"It's like I'm running away from me,
it's like I've taken the puzzle in me
and left it scrambled for all to see."
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When Arden Danvers' parents split when she was eight years old, she moved away with her dad from her...
When Arden woke up the next morning, she found a text from Rowan awaiting her saying that Ash had messaged her last night saying he wanted to talk to the two of them and wondered if she wanted her to pick her up. Arden was curious as to why he only wanted to speak to her and Rowan but she figured that he would explain when they got there. So Arden texted her back, telling her she'd be ready in an hour.
Arden got herself ready in a hurry, took care of Koda and then by that time, Rowan had arrived into the driveway. On the way to Ash's, they stopped in a drive-thru for breakfast, and picked up something for Ash and Jake too.
Pretty soon, they were at Jake's and when they walked inside, they saw Ash sitting in the living room flipping through a textbook.
"Hey!" Arden smiled as they walked in, "You hungry?"
She held up the bag of food they picked up and Ash chuckled when he saw it.
"Starving." He nodded.
Arden smiled as she sat down on the couch beside him, digging through the bag and grabbing the food they had gotten for him. She handed it to him and then grabbed her own food.
"Is Jake here?" Rowan asked as she sat down.
Ash looked up at her, "He's out."
She frowned a little, "Did you tell him I was coming by?"
He nodded somberly, "Yeah."
Arden glanced over at Rowan, seeing the look of hurt on her face. She knew Rowan was still struggling with her feelings for Jake. As far as she knew, they were trying to keep their distance, at least until Rowan turned eighteen. But Arden could see how hard this was for her.
"So," Arden looked back at Ash,"How are you settling in?"
"Fine," He said, "Just getting adjusted to everything."
Arden nodded, "Well, I'm sure Elisia is taking good care of you, but if there is ever anything you need, you can always text us."
"Thanks." He said appreciatively.
Arden noted that Ash's eyes shifted a little at the mention of Elisia, and she tried not to frown in confusion of his reaction.
"I went to go see Zoe's dad at the hospital. She would visit him there." Ash told them, "He had cancer, and he passed away a few days ago."
