As a fan of O4U, Ash wakes up each day happy. Her hobbies including collecting photocards and joining concerts. She was happy as she possibly could be. Until her aunt wanted her back home. Temporarily.
Being raised with your Aunt's large family, was...
The car's ignition goes off when they finally arrive. Seth had planned for them to go have a picnic together. Faith agreed but not after being sweet-talked by Seth, saying there will be cakes and pastries. Well, she couldn't refuse it.
They were by the lake. The sun was bright, the heat was acceptable. People crowded the small pier that was a line for some water activities. It was noisy but enjoyable. There was a respectable distance from other people who were spending time with their lovers, friends, or families.
Seth quickly led them far from the noise but not far enough to not see the activities. Caleb held the basket that was filled with pastries Faith ordered the second she was convinced. Khael carried the drinks and fruits that Caleb wanted. Ash and Faith held the large picnic mat and blanket that they would rest on.
They placed the mat first then the blanket after. Its yellow polka dots was seemingly funny when Khael sat on it. Khael noticed her glancing and raised an eyebrow at her smile. "Nothing. You just look adorable sitting on the yellow polka-dot blanket." The rest of them chuckled, teasing the flustered and embarrassed Khael.
His face turning into a sulk, he stood up, hating the teasing that she started. Ash grabbed his wrist stopping him from walking away. In her gentlest voice and expression, she spoke. "I'm sorry. You just look really cute in it but if you don't like hearing it, I'll stop. Just come sit."
Khael sighed in defeat and nodded. They sat down beside each other. The others had placed their stuff down and Khael took a stem of grapes and started munching on it. Smiling, Ash was glad he didn't leave. After all, she wore her prettiest sun dress just to impress him. The dress was floral, blue flowers were like the polka dots of the blanket. Its skirt was flowy and looked frilly but was a thin and comfortable fabric. When they gathered at the car, she hoped Khael would say something about her outfit. But all he did was glance at her and called everyone in the car.
A sigh escaped Ash's mouth. She reached out to grab a slice of brownies. When she sat properly, she felt a warm breath on her ear. She felt shivers down her spine and a sensitivity she didn't she had. "I don't mind if you say it, I just don't like being teased by the guys." He rested his chin on her shoulder. Her mind was all aware that if she were to turn her head to the right, their faces would be very close.
She sat stiffly. Her legs under her thighs were feeling the ache as she tensed her muscles. But she ignored it. A fluffy feeling in her heart had shifted the attention elsewhere. He didn't mind if she teased him - although that was never her intent. She ate her brownie. Her bite already finishing half of it.
"You look really pretty today," Ash couldn't stop it and she turned her head in his direction, well, only until her lips touched his cheek.
Their eyes made contact until Khael broke it, glancing at her lips. She felt his thumb caressing her lips. "You've got some crumbs." He leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips, taking away what she could only think were the crumbs he talked about, and backed away. She drowned herself in the little pleasure it gave her when she should've been embarrassed.
Ash melted. Her posture was now somewhat loose. Khael's thumb now holding her chin, raising it slightly. "How I want to kiss you deeply. Right here, right now." She didn't know if this was his way of flirting or just his way to show that he liked her. She might've indulged him in the thought but something about her dream last night irked her.
Khael took note of Ash's expression and stopped. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. Just worried they saw what you were doing." Laughing lightly along with her lie made it more convincing. And she really was worried they'd see.
She glanced at the group and saw that they were focused on the activities. With food in their hand, their eyes followed the two people kayaking across the lake, fighting each other for first place. Ash sighed. Khael just laughed when one fell over, placing too much force on one side and tipping the kayak making them fall into the water. The people laughed and others jeered but all in all, the activities were a nice distraction.
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The food had almost run out by the time it reached noon. They had stayed longer than they planned but it was good. They talked, laughed, and even had little games just to have some extra fun.
Truth or dare was the most exciting when Caleb dared Faith to chug half a bottle of beer he had hidden. She accepted, finishing it instead of half a bottle. She let out a happy sigh and had a tired smile. Ash had thought that Caleb had purposely made her pass out, letting her rest.
They continued the game between the four of them with harmless dares such as standing up and dancing sexily or dipping their shoes in the lake. People around them also seemed to enjoy the dares they gave out, laughing along when Seth had to dip his shoes and returning to them, faking a tear. But they knew it was all for show.
When it had gone past three pm, Faith had awoken from her sleep and suggested they return back home. No one disagreed.
They made more trips back to the car than when they first arrived. Their trashes had piled beside them. Seth and Caleb went to throw the garbage. Faith carried the basket with some leftover pastries and walked to the car. Ash and Khael cleaned up the last of the stuff.
Khael carried the mat and blanket Ash offered for him to carry. She gave the last paper bag to Khael. Ash noticed that he was carrying everything and offered a hand to him. Khael stared at her before placing both the mat and blanket under his left with the paper bag in his hand and holding the hand Ash offered with his free hand.
He smiled. "Let's go." Khael led them both to the car. Seth and Caleb had just arrived. Ash could see Seth smirking at Khael when he saw their hands together. Khael directly made his way to the trunk, placing the stuff down. He closed it and glanced at Seth and Caleb who were smirking, their eyebrows raising profusely. "Stop it." He walked to the front seat, opened the door, and finally released his hold on her hand to let her in.
Ash was charmed by the chivalry he showed. She could even see the subtle hues of pink on his cheeks from the teasing Seth and Caleb did and she felt like it had transferred on her face.
She got in the car. The side mirrors showed him glaring at the two who finally got in the car. Khael then got to the driver's seat, started the ignition, and placed his phone out on his lap.
Before Khael could start the travel, his phone made a sound, a notification alerting him. Ash tried to glance at his phone but Khael refused to show it. She was worried when Khael's face turned dark. His expression changed. He was pissed.
He turned off the ringer and placed the phone on the dashboard. His change in expression was evident. Ash could see Seth and Caleb looking his way from the mirror, also concerned.
Something was going to happen and she knows she wasn't going to like it.
