Accidental Always

Chapter 9

Over the next couple weeks, which turned into months, Ashley found herself becoming more and more a part of Tadashi's group of friends.

At lunch the six of then were typically found eating together in the labs, or sitting on the wide campus lawn.

They did study groups and hung out most weekends, but sometimes it was just the two of them studying at the cafe.

That had been how she'd first met Hiro, and despite the age gap between them they got along pretty well.

Tadashi's younger brother almost reminded her of Julia, with a spunky, intelligent attitude accompanied by an often seen mischievous glint in his dark eyes.

Lately, Ashley also found herself walking to school with Tadashi, unless it was really cold, and then he would drive the both of them to class in his aunt's pickup truck.

His reason was that it wasn't really safe for her to walk by herself, but had then blushed when she'd had pressed the issue a little, casually teasing him.

When she'd told Esme about that conversation later (with Julia eavesdropping, of course) they'd just glanced at each other knowingly, the nine year old grinning, and both of them refusing to tell her anything.

One Saturday in mid December a few weeks later, found her pining up a lively Christmas garland over the entrance of the bookstore.

Her earbuds were plugged in, drowning out the noise of the overly sappy Christmas music playing on the small businesses intercom.

She'd always had a hard time with Christmas, and birthdays.
(Twenty four hour holiday music just made it worse.)

Currently Ashley had 'Angel With a Shotgun' by the Cab blasting in her eardrums.

"I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe
Don't you know you're everything I have..."

Just then the front door opened, an icy breeze tearing through her blue cable knit sweater.
Shivering, it made the already uneven step ladder she was using wobble  precariously, shoes slipping on the metal rung.

Ashley let out a little scream, arms wheeling as she fell backwards.

"AHH!!!"

She felt someone go to catch her, strong arms wrapping around her waist.
But, off balance, the both of them went plunging sideways into the (almost) lifesize cardboard gingerbread house display.

Face burning with embarrassment, and chest heaving from the adrenaline, she brushed some dark curls out of her face, an apology on her lips when she froze, meeting a very familiar pair of dark brown eyes.

"We have got to stop running into each other this way," Tadashi laughed, Ashley's cheeks flushing a rosy color as they helped each other to their feet.

"What are you doing here?"

Then it was Tadashi's turn to blush. "Well, um....I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight?
......I could pick you up at six thirty?" He peeked out at her from under his eyelashes, hand on his neck.

Ashley bit her lip. "Well, I....."

"Just say yes you idiot!" Julia's voice came from the back room.

Her gaze drew back up to Tadashi's.

"Esme is running a tent at the fair tonight, and I volunteered to go and help them...out...and...."
Finding that she could not even seem to finish her sentence, and seeing his face fall a little, she instantly felt guilty.