DESPERATE

Chapter 31

Ashley left Valerie's gate. She was done with her presentation and was ready to leave. Valerie's mom had commended their effort saying she loved the project. Ashley had even taken a video to show her mom when she got home. She had walked a lengthy distance when a voice called her from behind.

"Ashley." She looked behind to see Cole walking up to her.

"Hey girl." He said when he had finally caught up to her.

"Hi Cole. You live around?"

"Yes, I do. I came out for a stroll and I met you."

"Awesome. I was heading home." Ashley said and continued walking again. Cole walked beside her matching her stride.

"Cool. I'll walk with you."

"I'm already late and I need to head home."

"Am I stopping you."

"No."

"Good. Where are you coming from?"

"Val's house."

"Project?"

"Yup."

"You guys done with it yet? I heard it's on Friday."

"Yes. We finished today."

"That's cool. Any pics I can see?"

"I guess." Ashley replied opening her phone, then she opened the video handing the phone to Cole.

"Wow. This is...." Cole said after watching the video.

"Awesome?" She asked with a shrug smile.

"No, it's... it's brilliant. Not even that, like I don't know how to put it." Cole said handing back her phone.

Ashley took it. "Well thanks. I was going to show my mom."

"Anytime."

They stopped in front of a cross road. Then she turned to face Cole. "Well, I think you should go now."

"Why?" Cole asked.

"Down the road, turn right then left, third house is my home."

"Ok then. I'll see you in school tomorrow."

"Yeah. Thanks for the walk. Bye." Ashley said with a small smile.

"Yeah bye." He replied with a grin turned around leaving while Ashley continued her journey home.

When she arrived, she looked in her driveway and saw her mom's car.

"Crap. She's home already." Ashley said. She checked the time on her phone. 5:30pm.

"Great. I'm dead." She muttered. Deciding to sneak in she followed the back door of her house. She pushed the door open a little and peeked in. All clear.

The back door led into the kitchen. She entered and didn't see anyone then continued following the other kitchen exit leading to the stairs.

As she climbed up the stairs, her mom was coming down.

"Ashley, there you are." Her mom said.

"Yeah. I'm here." She said nervously.

"Where were you? Are you just coming home now?"

"Umm... no. I'm not. I was at the backyard."

Her mom looked at her suspiciously. "Ok. Did you girl's finish the project?"

"I did. I even made a video." she replied opening her phone to show her mother.

"Wow. This is amazing." Her mom said after watching the video.

"I know right."

"That's good. I was going to the kitchen to prepare dinner."

"Ok. I'll join you in a sec." She replied and continued her way up to her room.

She entered her room and dropped her phone on her bedside table. She saw that letter again. The letter was as old as she was. An idea occurred to her. She might as well enter her mom's room and search for the key since she was in the kitchen.

She left her room and entered her mom's room. Opening her mom's closet door, she checked for the door where she saw it the last time. It was still there. She searched the closet, searched all the drawers, went back to the main closet again but still didn't find anything. Yes she saw keys, but they didn't fit.

"What are you doing here Ashley?" Her mom's voice startled her.

She turned back to face her confused mother.

"Err.... I was looking... looking for a..." She stammered.

"Looking for what?"

"For a shirt." She said the first thing that entered her head. "For a shirt to wear on Friday."

"Why?"

"Our teacher told us to look nice and formal."

"Oh really?"

Ashley nodded.

Her mom sighed. "Well, I don't have any shirt you could fit into."

"Why don't you let me...."

"I said I don't." Her mom interrupted. Then she gestured to the door. "Now out you go."

Ashley sighed. She didn't want to leave yet.

"Ashley leave."

"Alright." She said leaving.

"I got busted." Ashley said later that night after dinner. She was having a video chat with Lily using her laptop.

"How?"

"It's best you don't ask." She rolled her eyes.

"I want to. What happened?"

She sighed and re-encountered her ordeal to Lily. When she reached the part about the excuse she gave her mom... Lily burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry continue." Lily said noticing Ashley's annoyed look.

Ashley continued and when she was done, Lily continued laughing.

"Your lame excuse was a shirt?" Lily asked still laughing. When she noticed Ashley gllaring at her, she quickly threw a hand over her mouth.

"Are you done now?"

"I'm sorry but seriously Ash... a shirt."

"I panicked. I wasn't thinking." She defended.

"Uh-huh." Lily rolled her eyes. "Well, forget about that. I have good news for you."

"What's that?"

"I'm moving to LA."

"What! That's awesome. How did this happen?"

"You know that tech company my dad works for?"

Ashley nodded.

"You know they have branches in some countries with the head office in LA?"

"I didn't know that but continue."

"Well, they needed fifty people to come work there for some certain reasons... my parents didn't tell me that part but my dad is among. My mom will find a new job when we arrive." She finished with a squeal. Lily's parents were from California, so it's just like moving back to their hometown.

"That's wonderful Lily. When are you guys coming?"

"On Saturday. What's the name of your school again? I want to apply there."

"Wright Academy."

"Ok. I just have to call my grandmother."

"Awesome. We'll be attending the same school again."

"I know right."

"Yeah."

"I gotta go. I have so many things to do."

"Alright." Ashley said. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

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