Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Three

It had been pretty late by the time Asher left. Though she'd hoped to watch Marlene's stream that night, in case she spoke about what was in the bag her Dad had left behind at the café, she'd been too exhausted to. Between all the emotions that had run through her yesterday, plus the mystery of her Dad and Marlene and then dinner with Alex, as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out. She'd just have to watch it tomorrow.

As a result, it also meant that Lila would check in on Daniel after returning home from school. A part of her also hoped that his feelings about Clare's boyfriend would settle by then – in which case, her interrogation would actually bear fruit; pun intended.

She was still rather confused by it all when she placed her school bag in her locker that morning and set herself up for her first two classes – Design and Japanese. Daniel was worried that Clare having a boyfriend would mean she'd move out? Considering the fact that he spent a good portion of his life in his room, Lila thought he'd hardly notice if Clare was gone. Plus, just having a boyfriend didn't necessarily mean she'd move out, either.

"Good morning," Asher's chipper voice made her crane her neck around her locker door. She beamed upon seeing him, closing it promptly and locking it. He took her laptop bag from her with an identical beam on his face.

"I see you're still in a good mood," he said, his own voice joyful.

"Of course," she replied. "I'm offended you'd think otherwise."

"Let's just say I'm glad I was able to turn yesterday around in the end," he said softly, holding his arm out for her to take. "Design first up, right?"

"Yes, sir."

He smirked. "Sir?"

"Well, you seem so fancy and formal, with your arm like this," she said playfully as they began to move along to the Applied Tech building.

"Only for you."

She giggled, and they chatted and joked along the way to her class. Eventually, he reluctantly returned her laptop bag and she said goodbye, carrying her good mood with her all through Design. Surprisingly, she found that it helped her concentrate on her project, which was due in two weeks time.

In fact, she felt the same in Japanese too, though her listening exam was at the beginning of next week. She took the time at the end of her lesson to look through her exam schedule for Japanese and was displeased to see that her speaking exam was in two weeks and her writing exam was in the second-last week of term. Asher was quite right to reduce the time they spent together, it seemed.

He was waiting for her outside as usual once class was over and she rejoined him with a touch more despondence than before.

"I hope that look isn't for me," he said jokingly. She shook her head.

"No. I'm just not excited for all these assignments and exams I have to do."

"But once they're done, we can hang out again," he reminded her gently.

"Doesn't mean there's any more excitement for my assignments and exams."

"At least I tried."

She laughed, stepping closer to him. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

Their journey to the locker room was much the same as this morning in its lightheartedness. After putting away their things and collecting their morning tea, they meandered over to the library, content in each other's company.

They sat down in an empty meeting room, snacking away for some time before her mind turned to the kiss they had in her room and... how he'd touched her.