Breathe

Chapter 3

"The world will ask you who you are, and if you don't know, the world will try to tell you." -Unknown

"Hey Val." I say as soon as I reach the table.

"Vanessa! I was wondering where you went, actually starting to get a little worried." Val says. 

"Hey Ash. I didn't know you were here already." A familiar voice says from behind me.

"Yeah, I just arrived a few minutes ago." Ashton says.

"Hey Luke." Val says.

"You know him?" I ask.

"Oh, no.  Ashton mentioned his name earlier." She and Luke exchange awkward glances.

"Okay.  Well I was just coming back because I thought you'd be mad I left you for a while, but it seems you've found someone to occupy your time." I say.

"Yeah," she laughs, "I just met him a few minutes ago."

"Well the party seems to be dying down, so once the party clears out, do you guys maybe want to come inside for a little bit to um, hang out?" Luke suggests nervously.  Val and I nod.

We stand around and make small talk as groups of people start to leave.  Eventually everyone is gone and all that is left is a disaster of cups scattered around the fire.  

Val tells me she's going to the bathroom, again, and I roll my eyes laughing. She's probably trying to avoid cleaning up this mess with us.

I start picking up empty cups, wrappers, and anything else laying around.  Luke insists I don't have to help since it was his party, but I ignore him anyways.  I empty and stack the the cups along with gathering cans and bottle in my hands.  The quietness and surrounding property is peaceful.  The trees swallow the light inside as the fire starts to die down.  As I pick up the last cup and throw it into the garbage can, Luke starts to roll it back towards the house.  As we approach the front doors, he disappears into the garage to put it away, I assume.  Ashton opens the door and gestures me inside.

"I never introduced myself. I'm Vanessa." I smile.

Smiling back he replies, "I'm Ashton."

We remove our shoes, and Ashton walks in front of me down the white carpeted steps to the basement.  I thought the house couldn't get any nicer, but I was definitely wrong.  The basement is one large room and is in perfect symmetry. Both sides of the room contain multiple game consoles that line the wall in front of the two biggest flat screen TV's I had ever seen mounted on the wall.  Maybe they'll want to play video games.  Before my old best friend moved across the country, he used to force me to play Fifa with him. Turns out I'm not half bad.  Ashton walks over near the couch and sits down in front of it.  I give him a confused what-are-you-doing look.

"What?" he questions with the cutest laugh I have ever heard.

"You know, there's a couch there for a reason." I say laughing at his stupidity.

"I know, I like the floor." Ashton replies trying to convince me he isn't weird. It doesn't work.  He seems like he has a dorky personality, but it kind of works for him.

I stand up and inform Ashton when he gives me a confused look that I'm going to look for Valerie.

As I walk up the stairs and turn a few corners to attempt to find the bathroom again, I run into Luke, literally.  Our bodies collide and I fall to the ground on my butt and let out a quiet shriek.

"Really? I'm starting to think you're bad luck!" I laugh as he helps me up.

"Oh my- I'm really sorry," he laughs, "Are you alright?"