The Academy: Ashland

On a Ledge

            After dinner, I went into my room and listened to my music until about ten. I poked my head out the door and looked around the hall before I went down to the training room and climbed up to the highest point of the jungle gym. Then, I put my headphones into my ears and turned my iPod up before laying down.

* * *

            I stayed up on that ledge for five days. I brought four water bottles up with me, so I was fine. A few people seemed worried about me but not worried enough to make me feel bad.

            I did a lot of thinking on that ledge and I won't bore you with the details of my self-inflicted isolation. So I'll just tell him the interesting bits.

* * *

            On the first morning, Seth and Trip were the first people down and they were looking for me.

            “Ash?” Seth yelled. “Ash, where are you?”

            “She's not here,” Trip said.

            “She came down last night, I saw her leave her room,” Seth said.

            “She probably left,” Trip said. “Let's check the lab.”

* * *

            An hour or two later, Kelsey came down with Amber and Justin.

            “Why are Trip and Seth so worried about that freak?” Amber asked as they walked in.

            “Almost all of us are worried, it's not just them,” Kelsey said.

            “Do you think she got out?” Justin asked.

            “It's a possibility,” Kelsey said. “There's something about her that makes her different from the rest of us.”

            Amber rolled her eyes, “Whatever. I hope Taven has to realize what the rest of us already have and is going to swap her,” she said. “She's not a Misfit. She never will be,” Amber paused and flipped her hair. “She's too... full of herself.”

            “Funny, just last week you were complaining about how you didn't want to be a Misfit,” Kelsey said, exchanging a look with Trip.

            Amber rolled her eyes, “Things change, Kelsey,” she said in an exasperated voice.

            “Astonishingly, things seem to be changing because Ashland's here,” Kelsey said with a laugh.

* * *

            That night, Taven and Markus came in and looked around.

            “I saw her come down here and climb up,” Taven said. “Then she disappeared.”

            Markus sighed, “I'm worried she's not eating,” he said.

            “Relax, between you and Seth I honestly can't figure out who's worrying more,” Taven said with a chuckle.

            “How's... you know taking it?” Markus asked.

            “Apparently, she “does this all the time” and we'll “get used to it eventually”. He didn't seem too worried,” Taven said.

            “Well I am,” Markus said. “And so is my kid,” he paused. “She needs to know, preferably before the alteration kicks in.”

            “Have you tested her?” Taven asked.

            “No, not yet,” Markus said as Taven checked his watch.

            “Crap, I've got to run,” Taven said. “Jacky's waiting, later.”

            Markus laughed and watched Taven walk out of the room.

            After Taven left, Markus looked up, “You're just like your parents, Miss Ashland,” he said. “And a true Misfit, already. But could this coping process hurry up a bit? My son's in a right state because of you.” Markus paused and shoved his hands in his pockets sheepishly, “I know you're freaked out, but this is where your real family is. You may act tough, but you're not as tough as you think you are. Give it a few weeks, you'll understand what I'm saying.”

            Markus walked over to the doorway and paused, “Goodnight, Ash,” he said before walking out of the training area.

* * *

            The next afternoon, Kelsey and Trip were sitting on the couch in the training area, talking.

            “I worried about Seth,” Kelsey said. “He's been dealing with so much and now he's upset about Ash disappearing.”

            “I'm worried too, but at least he's been getting better,” Trip said. “I think it’s good that she’s here. She’s been wearing him out, he's been sleeping better. I think he's slept more in the past two days then he has in months.”

            “Years,” Kelsey corrected.

            Trip nodded, “Years,” he said. “Now, let's go find Seth and force him to eat and rest.”

* * *

            Markus kept coming down to the training area while I was on the ledge. He sat on the couch and talked about everything from Harry Potter, to his favorite actors, to his favorite Doctor and so on. Once he told me, I reminded him of my parents and he told me a little about them. He said he used to do this for my dad all the time. At the end of each conversation, he would say “Goodnight Miss Ashland” or “Bye Little Miss” after he told me how worried Seth, Trip and Kelsey were.