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chapter 7 -Figment

                                                                                  ~WARNING~

This chapter contains themes of suicide.  It is advised that you proceed with caution or refrain from reading if you are affected by this type of content.

Tasmin's pov

I rub the tender sore spot on the back of my head from when I fainted on the hardwood floor. "Damn, I need to start passing out in softer places," I wince. 

The slam of the front door and the click of heels on the staircase echoes through the house. Harriet's back. She saunters in our room, tossing her handbag on her bed, leaping dramatically on it with a sigh.

"Oh Taz, that was soooooo boring. We did nothing, you wouldn't of liked it anyway."

I nod, absentmindedly gazing at the sail boats drifting on the lake. Harriet's chatter blurs into the background of tui bird chirps and singsong. I wish she would just be quiet for once.

"Um hello, Tasmin, are you even listening?" Harriet plonks herself beside me on the window seat, snapping her fingers to get my attention.

"So, as I was saying, Ash has something really big he wants to ask you and is waiting by his car  to see you now." 

"What?" I squeak, I dart over to the window facing the drive way to see Ash decked in his signature black, leaning against his car.  "I cant go meet him Harriet! I look horrible today, look at me." Harriet cocks her head on one side observing me with small smile. "Hush Taz, you look great!" I narrow my eyes at her "That's not what you sai-" 

"Whatever Tasmin, I was only teasing." She interrupted, rolling her eyes. tugging my sleeve, she pulls me away from the window. "Lets go, you cant keep him waiting." 

Harriet drags me down the stairs to the front door. I catch a glance of mum staring vacantly at  the fireplace  clutching her wedding photo with white knuckles. "Hey is mum ok? she looks distressed." Without a warning Harriet pushes me out the door. Before slamming it behind me she hisses in my ear "Your mum is fine,  don't worry I'll deal with her, you go talk to Ash." 

I feel stupid standing idly on the porch, like Im ready to dart back inside. before I could do anything, Ash swaggers over to me smoothly, unveiling a bouquet of pink roses from behind his back with a cocky grin. "I got these for you."

"Oh! Um Thanks." I nervously reply, my eyes averted as I take the blush colored flowers. What is going on? I wonder anxiously.

He runs his fingers through his jetty hair taking a deep breath, seeming hesitant.

"So Tasmin, I was wondering if you would like to go to prom with me."

My jaw drops on the ground as I stutter some foreign words I cannot decipher.  "Uh I uhhh ye?"

Thankfully, Ash takes it as a yes, nodding with his hands in his pockets.  "Ill see you around then, text me any details." I stand dumbfounded on the driveway clutching the roses as he waves goodbye.

Harriet bursts through the front door, breaking my frozen stance as she runs up to hug me. "Did you say yes Tasmin? Tell me you said yes!" I listen to her squeal with excitement, some of her energy rubbing off on me as I laugh for the first time in ages. "We have to go dress shopping this weekend," She exclaims. "Prom is months away." I reply giggling like a mad man. We walk with a bounce in our step back inside with our arms linked. I shoot another worried glance at mum over my shoulder as we bound upstairs to my room.