ASPEN ➵ Paul Lahote [1]

two

Things seemed to be looking up for Aspen. After meeting Bella only the day before, the two girls have already subjected to adding each other into the contacts on their phones and they seek one another out in the hallways. Like Bella had said, she wasn't much of a talker, but around Aspen, she fed off her good spirit and smiles. Aspen only hoped they would be better friends with time.

"Hey!" Bella exclaimed towards Aspen, swatting away the grape she had just thrown at her nose.

Aspen's head tilted back as a laughed escaped her lips filling the small cafeteria. The two acquainted girls sat at the Cullen's old table once again, directly across from one another, while eating their lunch. Prying eyes darted in their direction; Jessica Stanley holding title for longest stare. Aspen had never had a full conversation with the girl but from her obvious distaste of her position across from Bella, she believed the two knew each other. But to keep her mind off the unsolicited attention, Aspen had made it a game to bombard Bella with grapes each time she began to zone out or stare out the windows ahead of her.

Bella picked up a carrot from her tray and threw it at the smiling girl in front of her, missing her head by inches as Aspen ducked away from the attack.

"Okay, okay. I surrender," Aspen rose her hands as Bella put down the second carrot she was planning to throw. As she did this, the bell rang, signaling the end of their lunch period. Both girls moved to exit the lunchroom with the crowd of teenagers to proceed to their next class, pushing in their blue plastic chairs and throwing away their trash.

Aspen slung her bag over one shoulder and walked beside Bella with a notebook in hand as they moved through the hallway. Bella remained quiet as she hovered beside Aspen weaving through the halls. When they had reached Aspen's classroom, Bella spoke up.

"Hey what are you doing after school? Maybe we could...hangout?"

Aspen's eyebrows rose. She wanted to hangout with her? "Oh, I-" Shoot! Aspen has completely forgot, "I'm actually working right after school for my mom at the store."

"That's alright," Bella assured, "My, uh, my dad Charlie is all about me getting out more recently. He thinks I need more girl friends. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like for you to meet him sometime?" The other brunette couldn't help but grin.

"I'd love that, maybe this weekend instead?" Aspen suggested.

"Uh- yes, sounds good," Bella responded before they bid a goodbye and Aspen took a seat towards the far side of the classroom they had arrived at. Her mind thought about what had happened moments before and she was so excited to be somewhere but her own house for a change during a weekend. The books on her shelves were aged with cracked spines and overturned pages, signs of overuse from long days with nothing to do. They'd be glad she was getting away for a change.

☼ ☼ ☼

After school, Aspen had caught a ride with her mom over to the store in order to begin her shift while her mom was away.

From the small window of her mother's red Sedan she could see the vivid greens of the surrounding forest contrasting with the black paved road. Mahogany and chestnut colored trunks sprouted lush trees and if you looked deep enough, the flash of animal tails caught the sun before dissolving into the wood around them. Aspen watched the landscape until they had pulled up to the store, the slight drizzle fizzling out.