Aiden x Reader (but you're Ashlyn)

Episode 9

>>>>><The First Encounter><<<<<

After meeting up with the teacher and the other groups, we were all separated into different dorms based on our gender. Taylor and I decided to share a room, while the other two girls paired up in the adjacent bedroom.

Once we settled in, I decided to take a shower, leaving Taylor and the others to prepare for a game they seemed eager to start.

Taylor, wearing a bright smile, turned to me. "Hey, Ashlyn, wanna play?"

I shook my head gently.

"No thanks, you guys go ahead. I'm going to head to bed." I gave her a small wave before slipping out of the room, needing a moment to myself.

After a while, I began practicing my ballet stretches, a familiar routine that always helped me unwind.

I had just gotten into one of my final stretches when I heard the door creak open. Taylor stood on the other side, her eyes wide with surprise. I could tell she was holding back a scream, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

"Oh, sorry. You ready to go to sleep?" I asked, a small smile tugging at my lips. Most people can't help but react when they see me in the middle of one of my stunts, but Taylor managed to keep it together—barely.

"Y-yeah, I wasn't expecting you to still be awake," she stammered, her voice betraying her nerves. "You're pretty flexible. Do you do gymnastics or something?"

"I do ballet," I replied simply.

"Really?" Her face lit up with excitement. "That's really cool!"I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. 

Compliments always made me a little uncomfortable, and I could feel the awkwardness building. "I guess," I muttered, shifting my gaze away from hers.

Sensing the tension, Taylor quickly switched off the light, and we both climbed into bed. She took one pillow, and I took the other. My braids, as usual, created a sort of barrier between us, which was a relief. I wasn't one for getting too close to people, even in sleep.

The room was quiet, but Taylor's voice cut through the darkness."Do you think what we saw today was real?" Her tone was hesitant, as if she was searching for some sort of reassurance.

I thought about it for a moment. It didn't make sense—things don't just vanish into thin air like that. But before I could dwell on it too long, Taylor spoke again.

"Do you?""Ty always insists it was fake," she continued, sounding more uncertain. "He ranted about it the whole way back. You were the closest to it, so I thought you might have seen something we didn't."

"Not really," I finally answered, my voice soft. "But it's probably best if we just forget about it."

"Okay," she whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Lny... Ashlyn!"

I was jolted awake, feeling disoriented.

"It's time to get off the bus," a voice added before disappearing down the aisle.

"Okay," I groaned, still heavy with exhaustion.

Wait.But... we already made it to Savannah?

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