To Express Happiness || Fayne ✔✔

Pep Talk 📢

The same day.

Aaron's bike really requires fixing.

That day after the 'Chill Bill' by Neha, Aaron actually didn't go to a bike shop, and he regrets it bone to bone. Kicking the bike away, he rushes to Mrs. Reeves.

''Mom...car...now or I'll be late''.

Mrs. Reeves check her watch. Only 19 minutes left till the exams start. Usually it's a 10-minute bike ride so it won't take long, but Mrs. Reeves is already up for it. She unties her apron, fixes her hair and scolds Ariana to hurry up. Ariana wraps his bread into a tissue and they are already in the car. He realizes that he rode the car after a long damn time, ever since the first day at the economics class. It still smells strongly of Mr. Reeves' cologne, and brings back so many memories like it was yesterday. It has only been a month, but everything feels so real;  he's back to the day again. Except, he is not crying anymore, and as he gets off, he has friends to welcome him. Zack walks and chats with one of the juniors, while quietly splitting to place his hand over Aaron's shoulders as Aaron bids farewell to Mrs. Reeves and enters the hall. Yet, like before, he is obviously..

'' Late!! God Aaron, we were about to discuss stuff and we couldn't start without you'' , Neha yells as the whole gang suddenly stares at him.

''Wait I didn't even say I was going!'' ,  Aaron shrugs.

''Why don't you just shut up, moron?'' , Shae speaks but doesn't yell, '' For you, freaking Mr. Betshit is going'' .

Shae crosses his arm as Aaron narrows his brows. 

'' Shae....we've gone over this. It's not Aaron, okay? Dad requested Mr. Betton to accompany us since he won't leave me alone for such a long time.'' Ashley says while stepping forward.

'' Yeah well...cuz her daughter runs out of pregnancy pills just too fast, ain't it, Zack?'' , Shae retaliates as the whole gang laughs, leaving Zack flushed and Ashley rolling her eyes. 

As Shae leaves for his locker, Ashley raises her voice amidst the droning of the literature students on their last-minute-revision, something Aaron should do now but nevermind.

'' So, there will be 7 people going, including Mr. Inspector. They are :

- Ash Cash (lol)

- Rileyyy (Muahhh)

- Iribae

- Shae-t

- The Mallik

- The Wrapper-eater''  Ashley ends, winking at Aaron.

Everyone looks at everyone, and they all look at Ashley.

'' Ya I know I know. Malcolm called me this morning; said his dad had a business fair going on in Seattle and he has to attend.''

Neha nods, biting her side-lip. 

'' Well...it's a 10-day trip, and we leave day-after tomorrow at 9 AM sharp. Pack tropical and bring some cash; speakers if possible. Zack. The food's on you. Neha's borrowing the trekking equipment. Inspector on the camping stuff. I am bringing the carton of sodas while Shae--''. 

''But it'll take 19 hours via car so there's one day minus.'' Aaron tells, interrupting. He thinks of what he just said, and then realized how stupid that sounded.

'' If it was a joke, Aaron; we clearly didn't laugh'' , Ashley replies, making others dissolve into laughter.

'' Chill. South got her own private jet'' , Neha says as she catches her breath.

The rest look at Ashley, startled. 

'' Yeah well...perks of having the Ex-mayor as my dad'' , Ashley shrugs like it was nothing. ''Three hours at best. We hit the hotel room, and Mr. Inspector will lead the day. If anybody's got any question, I'll be at the Mallik's tomorrow so meet me up'' .

Aaron has tons of them, but as the bell rings, Ashley slaps her head and runs to the exam hall with the rest, leaving Aaron behind.

''Aaron, fking learn to run, man!'' Ashley says, smiling while looking back.

But by then, Aaron has already turned on his lets-just-walk-slow-and-feel-this-moment mode.