Mysterious Love

Chapter ten - Hot chocolate and potato chips

"Don't forget!" Mom cried after me.

"Mom, you've gone over the list about five times, I think that, by now, I can handle grocery shopping. " I say whilst rolling my eyes.

Mom calls out something more, yet I shut the door before I can catch the words.

I set out for the only grocery store in town, the place everyone gets their supplies from, and I mean everyone.

I walk along the sidewalk, the air is crisp and cool, and nips at me as I clutch my jacket closer to my body, not wanting the cold air to get in.

All around me, beautiful leaves are falling down, swirling and twirling, they are dancing in the air. In my mind they are making up a special dance just for me, yet that is just stupid, no one would ever dance for me... Or with me for that mater.

I push open the doors to the shop, and warm air gushes toward me in greeting. Ah, warm at last, I think to myself.

I pick up a basket and head to the dairy section. I pick up a carton of milk and move on to another isle.

Mom said I could get myself a treat... I think to myself mischievously. I briskly walk to the snack aisle for my toughest decision, cookies, or chips? I stand there for awhile, contemplating, and then I hear a familiar voice head down the aisle.

"I'm telling you, no one cares what you decide." Said a beautiful voice.

"Saige, I don't think you -" The voice stopped short.

Out of the corner of my eye I glanced over and saw Ash standing with a girl about the same age as him and I. And oh my god was she pretty, no not just pretty, beautiful. Her brown hair shined, and her face shone with pretty freckles. She was the type of girl who didn't need to have a face caked with makeup, she was just naturally pretty. Of course Ash had a girlfriend as beautiful as her.

"Is that the girl you're always talking about?!" The girl asked in a hushed voice.

"Sssssshhhhh, not so loud!" Ash cried out frantically, and the girl laughed.

What? Were they talking about me? The girl ran over to me, and I saw Ash waving frantically at her, which she ignored. "Hi! I'm Saige, you must be Ash's science partner, right?" Saige giggled.

"Uh, yeah that's me... I like your eyes..." I trailed off and I just felt so awkward, that being the first thing that popped in my head,not knowing what to say to this bubbly girl, which I felt so insecure next to.

"Thanks, that's really nice, Ash here has told me about you!" Her voice was cheery, yet there was a harshness behind it.

It was quite awkward for me though, meeting his girlfriend who is a hundred times prettier than me, and now I didn't know what to say...

Ash stepped forward. "Hey Lily." His voice was cool and crisp, like the air outside.

"I see you've met my cousin Saige," he said playfully punching her on the arm.

"OOowww!" She replied sarcastically.

"Well, I - we - I guess I should get going then." He smiled and started walking away when Saige grabbed his arm and whispered things in his ears. What, I do not know. I gave a backwards wave and headed away from them, to finish my shopping.

Walking away made my heart feel a tug, and my insides crashed as if I were on a ship smashing through the waves. I continue to shop, yet there is something different, I feel as though the atmosphere has changed. Everything continues to be the same, yet a thin layer of sadness is placed on top of me, that I can't quite put a finger on, and everything is just quiet, except for the laughs of Ash and Saige a few aisles down. How I wish I could be in her spot, just for right now.

Heavy bags in my hands, I head outside, the bag of chips eagerly awaiting me for when I reach home. The splashing of the light rain hitting the sidewalk is my melody as I start my walk home. I hear voices approaching, and I'm surprised to yet again see Ash and Saige. Saige nudged him and he started walking towards me. "Uh, hey." I loved his voice.

Saige scurried away, groceries in tow, with only a wave of a goodbye. "What, why did she just leave?" I was honestly concerned, yet Ash appeared not to be.

"She - uh, she wanted me to help you with your groceries, she thought you were struggling." Ash looked very sheepish, for some reason, yet my heart lifted, and so we walked together back to my place, the pitter patter of the rain beating down, and my invisible layer of sadness disappeared.

I unlocked the door - "Mom?" I called. "Come in, make yourself at home." I beckoned at the sofa, and Ash sat down. "I'll just be right back!" I called as I scurried up the stairs. I opened my mom's bedroom door. There she was, sleeping as  soundly as a baby. She had worked long hours last night, no wonder. I quietly shut her door, and hurried downstairs, just in time to catch Ash shaking his hair like a puppy.

Ash stood up as soon as he saw me, and the unmistakable butterflies inside my stomach fluttered all around. "I'll make hot chocolate for us, and put away the groceries, okay?"

"I can help with the groceries." He declared, as he followed me into the kitchen. Our wet hair leaving a damp trail.

"No! Really, it's fine, I got it."

"I insist, let me at least help."

And so while the milk was heating, we put away groceries, me directly showing Ash where to put things the whole time.

I grabbed the sugar as Ash finished up with groceries, and was measuring just the right amount to put in when Ash scared me, and I dropped a little too much sugar in.

"Ash! Now our hot chocolate is going to taste like a sweets shop!"

He continued to burst into laughter at my choice of words, and his smile was just the cutest thing.

We sat down at the windowsill and talked, hot chocolate in hand, and Ash ran into the kitchen. "Huh...What are you up to Ash?" My suspiciousness growing.

He returned with a bag of potato chips. "Can we, please, pretty please?" I laughed, and we enjoyed the odd combination of chips and coco.

"Maybe we can hang out tommorow?" Ash asked, and my heart probably did a pirouette.

"Sure, I'd like that." I said with the biggest smile yet.

I sat and thought about him even after he had left, and about his smile. He was confusing, sometimes he could be fun and open, while other times he was closed off and secret.

Yet I'm completely ignoring the obvious.

I have fallen for Ash.

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Hey guys!

I have not updated in forever, and I apologize! A little more action this time, huh? I feel as if this story is progressing so very slowly, and I'm sorry! I'm just trying to set a mood for our characters. I will most likely try and update again in the near future!

Xoxo, Halyna Starlight