Falling For You Again | cth (Slow updates)

xvi

"I'll see you at Cassidy's," Nirvana informs me after I close the car, "I'll deal with the morons first before you since I got no history with them."

I nod before she drives away from Ashton's residency.

After nearly a week, we finally found Cassidy. That girl was never the type to run away when things got rough, she would just hide. I guess once she finally got her license and a car, she became a wild child, and it's honestly very annoying. However, I guess I should've noticed that long ago. She's been like that since we were kids; it became more of a thing when we reached high school.

I glanced over to where my car resided in front of Ashton's place, a house that seemed too big for a single man. It was destined to be a home to at least a family of 4 with a dog or a cat, yet it was taken over by a man using an extra room as his studio for his guitars and drum set, a luxury car, and a caveman.

A studio apartment would've been better, or at least a condo would've fit better for him.

"Oh, you're still here," a voice intones gently behind.

Peering over my shoulder, I see Ashton coming out of his car alone. He ruffles those curly locks that he never really got rid of, the very ones that I caught my attention our freshmen year of high school. Behind him, the others were quickly getting into another car, Michael was the one who beat Calum to the driver and as he reversed out of the driveway, he lifts his hand and stuck out his thumb, mouthing: One last chance. I scrunched my face at him while he smiles and set the car on drive, then speeding off down the street. 

"Yeah, was just getting my car," I stated after the car is out of sight, I rummaged through my sweater, looking for my keys, "Um, thanks again for the help. Auntie can fully relax now that Cassidy is found."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want Momma Winters to get worried at her age," Ashton lightly chuckles, kicking a pebble on the ground, "But I'm glad we helped, though we were looking for Cass, we kinda went down memory lane."

I hummed in agreement, the places they had taken Nirvana and me were the places they went to back then, but the very places Ashton would take me when we were in high school. 

Ashton and I were from different classes since the fifth grade and then from different crowds. The latter was the same especially when we entered high school-- I know, but he was the music "moron", and I was one of the "It" girls in our year. I knew of his existence from being a part of the school's band, but I finally became aware of him when I first saw him our freshmen year sitting with his group, banging on the makeshift of a box drum while someone sang, but the way he got lost in the music, it was cute and amusing. I don't know when he recognized me, we gradually became closer after working together for a bio project but always kept it on the down low. The places we went to today were also parts of our mini dates, but after years of not establishing a strong relationship, I threw away our memories out of spite and forgotten these places that were dear to me in my young teen years.

I glanced over and see that Ashton looked everywhere but me, he must be wanting me to leave. Yes, that must be it, it's my cue to leave. There's no reason for me to be here, I unlocked the car and opened the door to get in, "I'll see you at Cassidy's-"

"Angelina," Ashton calls out to me. I stop myself from getting in when I could have ignored his call like I always have and gone off my merry way. Should I even bother turning around after all these years? I've hurt myself countless times when I tried working things out with him, do I really need to go through that?

"Yeah?" I mustered up to speak up without turning around.

"Can I have a moment of your time?"

"You have it, so speak," I say, holding onto the car door tightly.