My Only Wish // Asa Butterfield Fanfiction

Chapter 35

I checked my phone for the tenth time, anxiously pacing the alley. His last text was nearly 15 minutes ago, and I was getting worried.

Under other circumstances, I wouldn't have been, but his meeting place wasn't exactly, well, inviting. I looked around the wide alley, wondering why he could possibly want to meet me here. It wasn't too dark or frightening, streetlights from either sides lighting up the musty old bricks of the buildings, reflecting on the rusty copper dumpster, but I didn't feel totally comfortable.

I leaned against the wall, pushing around a small pile of snow with the toe of my boot.

Where was he!?

Suddenly, I heard footsteps, and I swiveled around, heart pounding. The dark figure approaching was holding something large, and I stepped back, ready to run.

"Boo." A familiar voice said, and I almost screamed as Asa stepped out of the shadows. He burst out laughing. "Your face! Priceless." He said. I rolled my eyes, but didn't say anything, because what I had assumed was an axe, was a giant bouquet of flowers. Asa stood up straight and handed it to me.  "For you babe." He whispered, pulling me into his arms and kissing my forehead. I felt chills run down my spine.

"I have a question." I said, after we let go, and placed the bouquet on the dumpster. Asa raised an eyebrow, and I laughed. "It shall serve as a bench." I explained, and he smiled. I paced the alley, and then turned around to face him. "What exactly is this place?"

"Ah you see, this I meant to tell you. C'mon. We need to sit on the bench." He said, and I grinned.  After a few seconds of struggling I managed to pull myself up to sit next to Asa on the cold copper, and he put his hand on mine. I made sure the bouquet was safe next to me and then rested my head on his shoulder.

"One day, I was taking a walk, and I passed this alley. See, the thing is, I have no idea why I got so intrigued by it. But I did. It's similar to most alleys, but in some ways I feel like it's just very hidden. Untouched, clean. See theres this dumpster. It's not just plain green. It's gold and copper and rusty and looks so artsy.And it doesn't stink," I laughed. "And there's not an ounce of trash in sight, right? No windows on either walls. It's like a little hidden little world."

"I see."

"Yeah. Do you wanna know when I found this place?" He asked. His voice was eager, and it made smile, the way he was so excited about such a simple place.

"Sure." I said.

"The day we met."

My heart clenched.

"I was walking home after taking you to your family. And I swear Row, I couldn't get you out of my head. I just wanted it to be the next day so I could see you again, to get to know you. And I was just walking, head down, and I, well I got lost. I wasn't even worried. I started laughing, actually, since I had just helped you after you'd gotten lost and now I didnt even know where I was. Well, I continued to walk, and went down here, thinking maybe it would get me home somehow. But all I noticed at first was how much I liked this place. It was so calming, so peaceful. So I sat down, right on this dumpster and texted you. Then I found my way home without even checking a map. This little alley is cool, and after visiting it more than a few times, I decided you should know about it." He said, and smiled at me. I looked down at our feet and swallowed.

"I love it." I admitted. Although at first I wasn't too sure, after hearing his little story I noticed how charming the little alley was.

We sat in silence for a little while, and then I checked my phone. 11:35.

"I'm so happy Row." Asa said suddenly. I sat up straighter and looked him in the eye. "That you're getting the help you need. That you got lost that day, and that my mum forced me to go on a walk at that time. That I found this alley. That I asked you out. I just, can't quite put it into words but these past two months have been so influential and I'm so glad." He said.