Even Through the Storm

24. The Tour

"Long time, no see," Ash says, as I walk into his new apartment.

"I saw you two days ago. And we video-chatted last night," I say. It's the day after I talked to Dri, and she called Ash my "brother-friend." I giggle at the memory.

"Okay, true. But I still missed you!" He hugs me from behind. "So, want a grand tour?"

"Ash, I helped you move in!" I say, smiling.

"Grand tour it is," he whispers into my ear. "So, the living room," he releases me from his hug and points to a new couch, loveseat, coffee table, and television. "Next. we have the dining room and the kitchen." A table sits in the back corner of the living room, right of the hallway. The tan carpet switches to tile as dining room changes to a small kitchen, being separated from the living room, only by a ledge. "Now, onto the luxurious laundry room,"he says, pulling open a closet in the hallway which holds the washer and dryer. "And on to the bathroom." The hallway separates into three room, and he leads me into the one on the right. "Then onto my mom's room. She's sleeping but it's that one." He points to the middle door. "And last but not least, the man cave." He opens the door and lays on the bed in the corner. The sheets and frame are brand new. The television from Ash's old basement is facing the bed, on a stand which holds his games and console. A dresser is next to the television, and a closet is next to a nightstand, which has his piggy bank, along with the other things we found from his old house on it. "Wanna' play a game?"

"Sure," I say, sitting down next to him.

"Plumber Brothers?"

"Obviously." He turns on the television, and the station blasts music. Asher quickly turns it down at least halfway, before slowly turning it down more. We were obviously too late because Ms. Reynolds comes into the room.

"Oh, hey Lola. I'll just be in my room if you need anything," she says, closing the door on her way out.

"Well that was loud," Ash says.

"Little bit."