Illusion

Chapter: 14

*FLASHBACK*

"Are you done with them yet?" Grayson asked. We have been back from the lake and driving around today for about an hour. I took so many pictures of the boys and just of everywhere we went.

"On my last one." I was editing some of my favorites that I had taken from today. It took me just a couple minutes to finish editing the last picture, which happened to be of Ethan and Grayson at Mille Lacs lake. "I'm done editing them." Once I said that, Ethan and Grayson bolted into my room.

They were sitting at each of my sides so they could see my computer. I clicked on the first picture that I had edited and went through them. I had pictures of the lake, the fall leaves that were beautiful and pictures of the boys. I had some funny ones, serious and nice pictures of them both. I had some of just Ethan and some of just Grayson. Let me tell you, they all turned out amazing.

"Holy shit Ashlea, these are amazing." Ethan said as we continued to look through the finished pictures.

"Thank you E."

"Babe, these are sick. You have such An amazing talent. I can't wait til you show the world your talent." I looked over at Grayson and smiled.

"Thank you." I said as we got to the last picture. It was the last one of Grayson and Ethan. They were looking out at the water on the lake and they both had smiles on their faces with the side profiles I got of them.

"That's my favorite!" Ethan brought up.

"Yeah, that's one of mine too. You have such an eye for this." Grayson said in awe.

"Thank you guys."

"Can I look at your other pictures on your laptop?" Grayson asked.

"Go ham." I handed him my laptop. "I gotta pee anyway." I scooted off my bed, once I did, Ethan scooted closer to Grayson to look at my pictures.

I went to the bathroom and did my business. When I was done, I went back into my room.

"Ashlea," Grayson said as he saw me walk back into my room. "You didn't tell us you have a dog."

"Yeah, where is he?" Ethan asked. I stood at the foot of my bed. No one has asked me about him in a long time. It actually hurt my heart to have someone ask me where he was.

"Oh," I sat on my bed, facing the boys. "His name is Buddy. And he's gone. He's been gone for 2 and a half years." I looked down at my hands.

"Oh I'm sorry we brought it up." Ethan apologized.

"No it's okay. I just wasn't expecting you to ask. I just haven't talked about him in a long time." I looked up at the boys.

"How old was he? If you don't mind me asking." Grayson asked.

"Oh, no it's okay." I reassured him. "He was 10. We got him when I was 8 and we had to put him down when I was 18. It was my senior year. He was my best friend for 10 years. I know it's really fucking stupid but I still and always will have a whole in my heart. I know he's been gone for almost 3 years but I still miss the little bastard like crazy. It's stupid but he was my best friend and sometimes my only friend at times and I'll have one day maybe where I'll miss him like crazy still." I said, a few tears swelled in my eyes. I blinked them away so I wouldn't start crying for such a dumb reason in front of the boys.