look. Even IF Isabel was he girlfriend, and IF she was a sociable as her attitude implied, then Ashley doubted very much that they would ever step foot in Bentley's home. Still, she felt bad for giving such a strong response and ended her line of actions with a noncommittal shrug.

>>“You’re so…Your own? I mean to say…You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met before.”

The redhead smiled as she looked to the smaller girl and shrugged again. “I'm different? Never noticed.” Ashley lightly kicked a small rock that was on the ground before she continued. “Wanna compare? You different. Wanna know secret?”

Ashley nodded, a matter of fact look on her face as she turned to the girl beside her, then took a quick look around them as if she was looking out for spies. When she stopped looking she then leaned in slightly, her slightly deep voice going lower as she whispered into Bentley's ear.

“You nice. In New York...THAT different.”

Bentley’s mouth hung open; her eyes were wide in anticipation. What secret was Rhythm going to share with her?

Bentley giggled as the breath from Rhythm’s lips tickled her ear. Rhythm had already pulled away and was looking at her. “Thank you.” The shy girl stepped forward again. She giggled again as she thought about what her friend had just told her. “I don’t know about that. Because you are pretty nice yourself.” A sincere smile tugged at Bentley’s lips. She really liked Rhythm and she hoped that this wouldn’t be the last time they saw one another.

Her expression fell as she realized that she could see the apartment building just a little ways off. “Are you sure you won’t take me up on my offer? Frozen pizza is pretty tempting…isn’t it?” She asked again, knowing that it would probably be no help. It probably wouldn’t change anything. Suddenly she got an idea. She grabbed ahold of Rhythm’s unsuspecting hand and drug her quickly behind her. When they reached the front entrance of the apartments she dropped her new friends hand and turned to face her. “Stay right here?”

Before Rhythm could answer Bentley ducked into the building and ran to the front desk. The attendant looked up, shocked by Bentley’s excitement. “Yes?”

“Do you have a pen?” She spotted a pen and grabbed it quickly, before the woman could even offer it. The small girl darted back out onto the streets and breathed a sigh of relief that Rhythm had stuck around. “Do you mind?” She gestured toward Rhythm’s hand with the pen.

Ashley never really watched television, mainly because it bored her. She did like the cartoons and anime, but she hardly got any of those when she broke into any hotel room and even if she did she never knew when they were on. But sometimes when she watched (because she didn't want to go outside) she'd see some bubbly little girl on there that always seemed to be hopping around or squealing for some god forsaken reason. Toned down a bit, that was Bentley. She didn’t let that physical bubbliness come out too often, but she was energetic and nice to a fault.

Ashley sincerely hoped that New York City was nice enough to let this girl remain as innocent as she was.

>>“Are you sure you won’t take me up on my offer? Frozen pizza is pretty tempting…isn’t it?”

Another attempt to reel her in and the only response Ashley gave was a raised eyebrow this time. In truth she felt a little giddy inside that this little girl would even consider inviting her up to her apartment. In another (unfortunate) truth, maybe anyone that was nice to the brunette got invited up. If that were the case, it could mean that one day Ashley would invite the wrong someone...

>>“Do you mind?”

Ashley snapped her head up from her musings, blinking a few times as she watched Bentley stand before her with a pen. She looked at the girl's gesture and brought her hand up, palm upwards, and winced a bit as Bentley took it. Her touch was soft, gentle and soothing...but it wasn't Isabel's. Ashley closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, trying to hide that pain from the other girl. It simply wasn't fair that Isabel could have unlocked such feelings to the point where Ashley was loyal to her...for no reason. At all.

She slowed down her breathing a bit before she opened her eyes again, locking them with Bentley's hazel orbs. “Need hand...for what?”

Bentley only laughed as Rhythm questioned her on the use of her hand. She jotted her phone number down on the palm of her new friend. Bentley hoped that if Rhythm’s girlfriend spotted it she wouldn’t get angry or anything. Bentley just wanted there to be a chance for the two of them to hear from one another again. Her handwriting was perfectly readable and she scanned over the number to make double sure that it was correct. She was so used to her old phone number back in Georgia. After she was certain that it was right she wrote her name in elegant cursive above it.

Still gently holding Rhythm’s hand in both of her own, Bentley’s hazel eyes locked with hers. “Call me if you ever need anything. Anything.” There was a strong emphasize on the word. A slight blush surfaced on the girl’s cheeks. Well, she meant it. She wanted Rhythm to call her if she needed anything at all, even if it was just to talk. Or if she ever found herself without a roof over her head.

Bentley still couldn’t believe how close she felt to Rhythm. They’d known one another for what? An hour? If it was even that long. Bentley knew it had to be how the red head reminded her of Markus. They had the same quiet strength about them. Just the way Rhythm carried herself was enough to broadcast that you shouldn’t tick her off. And Markus had been as protective. He couldn’t pass up an opportunity to rescue a ‘damsel in distress.’ Bentley smiled, remembering.

The writing Bentley was doing on her hand tickled like no one's business, but Ashley struggled to keep from laughing, or giggling or any other very un-Ashley like activities such as those. In truth, Ashley barley knew how to read but had no trouble deciphering the number's Bentley wrote down as her phone number, followed by her name. She stared at the elegant writing and looked from her hand to Bentley and then back to her hand before nodding. She didn't have anything to write the number down ON but figured she could probably steal one of those little black books she saw at those tiny gift shops everywhere. She opened her mouth to say something but was suddenly locked into a rather intense gaze from the ballerina.

>>“Call me if you ever need anything. Anything.”

The redhead swallowed hard. A gaze like that she expected from other people that had more...body mass or something, people more intimidating. But the girl was dead serious, she actually, genuinely wanted to see Ashley again at a later date for...something or other. At this point in time she was pretty sure she could call Andrew and MAYBE Isabel (if she could stomach the encounter again) for help for anything. And now...this girl.

So...they were friends. Ashley smiled then, something she found herself doing a lot the more she was around the little ballerina. It felt...weird to be even a bit happy after everything with Isabel but she was, and she didn't even feel a tinge of guilt because of it. Whistler had once told her that friends were meant to be kept close because the ones that stuck by you through thick and thin were as close as family. And Ashley saw great potential in the friendship between herself and Bentley.

“Y-yeah...” Ashley stuttered for a moment, looking down at her hand. “I'll...get phone. Call you...later?” Ashley smiled as she took Bentley's hand in her own and gave it a small kiss on the top. She wasn't sure why, but it felt right. “Keep coat. I'll get new one.”

With a small wink and a wave, Ashley turned on her heel and walked back towards the park, shoving her headphones on her head while doing so.

It was a good night. Best she'd had in awhile.