Somewhat the Beginning (A Falling Skies Fanfiction)

Flashbacks

Hey readers! Here is yet another chapter for you to (hopefully) enjoy. You learn even more about Ashley's past.

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I saw Hal and I as children on the swings, having fun, laughing, playing, and just being innocent. Am I dreaming? I must be. Then young Hal and I went to the sandbox and started building sand castles. I remember this, we were in kindergarten. Then I saw the scene in my younger eyes.

Hal started digging out the moat and I started working on the main palace.

"It's going to be so beautiful." I said, "There's gonna be Kings, and Queens, and Knights, and everyone in the kingdom is gonna go there and party!" I started dancing (not very good I might add). Hal laughed and joined me. We got tired and started working on the castle again.

Hal scooped out a chunk of sand and tossed it aside, "This is so much fun! When we're done I'm gonna ask Mrs. Stacy to take a picture of our sand castle and hang it up so everyone can see our creation."

"That's a good idea Hal! You are so smart." I looked at him. He was so smart and cute, I'm so glad he's my friend.

The scene changed and I saw Hal and I were in the kitchen at his house. Oh, this must be when he was tutoring me in math in 8th grade.

"I'll go over it again, 3x-5=10 is?" Hal asked, patiently.

"I don't know!" I said angrily.

"Watch I'll explain it again. First you take the 5 and add it to both sides, so you end up with 3x=15. Then what do you do?"

"I don't know, divide the 3?" I answered lazily.

"Yes! That's right!"

"Really? Awesome!" I got up and started dancing. Hal got up and took my hands and we started waltzing.

"Aren't you two supposed to be doing homework?" A familiar man's voice said, chuckling behind us. We turned around and saw Tom and his wife, Rebecca, standing at the doorway of the kitchen.

Hal and I stepped away from each other, embarrassed but still laughing.

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Mason." I said, trying to fake an innocent smile.

"Hello Ashley." Mrs. Mason said, "And remember you family here, call us Rebecca and Tom."

"Ok." I said, smiling. It was great to be with people who love you, and not just because they had to.

"Are you staying for dinner tonight?" Tom asked.

"Sure." I said, knowing in my mind he wouldn't take no for an answer.

I helped Hal set up the table. We were talking about school while we put the plates on the table.

"I can't believe he did that in class!" I laughed.

"I know. He should've known that you can't eat 12 chili peppers without any water." Hal said, also laughing. "Did you see how fast he ran out of the room?!"

"I know! Olympics here he comes!" I said. Our laughter started to die down and the rest of the Mason clan walked in.

"Mmm, dinner smells good Mom." Ben said, racing Matt to the table. We ate and talked about school and other things in our lives. I did feel part of the family.

The scene changed again, No!, I thought, I don't want this memory to end. But it was too late. The image slipped away and a new one formed. This was not as happy a memory, it was one from home.

I was laying on my old bed, staring at the empty ceiling, trying to sleep with no prevail. My little brother, Danny, slowly opened my door.

"Ashley, are you awake?" He whispered.

"Yea what's wrong?" I asked, sitting up. He hesitated at the door. "Come here." I said, gesturing through the dark for him to come in. He walked in, careful to not trip on my clothes strewn across the floor, and over to my bed. I moved over so he could lay down and I placed the covers on both of us. "So what's up Bumblebee?" Bumblebee was my nickname for him because his favorite animal is (was) the bumblebee and his favorite movie character was Bumblebee from the Transformers (of course).

"I had a nightmare, a really bad one." He started, "I was walking in the street and a giant spider started running towards me." He had intense arachnophobia. He continued, "I tried to run but more and more spiders kept coming. I fell and they started eating me..."He started to cry.

I hugged him, "It's ok, everything's fine now." I looked him in the eyes, "I won't let anyone hurt you. I will protect you from everyone...and everything." I hugged him again and he fell asleep in my arms. I will protect you from everyone...and everything, those words rung in my ears as the final image faded away to nothing but emptiness.

My eyes opened and I felt a tear rolled down my cheek.