you're my fresh air

chapter three

wyatt

i woke up to jack sniffing at my face, and rolled over. i figured i wasn't gonna fall back asleep, so i checked the time on my phone. it read 5:12 am.

i stood up from the couch, stretching my back.

the couch was pretty comfy, surprisingly. especially considering i slept in jeans.

i didn't want to disturb ashlynn by grabbing some boxers, so i just took my shirt off and slept in my jeans.

ashlynn's such a pretty name. just like her i guess.

pity she's married. and leaving today. and hates me. but you know.

hold up. is she married? she referred to her partner or whatever as her boyfriend last night. i didn't even realise.

i guess i was too caught up in her words. i could watch her full lips move as she talked for hours i swear.

what the fuck wyatt? i need to stop. she's leaving today so i'll finally snap out of these thoughts and go back to just working all the time.

i walked to the kitchen and flicked the kettle on. i decided i would have a coffee, do some laundry, then make some breakfast for ashlynn.

i mean, i don't know what time she usually wakes up, but she's from the city so i don't think it would be very early.

-

after doing some washing, i figured i'd just peak my head into my room and see if ashlynn was awake or not. i needed to grab a shirt anyway.

when i did, there was no body in my bed. in fact, it was made. i stepped in, looking around for her, when i noticed the sliding door was open, slightly.

i grabbed a shirt, then made my way to the sliding door.

i opened it all the way, and stepped out. around the corner of my little back step, she was sitting over the edge of the balcony, with a cigarette in her hand.

a board in the deck must have creaked, because she looked up at me. her hair was a mess, but she still looked gorgeous.

"hi." she said softly, before looking back out into the paddock. she took a drag of her cigarette.

"i didn't know you smoked." i said

"yeah well, you don't even know my last name, so." she said, still mad i see.

"yeah okay, fair point. mine's becking. by the way." i muttered. "let me know when you're ready to go into town."

she didn't say anything. i turned to walk back inside when she said, "reed, is mine by the way." i nodded and continued walking. she murmured something else about wanting it to be becking, but i was sure i had heard that wrong. "and for the record, i don't smoke. only when i'm stressed." she clarified.

when i walked back through my bedroom to get to the loungeroom, i laughed. like actually out loud. not because anything was funny, simply because something about her just excited me.

i need to snap out of this. she's leaving today anyway. i'm only thinking like this cause i'm lonely. she'll leave and it'll be back to me and jack. the way i liked it.

-

an hour or so later, ashlynn walked into the kitchen and sat at the breakfast bar. she was wearing a light pink dress with a denim jacket and her hair was in a high ponytail. i bet she gets cold. the new south wales winter is no joke!

i was washing some dishes, but it must have been obvious i was looking at her because she said,

"my eyes are up here, becking. what are you looking at anyway?" before looking back to her phone.

"nothing, i've just never seen someone get so dressed up to catch a train. you pull it off though, don't worry" i smirked.

she rolled her eyes, "yeah well i packed for a wedding, so."

"ready to go then?" i asked, getting my keys off the hook.

"yeah, never been more excited for something" she said mockingly.

the car ride into town, was quiet. i asked ashlynn how she slept, and what her life was like in sydney, but she answered both of them pretty dryly.

it was quiet in town too, most people were in Tamworth for the rodeo. i sure as hell wasn't. rodeos are not my scene.

when we got to the train station, i didn't even bother locking the car, because i knew i wouldn't be here long before ashlynn would be on her way to sydney, and i would be on my way home.

we walked onto the old platform, and towards the ticket office. there was maybe two other people there. probably wanting to go toward sydney too.

"one ticket to sydneys central please" i said to the ticket lady as ashlynn pulled out her wallet.

the lady laughed and gave me a funny look. i just stared back at her. her expression became serious again.

"you haven't heard? there's big floods all around sydney. trains aren't running for the next 3 weeks at least." she spoke.

"what?!" ashlynn exclaimed, her hand flying over her mouth, "this has to be some sort of joke! i can't bare to stay in this nowhere town for another minute!"

the lady rolled her eyes. "yeah well, get used to it, you're not going anywhere, doll" and with that, she turned back to her computer.

ashlynn dropped her bag on the floor and slid down the wall beside it.

"don't worry, you're not the only one upset with this news" i began, "but there's nothing you can do about it so stop sooking. get up, we're going home."

i grabbed her bag off the floor and held my hand out to her. i figured, if i was going to be spending the next three weeks or so with her, i might aswell be nice.

she looked at me, hesitant, but eventually grabbed my hand and pulled herself up.

"we've got stuff to do." i said, as we walked off the platform to the car.

"like what?" ashlynn asked

"shopping. if you're gonna be here for the next month, you're gonna need proper clothes."

"what's wrong with my clothes?" she asked, frowning

"ashlynn, you can't work on a farm in white sneakers and dresses."

she bit her lip and looked away from me before climbing into the car, humming in response.