ASPEN ➵ Paul Lahote [1]

one

Aspen Kennedy loved people. In the small town of Forks, Washington, it was easy to love every single one. From the young hostess at the diner in town to the older man she encountered often buying bait at the supermarket. She handed kind words out like candy and smiled like it gave her oxygen. Not one gust of wind could move her resilience to succumb to the negativity that surrounded her in the world. Aspen Kennedy loved people. That's why, as she walked down the laminate hallway of Forks High School after the final bell had rung, she received multiple goodbyes and a handful of well wishes for the afternoon. Aspen wasn't at all popular, and honestly didn't have any friends, but the subtle chorus that followed her around from classroom to classroom begged to differ.

The brunette's worn white sneakers stepped out of the school building and brought her to the car parked and waiting just for her across the lot. The red Sedan rumbled to life as Aspen approached and chucked herself inside meeting the warm smile of her mother.

"Hey mom," she chirped as she leaned over the center console to place a kiss on her mother's cheek.

"Hey sweet pea, how was school?" her mother, Elle, questioned as she pulled out of the school parking lot.

Aspen could tell she was tired through the slight droop in her eyes and the messy up-do of her hair. Her father and her had been working adamantly to finalize finances and tie up lose ends, as they will be moving businesses any day now. Aspen wished she could help, but her parents assured her not to worry. "These are things we need to handle on our own like you will one day," they tell her. "Focus on being a teenager."

"It was good! I turned in my Shakespeare essay today which I'm super proud of, and we started portraits in Photography. Expect me to ask you to model for me," Aspen joked, shuffling her bag so it now rested at her feet.

"I don't think so Asp, you might fail if you turn in photos with my face in them." Elle lightly laughed.

Aspen rolled her eyes. To her, Elle Kennedy was one of the most beautiful women she'd ever seen. The same chocolate locks Aspen adorned matched those of her mothers as well as her icy blue eyes and ever-present smile. Yet, she may very well be biased as she only gave light to the best in her mother. Aspen saw her as the loving woman who raised her to be kindhearted and compassionate, never raising her voice or hand. She had always said, "It's the rain that grows flowers, sweet pea. Not thunder."

"Oh! Before I forget," Elle interjected, "Rufus, the elderly man who sold the store to us, finally sent over the paperwork, so we take over tomorrow morning officially. I'm going to need you to work tomorrow after school for a few hours while I head to town to run some errands. Is that alright?"

"Of course, mama. It's not like I have any plans anyway," her daughter answered. Aspen tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and offered her mother a small, closed lipped, smile with her response. She never really had plans any day, truly. She spent her days going to school and working at the family convenience store. Before the Kennedy's bought the new store from Rufus, they had owned another a bit closer to the Forks community. When business slowed, and an offer for the new space came up, they snagged it fast. The new convenience store bordered La Push and Forks, which seemed to be common place for more diverse and much needed traffic. The young girl imagined her time would be filled all the same, even with the new store.

Aspen watched as they pulled up to their house, the mother-daughter duo stepping out of the car and into the slight rain that fell from the afternoon sky. As the teenager walked up, she saw her cat, Moose, perched on the windowsill awaiting their arrival by the front door.