Accidental Always

Chapter 8

""Jeez, I wish you were on our team," Fred complained between bites of chicken dumpling. "You bowled a strike almost every time!" Honey Lemon high fived Ashley. "What is your secret, O Wise One?"

She laughed. "Easy. I just calculated the weight of the bowling ball times the needed velocity for the distance to the pins, and then added in the slickness of the floor."

Fred blinked.

They all burst into chuckles after a few seconds.

"We have another true, bonafide nerd right here," Honey Lemon said.

"Yeah, we're the real cool kids," GoGo said, popping a eggroll in her mouth.

Ashley widened her eyes in mock surprise. "Whoa. Im one of the cool kids. 'For the first time in forever'. " she sang.

GoGo, Ashley, and Honey Lemon exploded with laughter, while the three boys just stared at them in confusion.

"What, have you guys never seen 'Frozen'?" Ashley guffawed.

"No...." Will said very slowly. "Should we have?" "What?! It's a classic!" Honey Lemon exclaimed. He carefully stood, reaching over to grab a small container of wasabi. But, unfortunately, the side of the table Will was occupying was a bit too tight of a squeeze, and as he attempted to sit back down, he lost grip on the container of wasabi, successfully spilling it all down the front of himself.

He groaned. "Ah man, really?! This was my favorite sweater!"

Ashley gave him some napkins. "Just rinse it off in cold water before you throw it in the wash, I'm sure it will be fine," she assured him.

"Thanks," he replied, dabbing at the green mess. "And hey, you know, wasabi's green, and so is your sweater." Ashley glanced over at Fred , to see him wearing an excited mischievous smile on his face.

Uh oh.

Ashley's inner alarm bells were ringing as Fred opened his mouth.

"Wasabi!"

"What?" Will looked up. "See?" Fred gestured to him. "He responds to his name already!" A dawning expression of realization appeared on Will's (excuse me, Wasabi's ) face as everyone began laughing. "No. No, no, no! That was one time people. One time!"

Ashley waited with Tadashi outside the restaurant. They had said their goodbyes to the others, and climbed back on his moped, Ashley .not as nervous about putting her arms around him as she was before.

Driving through the streets of San Fransokyo, she realized something. "You missed a turn!" She shouted over the rush of the wind as they drove past. "I know," Tadashi said back. "I want to show you something!"

Ashley felt the butterflies return again.

Soon enough they were stopped at a small park, where Tadashi took her hand (he took her hand!!!) And walked with her over to a cluster of trees and bushes, before pushing back a heavy leafy bough, making Ashley gasp.

She wasn't conscious of holding Tadashi's hand, only aware of the beautiful view in front of her. A tree stood a couple feet away, it's heavy branches barely brushing the soft green grass. Twenty feet away from the base of the tree the ground sloped off into a cliff, the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge looming in the distance, a brilliant sunset lighting up the sky behind it.

"Wow. This.....it's so.....it's beautiful Tadashi." She turned and looked at him. "Thank you."

He blushed again. "No problem. I like to come here sometimes when I need a place to think, or just when I need some time alone. I.....I thought you'd like it."

"It's amazing." Ashley turned back to look at the scenery. She suddenly began rifling through her bag, pulling out a pro photography camera. She glanced at Tadashi. "Do you mind if I.....?"

"Oh, no, go ahead," he replied, a happy grin growing on his face as he watched Ashley take a couple pictures.

After a few minutes, she lowered her camera, a wide smile blooming on her face. Tucking her camera back inside her purse, Ashley went over and leaned against the trunk of the tree, and sat with Tadashi in the soft green grass.

The two of them stayed, watching til the painted colors of the sunset faded from the sky, replaced with an inky blue blackness sprinkled with bright stars.

Tadashi drove her home, and walked Ashley back to her apartment door. They stood there for a few awkward moments before Ashley decided to speak. "I, uh....I just wanted to thank you for a really fun night Tadashi. And for showing me your special place. It was....it was really nice." She chewed on her lip a little.

"No problem Ashley," he smiled easily, a hand stuffed in his pocket. "I'm glad you liked it."

Opening her door, Ashley stepped inside, before turning back to Tadashi. "Good night Tadashi. Maybe we can do this again." Her cheeks faintly colored with a blush Tadashi found incredibly attractive.

He smiled again, barely able to contain his emotions. "Yeah, good night....Ashley."

As Tadashi made his way down the sidewalk he pumped his fist in the air. "Yes!"

Ashley peeked from behind her livingroom curtains, and let out a giggle at Tadashi's behavior.

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Hey my peoples! So sorry it's taken almost three weeks to update, but I hope this cute, fluffy chapter makes up for it. 😊🌹

And, as always, what was your favorite part? 🙂😊