He rolls his eyes as Ashlee flips her long blond hair. She gives him a coy look before smiling at me.

You’ve been described as confident, even intimidating. Where does that come from?

You’re looking at me, right? My Daddy raised me to not take shit from anybody, and I—

Jack mumbles something under his breath. The two of them momentarily argue about their father. I just wait patiently.

Sorry about that. As I was saying… my Daddy raised me not to take shit from anybody. I live by that. No one owns me. Only I own me. My body is a temple. All that shit father’s teach their daughters. Except mine was the best at it.

She sticks her tongue out at her brother, who turns his back on her. When she turns back to me, her blue eyes are twinkling in the studio lights. She clearly gets her kicks out of arguing with him. I decide to “poke the bear.”

That’s a true Reynolds blood bond.

What’s one thing you’ve done that Jack will never forgive you for?

You’d have to ask him. Jacky? What about it? Oh, now he’s not talking to me. That’ll be a nice break from his mouth.

He still hasn’t forgiven me for bailing on him and mom. I didn’t want to live with them. It’s that simple.

Indeed pretending to peruse the snack table, Jack ignores his sister’s words. But I empathize with her. It’s not easy to live in a broken home. Divorce is hard. Distance is harder. But maybe I could fix this.

And what’s one thing you’ve done that he’ll always forgive?

Jacky and I have this weird thing… We’ve always been able to go days, weeks, even years without speaking, but still somehow know we need each other. And when we do reunite, it’s like no time has passed at all. That’s a true Reynolds blood bond.

I definitely know how that is. I’m the same way. She nods at my musing, only half paying attention. Something behind me is more interesting. I try to recapture her attention.

I turn heads without making noise.

You and Ray have history—the good, the bad, and the complicated. What’s the first memory that comes to mind when I say his name?

Daddy teaching me how to shoot. That’s gotta be the first one. I was five. He gave me a rifle. I could barely hold the thing up. But that was the day he taught me that I don’t owe anyone anything. And I have control.

What’s your favorite way to make an entrance?

Before she can answer, Jack does for her. “Loudly.”

[Beams] He’s right. The more noise I can make, the better. Everybody needs to notice me. I mean, you saw me come through that door. I turn heads without making noise. But I still enjoy making it.

It’s true. I don’t think a single person in the entire studio escaped her magnetism (or volume). And yet, she was the warmest loud person I’d ever met. Until you cross her.

You’re good at reading people… except when you aren’t. What’s your biggest blind spot?

Excuse me? When am I not good at it? Examples, please.

Jack and I both point toward Ray as the common denominator.

Oh, my God, you’re on his side with this whole thing? Do either of you think I’m not a well-adjusted adult?

We glance at each other and shrug. It’s difficult being well-adjusted at all in the apocalypse. She doesn’t appear to appreciate that answer, folding her arms across her chest and crossing her legs. I try to ask a few more questions.

If you had the chance to run things your way, what would change first?

I do run things my way, if you haven’t noticed. In fact, I’m gonna run right out of here, because this interview is over. You two need serious help.

But before I go, what concealer do you use?

Blankly, I tell her before she storms away. Weirdest interview ever.

To read more, visit my Salt & Bone series page.